The Secrets to Getting a Perfect Bikini Line at Home

Cosmopolitan.com

We're stoked that summer is just around the corner: That means sunshine, beach bashes, flirty summer fashion, and cute guys galore. What we're not so excited about is getting ready to bare it all in our adorable bikinis - a flawless bikini line is essential, but upkeep is, well, painful. We got the lowdown on all the latest news in hair removal - plus some basic tricks you may not be aware of.

You Don't Have to Suffer (So Much) Anymore
Previously, you needed a prescription to get your hands on skin-numbing products for waxing, but a new crop of topical creams and sprays containing lidocaine and benzocaine is now available over the counter. Applying 15 to 20 minutes before you're ready to rip - or be ripped - will significantly reduce the ouch factor. Try GiGi Anesthetic Numbing Spray, $12, and LMX 4%, $47. Tip: Ask around. Certain salons are better than others at removing hair painlessly.

Hair Inhibitors Are Flooding the Market
A slew of new products contain capislow, a plant extract that reduces hair regrowth by slowing down the metabolic activity involved in the hair's anagen growth process. It won't make you totally hairless, but if applied twice a day for a month, you'll be able to shave or wax less often. New products that contain it: Completely Bare Completely Smooth, $80, and Noxzema Soothe and Smooth 3-in-1 Bikini Area Relief, $6. Tip: These beauty products will change your life.

If You Decide to Shave

  • Make sure your blade is sharp and clean. We like the new crop of high-performance tools: Gillette Venus Vibrance razor, $10, stimulates your hair to stand up (like goose bumps) so the blade slices the hair extra close to your skin.

  • Try a transparent shaving gel. They allow you to see clearly where you're going. Some options: King of Shaves AlphaGel, $6, and Tend Skin Air Shave Gel, $16.

  • To reduce irritation, shave in the direction of hair growth. It's also wise to defuzz at the end of your shower so that the steam has softened your hair and skin.

  • Prevent razor rash with a toner containing witch hazel or rosemary. If you still get bumps, try the antibiotic ointment Neosporin; your follicles could be infected.

If You Decide to Wax

  • Make sure your hair is at least one-quarter-inch long before you wax. Tip: Tweezing between waxes is best for dealing with regrowth.

  • Mist on an OTC number or pop an ibuprofen 20 minutes before you start, to minimize the pain. Veet Comfort Waxing Kit, $9, comes with a spray.

  • Sprinkle on baby powder to remove moisture so the wax adheres to the hair, not your skin, says Iwona Kwansiak, head aesthetician at the Repêchage Spa de Beauté NYC.

  • Want to go for a Brazilian-style look? Choose a hard wax formula. (It'll say so on the box.) It grabs coarse hair best. Try Sally Hansen All-Over Wax Kit, $10.

  • After the deed is done, disinfect the area with hydrogen peroxide or an alcohol-free astringent, then ease irritation with an aloe-rich lotion like Clinique Aloe Body Balm, $16.50.

Beauty Alert
Going for a superbare Brazilian effect? Steer clear of depilatory creams, says Ava Shamban, an L.A. dermatologist. "They're fine for the outer edges of your bikini line but can give the sensitive inner areas a chemical burn."

Bikini Bumps Begone!
Don't let ugly ingrowns ruin an otherwise stellar bikini line. These painful red pumps occur when a hair coils up under the skin while it's growing back after you've shaved or waxed, causing a zitlike mound, says Dr. Shamban. To purge the hair from the bump: Exfoliate using a gentle slougher, like Derma-New Crystal Resurfacing Soap, $20 - it will eventually whisk away the skin that's trapping the hair, says Mona Sappenfield, owner of Mona's Spa and Laser Center in Memphis. You can also spot treat it with zit cream. Resist the urge to perform DIY surgery; the bump could get infected.

What's your hair removal method of choice? Would you consider waxing at home?

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.