10 Tips for a Nearly Painless Bikini Wax

POPSUGAR Beauty

Source: 10 Tips For a Nearly Painless Bikini Wax

We're convinced only masochists look forward to a bikini wax, but the thing is, it doesn't have to hurt quite so badly. There are ways you can reduce the pain. If you're new to waxing, start out with a professional to see how it's done. After a few times, you might want to try doing it at home to save a few bucks. Either way, to learn how to keep pain at bay, keep reading.

  • Plan to wax after your period. Your pain threshold is higher in the week after your period than beforehand. Think of it like this: if sappy commercials make you cry when you're premenstrual, having wax applied to your dainty bits certainly will.

  • Lose your self-consciousness. Yes, a stranger is going to see you wearing, at most, a paper thong. Don't worry about offending her or feeling embarrassed. It's nothing she hasn't seen before. The less anxious you are, the less you'll worry about pain.

  • Start off slowly. Your first bikini wax is not the time to try a Brazilian. If you're new to waxing, go with a basic bikini wax. If you want to remove more, there's always next time.

  • Exfoliate. The day before you decide to wax, exfoliate in the shower. This will remove dead skin, allowing the wax to grip shorter hairs.

  • Speak up. A good esthetician will work with you to make sure you're as comfortable as you can be. Don't be too shy to say something if you have a low pain tolerance - it's better to speak up than to suffer in silence.


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  • Use hard wax. Hard wax is gentler than soft wax, so visit a spa that uses it.

  • Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. About an hour before your appointment, take an Advil, Tylenol, or other pain reliever.

  • Breathe. It can be tempting to hold your breath, but breathing in and out helps reduce the pain. Take a deep breath in when the wax goes on, then breathe out when your esthetician gives it a yank.

  • Know which parts are most sensitive. You wouldn't expect it, but having hair pulled from the lower abdomen area is more painful than it is around the vaginal opening.

  • Turn your head and cough. An esthetician at Bliss taught us this trick: when the wax is about to be ripped off, cough. Sounds weird, but it distracts from the pain.



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