Don’t know how to wax the bikini line with hard wax?
While waxing at home is an excellent option, it requires you to follow a proper procedure to avoid making a mess.
Hard wax is a popular choice among women since it doesn’t require a strip, makes hair uplifting easier, and is specially made for coarse hair.
Let’s dive right in to discuss what you need to wax your bikini line and how to do it for the best results.
Items You Need to Wax Your Bikini Line
First and foremost, you will need a waxing kit. Hard wax is easy to apply because of its smooth texture. Once it hardens, it doesn’t require a strip for removal.
If you invest in a waxing kit, you’ll get your hands on most of the following items right away. However, you might have to buy a few things separately.
- Hard wax
- Wax warmer
- Pre-epilation oil
- Pre-wax cleanser
- Applicators with square edges
- Wax remover
- After-wax lotion
- Gloves
How to Prep for a Waxing Session
Step 1: Trim the Hair
You must be very careful when using hard wax to remove hair from the bikini line. Make sure the length of your hair is at least one-quarter of an inch.
For half-inch length, you should consider using hair clippers to trim the hair. Avoid using scissors for trimming because there’s always the risk of cutting hair too short.
If you don’t want to use hair clippers, you can use an electric razor designed for the bikini line. If your hair is short, wait for a week or two to let it grow.
Step 2: Take a Dose of Ibuprofen
Once you’ve trimmed your hair to the right length, you may take a dose of ibuprofen, at least 30 to 45 minutes before waxing if you feel like it.
Honestly, bikini line waxing is a bit painful, especially if it’s your first time. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory medication that works wonders to reduce pain both during and after the waxing procedure.
For adults, a dose of 400 mg is enough to reduce the pain. Make sure you give it enough time to take effect. If your pain doesn’t go away a few minutes after the procedure, you can take another 400 mg dose.
Step 3: Clean and Exfoliate
Next, you need to hop into the shower and apply the pre-wax cleanser to the target area. Don’t forget to wear gloves before starting.
Follow up with a gentle exfoliator. After rubbing the scrub in gentle circular motions, rinse the area thoroughly with warm water. Once done, pat the area dry.
Then, you need to apply pre-epilation oil that works well with hard wax. While you’re at it, remember less is more. Use just enough oil to smoothen your skin. A few drops should do the trick.
Cleaning your bikini line before starting the waxing procedure minimizes the risk of infection.
Moreover, exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells to reveal soft, smooth skin and expose unwanted hair, making it easier for the wax to grip them.
Step 4: Wear Comfortable Panties
To make waxing easier, consider using a pair of soft, comfortable underwear. It will help you apply the wax in the right area. This will help protect your sensitive area from accidental drips.
The material of the panties matter as it will feel gentle on the skin and reduce the risk of inflammation and irritation.
It is also recommended to fold a paper towel or tissue paper around the elastic band of the panties.
Step 5: Warm Up the Wax
This step involves heating the wax in a microwave or wax warmer. You must check your specific product for proper heating instructions. If you plan on using hot wax for the bikini line, it’s best to invest in a wax warmer.
This portable tool can easily be brought into the bathroom and it helps keep the wax at the right temperature while you’re busy removing your hair.
Ideally, you should warm the wax until you achieve the consistency of honey or warm syrup. It shouldn’t be too thick or too watery.
Once the wax has warmed up, you must give it a good stir with an applicator. Next, apply a little quantity to your forearm to ensure the temperature is right.
If you experience a stinging sensation on the skin, let the wax cool down a little before use.
Lastly, you should find a spot where you can be alone and comfortable throughout the waxing session. You wouldn’t want someone to walk in on you.
Also, you should ideally have a mirror in front of you, so you can see what you’re doing.
It’s Waxing Time!
Follow the steps below for a comfortable waxing experience.
Step 1: Pull the Skin Taut in the Targeted Area
The best way to do bikini line waxing is by working in sections. Wherever you plan to start, pull the skin taut gently with your non-dominant hand.
Sitting in front of a mirror really helps in this regard. You’ll be able to clearly see which sections have been done and which ones still need work.
Step 2: Apply the Wax
The next step is to apply the wax in areas with a 1-inch width and a 3-inch length. Use an applicator stick to dab the wax on the targeted area. The thickness of the wax mark should mimic that of a nickel.
Ideally, you should apply the wax in the direction of your hair growth. This will reduce pain and make the hair removal process easier.
Moreover, make sure you apply the wax slightly past the area of hair growth so that you can quickly grab on the hardened wax when pulling it off.
Step 3: Wait for the Wax to Harden
You’ll have to wait almost 30 seconds for the wax to cool down. It will automatically become stiff, making it easier for you to pull it off.
To check if it has hardened properly, you can tap your fingernail on it. If you hear a noise similar to when you tap on plastic, it’s the right time to rip it off.
Step 4: Pull Off the Hardened Wax
Next, you must pull off the wax in the opposite direction of your hair growth. As you hold on to the hardened wax with your dominant hand, use the non-dominant hand to hold the skin taut.
You need to rip off the wax in a swift motion. Be prepared to experience some stinging – there’s not much you can do about it.
However, rest assured that you’ll get used to it with practice. The key is to pull off the wax in one swift motion.
Step 5: Continue to Apply Wax One Section at a Time
Once you’ve waxed the entire section, move on to the next. It’s okay to take short breaks in between if you feel like it. Avoid waxing large sections just so you can get done with the procedure quickly.
This will only take more time and cause extra pain without even removing the hair properly. Taking baby steps is the way to go!
Step 6: Use Tweezers to Get Rid of Stray Hair
Once you’re done waxing, you’ll likely have some stray hair along the bikini line. No matter how careful you are, the wax might miss some hair strands. You can get rid of them with tweezers.
Make sure you sterilize the tweezers before starting. Apply some alcohol on a cotton ball and wipe the tweezers with it.
Pluck the stray hair one strand at a time. Also, remember to pluck in the same direction as your hair growth for quick results.
Step 7: Remove Wax Residue
Happy with the waxing results?
After you’ve removed all unwanted hair from your bikini line, it’s time to eliminate the wax residue.
The simplest way to go about this is by applying a cleanser or baby oil to the waxed area. Be gentle while doing so to prevent skin irritation.
Waxing kits come with special post-wax cleansers. If you don’t have one, you can rely on baby oil to get the job done.
How to Maintain the Bikini Line
Now that you know how to wax the bikini line with hard wax, let’s talk about maintaining the said area.
Tip# 1: Apply a Coolant
For best waxing results in the long run, you must take proper care of your skin after each session.
For starters, you must apply an aloe vera gel to soothe the freshly waxed skin. This will reduce the chances of skin inflammation and irritation.
Nevertheless, be prepared to experience some redness and soreness in the targeted area for a few hours after waxing. This is totally normal.
Tip # 2: Use a Cortisone Cream
If your bikini line looks inflamed after a waxing session, you can apply a small amount of cortisone cream to get rid of the redness and swelling. It is best to choose a product with 1% cortisone.
Tip # 3: Avoid Direct Sunlight
After a waxing procedure, it is recommended to avoid exposing your bikini line to direct sunlight.
If you want to wax for a beach or pool day out, you must plan the session at least a day before. Your skin requires a few hours to calm down after waxing.
If you go out in the sun with freshly waxed skin, the hot rays will worsen its condition. On top of that, chlorine and saltwater will cause your skin to sting.
Tip # 4: Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate
Ingrown hair is an annoying problem related to waxing. To avoid the growth of pesky hair along the bikini line, you must exfoliate your skin regularly.
Please note that exfoliating right after a waxing session isn’t good since the procedure makes your skin super sensitive and irritated.
It usually takes a couple of days for the tenderness to subside, after which you can apply a gentle exfoliating scrub on the waxed area to get rid of dead skin cells. Make sure you rub the area gently in circular motions and rinse it thoroughly.
Tip # 5: Wax Regularly
For best results, come up with a waxing schedule and follow it religiously. Ideally, you should wax after every 3 to 4 weeks.
If you wait any longer, your hair will be too long. The longer your hair, the more painful the waxing procedure will be!
Another benefit of regular waxing is that it helps your skin get used to the pain. That being said, you must avoid waxing the bikini line before your period. The skin tends to be extra sensitive during that time of the month.
Helpful Waxing Tips
After knowing how to wax the bikini line with hard wax, you must be wondering if there’s something you can do to minimize pain during the procedure.
While there’s no way to completely eliminate the pain, you can follow the tips below to lessen it.
- Make sure you’re well-hydrated before starting the waxing procedure.
- Apply a good-quality moisturizer before waxing to smoothen the skin.
- Take a pain reliever half an hour before waxing.
- You can also apply numbing cream if you’re waxing for the first time and are really concerned about the pain.
- Wear breathable underwear and loose bottoms after waxing to prevent skin irritation.
Additional Tips:
- Apply the wax on a small area, preferably your arm, for temperature testing before using it on the bikini zone.
- Consider shaving the hair in the targeted area a couple of weeks before waxing to make the bikini lines even on both sides. At the time of waxing, you’ll find it easier to remove the hair.
Wrapping It Up
Hard wax is best to get rid of unwanted hair in the bikini region. With the instructions and tips in this guide on how to wax the bikini line with hard wax, you can expect a smooth procedure with little pain.
Make sure you warm the wax to achieve the right temperature before you start waxing. Remove hair from one section at a time for best results.
Waxing the bikini line requires a lot of patience and precision, so make sure you’re well prepared to do the job and have a comfortable spot for it.
Best of luck!