How To Clean Bikini Area At Home

NGL, I lowkey used to think that angry red bumps and annoying ingrown hairs were just things you had to get used to when you shaved your bikini line. I mean, that's the main reason why I used to avoid razors completely and book waxing sessions instead. But after a ~vent~ session with a friend, I realized that redness and irritation don't have to be a part of the package deal every time you pick up your razor. Yup, if shaving is your thing, all it takes is the proper technique and the right products to make sure you never have to deal with a bikini line from hell again.

So to help you out, I hit up Lillian Tung and Laura Schubert, the founders of trendy hair-removal brand Fur, for the must-dos when it comes to shaving your bikini line. You're welcome.

This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

What is your bikini line?

Okay, so you're probably wondering what the hell "bikini line" even means. Well, its OG definition referred to the hair and skin that was visible around a bikini bottom, but now people consider the "bikini line" to be any skin that grows pubic hair (aka your vulva).

Get access to *all* of Cosmo

Is it bad to shave your bikini line?

Nah, not if hair removal is your thing. Plus, shaving your bikini line is a great option for folks who don't have the pain tolerance to deal with waxing or the $$ for laser hair removal. If you're shaving your bikini line correctly, there's nothing to stress about.

Now that all of the questions are out of the way, it's time to get to the good stuff. Here's everything you need to keep in mind when shaving your bikini line:

How to shave your bikini line

1. Make sure you have the right razor

The difference in whether you're left with bumps or smooth-ass skin comes down to one very important tool: your razor. Okay, it's not everything, but it does play a big role. You want to make sure you have a razor with a very, very sharp blade. A dull one will drag against your skin and lead to ingrowns and razor burn (the most annoying). Bonus points if you use one with four or five blades, like the options below.

Most importantly, your razor needs to be clean—otherwise you risk irritation, or even worse, infection. Give it a quick rinse before you shave to make sure it's not clogged up with dead skin or hair.

This Mini-Razor

Gillette Venus Mini On The Go Women's Razor

This Flexible Razor

Flamingo Women's Razor

This Razor Subscription Kit

Billie Razors

This Razor for Sensitive Skin

Gillette Venus Extra Smooth Sensitive Women's Razor

2. Prep your bikini line

Exfoliating before you shave is also a major key. Both Tung and Schubert agree that using a gentle physical scrub, like one of the picks below, is the way to go. Exfoliating buffs away the product buildup, oil, and dead skin cells that are sitting on the surface of your skin—if you don't get rid of that layer, your razor could be pushing all of that gunk further into your pores, which can lead to ingrowns.

Dove Exfoliating Body Polish Body Scrub

SheaMoisture African Black Soap & Bamboo Charcoal Scrub

AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion

Eau Thermale Avène Gentle Scrub

3. Always apply shaving cream

You should always use a shaving cream, says Tung. Putting a razor against your skin without a buffer is basically a recipe for some major irritation. And if you don't have a shaving cream on hand, a creamy body wash works in a pinch too.

This All-Natural Shaving Cream

Fur Shave Cream

This Drugstore Shave Cream

Eos Shave Cream

This Shaving Cream for Dry Skin

Skintimate 2-in-1 Shave Cream & Skin Conditioner

This Shaving Gel

Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Smooth Shave Gel

4. Shave in the direction of your hair growth

The direction definitely matters. Your pubic hair is thicker than the hair on the rest of your body and the skin in that area is ultra delicate, so you want to shave in the same direction as your natural hair growth to avoid any bumps and redness. According to Schubert, you want to shave using short, small strokes—not long sweeps—and if your pubes are long, give them a quick trim with scissors before using your razor.

5. Layer on a post-shave moisturizer

You want to use a product that's hydrating and soothing after you shave your bikini line, says Tung. So work in a post-shave lotion or oil to make sure your skin stays soft long after you shave.

This Natural Cream

Fur Stubble Cream

This Lotion for Dry Skin

Vaseline Clinical Care Body Lotion Extremely Dry Skin Rescue

This Lotion for Dry Skin

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion

This Soothing Lotion

Eau Thermale Avene XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream

The final verdict

If you're over your body hair and want to shave your bikini line, go for it! You just want to keep these steps in mind: exfoliate beforehand, use a sharp, clean razor, don't shave against the grain, and moisturize after. The result? The hairless, smooth-as-hell skin of your dreams.

Ama Kwarteng Ama Kwarteng was previously the associate beauty editor at Cosmopolitan.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io