Top Tips for Bikini Wax Virgins...

If you've never been for a wax, then I know what you're thinking; 'No. No. No. It's not for me.' Well, I'd say that's a shame! Are you really prepared to give up having a neat bikini-line just because you're too chicken to endure fifteen minutes of discomfort? After all, variety is the spice of life! I'd tell every girl (and maybe even guy) out there to suck it up and try something new for a change... it's not like it wouldn't grow back if you changed your mind at a later date.

So why is waxing the way to go with hair removal? Well, unlike shaving where you can't quite catch every stray without nicking yourself or taking hours of standing, legs spread, over a mirror, waxing is something a professional can do for you and it is over in minutes. Not to mention, hairs tend to grow back finer after a wax rather than stubbly after a shave, and as the hair is tugged straight from the root rather than slicing the visible part of the hair off, nasty ingrowns are less likely and the smoothness lasts for 3-6 weeks (depending on your rate of hair growth) in comparison to the 2-4 days with shaving. AND you don't get shaving rash, but quite the opposite as most wax formulas these days are infused with aloe vera and the like to sooth skin and keep it soft also.

Perhaps you prefer depilatory creams for hair removal on your legs, or underarms? Why not use them down there, I hear you ask? Well, pluck a hair from your leg, then pluck one from your bikini-line. Obviously the latter is much thicker, which means you would need to leave the depilatory formula on for longer than you would with your legs... This is longer than is advised on the bottles and leaving the creams on for too long can irritate your skin and in extreme cases, burn it off. Not to mention that it probably still wouldn't touch the hairs! Again, even if it did, it wouldn't dissolve the hair from the root, meaning that ingrown hairs and quicker re-growth are to be expected.

Threading, epilating and plucking? Don't be so ridiculous! You don't have time for that nonesense and anyway, why would you want to drag the pain out?

So now you see, waxing is really the only way. Now that you know this, perhaps you need some tips to get you wax virgins out there started. Here goes...

1) DON'T do it yourself until you've had it done a few times first. Unless you want to rip your skin off. Raw is a look for meat, not bikini-lines.

2) DO research salons and DON'T just go to the cheapest one. If your hairdressers do waxing and you're pleased with their work on your head, give them a try down there. If not, then ask friends or your mom for a recommended salon. Otherwise, check the papers; there are often salon adds in there and having an add in the paper means they have money, meaning they earned money by being bikini-wax-wizards. Probably.

3) DO appear confident and like you know what you're doing there. Just like hairdressers and beauticians, these artists can sometimes get carried away with their own 'vision' and push you into something you may not be after.

If you didn't go in there wanting your pubic hair shaped into a rose, or ten grand's worth of Swarovski crystals on your bits then don't come out with it! Simples.

4) DO start slowly unless you're absolutely sure of what you want. If it's your first time and you are only just coming round to the idea of waxing then just have things neatened up a bit. If you've been sporting a power-muff for years, coming out with what my friend once charmingly referred to as a 'chicken-arse fanny' might be a bit of a shock to the system.

5) DO take a painkiller before and DON'T go during your period. As well as pain thresholds being lower during that 'time of the month' you also don't want to make a mess when your tampon string gets stuck on a wax strip... Grim.

6) DON'T be shy. Each day beauty therapists wax bikini-lines, ball sacks and butt cracks. It's really nothing new! If you are feeling a bit timid then DO wear a skirt so you don't have to properly remove your clothes and take some small knickers with you. The therapist may ask for you to remove your knickers, or she might be able to give you a paper pair which might allow more space for manoevre. However, if you want it all off, it's way easier for both parties if you stop being a baby and wang off the panties.

7) DO take a look at the job and have a feel before you leave. A pet hate of mine is to be having a shower and then find three random hairs that somehow managed to escape the Wax Massacre. If you want a full Hollywood (like a baby's bottom... literally) then you might want to offer to flip over so she can make sure you're taken care of at 'every angle' if you know what I mean. Make sure you leave with it exactly like you intended, because once you're home it's so much more of a hassle to go back in, row with the therapist so you don't have to pay more for her to finish her job, or try to do it yourself.

8) DO chat with the therapist and follow her instructions. When you first go in she might ask you to lift your skirt, remove your knickers and bend one leg to the side. Then she might ask you to hold the skin taut or hold your clothes out of the way. Do as she says. You don't want her to hurt you, now do you?

9) DO use moisturiser afterwards. Most salons with use an oil to remove any wax residue afterwards and this is usually full of essential oils to sooth the skin, but a layer of body butter will really seal in that moisturiser.

10) DON'T cry and think you've made a massive mistake when you're skin is looking pink and puckered. It's supposed to look that way, I promise! Just keep it moisturised and cotton-pantied for 24 hours then take another look. You'll love it... and so will he... or she... whatever floats you boat!

So I hope those tips really help. I genuinely think that everyone should at least try new things as often as possible, and it's those that scare you that end to have the biggest pay-offs. Go for it and you'll never look back :) Let me know how it goes!

Love
gabriellasofia