Bikini wax - Getting Rid of Bikini Hair: Why Waxing is King

The process of waxing a bikini line is pretty simple. Hot wax is applied over the bikini area and a strip of cloth is pressed into the wax. The skin around the strip is pulled as tight as possible, and after a moment, the strip is pulled rapidly off. Hair, wax, and even bits of skin come off with the strip, leaving smooth skin. In some cases, women opt for cold wax, where strips of cloth come with wax already attached. The strips are pressed onto the skin and pulled off - much like a bandage.

Many women are fine with waxing their bikini line at home. If you go this route, remember to pull the strips off fast - hesitating and jerking the strip off will hurt even more and may damage the skin. You will need to use a mirror to ensure that you have a clean, even line. Apply powder to the area afterwards and give yourself a well-deserved rest.

For many women, going to a salon makes a lot of sense for a bikini wax. Professionals can get at spots that are difficult to get at. They can also see you better, so they can tell where little bits of hair are sticking out. At most salons, aestheticians will pluck hairs that are too small to wax (anything under 1/4 inch) and will pluck the wiry hairs that are too tough to wax. It is awkward to go in for a bikini wax, since you are generally there in just your underwear and shirt, but it is the only way to get a perfect bikini wax.

There are several advantages to waxing your bikini line. First, the results last a long time - several weeks, in fact. The actual process takes less time than shaving and produces a much smoother effect. Since wax is made up of fairly simple ingredients (oil, paraffin wax and rosin, usually), there is little chance of chemical or allergic reactions. Some women may take comfort in knowing that both the wax and strips used in waxing are non-toxic and not very harmful to the environment.

That said, the ugly side of bikini waxing is pretty ugly indeed. The bikini line is a tender area and waxing here hurts a great deal. The further inwards you get from the thigh, the more pain there will be. For the least painful bikini wax, get only the hairs outside your underwear done. A badly done bikini wax can be disastrous, leaving skin damage, burns, and even leading to infection. Even a well-done bikini wax may cause skin cracks, bleeding, bumps, itchiness, swelling, and redness. You need to make sure that you go to a clean, reputable salon. If you wax at home, make sure the area in which you will wax is clean. After waxing, use only powder to deal with stickiness for the first few hours, and then keep your skin very clean to prevent infection and irritation.

Still, done properly, a bikini wax gives you worry-free smoothness for weeks.

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Joni McCoy is the author of Hairchick.com, a fun and friendly resource on all types of hair removal for women.