We don’t like to talk about it but getting rid of those unsightly hairs around the edges of our costume lines aren’t fun!
I’ve have officially tried it all – Shave, tweeze, wax, laser, creams/ depilatories and epilators. So I am going to take you on a run down on my thoughts about the different options and my pros and cons to them all.

Let’s start with the old shave. Now I shave my legs but I have never been a huge fan on shaving my bikini line. I don’t know why, probably the thought of something sharp there freaks me out and I am clumsy, but I’ve only done this a few times in my teen years.

Pros: it’s cheap, quick, and effective.
Cons: Can cause razor rash and ingrown hairs, grows back quickly and the hair gets coarse.

How: Trim the hair first with scissors if you need to, this will make it easier to shave. Exfoliate the area (helps prevent ingrown hairs). Find a lady shaving cream, or if you are out try use a good dollop of conditioner, and pick a razor that advertises that it is for sensitive skin. I’ve been told guy razors for sensitive skin is really good as well but if I was going for a normal shaver I would prob go for the Schick Intuition Sensitive Care (R69.95 at Woolies) as it has a special soap bar around the blades that creates a lather when you shave, its specially formulated for sensitive skin (you can’t get more sensitive than there)! If you have very sensitive skin then shave with the grain. Afterwards I would put on paper powder (after I dried myself) to absorb any additional moisture and reduce friction on my clothes.

There are also lady shavers out there that work quite well. I have the Braun Silk & Soft Shaver & Trimmer. I can’t remember how much I paid for this as I’ve had it for years. I used to use the shaving function as it was quick and easy and I preferred it to a normal razor but now I use it to just trim the hair there to keep everything neat as I have chosen a different option to shaving. The great thing about these products is that they are safer (its really hard to cut yourself ) as they have protected heads and they also come with attachments so you can choose how long/short you want the hair.

Tweezing is something I only do when I have a rouge hair or when I forgot to sort out the area and in a rush. I would put on my bikini, and quickly pluck any hairs that fell outside my bikini bottoms. It isn’t that sore as it is only one at a time but I would not choose to do this constantly.

Pros: Cheap, no ingrown hairs, easy to do
Cons: Takes forever if you are doing the full area and is painful

Depilatories are hair removal creams which cause the hair to dissolve allowing you to wipe away the unwanted hair. I have tried these in the past and never been happy with the result. My skin smells funny afterwards, it is never as smooth as the TV says it is and the chemicals can be bad for your skin. I know it works for some people, I guess my hair is stubborn like the rest of me, and it really is pain free – unless you have a reaction to the chemicals. I have tried Epil Stop & Spray (R179.95 at Homemark ) and Veet ( depends on which product +- R50-R70 ) recently. I do not like the Epil Stop & Spray and would not recommend it – smelly and didn’t work well at all! Veet is the best one I have come across and they have great in shower ones and the 3 minute cream comes with a great lil spatula.

How to use: Try on a sensitive area first, I normally inside of my arm, to test else you might get a nasty rash. Put the cream on, wait 3-5 minutes (not more than 6 mins) and then gently remove cream with the provided spatula. Do a small area first to see if hair is getting removed and if it comes away easily continue. Thoroughly was the skin afterwards.
Pros: pain free, hair grows back slower than shaving or the stubbly regrowth
Cons: Not always very smooth, creams can be expensive, not pleasant smell; can have bad reaction on sensitive skin.

Epilators are big now too. I bought mine a year ago from clicks, it’s a rechargeable Veet one I think I paid R399 but I am not too sure ). What is an epilator you ask? Well it’s an electrical device used to remove hair by grasping multiple hairs simultaneously and pulling them out. The way in which epilators pull out hair is kinda the same as waxing, but they do not remove cells from the epithelium of the epidermis. Epilation can be painful to some people because, as with waxing, it involves pulling hair out of the roots. Because of the pain involved being particularly bad on the first epilation of an area, some people prefer to have the area professionally waxed first, then use epilation to remove regrowth. The machine is washable and easy to use, mine even comes with a lil light to show up any stray hairs. To be honest, I don’t use this too often. Its kinda sore but you get used it plus you can buy their numbing spray (spray on the area, or with the bikini spray onto cotton wool and then softly apply to the area) which does help. It gets easier each time you do it and it isn’t as sore as waxing but does take longer. Mine lil machine came with an extra head piece especially for the bikini line – smaller area. Just remember, on your first time, it sounds scarier than it really is ( makes a wizzing sound that sounds like my dentist’s drill ). You can also get your bikini done by epilator by professionals at a Spa, I recently saw it on a menu at the Amani Spa in Sandton.

Pros: Can last up to four weeks without regrowth, not as painful as waxing and you can do it easily yourself. Unlike waxing where it can be tricky to get to some areas. Also less messy than waxing.
Cons: Can be painful, not as quick as waxing. Initial cost quite high as you need to buy the machine.

Waxing is my choice for bikini and under arms, well… a combination at the moment as I am doing laser treatments. Depending on what wax you use, what type of wax style you go for etc… depends on your own preference. Last week I went for my first Brazilian wax and it was painful in the areas I hadn’t waxed before, it wasn’t as bad as I thought.
So what is waxing? It removes the hair from the root. New hair will not grow back in the previously waxed area for two to eight weeks. There are different types: Strip waxing is accomplished by spreading a wax combination thinly over the skin. A cloth or paper strip is then pressed on the top and ripped off with a quick movement against the direction of hair growth.[1] This removes the wax along with the hair. You can also buy wax strips which has the wax attached to the paper/plastic strip already for easy use. Hot waxing utilizes Hot wax (as opposed to strip wax). In this case, the wax is applied somewhat thickly and with no cloth or paper strips. The wax then hardens when it cools, thus allowing the easy removal by a therapist without the aid of cloths. This waxing method is very beneficial to people who have sensitive skin.

I prefer hot wax and although I have a pot at home (Veet’s hot wax) I don’t use it on my bikini area, only for my eyebrows and lip ( yes, I have dark hair and can grow moustache sometime ! ). I used to use the Veet ready to use wax strips for my bikini area years ago for just the bikini line but now have decided to try lazer etc.

If you have never waxed there before, I would recommend you go to a spa and get it done. If you are worried about showing so much of yourself to a stranger, go for the plain bikini wax – they will give you a little paper g-string or panty to use and work around it. These people are pro’s and they know what they are doing….it’s a lot less painful when they are doing it. Some therapists are better than others so ask a friend who they recommend. Cost, well this depends if you buy the wax and do it yourself (R50-R150 depends on what you get and type of kit) or go to a spa (R80-R250) depending on the spa and style you go for.

Pros: no ingrown hairs, quick
Cons: can be messy, painful

Laser is my new friend! Ok, so it’s not laser I am doing but rather IPL but I call it that as that’s what most refer it to. I get laser under my arms and my bikini line currently and straight after I get the hairs waxed. This is quite pricey, I was paying R900 per area each session but I have recently seen that there is a place that charges R380 per area, no matter which area (legs eleven) and will try them soon.

What does it feel like? Some areas I don’t feel a thing whilst others it’s like a small rubber band flicks ( no, not like your irritating younger brokers snapping them at you ) and way less painful than waxing. You will need 4-8 treatments for permanent hair removal and you will notice how much thinner and less hair grows back each time. First time it will take 4 weeks to grow back and by the last few it takes 4 months. Please note that everyone has different hair and this works faster and better on some than others.

Pros: after your sessions it is permanent, you might have new hairs and have maintenance one o year or 6 months but that’s nothing. Not as painful, no ingrown hairs.
Cons: Costly and some people’s hair doesn’t take to it as well. Darker hair is better.

Ok so now to shapes and styles. I always went for a normal bikini line and trimmed the hair to keep it neat but last week I went for my first Brazilian and although it was painful it is worth it. I must admit though I chickened out last moment and didn’t do all the way to the back so technically I think it’s called a French bikini as I didn’t get my bum done.
So in light of my new style, I’ll go through the different options out there as if you anything like me you will worry about booking the wrong style and getting a nasty surprise.
Bikini line: This is the least extreme form. All pubic hair covered by the bikini is left in place. Only straggling hairs on either side are removed, so that none is visible when a bikini with high-cut sides is being worn.
French Bikini Wax: Takes all hair off the in the front (except a small strip) and continues to right before the back. It doesn’t take hair off from the back like a Brazilian.
When to choose: You want the area basically pretty smooth with most hair removed, but don’t want to take any hair away from your behind.
Brazilian Bikini Wax: Takes all hair off the bikini line, front all the way to the back (yes your bum as well). Sometimes a small landing strip or triangle is left in the front.
When to choose: The perfect option if you wear a thong, or want to be completely or almost hairless in front and back.
Hollywood: Where a Brazilian may leave you with some hair left, a Hollywood removes all of it. The bottom line, you won’t have any genital hair left.
When to choose: You absolutely don’t want any hair in the front, in-between or in the back.

Remember, if you decide to go to a spa – you’re in control of your service so tell the spa therapist your preferences of where and how much hair you want removed or left. I normally tell them what I want and they ask me to check as we go along. Don’t feel embarrassed, these people are pros and you can get that perfect beauty look!

Article by: Hayley Vann http://www.beautybulletin.com/blog-directory/our-bloggers/hayley-vann