So, the summers are here and you have done all that you could do to look fabulous in your sexy swimsuit. Or, wait, have you? Do you have questions which are unanswered relating to bikini waxing? Well here is where you will get all your answers!
What is bikini line?
A bikini line is an imaginary line which covers your bottoms and goes around the pubic area at the front. More simply, it is the body area lying around the outline of your panty.
So why is removal of hair around this area necessary?
The pubic hair showing from beneath your swim suit or bikini is considered to be gross, to say the least. Not only is it unaesthetic, unappealing it can be quite an eyesore too. No wonder then, most women go through pains to get it removed. While removal of hair by using razors or electric epilators and even hair removal creams is usually painless and can be done in the privacy of your home, the results are often far from satisfactory as the hair tends to grow back in no time and the area becomes rough to touch and feel and may become itchy too.
The best solution therefore is to wax the bikini line.
What is waxing?
Waxing involves removal of hair by applying warm to hot beeswax or cosmetic wax on the intended area, pressing a waxing strip against the skin and pulling the strip in the opposite direction to remove all the hair. While most of us cringe at the thought of the pain that the process of waxing causes, it is almost always that we forget all of it and feel motivated to go through it all over again, after seeing the flawless and smooth skin and the slow growth of hair post the process.
Types of Bikini Wax
Your pelvic and pubic area, lower abdomen, buttocks and the crack of your bottoms are all the areas which fall within the definition of the bikini line and may need to be waxed when you wear a swimming suit. Depending upon what area is waxed, there are chiefly three kinds of Bikini wax.
American wax
American Waxing is the most common of all. It involves removal of hair on body parts which are visible such as the upper thighs, around the outer pelvic area, lower abdomen and around the buttocks. If you have noticed, these are the very areas which are exposed in most of the swim wear. Hair around the pelvic and pubic area is usually trimmed into a short crop and not waxed. This kind of waxing is great if you intend wearing one piece swim suit or boy shorts, which covers your upper thighs, buttocks and pelvic area.
French wax or playboy wax
French Waxing or playboy wax refers to removal of hair completely from the bikini line area, any hair which may be even remotely visible and not covered by the bikini is waxed and only a thin line of hair is left at the front. This thin strip of hair, predictably known as the landing strip may be left in different shapes such as the triangle or any other funky pattern. This is great to indulge in if you plan on wearing bikini bottoms which are not very wide.
Brazilian wax
Brazilian Waxing Is removal of complete hair from all the areas as mentioned above. This is often also referred to as the Sphinx and Hollywood. You should get this kind of waxing done if you intend wearing thongs or G strings.
Precautions to take before, during and after the bikini wax process
Bikini waxing, especially the French and Brazilian variety could be painful and may put you out of your comfort zone. Some of these tips can help you feel better before, during and after the process.
- Mentally preparing yourself for the waxing session, if it is your first time goes a long way in reducing your anxiety levels before the process. Gather all the information that you can on the topic – talk to friends and family, read up on the net, talk to your salon specialist etc. Clarify all doubts.
- Choose a salon which specialises in such waxing as the process does require considerable amount of expertise. A bad experience may put you off the entire process for a long long time and hence enough importance needs to be given to the kind of salon you choose – well trained staff, cleanliness, comfortable and welcoming environment are just a few things that you should look for.
- If you have sensitive and allergy prone skin, a patch test is strongly recommended atleast 6-8 hours before the process. This could be done perhaps on a less sensitive area such as the lower abdomen or upper thigh to ensure that you are not allergic to the materials being used.
- On the day of the waxing, trim your pubic hair to keep it short and easy to remove, also less painful. Have a good bath and clean the area well with mild soap and water. This will give you the confidence of stripping down to almost nothing in front of the salon staff.
- Do not apply any sort of moisturizing lotions or oils as these make the removal of hair process difficult. The drier the area, the less painful it would be and the easier it would be to pull out the hair.
- Some salons suggest popping in a pain killer half an hour before the scheduled time to reduce the pain. Decide on whether you would like to take a pain killer depending upon your pain bearing capacity. If you are sensitive to caffeine, avoid it.
- During the process, try and cooperate as much as possible with the salon staff. Be specific with what you want and take a break if you find the pain unbearable.
- Once the waxing is done, wipe the area with a warm, sterilised towel to remove any sort of infection danger. Hair growth can be delayed by application of a hair inhibitor and a soothing lotion to reduce any irritation.
- Avoid tight underwear, rough scrubbing surfaces such as loofahs and any friction causing clothing at least 24-48 hours after the waxing process.
- Last but not the least, examine the waxed area from time to time for at least 1-2 days after the process for any ingrowths or infection and consult a dermatologist at the slightest hint of an infection.
The key to looking good in a swimsuit apart from a great body is confidence. Proper waxing technique helps you build that confidence!
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