At Home Bikini Waxing

I love winter for three reasons; holidays, food, and less shaving. Now that Valentines Day is right around the corner, us ladies can no longer get away with not shaving (insert sad face here). We got our legs covered, our arm pits covered, but what about the other area? Like so many other women across the world shaving your bikini area is usually the go-to answer to grooming your 'down there' area. I used to shave for the longest time, until I started to dabble in the beautiful art of brazilian waxing. I started waxing just because shaving is super annoying to me, razor bumps aren't the prettiest and because my hair is so dark that even if the surface is smooth, you can still see little dots of the hair below. When I first began waxing I went to a professional, after a couple times I started waxing at home; which came with trial and error, I cringe just thinking about it.

Getting a brazilian wax job done can cost anywhere from$45.00 to $100 (don't you dare forget to tip) with results lasting anywhere from 2-6 weeks depending on your hair growth. Needless to say, waxing can become a tad pricy, which is one of the reasons I decided to start doing it myself. However, if there is a special occasion that I am attending, I still  have it done professionally, because lets face it, when it comes to waxing all of that, professionals do it the best. I am by no means an esthetician, but I have learned a few things along the way that I hope will help you out. Before I go on , the most important thing is; do NOT attempt waxing by yourself if you have never been waxed or have no idea what you are doing. I suggest going to a esthetician at least 4-6 times before you even give at home waxing a try. This is not a DIY fail you want to deal with. 

Accessories I use: Wax, handheld mirror, baby powder, tweezers, waxing sticks with an edge, baby oil and an old towel.

For those of you brave enough to venture into the dark shadows of DIY bikini waxing here are my 

tips and lessons learned.

1. Buy a good wax. Try to avoid drugstore products. I opt for GiGi or Bliss products
2. Clean/exfoliate the area your waxing and pat dry.
3. Don't just assume you know about the wax you're using. There are a variety of waxes be sure to read the label for proper instructions.
4. Lay something down to protect your floor.
5. Take an IBU or Aspirin 45 mins prior to waxing, this will help with swelling and pain.
6. Pat baby powder over the area being waxed (do this throughout waxing) it helps keep the area dry. 
7. The top part of your pubic bone hurts the worst, you barely feel anything when waxing your labiums. 
8. Always apply wax in the direction of hair growth.
9. When removing wax pull skin taut and quickly pull in the opposite direction of hair growth.
10. I can't stress this enough, DON'T hesitate when ripping the wax off and remember to stay close to your skin.
11. Pressing down on the area you just waxed will help soothe the pain.
12. Use tweezers to remove leftover hairs that just refuse to come out.
13. Rinse off in the shower and use baby oil to help get rid of the wax residue. 
14. Whatever you do, DON'T shave between waxes

Once you wax, you'll never look at shaving the same way ever again. I hope this post made you giggle a little and helped you decide whether or not you want to give waxing a go, rather doing it yourself or having a professional do it for you. 

Your's Truly, 

Lauren