Oh! The things we do for beauty. From weekly threading and shaving to monthly waxing, our poor skin goes through much in order to look and feel flawless. In fact, when it comes to future brides, the pre-bridal services go a notch up, turning salon appointments into a necessary evil. First-time bikini waxes are possibly the most insidious of them all. 

We'll be straightforward with you: Getting your first bikini wax is not a fun experience for most people. However, it is one of the longer-lasting methods for achieving smoothe skin as compared to shaving. The smoothness lasts easily for two to four weeks. Some people even say that the pain gets better once you get a hang of the procedure. But either way, it is an uncomfortable experience to sit through. Yet, almost all brides like to get it done before their weddings because you know what they say: Beauty is pain, and the end results are well worth it. 

All things considered, if you're a first-timer going in for a bikini wax, then it's time you heed certain before and aftercare advice. 

Things To Keep In Mind Before And After A Bikini Wax

Pre Bikini Waxing Tips

One of the worst things anyone has woken up to, a few days after getting a bikini wax, are short, stubble hairs. So, here's a list of certain pre-waxing tips that one should keep in mind to lessen the burden of their first time waxing experience. 

1. The Hair Should Be 1/4 Inches Long

The length of your pubic hair should be at least 1/4 inches. This means you should not shave before an appointment or over trim your hair. If you have hair shorter than this, it will be difficult for the wax to cling onto them and pull them out. Also, if you're unsure of how much to trim before an appointment, just let your aesthetician know that you require trimming, she will know what to do. 

2. The Time Of The Month Matters

Who likes going in for even a regular waxing session when they're PMS-ing, let alone a bikini wax? It is advisable that you don't go in for a bikini wax at least three days before or after your period as your skin is extremely sensitive at that time. Also, don't go in for a waxing session during your period. If you have sensitive skin in general, then put at least a week's gap between your period and your waxing appointment. 

3. Exfoliate A Few Days Prior

Gentle exfoliation is advisable before an upcoming appointment. This will get rid of any dead skin that may pose a chance of clogging your hair follicle post waxing. It's best to use a gentle scrub a night before. But if you're skin is sensitive, then do this a few days prior to the appointment. 

4. Take A Pain Reliever

A rarely given, but probably the best one for first-timers and those with low tolerance of pain. Pop in an over-the-counter pain reliever half an hour before your appointment in order to champion through the pain. You may get a hang of it once you get it multiple times, but the medication certainly helps. 

5. Your Lower Half Will Be Exposed

So, mentally prepare yourself. You may even have to move about in awkward positions in order to assist your aesthetician. Also, don't worry about making your aesthetician awkward as she may have seen a thousand pubic regions in her line of work. What you should understand as first-timers is that getting a bikini wax requires you to be open-minded about the procedure. 

6. Special Tip For To-Be-Brides: Get In The Habit Of Getting A Bikini Wax

To all the future brides out there planning to get a bikini wax, we advise you to get it more than once before the wedding functions. Try getting a wax at least two months prior, so that the one you get before you functions is possibly the second or third time. This way you won't have to deal with first time waxing aftermaths around your wedding and will get a hang of it. 

Post Bikini Waxing Tips

Once you've survived your waxing session like a pro, you'll want to engage in some post-care activities. Follow these tips to ensure a breezy post-wax experience.

1. Use Aloe Or Hydrocortisone Cream To Soothe Irritation

Your skin is going to look like a plucked chicken after your waxing session. It will be irritated and sensitive from all that pulling. It's best to use aloe vera gel or hydrocortisone cream to soothe the redness and irritation, plus reduce the chance of ingrown hair. 

2. Don't Exfoliate, Swim Or Sunbathe

After the waxing appointment, your skin needs time to heel, regardless of its sensitivity. This means you should avoid scrubbing, swimming or sunbathing for at least 48 hours. The skin needs to breathe and any form of irritation or heat will give you a rash or bacterial infection. 

3. Wear Comfortable Clothes

Avoid wearing tight clothes. Heat and sweat generated from tight-fitting clothes may end up creating the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Since your skin is sensitive after waxing, it is best to wear airy and loose clothes, because a bacterial infection is the last thing you need.  

4. Keep Your Hands Away

We know, it is very tempting to touch your soft, newly waxed skin. However, it becomes very easy for bacteria to get transferred from your hands to your skin. Keeping in mind the susceptibility of your skin to bacteria and other kinds of infections, it is best to keep your hands away from it. 

5. Skip Any Sexual Activity

Any form of sexual activity should be avoided for 24 to 48 hours after getting a bikini wax. So, if anyone is planning to get down and dirty after getting a bikini wax- don't. Wait, and let your skin heal. 

6. Shower, Don't Soak

Avoid taking a hot bath after your appointment. Soaking your newly waxed pubic area in hot water may irritate it even further, giving your pimples and bumps. The best thing to do is to take a shower with either cold or lukewarm water. 

You're all set for your first bikini wax! Tell us your own tips for before and aftercare in the comments.

Shivani Singh

Author, WeddingBazaar

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