Studio Cavia / Stocksy
In This Article
Pick Your Wax
Prepare Your Body
Prepare Your Skin
Apply Your Wax
Repeat the Process
Soothe Your Skin
Practice Proper Aftercare
Have you ever thought about waxing your bikini area on your own? A DIY wax will certainly save you money, but it can also be intimidating and, frankly, a bit frightening.
But what if we told you it doesnt have to be? With the proper materials and a little patience, you can get smooth skin and save a hefty chunk of change. Ahead, with the help of pro waxer Natalie Ismiel, board-certified plastic surgeon Michael Horn, MD, and board-certified dermatologist Shilpi Khetarpal, weve compiled a list of helpful tips for DIY-ing a bikini wax.Read on for your best at-home bikini wax ever.
Meet the Expert
Natalie Ismiel is a professional waxer and a brand ambassador for Nads.
Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, FAAD, is a dermatologist with the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
Michael Horn, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Chicago.
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Pick Your Wax
The most important product to invest in for a DIY bikini wax is wax formulated specifically for that sensitive area. "You should make sure that you are using a product that specifically states that its suitable for Brazilian waxing and the bikini area, as these formulas are gentler to the skin," says Ismiel.
She recommends buying a wax kit that is applied with a spatula as opposed to ready-to-use wax strips. "With wax kits, you have more control over the areas you want to apply wax," she says. "They also help to ensure you apply the wax thickly and evenly over the area, which is especially necessary for coarser hair." She suggests Nads Brazilian & Bikini Wax Kit ($11), a hard wax formulated with beeswax for delicate skin. "Its also gentle and can help skin stay smooth and hair free for up to eight weeks."
As for traditional wax versus sugaring, "both... remove the hair from the follicle, so which method to use comes down to personal preference," Khetarpal says.
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Prepare Your Body
"Avoid drinking significant amounts of alcohol or coffee before waxing, as it can tighten your pores and feel painful," advises Ismiel. "Its best not to wax during your period, as you will likely be more sensitive and prone to experience discomfort. You should also avoid bikini waxing if you take oral retinoids or use topical Retin-A."
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Prepare Your Skin
"The first rule of waxing body hair: Always exfoliate first," says Ismiel. "A well-timed scrub has plenty of benefits. It removes dead skin cells that block the hair follicle, the cause of undesirable ingrown hairs. Exfoliating also boosts circulation, encourages cell regeneration, and improves skin tone and appearance."
Then, Ismiel says to prepare the skin by "ensuring the area is clean, dry, and free of oils and moisturizers."
Hair should be a minimum of 1/8 inch long for a wax, notes Khetarpal. "It is best to let the hair grow 3-4 weeks before waxing. If the hair is too short, it may not be removed with waxing," she says.
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Apply Your Wax
Follow the instructions for your wax kit and apply the wax evenly to a section about three inches long and two inches wide, with the thickness of a nickel. Apply with the direction of hair growth, and dont stop at the edge of where the hair grows; go past that point.
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Remove the Wax
Check the wax to see if its hard after about 30 seconds; it should sound like youre tapping hard plastic with your fingernail. The wax will dull as it hardens and wont be tacky. If the wax isnt hard enough when removed, it wont remove all the hair.
When the wax has hardened, lightly flick up a small part that isnt attached to hair; youll want to use this as a tab. Hold your skin taut with one hand and remove the wax in the opposite direction of hair growth in one quick pull, just as you would pull off a bandage. Dont pull up, which might be your natural inclination.
Immediately after you remove the wax, press your hand down on your skin to help relieve some of the pain.
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Repeat the Process
Work your way around, waxing the bikini area, using the same process until all the hair is removed. If the wax has missed a few hairs (and it probably has), remove them with a tweezer sterilized with rubbing alcohol.
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Soothe Your Skin
When youre satisfied that all the hair in the bikini area has been removed, use the wax remover in the kit to get rid of any remaining residue. Your skin will probably be a bit red and painful; use an aloe-based gel to calm it down—or, if none is available, just open the freezer. "If the skin is sensitive after waxing, you can use ice," says Khetarpal.
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Practice Proper Aftercare
Just as proper preparation can lead to a better result, practicing good bikini wax aftercare can drastically reduce ingrown hairs, itchiness, and discomfort. "After 24 hours, it is crucial to exfoliate your skin every day to avoid ingrown hairs," advises Ismiel. As Horn explains, waxing can "leave a hair fragment under the skin surface [and] when a hair penetrates your skin, your skin reacts as it would to a foreign body, becoming inflamed." Exfoliating helps prevent this. You can also turn to a product like Nads Ingrown Solution ($12), which contains soothing aloe and green tea extract, suitable for minimizing ingrown hairs, irritation, redness, and bumps by reducing the build-up of dead cells that can block pores.
"Be gentle with the skin," advises Khetarpal. "Avoid direct sunlight, medicated cleansers, or acne washes for at least one week after waxing. After waxing, wear loose clothing and minimize friction to the area (i.e., exercise) until the skin looks and feels normal, which can be several days." Ismiel echoes that some fabrics can irritate newly waxed skin: "Opt for light cotton panties, as opposed to lace or nylon," she says. "If you think you want to stick to waxing, try not to shave between waxes to reduce irritation and ingrown hairs." She adds to steer away from fragrances or fragranced creams.