In 1946 Louis Réard unveiled his ‘Bikini’, a two piece swimsuit that shocked not because of the length of the pant  leg, but because it exposed the wearer’s navel! Named after the South Pacific atoll where the US was performing atomic bomb testing, these four triangles of material (totalling only 30cm²!) took the world by storm despite initial resistance.

But the bikini exposed skin around women’s groins, where unwanted hair was clearly visible! The need to remove hair from these newly-exposed areas necessitated the creation of a new term: ‘the bikini line’, and something else for women to have to include in their beauty regimen!

Luckily, keeping your bikini line well-groomed and hair free is no hassle at all thanks to new methods of home waxing and depilation creams. Here we’ll take a look at these methods, to ensure hair removal is as quick, easy and pain free as possible even in this sensitive areas.

Wax

Waxing is a great option because the hair is removed from the root, meaning that it takes up to four weeks to grow back. Hair also grows back softer and finer over time, so there is less discomfort for you as well. There are two methods we would recommend and these can be separated into cold and hot wax treatments. Bikini wax strips are perfect for a quick tidy up. The wax and small strip come in one package and all you have to do is warm them slightly with your hands, apply to the area and then pull them off with the easy grip, taking the hair with it. They can also be cut to fit your body’s contours, ensuring a great finish.

Creams

Depilating creams are fast and convenient, working in as little time as three minutes. These break down the hair and cause it to break off just below the skin, leaving you super soft and smooth for twice as long as with shaving. The creams come in different formats, such as a tube, like the classic Veet hair removal cream, or with a domed applicator like the Bodycurv which is specially designed for the bikini line, as it follows the contours of your body. Simply apply the cream to the area, and let it work. After a few minutes, scrape a small amount off to see if the hair comes with it, if not do the same every minute or so until all of the hair is gone. Do not exceed the time indicated in the instructions. If you find one or two stubborn hairs resisting the cream, then just pluck these to leave perfect results.

Shaving

Of course, there is always the dreaded option of shaving. This should never be your first option, as it can leave ingrown hairs, as well as dark undergrowth and black dots making it very difficult to get a clean line – and that’s before we even get to the itching! However, as well all know, sometimes there’s no other option…

With any hair removal method, it is recommended that you test it on a small patch of skin to ensure that you won’t have an adverse reaction. After removing the hair from your bikini line, avoid scented or harsh soaps or moisturisers for twenty-four hours afterward, and it is recommended that you avoid tight or scratchy underwear for this time, to stay free of irritation. For amazing results, exfoliate twenty-four hours before, and immediately prior to the treatment, wash the area with warm water before drying it carefully to open up all your pores. This makes the process much easier and effective, ensuring you’re left beautiful and beach ready.