Red, inflamed bumps around your bikini area can make you hesitate to get into your bathing suit. Hasty and careless shaving can leave you with irritated skin and ingrown hairs. By taking the time to shave your bikini line properly, you'll reduce bikini line bumps for a smooth appearance. Get into even the skimpiest of swimsuits with confidence, knowing that your bikini line looks smooth and void of embarrassing bumps.
Step 1
Shave only after you've taken a shower, or at the end of the shower. Being in the shower when you shave helps to soften the hairs on your bikini line, thanks to the moist heat in the bathroom. Softer hair means less drag and irritation on your skin, so the hair cuts more easily. It also makes cleanup quicker.
Step 2
Choose a brand-new razor that is as sharp as possible, says "Cosmopolitan" magazine. When you use an old, dull razor, the razor pulls at the hair inside of slicing it cleanly. This can lead to broken hairs that curl back into the skin as ingrown hairs, or redness and irritation on the surface of the skin. When you use a dull razor, you may need to go over the same place time and time again, resulting in even more irritation.
Step 3
Apply a glycolic acid–based shaving gel or cream, suggests "Redbook" magazine. Using a gel or cream over a soap lather gives your skin extra protection. As you drag the razor along your skin, you remove the top layer of one of the most delicate and sensitive parts of your body. Protect the skin by giving it a proper cushion to glide along. If you have especially sensitive skin, apply a moisturizer under the shave gel for added protection and hydration.
Step 4
Shave in a downward motion, with the grain of the hair growth. The hair on your bikini line is so coarse that shaving against the grain forces the hairs back into the skin and cuts them below the surface of the skin, resulting in ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs can become inflamed and infected, resulting in pain and bumps. By shaving with the grain you ensure that hair is cut at the surface of the skin so it grows back properly.
Step 5
Apply an over the counter hydrocortisone cream once you've rinsed and dried. Hydrocortisone cream works by constricting blood vessels so the redness is less obvious, dermatologist Evelyn Placek, tells MotherNature.com.
Step 6
Wait to shave again, cosmetic dermatologist Howard Sobel tells "Marie Claire" magazine. The more you shave your sensitive skin, the more likely you are to experience irritation. If you find yourself looking to shave soon after you've done your bikini line, consider a longer-lasting form of hair removal, such as waxing.
Things You'll Need
- Razor
- Shave gel
- Hydrocortisone cream
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