Glowing skin—check. Flattering swimsuit (on sale, no less)—got it. Beach bag—packed. Bikini line?
If you just gulped in fear, keep reading.
If there’s one thing that can stop us in our tracks on the way to the beach, it’s that dreaded side-effect of waxing and shaving your bikini line in preparation for swimsuit season. Yes, we’re talking about ingrown hairs, those gnarly red bumps that make you reach for your cover-up in a panic. With a little prior planning, you won’t have to hide your bikini line all summer. And the best news, future appointments at your favorite salon in Philadelphia for gentle alternatives to waxing (that’s Green City Beauty of course!) won’t fill you with post-treatment anxiety.
The secret to keeping your bikini line bump-free may add just a few extra, painless minutes to your daily regimen. If you have the time to wash your face (which you should be doing every day!), you have the time to get a smooth bikini line.
A root cause of ingrown hairs often is the presence of dead skin cells. As the hair grows back after shaving or waxing, dead skin that has not been exfoliated can trap the hair below the surface, resulting in red, sometimes painful bumps. One solution: gently wash your bikini area with something that provides exfoliating properties. Use a gentle all-natural soap—we like our own Green City bar soap which has exfoliating green tea leaves and antibacterial tea tree oil—or a fresh washcloth that will apply enough friction to encourage cell turnover.
For some, this takes care of all the exfoliation you need to help prevent ingrown hairs. For others, a topical product like a serum or moisturizer may be necessary as an additional step. While your skin is still damp and warm from the shower, a healing serum can be applied to encourage cell rejuvenation, treat hyper-pigmentation and heal inflamed skin. We use a serum by one of our very favorite wild-crafted, organic brands: Annmarie Gianni Repair Serum, which contains vitamin C and mark-fading ingredients like licorice root and sea buckthorn berry. If you prefer a different brand, make sure your serum contains ingredients like willow bark extract, salicylic acid, or lactic acid, all of which are alpha/beta hydroxy acids.
When considering your options for bikini maintenance, keep in mind that not all hair-removal methods are created equal. For example, shaving sharpens the ends of hair shafts, potentially causing them to grow back painfully. On the other hand, treatments like a Brazilian done with sugaring will actually remove dead skin and unwanted bikini hair at the same time, lessening the risk of ingrown hairs. Plus, sugaring removes hair at the root in the direction of hair growth, which means a lower risk of breakage and thinner hair over time. Effectively, sugaring lessens the risk of ingrown hairs all in one step.
Want to learn more about summer beauty tips and the benefits of sugaring hair removal in New Jersey and Philadelphia? Visit http://www.greencitybeauty.com or call to book an appointment.
Image credited to http://www.phillymag.com/shoppist/2016/05/12/how-often-wash-bikini-line-ingrown-hair/
