Bikini line hair removal is a must to look your best in your swimsuit. But just how are you going to get rid of that hair? Two of the most popular temporary methods for bikini zones are shaving and waxing. We cover the good and bad to cutting it off, or ripping it out.

Bikini Waxing for Hair Removal

Waxing is a popular means for removing hair from the bikini and pubic hair area, because the wax treatment is one of the longer-lasting temporary hair removal procedures. Generally, it’s well tolerated by most women, provided she doesn’t have sensitive skin.

The downside to bikini waxing is that it can be painful, and if a woman has sensitive skin, bikini waxing can leave bumps and red, inflamed skin behind. The bikini area is also prone to infection if waxing is not done properly at a salon. In fact, it’s best to only have waxing done by a salon that is clean, licensed and uses sterilized and/or disposable equipment to perform the wax hair removal from the bikini area.

Shaving Hair Removal

Shaving the hair on the public or bikini area is one method for removing unwanted hair for the swimsuit season. Shaving can work in a pinch, but it doesn’t last as long as waxing, and it can lead to nicks or cuts in the tender bikini area skin, which can lead to infection and irritation, razor burn, or goosebump flesh in a sensitive area.

The upside to shaving the bikini area is that it can be done on the fly, with just a razor and some water when necessary, so it’s good in a pinch. Also, shaving is good for in between salon appointments if called to go to the beach or a poolside party.

Another upside is privacy. Waxing at a salon means exposing intimate parts to a technician, while shaving at home is more discrete. Women should be certain to keep the bikini area clean and dry after shaving, to avoid any irritation or infection from small cuts or nicks from shaving.

Semi-Permanent Hair Removal

Electrolysis is a permanent or semi-permanent hair removal by using heat or chemicals to destroy the area where the hair follicle is grown or created, thus preventing future hair roots from developing. For some women, this is permanent, but others have reported that sometimes new hair follicles do grow. This is more costly than shaving, but if a woman is able to pay for this more expensive treatment upfront, it is less expensive over time than waxing every two weeks to a month.

Electrolysis can take several visits before the hair removal is permanent, and each session takes anywhere from 10-30 minutes. It is, for most women, completely painless and a simple procedure, but some women do experience a tingling or very slight burning sensation.

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is another means of semi-permanent to permanent hair removal. Like electrolysis, laser hair removal can take several sessions, and some women will need touch up treatments once per year for any new hair growth. For other women, 7-14 sessions should be enough to remove the hair permanently. The bikini area is one of the easiest areas for laser hair removal, since it’s easier to laser extract each individual hair than it is on the softer and finer hair of the face or arms.

Choices for Bikini Area Hair Removal

There are many choices for a woman to remove unwanted or unsightly bikini line hair, and each choice has its good and bad points. Every woman will want to use the method that works best for her in the long term, with the least amount of complications and pain.