Lovelyish

You can get ingrown hairs from waxing.  But it does look nicer longer than shaving, that’s for sure.

I prefer to wear something that keeps me covered so I don’t have to worry about it. 

if you try constantly exfoliating, shaving can last up to a few days. i tried waxing once…never again. haha it made me cry.

I’ve heard that waxing’s the better option. Lasts longer, too. Regrowth after a shave is a bitch.

My older sister once got her bikini area waxed once. She said that she couldn’t feel it because she took a pain killer before hand. Also, she got it done by her gyno. Me, I would rather wax. I don’t like how itchy it gets after shaving.

Exfoliate, shave with conditioner, moisturize. It works for me but if you still get bumps after doing that a few times then try waxing. I’ve never tried it myself but it may work out well for you.

waxing is a better option because it lasts longer and there’s no uncomfortable razor burn. yes, it hurts a little bit (after all, that is some of the most delicate tissue down there) but after the first few strips, the whole area is numb so you won’t even feel the rest. or just take a painkiller. and no, you don’t get ingrowns from waxing… you get ingrowns from shaving. be sure to gently exfoliate the area before getting the wax done.

also, i know you said you were doing this because you were going on vacation, but to anyone who wants to remove the hair for the purposes of being seen by uhh… a man, then DEFINITELY wax. trust me, you don’t want a man to see a red rash in that area… totally embarrassing!

I’ve never waxed there before, but I’d like to try it.  The idea of having less maintenance to do and none of those little shaving bumps showing up is definitely appealing.
And hey, the more you do it, the less it’ll hurt.

This is going to sound very, very odd… but I don’t shave *or* wax in that area…

I use Veet.

*Only* on my pubis, though – that’s the part that you can see when you stand up with your feet right next to each other.

It works pretty well, but do NOT let it get on any sensitive skin. It BUUUUURNS.

So I Veet the main stuff away and gently shave the rest. I don’t get ingrowns or rashes from the shaving. It’s sweet.

Bahhh. I usually veet too it softens the hair makin it easier to just shave away. you get no bumpies..but…if you are going on vacay for awhile, def get waxed. It hurts like a motherhumper but the pains only temp. its worth it if you want it to look good.

i wanna try getting a wax, but im too broke. so i shave. AND i use tweezers on the stubborn ones that stick out….kinda painful, but it works for me

@sWiMpRiNcEsS@xanga - tweezer in that area ? OUCH ?

I shave cause im broke too
but there are some cheap wax at drug store

I wax, so I highly recommend it.

Try it yourself, every girl is different.

Just a side note: Yes, it will hurt, especially with the first time. When you’ve been shaving, it’s like cutting your hair, it grows back stronger. But when you wax, it pulls from the root, and so when it grows back it will be weaker. The more you wax, the less painful it becomes. And please, get it done by some one who knows what they’re doing.

Let us know how it goes =)

I shave and pluck. Waxing is too pricey, but I hear it’s nice.

@phuck_diz_shiz@xanga - Tweezers are not bad if you use it for the tougher hairs that are harder to shave (on the upper area, not the sides). Like waxing or shaving, it’s best if you hold the skin taut. And be sure to pull the hair out IN THE DIRECTION of growth, or else you’ll get ingrown hairs.

It hurts the first few times, but after a while it’s fine.

I’ve never waxed. I don’t even know where to get that done at. Waxing the lip area, ouch! Doesn’t sound too fun. I’d rather shave, as for me I do it daily. I don’t mind, it’s one of my daily routines when I take my shower… unless I don’t feel the need.

@la_faerie_joyeuse@xanga -  As for the comment above, tweezers?! WTF?! Uhhhh OWwW! That would be incedibly PAINFUL! One hair at a time… lol I couldn’t imagine.

i say just go natural! hahaha it’s not like people will stare at your crotch, i’m sure you can get away with it!

but if you feel the -need- to, i use veet. it’s painless, but be very careful! i only use it on the sides, where you absolutely need to in order for the hairs not to be visible.

I shave and trim. Nice and simple. Yeah, it gives bumps and is a pain to keep up, but I hear waxing’s hell.

I shave and I’ve never really had a problem with it. I just use a lot of moisturizer after.

@phuck_diz_shiz@xanga - yea, it hurts. but honestly, the pain isnt that bad and i get over it cuz it works for me. i do what i gotta do to make it look pretty down there

I waxed the top part of my bikini area and it HURT. LIKE. HELL. Unless you have a high tolerance for pain, I do not reccomend it. I just shave it all off once every week or so.

shave..=]

i tried waxing and it kinda bleed… and hurts like crap..haha.. so i’ll  just shave its fast and easy..=)

just wax it. of course itll hurt the first time. youll get used to it. and besides, dead skin is removed when you wax. and itll make your skin feel smooth. shaving… too much time.

Eh, I don’t think waxing is worth the potential pain. Just shave daily or every other day. That’s what I do. We shouldn’t hurt ourselves to such a degree. And yes, use conditioner after shaving too. That’s seemed to help me with that area recently… but using conditioner AS shaving cream doesn’t help too much. It kind of ruins the blade.

@psycho_ash@xanga - That’s a good idea. =]

I wax. I used to shave, but waxing works so much better for me.

If you do wax:

1. Take a few Tylenol or other painkiller of your choice. It will be kind of painful the first time. Much like waxing your eyebrows, it becomes less painful with every following wax.

2. Only get waxed at a reputable facility. Make sure that the esthetician (person who is waxing you) is licensed. Many salons or spas will have an estetician in house or will be able to recommend one in your area.

3. Be very clear about what you want. Remember the Sex And The City episode where Carrie accidentally gets a Brazilian? Don’t let that be you. There is more than one way to wear your hair down there. Discuss what would be best for you with the esthetician.

4. Don’t be intimidated! The esthetician is there to meet your needs. If she won’t listen or makes you uncomfortable, its okay to back out or ask for someone else. Its important that you feel comfortable when baring your bits to a stranger!

Good Luck!

Wax is a good idea. Shaving is not worth it especially the aftermath.

haha perfect, I am having the same problem, we’re going to the Bahamas soon… I’m cheap so I’m planning on shaving but I’m also worried about how it’ll look in a couple days… don’t really want to travel with shaving cream, last time we did it exploded in the bag

i have the vagina of an eleven year old. i never have to worry.

@Lamb@revelife - same here anything else sounds just too masochistic to me…

@abcxunt@xanga - hahaha that cracked me up

Between the two, I’d vote waxing–regrowth after shaving is possibly the least fun thing ever.

I suppose you could also just trim (assuming you’re naturally not out of control down there), or Nair it. I haven’t tried the latter, though.

I’m an Esthetician…that means I’m the one who actually waxes the bikinis. I personally prefer waxing. It last longer and gives an overall smoother look. If you get somebody who really knows what they’re doing it can be a fairly painless experience. It’s important to Exfoliate and Moisturize…yes moisturize your bikini area… to prevent ingrowns. When you shave your just cutting the hair off at the surface but when when you wax you’re actually damaging the papilla where the hair originates from. The more you wax the more you weaken that papilla and the less likely the hair is to grow back overtime. I’ve seen veteran waxers that have gone up to 3 months without having to come in for another wax. If you are really worried about it being a painful experiene you can purchase some “No Scream Cream” to numb the area. 

As far as the different styles go.
Bikini is everything that you would get sticking out on the sides and sometimes a little off the top. Extreme Bikini comes in a little further on the sides and looks like a landing strip down the middle. The thickness of it depends on your own personal taste. The Brazilian removes all hair, from the front to the back and inside the inner lips. it sounds intimidating but it’s not that bad.

Waxing is terrible there, trust me on that one. I much prefer shaving. Just be careful, you can get lots of bumps if you go too fast/without too much shaving cream.

i shave every day.. or every other day as i see the need to.

why wax when it hurts like hell, when you could shave and moustrize without any pain and get the same results…?

or if you dont like either opiton, dont shave….or veet.

I shave. Everyday, actually. I never use mosturizer or anything. I don’t really get bumps or burns. 

I’ve always wanted to try waxing, though. When you shave it’s hard to get everything…ecspecially when you’re using certain razors.

WOW!! I am really surprised that no one uses depilatories for men. I do, I use a razorless shaving cream from MAGIC. Its made for black men and its just like veet but it doesn’t burn.

I highly recommend it.

wax it! i do that once the beach season hits. it will hurt the first time, but you get used to it. it’s a bearable pain. before you get your first wax, make sure you take an advil, it’ll hurt less.

i go with the most commonly known (yet the most expensive) brazilian wax. basically, thats EVERYTHING. and i highly reccomend it. my friend paid for my first brazilian wax for my birthday, and i have never turned back ever since.

as for ingrown hairs & stuff, you just got to pay attention down there & catch it before it happens.

shaving is not a good idea because when the hair grows back, it will be stubbly and very uncomfortable. also, shaving the bikini area may cause razor burn!

Buy a shaver specifically for the bikini area. It’s a close shae without causing ingrown hairs. You’ll have to touch up every other day or so but it’s a lot better than waxing. Looks just as good too.

I waxed once and never again because it HURT and the skin is so sensitive on some people the hair folicle bleeds. Pain! And yes, you CAN get ingrown hairs from waxing. It depends on the person and their skin, etc.

i shave. im way too young to wax so shaving is my only option at the moment lol
i just bought veet though and i experimented using it on my pubes and WOH WHAT DO YOU KNOW?! it actually works
much much much much better than shaving in my opinion!
and it lasts longer.
so if waxing isnt an option,
i would go with veet.

i have a question:
if you moisturize after shaving does it prevent ingrown hair?
or does it just make the skin smoother for a longer period of time?

waxing is a bitch… and so is shaving… but for the longer lasting look go with waxing.

well there are creams you rub after you shave the bikini area that helps with the bumps…they’re made just for that. that’s what i use, i’m scared of waxing

So I’ve just started shaveing, and everytime it grows back it ITCHES like crazy. Anyways to make that stop would be amazing.

Anyways, waxing is the way I would go. It’s like tweezing but more hair at one time. It leave your bikini area nice and smooth like a babys bottom almost. No ingrowns, a little pain, but DEFINITELY get it done by your gyno, or a professional! Otherwise it could go very bad, very quickly.

<3

I think waxing is far better than shaving. It lasts longer, and there is no weird 5 o’clock shadow, and less bumps. In fact, the longer and more often you do it, the less pain and bumps there’ll be cause your skin is used to it.

…I just have to ask… would guys EVER go through all of this discussion over a vanity issue? Probably not. What a double standard! I’m with PenaltyLife@xanga… go natural, or just do a little trimming just to break the expectation that you’ll spend money and time to keep it especially tidy down there

When I shave, I don’t have any problems with bumps or anything.

here’s a thought: how about cover up the area that you deem to require shaving or waxing?

i think women need to demand more modest swim attire. what’s wrong with swim shorts?

@slamjoe@xanga - Well, you have a point, but what’s wrong with women’s swimsuits to begin with?  Most women who wear swimsuits like them the way they are–we have options to make them more modest.

We just don’t.

To reply to the original poster, I’d say waxing is the better idea.  Shaving’s just a pain, let’s face it.  Plus, if you’re planning on just taking a carry-on, you’re going to have a hard time taking all the stuff you use to shave.  Plus, like they’ve all said, the pain gets less, PLUS, you get more permanent results each time you do it.

That sounds like a pretty great deal.  Either shave for the rest of the years you care, or wax for a while less often?

I would do the waxing.  Totally.

@Lamb@revelife - I never wear anything that would force me to shave my bikini line. I wear a modest bathing suit too!

@slamjoe@xanga - Agreed!

Have any of you tried at home waxing kits??? I feel kinda weird having some lady wax my cooch aha.
& If so, any recommendations brand-wise?
t.i.a. :]

I’ve never waxed, but it’s very high on my “things I’d like to do” list.

I have shaving, because it feels like such a chore.  But I do it anyway because I can’t stand the fuzz.  I hate that it gets bumpy, too, so I usually put it off as long as possible.

@Sage_and_Citrus@xanga - You replied much nicer to SlamJoe than I would have. Good for you! Haha.  I also agree with your comment.

well whatever you do i def. think that you should cut down some of the forest. i mean ew nothing’s worse then seeing a girl with a gorgeous bathing suit and then looking down and seeing that her fur bikini is on display for everyone to see. gross. so please do everyone and yourself a favor, and get a brazilian =)

i don’t shave or wax

i pluck mine out. everything from my uhh down there to my legs to my armpits. yea it hurts and its time consuming but its worth it.

Personally, when I put my swimsuit on, I just shave away the hairs that are going to be seen.  I have had a friend wax my chin with one of those home wax kits… WOW.  It Hurt!, but yes it was smooth… except that I got a nice red triangle on the left side of my chin… enough to cause my boss to ask what happened!  That was embarrassing!  I have since threw the kit away and will not touch it again.

To not get razor bumps, and for a less painful grow-in, shave in the warm/hot shower. Once done and dried off, use deodorant on the area. It makes it smooth and leaves no bumps [: just don’t use liquid deodorant…. haha.

I’m gonna stay trimming and plucking until I laser.
You can laser that area right?

never tried waxing…

I am never really satisfied with shaving because the hairs grow back quickly and I always get those unsightly razor bumps. I have never tried waxing but I have heard that it takes longer for hair to grow back.  You probably will not get razor bumps – because you aren’t using a razor!

This was informative.  I also am going somewhere warm in Feb.  I don’t usually do much in the way of maintenance, but I want to wear a swimming suit and feel comfortable.  It is hard for me to ask these kinds of questions to my friends.  Thanks you Xangans!

Welllllll… I’ve never really had a problem with overgrowth there.  But from the secondhand experience of other friends, I’d definitely go for waxing.  Take some tylenol beforehand

Neither! I only shaved down there once, and thought “whoever decided this should become customary practice for women needs to be punished cruelly.”

I just try to go for boy-short swimsuits, and, if I need to, I’ll use nail scissors to cut the edge hairs close enough that they won’t stick out, but not so close that they become ingrown.

Actually, waxing made it look worse than shaving, for me. 

And it bled.

i wouldnt wax or shave…but i think wax is better

Just keep it trimmed on the sides at least so it’s not coming out the sides. 

i’ve heard good and bad things about both but i think that if you really want that area to look perfect (for whatever reason), you should probably wax. That is, if you believe “pain=beauty”// “Beauty= pain)

but i think that if you shave and use moisterizer, and put some time into it, it can come out satisfactorily also. And, on the plus side, it won’t hurt as much as waxing AND it won’t cost as much obviously.

ive never waxed, although its on my list to try

i shave and tweeze and dont have problems. no itchy stubble. no ingrowns. an occasional bump. My friend told me to swab alcohol and the bumps wont come. She said it works at the barber shop when guys get the cuts, so why not. I tried it, and it worked. Smooth as butta =) And it only stings if you cut yourself shaving, otherwise your good to go.

i just shave because everytime i get my eyebrows done, i like cry haha , im a wimp but yeah, waxing does work bettterrr, but whatever.

OMGGG.

@On_My_Way_Up - Heh thanks.  I try not to offend…

if you wax, get it professionally done

wax but be sure to get it done by a professional. The first time I tried to do it myself and bruised pretty badly. It is expensive but worth it if you’re going to be in a bikini constantly. It hurts but it’s over pretty quickly. The back hurts the least, surprisingly.

Surf shorts, my friend.

You have a few options before you decide to wax.
Shaving:
- If you don’t exfoliate before you shave you should exfoliate and see if it makes a difference.
- Shave in the opposite direction of growth. So if the hairs are growing south you start shaving from south to north.

Hair removal creme:
- I dont recommend for the bikini area as i personally have not had any good results with this method. Usually little black dots are still visable. Looks like I shaved it a few days ago and forgot to shave it again.

Plucking:
-Until i hit about 17 I didnt really have any obvious hair. If its not obvious like a few stray hairs, just pluck them. I know it hurts. But you get used to it.

If you are still willing to give waxing ago:
- exfoliate before hand.
- Waxing is painful but tolerable most the time. Unless you are extremely sensitive to pain or on medication that makes you so. Give it a go.
- Try to avoid waxing if you are on or near your period as you are more sensitive to pain then.
- Ideally you would exfoliate the area with a scrub and some warm water and then wax. The warm water is to open the pores up.
- Also make sure the hairs arent too long.[or else the hair will break in the middle instead of getting pulled from the root.] If they are too long longer then 7-8mm trim the hairs, before any hair removale procedure.
- Use some teething gel on the area about 15 minutes before hand and take a painkiller about 1/2 before hand to minimilize pain.

You can also probably bleach or thread your hair.

I hope you have a good experience with waxing if you decide to go through with it.

Wax. Just take an advil about 45 min before you go.

My friend swears by numbing creme… it’s stuff she found on a sex toy supply website for guys who have issues with arriving early. She just uses it to dull the sensation after waxing. I’ve never needed it, but it is an option

To veet?

I would wax if I found a reputable place to go to. I hate those razor bumps, it looks unsightly, and they leave scars. Then that defeats the purpose of hair removal, you know? You want to have a nice “situation” down there.

I prefer waxing.  Sure, it may be a bit more painful, but I prefer to have that area nice and clean more often than not.  Shaving becomes too much of an annoyance — not to mention the bothersome growing out period.  Everybody’s different, though.

Go to a parlor/spa and get the waxing done by a professional a few times.  They’re more used to waxing first-timers and should help you feel more comfortable about it.  Once you’ve passed that and are ready to take a cheaper step, do it yourself.  I recommend Surgi brazillian wax and the la grande melting pot wax heater/warmer (so you don’t have to keep stopping to heat up the wax pot in the microwave).

Ohhhh… I wanted to try waxing but I didn’t want someone else to do it so I bought the bikini wax kit at the store and did it myself.  I felt like such a masochistic asshole after that.  It’s so unnatural to put yourself through that kind of pain!  But it does stay smooth longer than shaving.  Shaving is okay if you take care to make your skin soft and use a very sharp razor.  I’m good at avoiding razor bumps by now.

I wax, wouldn’t shave, waxing doesn’t hurt that much, its worth it!!

I wax when I can and I love it!  It’s so nice and smooth, and it lasts much longer than shaving and comes in thinner.  I was nervous my first time, but it’s similar to waxing your legs – a little more painful but worth the effort.  Just DON’T do it yourself!  Get it done at a good place.

i shave. but its getting too annoying. i live in a very warm climate and go to the beach often so its hell shaving down there in bikini season. -_- im going to start shaving SOON.

I do waxings in a salon and if your going to do it take in suggestion of what Im going to tell you.

If you have been shaving for many years your hair bulb/root is going to be huge and it will hurt more. Make sure that your hair has not been shaved in atleast 3 to 4 weeks before going otherwise it wont take the hair out just your skin. Make sure to exfoliate before you go, atleast 4 hours before, take a nice hot shower too to open your follicle.

If you have any more questions ask me!! If you cant get my on xanga ask me on Yahoo IM at redrum_remixer or email me there

Give waxing a try!

Its worth a shot, and there are different styles.
look it up.

but i promise all of those bumps are just as unattractive as having a bush.
not to menton uncomfortable if you are going to a place with saltwater.
(:

I’m late to the party but from my own experience, I would MUCH rather wax than shave.  I feel like I get a five o’clock shadow five minutes after shaving my lady area- I just can’t get a close enough shave.

I’m not gonna lie, waxing HURTS, especially on the pubis, and every time I go, I lie there wondering why I’m willing to pay strangers a lot of money to apply hot wax to my lady parts only to rip it all off. Then I put on my swimsuit and realize it’s worth it to not have pubes peeking out or through the material. LOL

I GENTLY exfoliate (use a loofah or a Buf-Puf) the area the day before.  If you do it the day of your waxing, your skin is going to be tender.  You do not want to wax tender skin.  So do it the night before to let your private area calm down.

I also learned to take two Advil an hour to two hours before my wax appointment. This is not really for the pain, though it does help, but it’s more to keep the inflammation down. Believe it or not, my dentist turned me on to this idea. 

After waxing, you can also try a product called Tend Skin ($20 for 4 oz) to help prevent ingrowns (you CAN get ingrowns from waxing but not as many as from shaving) or some aloe gel to relieve the redness. Don’t wax right before you head to the beach or on vacation- do it the day before.