Curious about bikini waxing?

Taking care of our "bikini" area is not a subject that we women talk much about. Yet it is something that many of us are interested in, and is a whole area of self-care that deserves attention. Attitudes about grooming our pubic hair have changed over the past few years, and attention to this area is as basic for today's woman as keeping her nails trimmed and brows waxed.

Why Wax? Waxing isn't the only way to remove hair "down there," but it is the most popular because it produces the cleanest and most long-lasting results. A recent trend in bikini waxing is to use what's called a "hard wax." My clients all know about this and love it. Hard wax goes on warm, smooth and thick. In less than a minute after application it hardens (hence its name) so that one edge can be gently lifted and then quickly removed along with all the hair. Hard wax is much easier on the skin than sticky waxes, and results in less pain. I use a hard wax on 90% of my bikini waxes, and on 100% of my Brazilian waxes. There are some women whose hair on the abdomen is more easily removed with a cream wax such as I use for legs. But I always switch to the hard wax for the most delicate areas. Personally, I wouldn't allow anyone to remove hair from my most private parts using a strip wax.

What About the Pain? The most common concern about bikini waxing is that it is going to hurt a lot. You may have heard or even experienced horror stories of the pain involved in bikini waxing. But here is where we learn the most important tip -- go to someone who knows what they are doing. The stories you hear about represent people who are using poor quality products and techniques. You should look for someone who does a lot of waxing, has been recommended, and takes pride in reducing irritation. Nobody is going to tell you that waxing feels good, but when done properly the discomfort is so temporary that it is a rare woman who gives up because she can't stand the pain.

How Long Will it Last? Three to four weeks is common, but it really varies on a lot of factors. If it is your first time you will need a touch-up sooner than someone who waxes regularly. The bikini area responds really well to waxing, and you will be amazed at how much less hair comes back in the weeks following. It is typical to have only about 1/3 as much hair grow in after waxing. Like all waxing, the hair in the bikini area needs to grow back to a length of at least 1/4" before it can be waxed. Shorter hair will not adhere to the wax properly.

Why Not Shave? Most women abandon shaving because it irritates the skin and can lead to ingrown hairs that become quite tender and inflammed. They also complain of itching as the hair grows back in. A few electric shavers are available which claim to be designed specifically for the delicate pubic area. If shaving is your preference, it would be worth looking into this. If you use a razor, there are a couple things you can do to reduce irritation. First, always use a sharp razor. Don't let it get dull. You don't want any drag, so also use a slippery shaving cream. And to reduce the possibility of ingrowns, always shave in the same direction of hair growth. Shaving backwards can irritate the hair follicle.

How About Trimming? We really don't need our pubic hair to be as along as it naturally grows, and trimming the hair down to a shorter length is an excellent alternative. I predict you will be pleasantly surprised how this one simple procedure can really improve things. A comb and scissors can do the job, or electric hair clippers can be used. The idea is to trim the hair short but not down to the skin. My preference is between 1/4" and 1/2". This virtually eliminates any worries about ingrown hair that results from hair removal, because the hair isn't being removed. The short length makes keeping the area clean and tidy a real pleasure. I even recommend trimming to women who have basic bikini waxes because the hair that remains can sometimes be so long it pokes out the sides. The hard part of trimming is that it takes some practice to be able to get it even. Its like the first time you try to cut your own bangs. You can botch it up a bit if you're not careful. But don't worry -- it grows back.

Bikini or Brazilian? We don't all get the same haircut and we don't all get the same bikini wax. The amount of hair removal can vary from just a little off the top to taking everything off. That's why its common to see bikini waxing prices listed as a range on a salon menu, such as "$20 and up." To explore the options available to you, consider the following basic definitions.

Basic Bikini Wax Basically we are removing only the hair the extends outside the elastic line of your underwear or swimsuit. Most of the hair removal is at the top of the legs along the sides, but there may be some hair on the inside of the thigh that needs removed. The benefits of this when wearing a swimsuit are obvious, but many women simply appreciate the way they look in their underwear with some of the hair removed. It doesn't involve any particularly sensitive areas, so the pain issue is really negligible. If you are very modest this is a good service because you can keep your underwear on during the entire process.

Modified Bikini Wax Sometimes you want more than just that hairs outside your swimsuit gone. Some women prefer the hair to be in a rectangular strip (called a "landing strip"), while others like a small triangle shape. Around Valentine's Day I get a lot of requests for a heart shape, which is actually pretty cute. You will probably have to remove your underwear for shaping to make sure the design is balanced. Some women have hair that extends further up the abdomen than others and taking a little off the top may be just the ticket. Others have what we call a "tummy trail" of hair that extends up to the navel. This is easy to remove and can make you feel better about the way you look. Note that in all these examples we are removing and shaping hair in the abdomen area. The hair between the legs on the labia is not included in a modified bikini wax.

Brazilian Wax The one defining characteristic about a Brazilian wax is that the hair along the labia and around the rectum is also removed. In the strictest sense, a Brazilian wax removes all of the hair. If you shudder at the thought, then take comfort in knowing that some of those places aren't nearly as tender as you might suspect. Some places are tender, however, and its important to use a waxer with experience and who really cares about your comfort. In order to get areas exposed so they can be waxed with the skin held firmly, be prepared to get into some interesting positions. Your waxer will guide you to the places you can hold, or the positions your leg needs to be in. It's quite a hoot, actually.

Modified Brazilian Wax Having it all gone is good, but sometimes leaving a little hair in front is even better. All of the shaping options available to the modified bikini wax are available to the Brazilian. Rectangles, triangles, hearts, and lightning bolts are a few possibilities for shaping the hair in front. The modified Brazilian really gives you the best of both worlds. You get the shapely design features of a modified bikini wax with the cleanliness and freedom of a Brazilian. If you want some hair left behind, be sure to tell your waxer what you want. Otherwise, if you just ask for a Brazilian, you may get it all removed.

Those who choose to get a Brazilian wax do so for a variety of reasons. Some do it because they or their partner think its sexy. Some do it because they like how clean and soft it makes them feel. Some do it once to see what the fuss is about, and some swear they will never do it. Wherever you fall in the spectrum, I hope that knowing these facts will help your decision.

Judy Zifka, Licensed Esthetician
Cottage Facials

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