How to DIY a Bikini Wax at Home For Smooth Skin and Minimal Pain

Pick Your Wax

The most important product to invest in for a DIY bikini wax is wax formulated specifically for that sensitive area. "You should make sure that you are using a product that specifically states that it's suitable for Brazilian waxing and the bikini area, as these formulas are gentler to the skin," says Ismiel.

She recommends buying a wax kit that is applied with a spatula as opposed to ready-to-use wax strips. "With wax kits, you have more control over the areas you want to apply wax," she says. "They also help to ensure you apply the wax thickly and evenly over the area, which is especially necessary for coarser hair." She suggests Nad's Brazilian & Bikini Wax Kit, a hard wax formulated with beeswax for delicate skin. "It's also gentle and can help skin stay smooth and hair free for up to eight weeks."

As for traditional wax versus sugaring, "both... remove the hair from the follicle, so which method to use comes down to personal preference," Khetarpal says.

Prepare Your Body

"Avoid drinking significant amounts of alcohol or coffee before waxing, as it can tighten your pores and feel painful," advises Ismiel. "It's best not to wax during your period, as you will likely be more sensitive and prone to experience discomfort. You should also avoid bikini waxing if you take oral retinoids or use topical Retin-A."

Prepare Your Skin

"The first rule of waxing body hair: Always exfoliate first," says Ismiel. "A well-timed scrub has plenty of benefits. It removes dead skin cells that block the hair follicle, the cause of undesirable ingrown hairs. Exfoliating also boosts circulation, encourages cell regeneration, and improves skin tone and appearance."

Then, Ismiel says to prepare the skin by "ensuring the area is clean, dry, and free of oils and moisturizers."

Apply Your Wax

Follow the instructions for your wax kit and apply the wax evenly to a section about three inches long and two inches wide, with the thickness of a nickel. Apply with the direction of hair growth, and don't stop at the edge of where the hair grows; go past that point.

Remove the Wax

Check the wax to see if it's hard after about 30 seconds; it should sound like you're tapping hard plastic with your fingernail. The wax will dull as it hardens and won't be tacky. If the wax isn't hard enough when removed, it won't remove all the hair.

When the wax has hardened, lightly flick up a small part that isn't attached to hair; you'll want to use this as a tab. Hold your skin taut with one hand and remove the wax in the opposite direction of hair growth in one quick pull, just as you would pull off a bandage. Don't pull up, which might be your natural inclination.

Immediately after you remove the wax, press your hand down on your skin to help relieve some of the pain.

Repeat the Process

Work your way around, waxing the bikini area, using the same process until all the hair is removed. If the wax has missed a few hairs (and it probably has), remove them with a tweezer sterilized with rubbing alcohol.

Soothe Your Skin

When you're satisfied that all the hair in the bikini area has been removed, use the wax remover in the kit to get rid of any remaining residue. Your skin will probably be a bit red and painful; use an aloe-based gel to calm it down—or, if none is available, just open the freezer. "If the skin is sensitive after waxing, you can use ice," says Khetarpal.

Practice Proper Aftercare

Just as proper preparation can lead to a better result, practicing good bikini wax aftercare can drastically reduce ingrown hairs, itchiness, and discomfort. "After 24 hours, it is crucial to exfoliate your skin every day to avoid ingrown hairs," advises Ismiel. As Horn explains, waxing can "leave a hair fragment under the skin surface [and] when a hair penetrates your skin, your skin reacts as it would to a foreign body, becoming inflamed." Exfoliating helps prevent this. You can also turn to a product like Nad's Ingrown Solution, which contains soothing aloe and green tea extract, suitable for minimizing ingrown hairs, irritation, redness, and bumps by reducing the build-up of dead cells that can block pores.

"Be gentle with the skin," advises Khetarpal. "Avoid direct sunlight, medicated cleansers, or acne washes for at least one week after waxing. After waxing, wear loose clothing and minimize friction to the area (i.e., exercise) until the skin looks and feels normal, which can be several days." Ismiel echoes that some fabrics can irritate newly waxed skin: "Opt for light cotton panties, as opposed to lace or nylon," she says. "If you think you want to stick to waxing, try not to shave between waxes to reduce irritation and ingrown hairs." She adds to steer away from fragrances or fragranced creams.