Tips for a Bikini Wax

If you are getting a bikini wax for the first time, you may be a little nervous. Getting the answers to common bikini wax questions can relieve your anxiety and help you know what to expect.

What Is a Bikini Wax?
A bikini wax is the process of using hot or cold wax to remove the hair from your bikini area, which is everywhere that is covered by your swimsuit bottom or panties. That includes the hair on both your front side and your backside, leaving you with smooth, hairless skin underneath your panties.

There are three types of bikini waxes: hot, warm or cold wax. Hot wax tends to be the preferred method, especially if you have your bikini wax done in a salon. The heat from the hot wax helps open the hair follicle and soften the surrounding skin, so the hair lets loose and is easier to remove. Cold waxing is preferred by women who are particularly sensitive, and it can be a good idea if you are doing a bikini wax at home. Warm wax is a happy medium; it works better than cold wax, but isn't as hot as a hot wax. Cold wax techniques sometimes bypass the use of a cloth strip. Instead, you peel up a corner of the wax and just pull.

There is another option known as "sugaring" that doesn't use a wax, but a sticky sugary substance that has honey, molasses, sugar and other organic ingredients. It makes for an easy cleanup and the results are equal to waxing.

When you use the hot wax method, the wax (usually paraffin or beeswax) is heated and then applied to the area where you want to remove the hair. Next, a piece of cloth, often muslin, is applied on top of the wax and firmly pressed down. This allows the wax to spread evenly across the area and surround each hair. After the wax has cooled, the cloth strip is removed in a quick, smooth yank, and the hair comes off with the wax.

Home or Salon?
You can purchase at-home wax removal kits and do your own bikini wax. Remember to follow the directions to the letter. It is also a good idea to consider a cold wax for an at-home bikini wax to avoid burns.

However, it is usually recommended that you get your first wax at a salon. A technician can also ask you questions about your skin type and can figure out the most effective procedure for you.

The cost of a bikini wax will vary, but expect it to run between $25 and $100. Yes, this is a huge price variation, but it really depends on where you live and what type of salon you visit. If you choose to buy an at-home kit, you will probably spend about $15 to $25 for a one-use kit and upwards of $75 for a professional wax pot with everything you need for several waxes.

One huge advantage that waxing has over shaving or hair removal creams is that waxing will keep you hair-free for four to six weeks, rather than just a few days. Shaving and creams simply remove hair at the surface, but waxing removes the entire hair, including the root.