As an experienced waxer, I’m dedicating this post to on how to prepare and prevent a bad bikini wax. Here are my top tips:

1. Do NOT try waxing yourself. It might seem like a good idea, (less embarrassing, cost-cutting) but believe me it’s not…

Myth: It’s cheaper.

Fact: All the necessary supplies will cost you around $45 (including those cute little “Poetic Waxing” kits), which is around what you’d pay in a salon. ‘But I’ll be able to do it more than just once, so I’ll save $ eventually, right?’ Wrong! You won’t attempt to wax yourself more than once or twice. Why? It’s impossible to give yourself a good wax, especially in that area. You end up not getting off all the wax on the first rip and having to redo the same over and over. Before you know it, you’re in scabs. I’ve heard more than a dozen horror cases.  Skip the hassle and schedule an appointment. Aim for the week after your period. Your pain threshold is lowest the week prior and during your period, so best to avoid these times.

2. Do Your Research. Trust me, you’ll pay for it if you don’t. Bikini waxing is not the type of thing you want to do on the fly or at just any salon. Getting an experienced aesthetician who knows what they’re doing makes ALL the difference. Good waxers are fast (which means less pain for you) and can do large areas at once. The best way to find a good waxer is word of mouth. If you don’t know of one, start asking around. Post a comment below if you need help and someone here at INPT may be able to recommend someone. Be sure to get the name of the actual aesthetician, not just the salon. Talent within salons can vary greatly, I’ve learned from experience.

3. Start prepping two weeks in advance. You might think this sounds crazy, but it’s true. You should start growing out the hair in the region at least two weeks in advance, maybe even longer if your hair grows slowly. The hair should be at least ¼ of an inch. You’ll also want to start exfoliating daily. This will help reduce the amount of ingrown hairs you get, which means you’ll stay smoother longer.

Products to help exfoliate:

PFB Vanish Skin Treatment, available for $19.95 at Folica.com

Salux Nylon Japanese Beauty Skin Bath Wash Cloth, available for $3.50 on Amazon.com

4. Increase the amount of water you’re drinking to ensure you’re properly hydrated. Waxing Guru Cynthia Esser-Thorin (owner of the famous Pink Cheeks in Sherman Oaks, CA,) says dehydration can increase the amount of pain you feel and can also lead to bleeding. So don’t go in after a night of drinking and avoid salty foods the night before your appointment.

5. On the day of your appointment, shower as usual, but don’t apply lotion to the area being waxed. This will prevent the wax from sticking. Wear loose-fitting clothing and cotton undies and take ibuprofen about 30 minutes before your appointment. This will help with the pain.

6. If you know you’re really prone to ingrown hairs, invest in either PFB Vanish Skin Treatment or PrinceReigns Ingrown Hair Serum, which is $28 on Amazon.com. I use both. The PFB tends to really dry out your skin but is great for exfoliating. The PrinceReigns serum is a little less harsh, but quite effective at bringing down inflammation. Apply the serum a couple hours after being waxed. (Caution: May sting!)

7. Don’t forget to continue exfoliating the area every day after you have it waxed to keep it super smooth and free from ingrown hairs. I like to treat to a yummy sugar scrub after a painful wax. My favorite is this pear sugar scrub by DANI natural skin care. It smells and feels delicious.

I hope you found these tips helpful. Though it’s painful, I’ve found waxing the best way to maintain my bikini line. It hurts less over time and lasts much longer than shaving. Shaving leaves stubble and red bumps and can sometimes hurt if you do it right before going in the water.

If you have any questions or would like to share any of your tips, please feel free to leave a comment below or you can email me at trendspotter@ineedprettythings.com

Also if you know of a great waxer leave their name and salon below.

Until next time,

Trendspotter