Laura Skin Care

Every woman knows the struggle of figuring out how to get her bikini area ready for summer. As the warm weather approaches and it’s time to hit the beach, the only thing that stands between you and that perfect swimsuit is unsightly hair “down there” – and you know that you have to get rid of it. Thankfully, there are numerous methods at your disposal, many of them easy and cost-effective remedies that you can do yourself at home. Among these, waxing and shaving are the two most popular methods of removing hair from the bikini area, but despite their similar function, these two processes are almost entirely different. Deciding which to use comes with understanding the difference and knowing the pros and cons of each, so that you can choose whichever one works better with your lifestyle.

Shaving uses a sharp razor to cut the hair at the layer of the skin, leaving the hair root; thus, the hair can still grow and is not “removed”, only trimmed. Waxing, on the other hand, uses a sticky wax to pull the hair out by the root; in the bikini area, waxing is usually done without strips, using a wax that cools quickly so that you can apply it when it’s soft and tear it off once it has solidified somewhat.

The benefits of shaving are primarily ease and lack of pain; using a razor means that simply a few swipes can remove most of the hair you want to target, and that this can be done without feeling any pain (since the hair is just cut, not pulled out, you don’t feel anything during the process). Furthermore, it is generally easier to shape the hair in the bikini area when using a razor rather than wax. However, in many cases shaving can cause itchy and swollen bumps in the pubic area due to the sensitivity of the skin; this discomfort turns many people off from the idea of shaving. Furthermore, shaving only cuts the hair short, so it regrows within 3-4 days and has to be shaved again. And shaving frequently over a long period of time is not recommended because it can cause ingrown hairs and other damaging effects.

Waxing, on the other hand, is sometimes avoided due to pain concerns. Pulling hair out by the root causes a stinging and burning sensation and can leave temporary redness in the area. However, the effects last much longer because the hair is fully removed, and thus takes 3-4 weeks to fully grow back. Ultimately, waxing is recommended for those with more sensitive skin, while shaving can be used by those who can tolerate the irritation it leaves behind (or avoid the irritation by using lotions and oils).