Vaginal hair removal or grooming of the bikini line can be tricky sometimes. Not everyone wants to be hair-free or go through a tedious process that’s most likely painful, especially when it comes down to the bikini line. But with the proper knowledge and suitable methods, you can prevent injuries or infections. It needs to be done with the utmost care and while also maintaining proper hygiene. Know more about the different methods of hair removal, tips for a smoother finish and use the guidelines for flawless and perfect body hair removal.
5 Commonly Used Methods For Bikini Line Hair Removal At Home
There are a lot of ways to groom or shave your pubic hair but unless your suffering from some underlying medical condition, the hair will always grow back. Even with the most serious medical treatment, hair removal cannot be made permanent. You can try various ways of bikini hair removal at home or by medical professionals.
1. Shaving
Shaving is one of the easiest ways for pubic hair removal and preferably the best way to remove vaginal hair. All you need is a clean razor and some gel or cream. Be careful not the cut yourself as it could introduce bacteria to that area. You should try and keep a dedicated razor for the public area and thus reduce the chances of that happening. Shaving can also cause temporary irritation, itchiness, or redness.
A short safety guide to shaving properly:
- The razor should be disinfected
- Taking a shower before shaving helps wet the pubic hair, so it’s easily cut
- Using a moisturizer or gel reduces the chances of irritation or breakouts
- Shaving in the direction of the hair growth also reduces chances of ingrown hair
- Rinsing the razor after each swipe helps in better results
2. Tweezing
Tweezing can be a little more painful than shaving and also a little more precise. It also requires few materials and is a lot less messy. You have to be careful not to pull out the hair too forcefully or suddenly as it may lead to injuring your follicles. Tweezing can be time-consuming as it requires removing one hair at a time. It is not as painful as waxing and is efficient for removing hair from smaller areas.
- Your pair of tweezers should be disinfected
- Make sure the lighting is good enough so that you don’t miss any parts
3. Waxing
Waxing can be efficient for removing a large amount of hair at one time. It can be very painful as it is the removal of hair directly from the hair follicles but it can also reduce itchiness as the hair grows back. It is an effective method for bikini line hair removal. Waxing can be done at home easily with various waxing strips and tools available but it’s best to get it done by a professional. People with sensitive skin should maintain a little caution as it can cause redness and irritation after waxing.
- Make sure while waxing the bikini line that the wax isn’t too hot. It could cause burns
- Apply the wax in the direction of the hair growth and then pull it off in the opposite direction
4. Depilatory Creams
Depilatory creams or hair removal creams use chemicals to dissolve their proteins, weakening the base of the hair. Veet is an example of hair removal cream for the bikini area. It is a pretty easy and painless method for bikini hair removal. Unlike waxing or shaving, it is not painful at all and also does not have the risk of cutting yourself. Also, do not leave the cream on for longer than the recommended time because it could cause burns on the skin. However, some people are allergic to the chemicals involved. It is important to test them on small patches of hands or legs before applying them to the whole area. If a reaction develops, the product should not be used.
5. Epilator
Epilator is an electric tool that plucks multiple hairs at once, from the roots. Exfoliate the skin before using an epilator and then loosely hold it and move it in the direction of hair growth. This method is also painful and can cause itchiness and irritation when the hair grows back.
5 Medical Treatments For Vaginal Hair Removal
1. Laser Hair Removal
A doctor or dermatologist uses concentrated laser lights on bare skin down to the hair follicles. The heat weakens and destroys the hair follicles preventing the hair from growing back. It can be done for the removal of hair from any part of the body and also for vaginal hair removal. A person will need to attend 6 to 8 follow-ups sessions with the doctor to stop the hair from re-growing. The laser treatment does not guarantee the absolute removal of all the hair. In rare cases, it can cause purple bumps on the skin like hives or purpura.
2. Electrolysis
This is similar to the laser treatment but here a device called the epilator is used to send radio frequencies into the skin to destroy the hair follicles. This causes the hair to fall off and also prevents the growth of new hair. This treatment targets one hair follicle at one time unlike the laser treatment and so a single session may take up to 15 to 60 minutes. Several follow up sessions are necessary.
3. Diode
This is also a type of laser treatment but a less intense one and can be used for follow up sessions after a few in-office sessions. It works by shooting heat down into the follicle. That increase in temperature either shuts down the follicle completely or causes a long delay in the growth phase after which the hair will grow thinner and lesser.
4. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
These are distant relatives of lasers but a lot safer to use and can be used at home. Like lasers, they also use heat to injure the hair’s root. It shows about 30 to 50 per cent of the reduction of hair.
5. Prescription Medications
Eflornithine, one of the first tropical drugs for the treatment of unwanted hair does not remove the hair but rather slows down its growth. Eflornithine blocks the enzymes responsible for the rapid growth and maturation of hair follicles, slowing the growth of the cells present in the hair follicles.
Important Safety Measures To Follow While Removing Pubic Hair
With a public hair removal method, you can have some side effects or nick yourself if you are not careful enough. Side effects include:
- Itchiness
- Redness and irritation
- Ingrown hairs from shaving
- Allergic reactions to certain creams or gels or the chemicals in depilatory creams
- Inflammation or swelling
- Cuts or nicks from razors used for shaving
- Infections from bacteria entering open cuts
- Inflamed hair follicles or folliculitis
One can take certain precautionary measures or follow safety guidelines to reduce the risks of pubic hair removal at home, like:
- Using clean, disinfected, and sharp tools(razors and scissors)
- Good lighting and mirror is the key to preventing injury
- Patch-testing chemical treatments on legs or arms to check for any allergic reactions
- After removing the hair, make sure to clean the area and look for signs of irritation or infection
- Consulting a licensed dermatologist or skincare professional is the best option
Removal of hair is not something you need to do for any health reasons. It always comes down to one’s personal opinion and preference. Some people prefer to trim or remove their pubic hair by themselves, while others prefer professional service or medical treatments. Taking safety precautions can reduce the risk of injuries or infections. Certain ointments and over-the-counter creams can help relieve minor wounds or issues but immediate medical attention is preferred if the problem persists.
Key Takeaways
- There are no health benefits to bikini hair removal or pubic area hair removal but you may choose to do it
- There are many ways to remove hair from the pubic area
- Using clean tools can prevent bacterial infections
- Use sharp tools to prevent painful aftereffects
- Apply moisturizer or aloe vera after removal of hair
