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Get smooth skin and avoid irritation with these expert tips
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Whether you’re rocking a Speedo or a cute bikini bottom, plenty of options exist to remove coarse pubic hair around your bikini line. Shaving is the most popular way because of its affordability and efficiency. Shaving your bikini area can be painless with some prep work, a good razor, and some know-how. Refer to this guide to learn how to keep your skin soft and smooth all swimming season long!

Tips for Shaving Your Bikini Line

  • Hydrate your skin with warm water and shaving cream. Pull the skin taut and shave with the grain of your hair for a clean, close shave.
  • Prevent chafing, bumps, and ingrown hair by investing in a high-quality razor or swapping out your blade every 5 to 10 shaves.
  • Treat your skin by exfoliating with a gentle body scrub. Pat the area with moisturizer to prevent redness and irritation.
1

Select a sharp razor.

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  1. Opt for a razor with new, sharp blades to prevent chafing, bumps, and ingrown hairs. Generally, men’s razors are recommended for shaving coarse hair since they’re sturdier and ideal for sensitive skin. However, you can purchase bikini-line-specific women’s razors, too.[1]
    • Depending on how frequently you shave, a razor blade can last 5 to 10 shaves before needing to be replaced.
    • Contrary to popular belief, single-blade razors can be used—as long as it’s the stainless steel safety razors. They’re more durable and sharp and can remove hair with only one pass and less trauma to the skin surface.[2]
2

Trim overgrown hair.

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  1. To prevent overgrown hair from getting tangled in the razor, prep your hair with hair scissors or an electric trimmer for a closer shave. Gently pull the hair up and away from your body with one hand and use the other to trim it carefully. Trim in a well-lit area to avoid poking or cutting yourself.[3]
    • If you’re unsure how much hair to remove, put your bikini bottoms on to see where the hair would be exposed. This will help determine where you should shave, too.
    • A bikini-line trim includes the upper thighs, groin, and below the belly button.
    • Companies now make bikini-line electric trimmers that are waterproof or water-resistant.
5

Lather on shaving cream.

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  1. To use shaving cream, squirt an almond-sized amount into the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together to create a foam consistency and apply to your skin evenly.[5]
    • Opt for fragrance-free shaving creams, gels or body soap to avoid irritating your skin.
    • Shaving cream helps minimize the chances of razor burn and irritation.[6]
    • As you shave, apply more cream or body wash to make the process go more smoothly.
6

Shave with the grain.

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  1. Shaving in the same direction of hair growth results in less skin irritation. Use one hand to hold the skin taut and the other to shave the hair away. You may want to rinse the hair away with water to see how much progress you’ve made. Reapply shaving cream to keep shaving.[7]
    • If going with the grain is difficult, try going at it sideways. Shaving against the grain should be a last resort.
    • Avoid over-shaving a hair-free area to limit skin irritation.
    • If you want to remove more public hair, use the same method of pulling the skin taut. Work slowly to avoid cutting yourself.
    • For completely bare skin, consider giving yourself a brazilian wax with hard or sugar wax.

Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What can I do to prevent itching after shaving?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Exfoliate before you start shaving, and maybe use non-fragrance lotion afterward to soothe the area.
  • Question
    Can I use Veet as a teenager?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can.
  • Question
    Is it good to use Veet for the bikini line?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It works well for lots of people; you just have to find what works best for you.
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Warnings

  • Never leave a razor on the ground. Although safety razors make accidentally stepping on one an irritant rather than an emergency room visit, it is still a bad idea.
  • Do not borrow another person's razor. This can spread skin diseases and, in rare cases, blood-borne diseases even if it looks clean.

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about skin care, check out our in-depth interview with Dedra Allen.

About This Article

Dedra Allen
Co-authored by:
Cosmetologist
This article was co-authored by Dedra Allen and by wikiHow staff writer, Mason Martinez, BA. Dedra Allen is a Cosmetologist and the CEO of Jdoah Beauty Salon in Thomasville, North Carolina. She has over 12 years of experience and specializes in working on short hair, relaxed hair, hair removal, and hair growth. She graduated with a Cosmetology degree from the Cutting Edge Institute. This article has been viewed 738,483 times.
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Co-authors: 29
Updated: June 24, 2024
Views: 738,483
Categories: Featured Articles | Shaving
Article SummaryX

To shave your bikini line, start by picking a sharp, multi-blade razor since the hair in this area tends to be coarser. In addition to having a good razor, you’ll want to decide how much hair to remove. Typically, you’d want to remove any hair that would be exposed if you were wearing bikini bottoms, so focus on your upper thighs, groin, and the area just below your belly button. If you want a template, wear your bikini bottoms in the shower. If this is your first time shaving, or you haven’t shaved in a while, trim the hair to ¼ of an inch so it doesn’t get tangled in the razor, then take a hot shower and apply plenty of shaving cream or soap to avoid razor burn. While shaving, move with the hair grain to avoid skin irritation. When you’re done shaving, use a washcloth or gentle body scrub to exfoliate the area to avoid ingrown hairs. To learn how to use witch hazel to avoid razor burn, keep reading!

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Reader Success Stories

  • Taylor K.

    Taylor K.

    Oct 6, 2021

    "My mum and I joined a swim club and she told me to make sure I shave my bikini line before going. I did all these..." more
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