Your Complete 'Down-There' Grooming Guide - Part 3

Do's & Don'ts of Bikini Waxing:

DO wait until your hair is ¼" long before making an appointment or heating up your own wax kit. This way, the wax has more of the follicle to attach itself to, providing a cleaner removal.

DON'T tan before or after waxing,

DO stick to cotton underwear afterwards. Allowing the area to 'breathe' after a wax will greatly diminish the chance for irritation afterwards.

 

Photo courtesy of thirdage.com

Tweezing

Personally, kudos to anyone that can manually pluck each and every hair they want removed, one at a time. This is not recommended for anything other than the few hairs that remain after a wax or shave. Attempting to do more than that will bring about bleeding, bruising, and possible scarring. Always be sure to sanitize the tweezers in between each use and remember not

to tug at hairs, but pull at the root of the follicle.

 

 

Laser Hair Removal

While many believe laser hair removal is a permanent solution to eliminating pubic hair—it's not! And with that said, at roughly $500 per treatment, it's not exactly the most cost-effective method out there. Here's how it works: after the light from the laser wand reaches the target hair, destroying the me

lanin within the follicle, approximately a week and a half later said hair begins to shed. I've never actually tested this method but 20-year-old Chelsea, from The College of New Jersey, relates the process as convenient if the funds are there. She does confess, however, that she was at first surprised at the numerous restrictions necessary before and after the treatment: no suntan/sunburn four weeks prior, no waxing/tweezing two weeks pri

or, and no bleaching before or after. When it comes to the bikini region, laser hair removal typically takes 4-5 sessions to eliminate the hair from the region.

Photo courtesy of removal-hair-laser.com

 

Electrolysis

• American Electrology Association member and certified professional electrologist, Jeannie M. Bush [link Jeannie M. Bush to www.AmenityElectrolysis.com] explains, "Electrolysis works on all colors of hair, all colors of skin, and all skin types."
• During electrolysis, a thin metal probe slides into the hair follicle, administering electricity to the area that generates the hair.
• Due to the permanent nature of this procedure, one must truly be sure about removing the hair.   More expensive than laser hair removal, electrolysis ranges from $900 to $1700, depending on the number of sessions that will be required.
• As the "only method of permanent hair removal, per the FDA," Bush stresses the importance in choosing a qualified, licensed, and certified electrologist. She believes that when choosing services for grooming the pubic area, it is imperative to look for credentials of the provider. In addition he/she should educate the consumer about the risks and benefits of pubic hair removal.

Photo courtesy of hairremovalsystems101.com]

So here they are:

Pros: To prevent infection, Bush "wears gloves, uses pre-sterilized, pre-packaged probes, and a sterile tweezer." Electrologists are capable of working with the personal needs of each client in order to avoid infection and ingrown hairs.

Cons: While electrolysis is the only method considered permanent by the FDA, there is a small risk for hair re-growth due to hormonal changes that can't be accounted for at the time of the procedure. Also, electrolysis is not guaranteed to be painless for all patients. While some do not respond to treatment, is it worth the $1200?

Trimming with scissors

The most inexpensive method to groom your lady bits, simply tackling the issue with a pair of scissors for a quick trim is easy! In fact, this should be done before any at-home hair removal process. One should always be careful when trimming, going slowly and even utilizing a mirror. When it comes to what kind of scissors, it's best to invest in a small pair that you can find at any local drug store.

From One Woman to Another: How to Deal with Ingrown Hairs:

• Becky Sturm, CEO/Founder of StormSister Spatique: "Waxing lessens ingrowns more than shaving. Wear panties that don't have tight elastic around the legs. A tight elastic band encourages ingrowns by keeping the hair from emerging from the skin. Using a sisal bikini brush (which improves circulation and energy) to exfoliate a couple times a week helps remedy, as does a cream called, Finipil." The brush retails for around $11.00 and the Finipil for roughly $15.00 depending on the size of the container.
• Becca Bijoch, Lola Red PR: "Exfoliate after the wax to prevent ingrown hairs. Also invest in an ingrown hair serum that will keep the area smooth and bump-free." One hair serum that's been recommended by friends and Gisele Bundchen is Princereigns product, which you can find at local pharmacies for $30.00.
• Maddie Edgerton, on Res-Q Advance Ingrown Hair Treatment Pads from Satin Smooth: "It treats ingrown hairs, razor burns and bumps (all of those embarrassing skin irritations) due to waxing, electrolysis, lasers, and shaving. This can be used up for 24 hours after hair removal so you can still have a carefree summer and not have to worry about skin irritation. It's amazing; it literally comes to the rescue and revives skin's natural beauty after hair removal." For only $14.99, it's an affordable preventative.
• The Her Campus Team weighs in on down their grooming habits. 87 team members were surveyed and asked to check which grooming option(s) they used.

 
 

The Her Campus Team shared their preferences, now it's your turn! Leave a comment below on your favorite grooming option and any tips for your fellow collegiettes™.