Is your pubic hair growing out of bounds?
There are loads of ways to keep your bikini line from getting out of line… but how do you choose the best one for your skin?
Whether you’re prepping for a beach vacation, looking forward to a pool party, or simply refuse to let ingrowns and stray hairs dictate what bikini bottoms you can and can’t wear for the rest of your life, you CAN get rid of unwanted bikini line hair without experiencing pain and irritation. Lumi offers a gentle, effective, permanent solution for bikini line hair removal at home.
Read on for everything you need to know about bikini line hair removal, including:
- Short-term bikini line hair removal methods
- Permanent bikini line hair removal methods
- Prep and aftercare tips
- Bikini line hair removal FAQs
Traditional Bikini Line Hair Removal Methods:
First up, a quick overview of the most common bikini line hair removal methods.
Maybe you’re aware of these, maybe you’ve tried some of these with mixed results… but they’re worth reviewing before we jump into the permanent, next-level bikini line hair removal options.
Short-Term Hair Removal Options
These remove bikini line hair above the skin, leading to hair-free skin that lasts a couple of days at most.
- Shaving – Use a razor to remove unwanted bikini line hair. Especially when used in this body area, it can be difficult to achieve a close shave – razor burn, ingrown hairs, and nicks are common.
- Depilatory Creams – Use a chemical hair removal cream to remove bikini line hair. Some depilatory creams can irritate sensitive areas – be sure to use one that’s formulated for intimate areas.
Longer-Lasting Hair Removal Options
These remove bikini line hair at the root, leading to hair-free results that can last around 2-4 weeks.
- Waxing – Visit a salon or brave the DIY route to remove bikini line hair at the root using hot wax. This is a precise method for the bikini area but is often very painful.
- Sugaring – Visit a salon where a professional will use a sticky, gel-like paste to remove unwanted body hair.
- Epilating – Use an epilator to tweeze multiple bikini line hairs at a time. This method is one of the most painful bikini line hair removal methods.
- Tweezing – Remove individual hairs with tweezers. This method is time-consuming but can be a good fit if you’re only targeting a few straggling bikini line hairs.
Bikini Line Laser Hair Removal
We’re willing to bet that if you never had to deal with a hairy bikini line again, you’d be psyched & wouldn’t miss those pesky pubes for a second!
If so, bikini line laser hair removal might be a great option for you. In-salon laser hair removal treatments can help you get rid of the hair on your bikini line for good. Laser hair removal treatments involve targeting hair follicles with concentrated, high-strength lasers and should only be performed by a professional in a clinic.
Laser hair removal on the bikini line can be rather painful, and it’s pricey. Bikini line laser hair removal costs anywhere from $100s to $1000+. But if you have the time and the money, this can be a great option to remove pubic hair without shaving.
How to Use Lumi for Permanent Bikini Line Hair Removal
Lumi also offers permanent bikini line hair removal, at a lower price point than in-clinic laser hair removal does. At-home IPL hair removal is effective, painless, and offers permanent hair removal in just 8-12 weeks.
Lumi is an at-home IPL hair removal device that targets hair follicles at the root and destroys them with light pulses, without burning or damaging the skin. Rather than having to go to a professional to get permanent bikini line hair removal, Lumi allows you to take matters into your own hands and get a permanently smooth bikini line from home.
Simply prep your skin by shaving visible hair, place Lumi’s flash window against the skin, then click the pulse button to treat. It should only take around 10 minutes to treat the bikini line. Repeat 1-2x a week for 8-12 weeks to achieve permanent hair removal. It’s that simple!
Related: How to Use Lumi
Bikini Line Hair Removal: Prep & Aftercare Tips
The best prep and aftercare methods for removing bikini line hair vary depending on the method you use.
Bikini Line Hair Removal Prep
- Exfoliate 24 hours before hair removal to release dead skin and prevent ingrown hairs.
- For IPL/laser – Shave the area you’re going to treat first.
- For waxing/epilating – Hair should be grown out to ⅛-¼ inch before treatment – trim or wait for hair to grow out if it’s not that length yet.
- For shaving – Use shaving cream.
- For depilatory creams – Follow the instructions on the bottle.
Bikini Line Hair Removal Aftercare
- Moisturize! Especially when it comes to laser hair removal and IPL hair removal, following with Vaseline or an aloe-based body lotion is key to soothe and hydrate treated skin.
- If you’re experiencing significant pain or sensitivity, consider taking an over-the-counter pain medication.
- Depending on the method you’ve used, give your skin time to heal and your hair time to regrow before removing hair again.
Bikini Line Hair Removal FAQs
How does laser hair removal compare to IPL for the bikini line?
Both laser hair removal and IPL target unwanted body hair with light pulses for permanent bikini hair removal. Laser hair removal uses more targeted, focused light, making it so this treatment is often more painful and should only be performed by a physician. IPL hair removal devices use broader light pulses and can safely be used at home.
Laser hair removal is also much more expensive than IPL hair removal with an at-home device, costing a few hundred dollars to upwards of a thousand dollars per area vs a one-time cost of $229 USD for a permanent hair removal device (which you can use anywhere else you want to permanently remove body hair, too.)
What’s the most affordable way to achieve long-lasting bikini line hair removal results?
IPL is the most affordable way to achieve long-lasting bikini hair removal results. It offers permanent hair removal at the lowest price – it may cost more up-front than a razor or a waxing appointment would, but it’s an investment – results are permanent, so you’ll save over time.
Is IPL suitable for all skin and hair types?
No. Hair color affects IPL treatment results. IPL technology requires contrast between skin and hair to properly target the hair follicle, so IPL is not the best bikini line hair removal option for very dark skin or very light hair. Refer to the IPL Skin & Hair Color Chart to confirm that IPL is suitable for you.
Contrary to popular belief, IPL works great on dark, coarse hair often found at the bikini line. Extremely coarse hair may require a longer overall treatment process, but you still can achieve permanent hair removal.
How can I minimize pain and irritation when removing bikini line hair?
Bikini line hair removal doesn’t have to hurt like crazy – these tips can help:
- Skip waxing, epilating, or laser hair removal and choose a less painful method to begin with.
- Remember that pain is your body’s way of communicating. Beauty doesn’t have to mean unbearable pain – if you’re really hurting, stop and try something else.
- Try taking over-the-counter pain medication before and/or after treatment.
- If you know your skin is mega-sensitive, consider removing less hair. Rather than full bikini hair removal, choose a fuller bikini line style and target hair removal on just the bikini line.
- Skin tends to be more sensitive during menstruation – try to time hair removal sessions around your menstrual cycle when possible.
Are there any side effects or risks associated with IPL bikini line hair removal?
Yes. The following side effects may occur when using Lumi:
- Common Skin Discomfort – compared to many other types of hair removal, at-home IPL treatment is virtually painless. However, some users with sensitive skin may notice some skin discomfort at higher intensity levels. Most customers say they don’t feel a thing at the lowest intensity level and only a slight sting at the highest intensity level.
- Skin Redness – if you have sensitive skin, your skin may become red after using Lumi. This is normal and generally clears up after 24 hours.
- Skin Burns – in rare instances, burns to the skin may occur following application. This is usually a result of using too high of an intensity or device misuse.
- Dry Skin and Itching – this typically occurs due to pre-treatment shaving or ingrown hairs. We recommend shaving a few hours ahead of IPL treatment to avoid irritation and applying an aloe-based cooling lotion like Aloe Coco Body Lotion to moisturize the area.
Lumi filters for harmful UV lights, so it does not cause skin cancer or any other type of cancer.
Be sure to read all safety instructions carefully and follow the directions found in your device’s user manual.
Also, keep in mind that the device you use matters – Lumi is FDA-cleared to offer safe, effective permanent hair removal, but many other devices on the market are not.
How many IPL sessions are typically needed to achieve permanent bikini line hair removal?
With Lumi IPL, you should see noticeable results in 3-4 treatment sessions and full results in 8-12. This is an average – it could take longer or shorter than that for you. (Though we’ve found that coarse pubic hair can be on the longer side.) If you wind up needing more treatments to achieve the results you want, your device can handle it & it’s safe as long as you stick to 1-2x/week.
Can bikini line hair removal methods like IPL reduce ingrown hairs?
Yes! Shaving is notorious for causing ingrown hairs – switching to a different bikini line hair removal method like IPL should help to reduce ingrown hairs.
