Your Complete Guide to Bikini Season Hair Removal

Oh No!  That Dreaded Stubble!

Swimsuit season has arrived again, and whether you are a one piece, two-piece or prefer one of the many fashion forward approaches to swimwear, it is likely that you are thinking about more than just the state of your glutes and thighs or the flatness of your belly. You are probably also concerned with grooming. Bikini season means hair removal, particularly in the “bikini area”, and that is a pretty confusing subject for most.

After all, there are many ways for bikini hair removal, including:

• Shaving
• Waxing
• Cream hair removers
• Laser hair removal

And like so many things in life, each has its own pros and cons.

In this comprehensive guide to bikini hair removal, we’ll explore all of the details of these different approaches to hair removal and help you decide which is the right one for you, your needs, budget and personal preferences.

We’ll consider several key points about each method, including:

• How well does each approach work?
• How long does each approach last?
• What are the benefits and disadvantages for each?
• Any before and after care required for each?
• What should expect during each sort of treatment?
• Costs for each?
• Are there any tips or “dos and don’ts” for a particular method?

Keep in mind, we are looking at these methods strictly for use in the bikini area. Some might also work for hair and underarm areas, but we are not going to consider them for that purpose – just dealing with bikini season hair removal.

So, let’s begin with the most common method used, at home shaving.

A Look at Shaving

Cheap, easy and reliable, shaving has been used for many decades to help women manage whatever body hair they dislike. However, it is not always well suited for all parts of the body. This is because the design of hand-held razors is more appropriate to the long smooth strokes of your legs or even the short but even swipes in the underarm area. Thus, the woman who wants to shave must invest in the best razor, scissors and shaving cream or gel possible. You should get a razor that pivots and moves to the contours of the body, offers a sharper blade and cleaner shave and leaves not razor burn or bumps.

Pubic hair is far coarser than other body hair, and shaving with a razor may not be the longest lasting or optimal method. To manage the pubic area, and this is true whether just shaving around the bikini line or removing most of the hair, you must pull the skin very taut to ensure the cleanest shave and go against or parallel with the growth.

Related: Take a Vacation from Your Beauty Routine

More Shaving Tips

Experts also warn that shaving the genitals can lead to a lot of chronic itching because the hair tends to grow back in only a few days, leaving a coarse and uncomfortable stubble. That means you must repeat the shaving every two to three day to remain hairless and keep the bikini area under control.

Costs are manageable for most as razors are between $10 and $20 for premium kits with replacement blades, and gels are rarely more than $7 per product. You will also want to invest in a post shave gel that softens the skin and prevents the formation of red bumps and razor burn. To eliminate this, you can also wait to shave until the end of the shower when the hair has softened in the hot water. Be sure to use a sharp razor, a good shaving gel or foam, and apply the soothing product immediately after bathing. According to a report in  Cosmopolitan magazine, you can also use coconut oil, witch hazel or vitamin E if you suffer bumps and burns. Trimming longer hair with small scissors is also very effective in preventing bumps and burn.

A Look at Waxing

First and foremost, many people want to know if waxing at home, as a sort of ultimate DIY project is a possibility. In response, we can say that yes, you could do it at home, but it is not advised. In fact, we are not even going to look at it in this guide.

Why not? There are actually a lot of reasons, but the most significant is simply that you just cannot get your hands or arms into a position to use waxing products most efficiently or effectively. Instead (and you can go online and search for DIY waxing horror stories if you’d like) you may end up with wax stuck to certain, rather delicate parts of the body, poor results, burns, and the need to go to a professional anyway.

In fact, the writers at Vogue say that “Waxing is best done by an expert…and the long-lasting effects are just one of the reasons why this method has become a firm favorite.”

If you have never had it done, it is not at all complex and the tales of great pain during the procedure are inflated. That’s not to say there isn’t a quick bit of pain, but it lasts for seconds. The way it works is simple: A thin layer of warm wax is applied to the hair you wish to have removed. A thin cloth is placed on top of the hot wax and once it has cooled, a quick pull by the professional removes the unwanted hair.

What this means is that the hair is taken out at the root, not trimmed to the surface of the skin. It is why the treatment lasts a great deal longer and why the area looks and feels much softer and cleaner.

More Waxing Tips

The results are even better if you do a bit of preparation beforehand. The experts say that being hydrated is a key, and ensuring that you have exfoliated the area to help lift ingrown hairs from beneath the surface. You should also note that waxing cannot be done unless there is enough hair for the wax to adhere to, which is around 1/2 an inch. A good waxing should last around three to six weeks, but your professional can offer a touch up waxing in between full sessions to deal with any unsightly spots of regrowth.

Experts say that prices vary, and you can expect to pay around $30 to $35 for a standard process and more when you go for the more comprehensive treatments like Brazilians. NOTE: Many articles and guides also have a big word of advice – do not arrive with a bit of a buzz. Many women (and men) believe that a drink or too might help to alleviate the pain of waxing. It does the opposite, tightening the pores and making it far more uncomfortable than it has to be!  Is this the best bikini hair removal for you?

Related: Eyebrow Maintenance

A Look at Cream Bikini Hair Removers

Also known as depilatory creams, they use chemicals to weaken the hair’s follicle and you can then just wipe or rinse it all away. It is a DIY option that has a reputation as reliable, easy and effective. In fact, some experts say that it is a method that “removes hair just below the surface of the skin, ensuring slower and less coarse regrowth than shaving.” Touted as effective for all areas of the body, it is great for the bikini area, but you will find it lasts for around the same amount of time as shaving, with perhaps a day or two extra between treatments.

However, you get the best and longest lasting results when you choose a depilatory product specifically for the bikini area. These are great for areas that might be hard to reach when shaving, but they do require patience. You need to saturate the area with the product and leave it in place for the required time. You’ll then get the best results if you use any scraping tools that come with the product.

Of course, there is one major caveat, and that is that you absolutely must test the product before applying it, as some people can be sensitive to these products. As one expert advises, ” be aware that not all “depilatories” are safe to use on your vulva or “bikini line”… If you notice redness, swelling, or a rash, it could mean that you’re allergic to the hair remover.”

The costs for these products are also part of their wide appeal as even the premium kits typically run less than $20, with many at $7 or less.

Related: Tips to Get Your Feet Summer Ready

A Look at Laser Hair Removal

This is the ultimate in bikini hair removal. It is the only form of hair removal that’s permanent. It is done with an intense beam of light that goes deep into the uppermost layer of skin and destroys the hair follicle. Without the follicle, the hair cannot re-grow, never to deal with this area ever again.

This is available for hair on almost all parts of the body, but there are some caveats to this treatment. The first is that it is pricey. It runs from $95 to $200 per treatment and you may be required to have up to six of them to get the results you desire. However, if you consider a dozen waxing treatments per year is over $300, and that is every year. Laser treatments are for one season and then done.

Typically, the hair falls out within two to three weeks and does not return. Unfortunately, the lasers target the pigment in the hair. This means anyone who has a darker complexion or very pale hair will be unable to use this method. Otherwise, it causes no problems with the skin, and even those with sensitive skin can have it done.

Some people describe it as a bit painful and that you may need to look for a provider who has the gear to handle your skin and hair color. The best way to approach this is to go for consultations with several providers before making your final choice. They should be board certified in either cosmetic surgery or dermatology and they should have expertise in all forms of laser hair removal.

Preparing for treatment requires the area is shaved (not waxed because the follicle has to be present to absorb the light), and that’s it!  Is this the best bikini hair removal for you?

A Look at Hair Inhibitors

Before we finish looking at the many ways for bikini hair removal for the summer season, we should also look at hair inhibitors. As one beauty writer explains, “Use of hair inhibitors has become prevalent in modern times. These products help to inhibit the growth of new hair so that your need for hair removal is significantly reduced.”

For the most part, these are a wonderful way to find a sort of mid-point between shaving or waxing and laser hair removal. If you feel like you don’t want to be bothered with bi-weekly visits to the salon, shaving every few days (or using cream products) or paying for laser treatments, the hair inhibitors are ideal for bikini hair removal.

They are a topical solution that are usually based on plant enzymes that alter the actual structure of the hair follicle, weakening it to make it cease producing hair. That is why only a few weeks of using most such products leads to less hair and softer or finer hair. However, if you cease using them, hair returns to its normal, coarse condition.

Inhibitors cannot be used on their own. Instead, they are an ideal companion to other bikini hair removal methods. Applied immediately after some sort of hair removal means that the product can hit the follicles directly and get better results.

Note that you can also find prescription strength products that can be obtained only from a doctor or dermatologist. These are usually used for unwanted facial hair and can take months to work when paired with other hair removal methods. We suggest you start with over the counter products to see your results.

Now It’s Time For the Beach!

You now know all you need to know about bikini hair removal, and even a method or two to keep hair from returning quickly. Not all of them are for everyone, but with them you can feel your best when at the beach and showing off the new swimsuit.

More Great Bikini Hair Removal Resources:

11 Things Your Bikini Waxer Wants You to Know

Removing Pubic Hair

5 Secrets Strippers Use to Keep Their Bikini Lines Bump-Free