At-home waxing doesn’t need to be intimidating. We’ll walk you through how to wax your bikini area at home, so you can have a safe, effective wax experience that’s much more affordable and convenient than going to a salon.
But just FYI–you shouldn’t attempt to give yourself a full Brazilian wax at home, and Estrid wax (and all at-home wax kits) is not made for that. If you want to wax the full bush, it’s time to bring in a professional to keep your skin protected. And one other note: Make sure your pubic hair is somewhere between 2-6mm long. If your hair is too long, you can use a trimmer to cut to a more manageable length.
Step-by-step: How to wax your bikini line at home
- Patch test
- Prep your skin
- Find a good position
- Peel strips apart
- Apply strip in the direction of hair growth
- Hold skin taut and pull
- Remove residue with post-wax wipes
- Soothe your skin
1. Patch test
New to at-home waxing? It’s always a good idea to do a test on a small area to ensure the formula reacts well with your skin. Wait 24 hours and if all looks good, wax on!
2. Prep your skin
Once you’re ready to wax, it’s time to prep. Make sure your skin is clean and dry. So if you’ve just showered, wait about 45 minutes to ensure your skin has cooled down and is completely dry. Avoid applying body products like lotion before waxing–we want the wax to grip the hair!
3. Find a good position
Waxing pubic hair and your bikini line can be a bit trickier than waxing your legs. You’ll need to find a comfortable position where you can hold the skin taut while you pull. Try putting a leg up on a chair, or sit cross-legged so you can get up close and personal.
4. Peel strips apart
Slowly pull the strips apart to keep wax even on both sides. There’s no need to rub the strips to warm them up.
5. Apply strip in the direction of hair growth
Place a strip, wax side down, where you want to wax and rub firmly with the palm of your hand in the direction of hair growth. Pubic hair often grows in multiple directions and so you may need to adjust how you place the strip as you go.
6. Hold skin taut and pull
Hold skin taut at the base of the strip to avoid irritation. Then pull the strip quickly in the opposite direction of hair growth, staying close to the skin. Repeat as necessary, but we don’t recommend using a strip more than twice per area. Especially for first-time waxers, it’s common to have hair leftover as pubic hair tends to be coarser than the rest of your body hair. If this happens, wait at least 24 hours before waxing over the same spot again.
7. Remove residue with post-wax wipes
Use the calming post-wax wipes to remove any wax that’s left behind. If you run out of wipes, use your favourite face oil instead. Just be sure you don’t get the oil on your labia or internal area.
8. Soothe your skin
A little irritation up to 24 hours post-waxing is totally normal, especially if you’re a new waxer or if you have fair or sensitive skin. Feel free to apply a cool compress to soothe. After waxing, wait 24 hours to use alcohol-based products to avoid irritation. Avoid prolonged sun exposure 24 hours after waxing, as your skin will be more sensitive. Make sure to wear breathable underwear and avoid working out for a few hours since sweat can be irritating to freshly waxed skin.
Should I wax or shave my bikini line?
There’s pros and cons to both waxing and shaving your bikini line, and it ultimately is down to your preference and expected results. There’s a lot of pros to shaving: There’s a bit less of a learning curve, it’s quick and pain-free, and you can do it every day. But there’s cons too: Shaving your bikini line may be less precise, will have shorter results that require more touching up, and you may get ingrowns and irritation due to the sensitive skin and tough angles.
The pros of waxing your bikini line? Long-lasting results (up to 28 days!) are the biggest one. Waxing also is more precise and won’t lead to razor bumps. The cons? Waxing is undoubtedly a little more painful, and requires more forethought. While shaving can swipe away hairs under 2mm long, waxing really needs a longer hair to grip onto.
How painful is it to wax your bikini line?
Look, we’ll level with you. Waxing your bikini line isn’t completely painless. At the end of the day, you are pulling hair out by the root, so you’re going to feel something. But it’s also really efficient, easy, and fast. For just a few seconds of ouch, you can get up to 28 days smooth skin. Everyone’s individual pain tolerance and sensitivity is different, so try a small patch test if you’re worried you won’t be able to handle it.
By following the method above and by using an at-home wax kit that’s kind to your skin like Estrid’s, you can prevent irritation and make waxing as comfortable as possible.
How often should I wax my bikini line?
You’ll need at least 2mm of hair to wax again, and it usually takes about three to four weeks to regrow that hair after you wax it. But otherwise, how often you wax your bikini line is totally up to you! Maybe you want to wax every four weeks like clockwork, or maybe you just want to do it seasonally or for a special occasion. How you wear your body hair is always totally up to you, and there’s no right or wrong way to do it!
That’s it! To learn even more about waxing, be sure to check out our Waxing FAQ.
