Shaving, waxing, and sugaring are among the most common forms of hair removal for the bikini area. Deciding between these three options can come down to lifestyle, accessibility, skin sensitivity, and even the texture of your body hair.
That being said, hair removal is optional. And if you want to save yourself time, money, and pain, letting your hair grow out — especially down there — is definitely tempting. On the other hand, if you'd like to groom your bikini line, there are some things to know beforehand. To help us out, we tapped skincare pros Mindy Foster and Hadley King, MD.
Meet the expert
- Mindy Foster is an expert sugarist and the owner of She Sugars Co. in Philadelphia, PA.
- Hadley King, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
Keep reading for our expert-approved guide to hair removal for the bikini area.
Shaving
Shaving is the easiest form of hair removal to perform. It just requires some shaving cream (though some people use oil or even hair conditioner) and a razor. The blades of the razor are gently dragged in the opposite direction of hair growth to shave off the hair.
Pros
Compared to waxing and sugaring, shaving is the most convenient option. It’s also fast, cheap, and painless (unless you're dealing with a nick or cut).
Cons
Since shaving only removes the visible hair and not the entire shaft and bulb of the hair, the results are temporary. Moreover, it can cause ingrown hairs. And if you don't use shaving cream, it can also cause uncomfortable razor burn.
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Waxing
With waxing, a wax blend is melted to between 125 and 225 degrees Fahrenheit, before being applied with a wooden applicator onto the skin and hair in the direction of the hair growth. From there, an epilating strip is smoothed onto the wax and quickly pulled off the skin to remove the hair away from the direction of the hair growth. “There is also hard waxing, which doesn’t involve epilation strips,” Foster says. “The wax hardens as it cools and the wax itself is [peeled] off the skin, removing the hair along with it.”
And, of course, there are at-home waxing strips. Our favorite at-home waxing products include the GiGi Roll-On Waxing Kit and the Bliss Poetic Waxing At-Home Wax Kit.
Warm at-home waxing strips between your hands to melt the wax before applying.
Pros
Waxing is the second most common form of hair removal. The results last much longer than shaving — between 10 and 14 days, according to Foster — and tend to be smoother. By removing the entire shaft and bulb of hair from the follicle, there may be a significant reduction in hair growth.
“Because the hair is being removed by the root, the follicle can be damaged by this trauma to the hair root,” says Dr. King. “That means that the hair may grow back thinner over time."
Cons
One downside is that you'll have to stick with waxing to get that perk. "One treatment won't produce these results, but repeated sessions can discourage hair growth," says Dr. King. "Regular treatments are likely to reduce hair regrowth, and the regrowth will be finer.”
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Since waxing is performed at a higher temperature, there’s a greater chance of being burned. It's also more painful than shaving, since the bulb of the hair is being removed from the follicle. Wax also adheres to the live skin cells of the area it’s applied to, which means they can be torn off when the strip is removed. This can create a lot of inflammation and irritation afterward.
The technique of removing the strip can also cause more ingrown hairs afterward since the hair is being extracted against the natural growth. Dr. King also discourages waxing if you have very sensitive or inflamed skin, if you have taken isotretinoin in the last six months, and if you have used a topical retinoid or retinol cream in the past five days.
Sugaring
Sugaring uses an all-natural paste made of sugar, water, and lemon to remove hair. “There are other combinations of sugar pastes, but the sugar-water-lemon combination is the most common,” says Foster. “This makes it an all-natural alternative to waxing, and the sugar paste itself also isn’t hot — which makes it an excellent option for sensitive skin types and sensitive areas.”
The temperature of sugar paste stays around 85 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, so there’s a much lower risk of scalding or burning. “Another benefit of the lower temperature of the paste is it doesn’t remove live skin cells, while many waxes do," Foster says. "This means the skin will feel soft post-hair removal, but never raw or irritated.”
Pros
Sugaring is a popular alternative to wax, and for good reason: The results last up to two to three weeks before the hair starts growing back in. And since the paste isn’t too hot, the skin won’t take much punishment if the same area is treated repeatedly.
Like waxing, many people notice a significant reduction in hair growth when the hair starts growing back. Since the paste removes the hair in the natural direction of growth (which is the complete opposite of waxing), you’re less likely to experience ingrown hairs and less hair breakage.Additionally, the sugar paste used to remove the hair is water-soluble, which makes it easier to clean up afterward.
Cons
Like waxing, sugaring is going to hurt, but it will also probably hurt less. The reason? The sugaring paste doesn’t adhere to the skin. Still, it’s not as widely accessible as waxing, which means that unless you plan to practice on yourself — FYI: We like Sugardoh Head-to-Toe Sugaring Kit — finding a good studio near you with experienced professionals could be difficult. Sugaring will also have the same contradictions around sensitive skin, isotretinoin, and retinoids.
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How to Choose Your Hair Removal Method
Pay close attention to how your skin and hair react when you try out a new method of hair removal. Does your skin get red and inflamed after waxing? Do you notice more in-grown hairs after you shave? If whatever you’re doing is causing irritation, it’s probably a good idea to try a new method.
From there, think about some lifestyle factors, like time. Do you mind shaving every other day, or would you rather get re-waxed every four to six weeks? How’s your pain tolerance? Do you have any skin conditions that could be exacerbated by waxing or sugaring? Eczema and psoriasis can be enflamed by aggressive forms of hair removal, like waxing or shaving.
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Also, consider your hair concerns. For those with curly body hair, shaving can cause significant ingrown hair. On the other hand, those with very fine hair might find that waxing and sugaring causes their hair to snap.
Finally, do a little research on service providers in your area that are within your budget. “I think more than anything, hair removal is so much about personal preference,” says Foster. “I think ultimately you know what’s best for you and as mentioned above — your skin will tell you what’s best.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between epilation vs. depilation?
“Shaving is a form of depilation, while sugaring and waxing are forms of epilation,” says Foster. “Depilation is where the part of the hair above the skin is manually — or chemically — removed," Foster says. "The hair that you can see is what’s actually removed." Epilation, on the other hand, is when the entire hair shaft and bulb are extracted from the hair follicle below the surface of the skin.
Does waxing or sugaring last longer?
This depends on how thick your hair is and how fast it naturally grows. That said, results typically last the same amount of time (about two weeks) since both processes remove the hair from the root.
How do you heal mild burns from waxing?
Sometimes, wax is too hot for your skin and burns it. If this happens to you, apply ice, aloe vera, an emollient (like CeraVe Healing Ointment), and put a bandage on top to prevent it from scarring. Replace the bandage every two to four hours.
