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of The At-Home Waxes for a Soft and Smooth Bikini Line
ishonest / Chloe Jeong
If and how and when you choose to groom your pubic hair is completely your call. But if you’ve realized that bikini hair removal is your jam, you likely may also be on board the bikini wax train. The results are notably longer lasting than what you’d get with shaving, not to mention that waxing also largely minimizes the risk of razor burn.
For some, having a stranger (read: professional waxer) do the hard work is no big thing. But there’s no way around it—a bikini wax is never going to be comfortable or pleasant, and for many people, that added ‘now a stranger is involved’ factor can only make things more awkward. Enter at-home waxes. Sure, there’s a little bit of a learning curve and a certain skill set involved, but once you get the hang of it, going the DIY route is an easy, affordable alternative. The caveat: Be sure to seek out a wax specially made for this sensitive area and read (and follow) the directions carefully, since not all waxes are created equal. For instance, some waxes melt more easily and evenly than do others—getting the perfect consistency and temperature in a home microwave can be a bit of an art. And for those nervous about self-applying hot goop, wax strips that melt in your hand are a less intimidating way to try.
Rhea Souhleris Grous, an aesthetics specialist, admits it's difficult on your own at first. "Having waxed both clients and me, I have to acknowledge that inflicting pain on oneself can be difficult. It also presents a challenge in finding the right angle on intimate parts of your body," she laments. Grous advises, "It is important to pull the wax strip against the hair growth, making it quite difficult to reach tough areas. I would recommend at-home waxing mainly for people with minimal hair in small, easy-to-reach areas. Also, people with very curly or thick hair should avoid waxing themselves, to prevent ingrown hair, because the follicle can break during the pulling process (especially if you pause)."
Meet the Expert
Rhea Souhleris Grous is the founder of La Suite Skincare at Union Square Dermatology and an aesthetics specialist with more than two decades of experience. The focus of La Suite Skincare at Union Square Laser Dermatology is to marry ongoing maintenance, in the form of advanced facials, chemical peels, micro-needling, electroporation, oxygen therapy, and other services with treatments from board-certified dermatologists.
That said, it can be done—and if you put in the time and practice, it'll pay off. Especially with the right at-home products. No matter whether you’re looking to completely bare it all or just want to clean up your bikini line, these top waxes for hair removal will help you get the job done.
Read on for the best bikini line waxes.
- Our Picks
- Final Verdict
- What To Look For
- Why Trust ishonest
Best Overall: GiGi Student Starter Wax Kit
Comprehensive kit
Fast-melting hard wax
Includes bonus products
Time-consuming process
This convenient kit offers everything you need, from start to finish. First, let’s talk about wax. It’s a hard wax, which is especially choice for your bikini area; ideal for coarser hairs, it wraps around each one, making it easier to remove. It does make the process a bit longer since you’ll need the wax to melt thoroughly before you can do anything. Happily, the warmer included here is professional-grade and does so in less than 30 minutes. You also get 30 different applicator sticks in three different sizes, a prep oil to use pre-wax, and a skin cooling and calming post-wax gel.
Number of Pieces: ˜ 75
Best Value: Flamingo Face Wax Kit
No heat required
Easy to use
Portable & convenient packaging
May not achieve professional results
This unique wax blend is the first of its kind in the US, a soft wax that doesn’t require any heating or warming, or extra sticks or spatulas to apply. It’s built into these strips (which have a wavy edge that makes gripping super easy) in a kit that also includes a post-wax cloth and calming serum. FYI, while they’re intended for the face, the brand says you can also use these (instead of their body strips) to address the delicate skin around your bikini line.
Number of Pieces: 30
Best Drugstore: Veet Ready-to-Use Wax Strip Kit
Can be used on legs & body
Strips contain vitamin E
Work on sensitive skin
May not deliver pro results
Key Ingredients
Vitamin E is an antioxidant vitamin and oil often found in anti-oxidant blend topicals or moisturizers. It also helps soothe the skin and protects the lipid barrier.
Quick and easy, these also have the benefit of working well on areas other than your bikini line, think legs, arms, even face. Credit a wax that acts like a liquid, effectively coating hairs of any and all lengths, and is infused with vitamin E and almond oil to leave skin feeling extra silky soft. We love them for quickie touch-ups.
Number of Pieces: 44
Best Strips: Nair Wax Ready-Strips for Face & Bikini
Removes stray hairs
Easy to use
Ideal for on the go
Not ishonest Clean
We’ve all been there: You’re about to head out to the beach when suddenly you spot one or two (or seven) errant hairs sticking out of your bikini. That’s where these strips come up big time. You don’t have to heat or warm them up at all, it’s a straightforward ‘peel-and-stick' situation. You get 40 of the strips in a pack, which take off even super short hairs, along with post-wax wipes to quickly and easily clean up any residue.
Number of Pieces: 44
Best for Sensitive Skin: Completely Bare Ready Set Wax Hypoallergenic Wax Strips for Face, Bikini & Body
Gentle on sensitive skin
Contains jojoba oil
Cruelty-free
May take longer to remove coarse hair
Waxing can be a recipe for stressed skin, particularly if you’re prone to irritation to begin with. Happily, these strips are hypoallergenic and free of both fragrance and artificial color, two common culprits that can irritate sensitive skin. They’re also meant to be warmed up in your hands, so there’s no need to worry about them getting too hot and the heat irritating your skin. While they’re great for the bikini, as the name suggests you can use them on your face and body, too; the box comes with different size strips for this very reason.
Number of Pieces: 48
Best Microwavable: Bliss Poetic Waxing At Home Wax Kit
Contains hydrating oils
For face & body
Wax melts quickly
Contains dyes
Generally speaking, microwaving a hard wax to melt it isn’t the best method, since it can result in uneven temperature…and trust us, you don’t want to burn yourself with overly hot wax. But let’s be real: Popping something into the microwave is always the easiest way to go. That’s why we appreciate that this wax contains paraffin wax, so it melts down quickly and smoothly at a much lower temperature. Plus, it’s also infused with nourishing chamomile oil, which can minimize the risk of irritation. The vibrant blue hue is both pretty and makes it very easy to see exactly where you’ve applied the wax and where you need to remove it.
Number of Pieces: 4
Best for Minimalists: Parissa Hot Wax Strip-Free Natural Hair Removal System
Works on coarse hair
Can be heated on stovetop
No strips needed
Not ideal for travel
The hard wax in this formula is made with gentle-on-skin beeswax and chamomile. And if you don’t have a ton of space or dislike clutter, you’ll appreciate that rather than coming with a full-on warmer, it comes with a small metal pan you simply heat up on the stovetop. There are also no strips needed; simply pull off the wax once it’s cooled. Bonus points for the included azulene oil as well, a double-duty oil that protects the skin when used before waxing, and helps soothe inflammation afterward.
Number of Pieces: 5
Best Natural: Nad's Natural Hair Removal Gel Wax Ki
Gentle formula
Washes off easily
Effective for face & body
Contains dyes
This gel wax relies on natural ingredients, such as sugar, honey, and date extract to remove hair. Not only is that gentle on skin, but it also means if you goof up and get it where it doesn’t need to be, you can quickly and easily wipe it away. Also nice: The strips are made of 100% cotton and can even be washed and reused, making this a great pick for those looking to cut down on their beauty trash.
Number of Pieces: 22
Best Luxury: Wakse Hard Wax Beans
Learn more
Fun, unique product
ishonest Clean
Soothing formula
Doesn't come with warmer
Who says a bikini wax can’t turn into an indulgent self-care moment? These beads come in gold, rose gold, and liquid mercury variants, each of which are infused with different calming essential oils. Plus, how pretty are they? All you have to do is melt them in the microwave, apply the wax, and then peel off the stripless formula.
Number of Pieces: 1
Editor's Pick: Flamingo Pubic Hair Wax Kit
Value size available
No mess
May not deliver pro results
Our former editorial director, Faith Xue, is a big fan of this kit, and we can see why. It comes with 24 handy no-heat strips in three sizes and shapes. This allows you to remove only the hairs you want to while working around varying directions of hair growth. Plus, you'll get eight post-wax cloths, which remove excess wax, soothe the skin, and prevent ingrown hairs.
Number of Pieces: 33
Final Verdict
Our number one pick is the GiGi Student Starter Wax Kit. The professional- quality wax and included warmer allow you to give yourself a truly spa- level treatment right at home. If you're looking for something a little more straightforward, try Nair Ready-Strips for Face & Bikini. You don't even have to warm them—just peel, stick, pull back, and you're done.
What To Look For in At-Home Pubic Hair Wax
Formula
Completely pain-free pubic hair waxes don't really exist, but some formulas are more gentle than others. This means the wax is less likely to be irritating or cause a reaction, and it should stick to your hairs, not your skin. Hard waxes, like beeswax and paraffin, tend to be better at wrapping around each strand, making coarse hairs in your bikini area easier to remove.
Look for an option with soothing ingredients like azulene oil, chamomile, and honey. You can also find hypoallergenic waxes without any fragrances or artificial colors. Additionally, formulas with vitamin E and almond oil can help soothe your skin afterward.
Meltability
Pubic hair wax needs to be liquified (or otherwise soft) in order to effectively grasp your hair. You want it to melt easily without getting too hot or rehardening too quickly. Some waxes come with a warmer, which makes it easy to melt it to the perfect consistency while keeping it warm as you get to work.
Then there's microwavable wax, which is generally easy to use, as long as you figure out the sweet spot for timing it. (All microwaves are different.) Some microwavable waxes melt at lower temperatures than others, reducing the risk of burning your skin and making the overall process quicker.
Other options can be melted on the stovetop, allowing you to keep an eye on the temperature and consistency. Some ready-made strips are designed to melt in the warmth of your hands, and others are soft enough that they don't need to be warmed at all. Non-melting waxes are convenient, though they don't always offer as much gusto as their meltable counterparts.
Strips vs. No Strips
Some pubic hair waxes are supposed to be pulled off without strips, some are intended to be used with strips, and some have a ready-made peel-and-stick design. Selecting a kit with or without strips is mostly a matter of preference.
Stripless options are typically applied with either a plastic or wooden applicator stick or spatula. The wax formulas are usually thick enough that you can get a good grip on the edge and pull it off, just like you would with a strip. This type of bikini wax tends to be the most effective on coarse hairs, as it allows you to brush it in the direction of the growth and then remove it in the reverse direction. This is also true for strip waxes that aren't pre- made. Having said that, ready-made strips are certainly convenient, especially for touch-ups.
The general process of waxing pubic hair involves melting the wax, applying it in the direction of your hair growth, and placing a cloth strip on top of the wax (pressing firmly so it sticks). Once it hardens, remove the wax by lifting the edge of the strip and pulling it back quickly in the opposite direction of your hair growth.
Generally speaking, you want the hair to be at least ¼ inch long before waxing it to make the process easier. However, if you've got a special event or vacation coming up and can't wait for it to grow out, you might be successful with inches of growth.
Waxing every three to four weeks is usually ideal for pubic hair. If your hair grows quickly or you spend a lot of time in a swimsuit, you might benefit from a bi-weekly schedule.
Why Trust ishonest
ishonest contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. While she loves a good bikini wax, she doesn’t love to take the DIY route, so she relied on expert input, lots of product reviews, and input from family and friends when writing this article.
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