The Best Hair Removal Methods for Your Most Sensitive Spots
It’s officially summertime! That means lots of short shorts, flowy skirts, and tiny bathing suits. Whether you prefer the fully-smooth Hollywood look or if you just trim the edges, your bikini line is something you’re going to be thinking about a lot at the beach or pool.
Feel confident this summer by ensuring your bikini line looks and feels great. Hair removal down there can come with a few challenges from razor burn to ingrown hairs. In order to prevent this, we have a few tips.
Tip #1: Research What Hair Removal Method is Best for You
Finding the perfect hair removal method for your bikini line will change your summertime routine drastically. There are four main types of bikini line hair removal:
- Trimming
By using a specific bikini line trimmer, you can achieve a comfortable and natural look. This method is perfect if you just want to remove a little bit of hair off the sides so it doesn’t show when you’re out tanning by the pool. Tools can range in prices but generally stay under $100. There is a wide variety of tools to choose from, and they can be purchased at nearly any grocery store or drugstore. When looking for a tool, take into consideration whether it is waterproof. If you’re used to doing your maintenance routine in the shower, the last thing you want to do is accidentally purchase a non-waterproof trimmer!
See a list of the twelve best bikini trimmers at our friends at Cosmo!
- Shaving
This method is probably the most common, since it is inexpensive and easy to do at home. If you’re uncomfortable getting your bikini line looked at by a professional, at-home options like shaving are great. Razors can be purchased for less than $20, but be mindful that you should change your razor blades frequently to prevent any injuries and to sustain the results you want. Shaving only cuts the hair at the root, so the smooth post-shave feeling you love will only last a day or two before you need to shave again. It can also be difficult for people with sensitive skin, as there is a high chance for ingrown hairs or razor burn.
- Waxing or Epilating
Both of these methods remove the hair fully from the follicle. This will leave you with longer-lasting results, and a smoother finish with less risk of irritation. While you can do this from home, most people prefer to see a professional, such as an aesthetician, to do it for them. That way, you don’t have to hunch over in the bathroom to get those hard-to-reach areas. It is more painful than trimming or shaving, but it produces longer-lasting, better results.
- Intense Pulsed Light technology (IPL)
IPL hair removal is the most long-lasting method to clean up your bikini line. While it was initially offered in salons only, there are now multiple brands that offer at-home IPL devices. This technology uses light rays to damage the hair follicle, preventing hair growth. It isn’t an instant treatment, and is recommended that you complete at least four treatments before you see permanent results.
Tip #2: Prep the Skin Properly
In order to prevent any damage to the skin, it is highly recommended that you follow a few tips. Prior to treating the area, you should wash and gently exfoliate the area. Remember that this area of skin is sensitive so you should try to avoid using any harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubs. A damp washcloth and some warm water will do the trick just fine. Exfoliating the area prevents any potential ingrown hairs, too. If you are waxing, trimming, or doing IPL treatments, the skin should be dry before you begin.
For obvious reasons, you should ensure that the area is well lit when doing any kind of maintenance down-there. Make sure that you have good lighting while trimming, shaving, waxing, or treating the area. This will ensure that you don’t cause any small cuts or do any damage to the area by accident. To further reduce the risk of damage, ensure that you pull the skin taught as you are tending to it. Flattening the skin makes it easier to remove the hair consistently and comfortably.
Tip #3: Prevent Ingrown Hairs and Razor Burn
Ingrown hairs occur when the hair grows from the follicle but fails to exit the skin, causing it to curl back into the skin. They cause a little red bump and can be very uncomfortable if they get severe enough. They’re especially bad around the bikini line since the hair in that area is coarser. Razor burn is when the skin is irritated from shaving too rough or when the razor is too old.
It’s easier to prevent these issues rather than treat them once they’ve already become a problem. They’re more likely to occur if you’re shaving, rather than waxing, epilating, or using an IPL device. Some tricks to help making prevent these issues, if you do prefer shaving include:
- Shave using warm water and a shaving gel. Warm water opens the pores and helps the razor glide over the area. It is also recommended that you use a transparent shaving gel, so you can see exactly what’s going on.
- Shave in the direction of hair growth and use as few strokes as possible. Going over the same area multiple times might irritate the skin and cause razor burn.
- Replace your blades regularly, and keep your razor clean. Make sure you have plenty of blades, as they should be replaced every few weeks depending on how often you shave.
How to Prepare for a Professional Wax
Now that you’re comfortable and equipped with the knowledge on how to prepare for your at-home bikini like hair removal session, let’s get into what it’s like to get a professional wax done.
The biggest difference between the two is the fact that someone else is going to be doing the work. Before the appointment, make sure you’re comfortable having someone else down-there. Keep in mind, aestheticians and spa employees are professional and they see multiple clients in a day. They are very familiar with that area and have had professional training. I promise you; they won’t judge your current grooming!
Before your appointment, please shower and wash yourself thoroughly. Avoid any irritants such as rough scrubs or any harsh chemicals. The hair must be a quarter of an inch (about 10-14 days of growth) so the wax can adhere to the wax properly. While this may seem like a long time to go without any landscaping, you must resist the urge to shave in-between appointments. Shaving chafes the skin and creates sharper, coarser hair. The night before is when you should gently exfoliate the area, as it preps the skin but gives it enough time to recover before the wax.
Once you get to your appointment, relax and take a deep breath. It will hurt a bit, but the results will be worth it.
About Permanent Hair Removal
If you are tired of shaving or waxing on a regular basis, it might be time to try a more permanent method. As mentioned, intense pulsed light technology (IPL) is a great option for those who want long-lasting results. Plus, now you can even do it at home!
Light-based hair removal devices all work by using light to target the hair follicle. This focused light is targeted directly to the exact area you want to remove excess hair from. Devices can be set to a specific wavelength that will seek out the dark melanin pigment in the hair follicle. This melanin absorbs the light, causing the follicle to heat and become damaged. Since follicles are what causes new hair growth, it prevents future hair growth when they are destroyed or damaged.
IPL is so popular for a variety of reasons:
- It saves time. Laser hair removal is quick and efficient. Once your treatment is over, you don’t have to think about it until a few weeks later when your natural hair growth cycle provides you with new hair. Once you reach a certain number of laser hair removal treatments, the hair simply doesn’t grow back. You may experience small patches every month or so after your initial treatments, but they can be fixed quickly with a few more zaps. No more daily shaving or weekly waxing!
- It saves money. Ultimately, if you shave or wax daily, hair removal can be pricey. Think about how much money you spend replacing razor blades and booking monthly waxing appointments! That may seem like less money initially, but it really does add up. IPL hair removal might cost a little more upfront, but you’ll save much more money in the long run by investing in it.
- It eliminates ingrown hairs. I think everyone in their life has struggled with ingrown hairs at least once in their lives. IPL treatments significantly reduce the occurrence of ingrown hairs. Plus, it’s great for those with sensitive skin who experience razor burn or general skin irritation from waxing or shaving.
IPL at Home
At-home IPL devices have become increasingly popular. While you can still go to a dermatologist or another specialist to get the treatment done, it is pretty convenient that you can do it from home now. Home devices come with the same standard IPL technology. Different brands and devices have worked hard on developing their own version of IPL technology, but they all work in the same way. The light targets the hair’s melanin pigment, zaps the follicle with light, that light turns into heat, and the heat damages the follicle, causing it not to grow hair again.
Certain devices have different features to help the experience be as customizable and enjoyable as possible. The more research you do on your device and the better you understand your device, you will end up with better results.
For a variety of affordable at-home hair removal devices, visit Silk’n today!
To Conclude
Whether you like a trimmed look or a fully smooth celeb-inspired bikini line, there are options out there for you. With so many forms of hair removal, it’s important to do your research and find out which method is best for you. Once you do that, make sure you follow all the tips and tricks you can in order to ensure a perfect execution each time. From trimming, shaving, waxing, epilating, and IPL, the last thing on your mind this summer will be your bikini line.
