Male Brazilian vs Hollywood Wax: The Real Difference for Men
Nearly every man who books intimate waxing for the first time asks the same thing before anything else: what is the actual difference between a male Brazilian and a male Hollywood wax? It is one of the questions we field most by message, so this guide answers it properly — including the part most articles skip, which is which one you should book on a first visit.
Both treatments are done with the same Hive of Beauty hot wax at our studio in Harlesden, and both cost the same here: £35 for the front, £35 for the back, or £50 for the full front-and-back result. So the choice is not about price. It is about how much hair you want gone.
The core difference, in one line
A male Brazilian removes most of the hair but leaves a defined strip or triangle at the front if you want it. A male Hollywood removes everything — front, shaft, scrotum, perineum and between the buttocks — with nothing retained anywhere. Same zone, different finish.
What a male Brazilian wax includes
A Brazilian for men clears the pubic mound (usually leaving a strip at the front if requested), around the base of the shaft, the perineum, and between the buttocks. The strip is optional — some men want a cleaner, lighter feel without going completely bare, and others treat the Brazilian as a stepping stone before committing to a Hollywood.
What a male Hollywood wax includes
A Hollywood covers exactly the same area but takes everything, including whatever a Brazilian would have left at the front. The result is uniformly smooth with no retained hair that grows back at a different rate to the rest. Men who want a single clean result with nothing half-finished tend to choose the Hollywood.
Which should you book on a first visit?
Here is the honest advice José gives men who are undecided at the start of an appointment: start conservative. It is far easier to take more hair off than to wish you had kept some, and going further next time costs you nothing. So if you genuinely cannot decide, the Brazilian is the natural first booking — you can always progress to a Hollywood once you know how the treatment feels on your skin.
That said, book the Hollywood from the start if you already know you want total smoothness, you maintain regularly and find uniform regrowth easier to manage, or you have waxed before and are comfortable with the process.
Does the Hollywood hurt more?
Only marginally — more area is covered, so there is more to remove — but in José’s experience the gap is smaller than the label suggests. What actually governs comfort is the wax and the therapist’s technique, not the name of the treatment. We use hot film wax rather than strip wax for all intimate work precisely because it grips the hair instead of the skin, which matters most on the sensitive areas a Hollywood reaches. If pain is your main worry, read our honest breakdown of how painful male intimate waxing really is before you book either one.
How long does each last?
Both hold for roughly four to six weeks, and there is no meaningful difference in longevity between them. With regular appointments the regrowth comes back finer and sparser after either treatment — consistency matters far more than which style you pick. A Hollywood runs about 35 to 50 minutes against 25 to 35 for a Brazilian, since it covers more area, though the exact time depends on how much hair you are starting with.
Preparation and aftercare are identical
Whichever you choose, the run-up is the same: let the hair grow to about one centimetre (two to three weeks after your last shave), shower on the day, skip oils and lotions on the area, and wear loose clothing. You do not need to trim beforehand — José handles that in the studio if needed. Afterwards, both treatments want the same 48 quiet hours: no gym, sauna, swimming or heavy friction while the follicles close. The full routine is in our first-time preparation guide and our aftercare guide.
Still unsure? That is normal
If you are genuinely on the fence, say so when you contact us — that conversation is exactly the point of a private, male-only studio. José works one client at a time in Harlesden NW10, so there is time to talk it through before anything starts. You can see both treatments, prices and booking on the intimate male waxing page.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to switch from Brazilian to Hollywood after a few sessions?
Yes — plenty of men start with a Brazilian and move to a Hollywood once the process feels familiar. Both are booked the same way, so there is nothing to arrange in advance.
Can I change my mind on the day?
Generally yes. Tell José at the start and he will confirm what you want before beginning — including going lighter or further than you first planned.
Ready to decide? See both options, prices and availability on the Male Waxing London intimate waxing page — a discreet, male-only studio in Harlesden NW10, rated 5.0 on Google across 18 reviews.
