If you’ve had enough of frequent shaving and the constant itching that often goes with it, and you don’t have the time or money for a salon, you might have thought about trying a home bikini wax. Here are some tips to help your bikini waxing go smoothly. First, exfoliate and make sure the area is clean. Large amounts of bacteria live in the bikini area and you don’t want them getting into the exposed hair follicles after your bikini waxing.

Make sure the bikini area is bone dry before you begin. Sprinkling baby powder over the area is another good way to make sure it’s dry. Bikini wax won’t stick properly to wet skin. Nor will it pull out very short hairs. You will have to wait ‘til they are around quarter of an inch long if you’ve had a bikini wax recently. On the other hand, hair shouldn’t be too long. Trim it if it is. As we’re getting closer to the pain part, this is a good time to remind you to take a couple of painkillers before you start waxing. You could also try one of the numbing creams or sprays, which are now available.

Waxing kits are many. Hard wax formulas, cold waxes, and sugar waxes are among them. You can even make the wax yourself. Do some research to find one that’s right for you. Some claim to be suitable for a Brazilian wax, but actually you should never attempt a Brazilian wax at home. Whichever bikini wax you choose make sure you pull hairs out by their roots to reduce the risk of ingrown hairs. If this is your first bikini wax, bear in mind that this is the most it’s going to hurt. Waxing weakens the hair follicles so hair re-growth is less prolific with each treatment. Eventually, you may find you don’t need to bikini wax very often at all.

After waxing, calamine lotion will soothe the area. Don’t wear tight-fitting clothes or underwear until any redness or pain has gone. Waxing lasts for about four weeks.