To shave or not to shave? That is almost always the question when it comes to dealing with the bikini area. Shaving certainly is convenientit's there when you need it, you don't have to make an appointment, you don't have to bare your unmentionables to a stranger and it's free (except for buying the razor, that is).

Of course, after even the best of shaves, that little unwelcome visitor, stubble, rears its ugly head and makes you remember why you hate shaving! The itching, the discomfortand that's AFTER the red, raised, bumps and irritation that happen right after shaving. When you put it all together, maybe shaving isn't the best way to clean up that bikini line. So, short of leaving the area untamed and unworthy of even a modest one-piece bathing suit, what's a girl to do?

Today, there are lots of alternatives to sending your hairs under the blade, if you will: Waxing, electrolysiseven laser hair removal. Understanding the benefits and not-so-great sides of each method will help you make the best decision for you.

And even if you're committed to keeping your razor, there are a host of products and techniques that you can use to minimize, or even eliminate, those notorious "bikini bumps."

Shaving 101

If you appreciate the always-ready convenience of shaving, there are a few things you can do to minimize the "bikini bump" syndrome that often accompanies this home hair-removal method.

First, be sure to adequately wet the skin and the bikini hair. Since pubic hair is much more coarse than hair on other parts of the body, this saturating step is very important. Using a large amount of a moisturizing shaving cream, such as Aveeno Therapeutic Shaving Gel or Whish Shave Crave - Almond used with Whish Original Body Brush, helps soften the hair even more, making shaving easier.

When you begin to shave, pull the skin tight with your non-shaving hand. Then shave in upward strokes. Make sure there is adequate shaving cream on the hair and skin before each stroke. Without this protection, you're likely to get red and bumpy after you shave.

Some experts recommend rubbing an ice cube over the shaved bikini area to reduce redness and discomfort. A nice application of a soothing after-shave product, such as California North After Shave Care can help make you more comfortable. And if those nasty bikini bumps do appear, try MD Formulations Glycare Acne Gel, which is great for sending them packing.

Rubbing alcohol-based shaving bump products have made a name for themselves but be careful. Alcohol can actually worsen the inflammation. And the active ingredient in most of these products is nothing more than aspirin. So consider taking a Tylenol or Advil before you shave to reduce the amount of inflammation that may arise. You'll be able to skip the alcohol and still reap the benefits.

Another option to reduce skin inflammation: look to GHK Copper Peptides. Best known for their use in skin rejuvenation, these handy little molecules first made their presence known in the wound healing world. Try a dab of Neova After Shave Therapy after shaving and see if you don't get some well deserved relief.

Are you acne prone after shaving? Then fall back upon a standard, benzoyl peroxide to be precise. No longer relegated to prescription status, using a bpo based product such as B. Kamins Medicated Acne Gel with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide or MD Formulations Benzoyl Peroxide 10 can make a world of difference. Follow this up with one of your favorite options above and wear your bikini with flare!

To decrease the discomfort of the soon-to-return stubble, make sure to keep the area well moisturized between shaves.

What Exactly IS the Bikini Area?

That's not as silly a question as it might seem. Basically, the bikini area consists of all of the pubic hair.

When removing hair from the pubic area, some women are looking simply to "clean up" the sides and prevent the hair from "creeping" outside a bathing suit (hence term bikini area). This is known as a "conservative" bikini line. The conservative removal can vary from just taking away the hair that falls outside the typical bikini to taking the line in a bit and removing more hair.

For the more adventurous (and those who think thong bikinis are great), there's the Brazilian or Playboy removal. For these varieties, the technician removes all but a strip of hair from the pubic area. Finally, you can choose to remove all of the hair from the bikini area, known as a "complete" removal. Do not forget to use Bliss Ingrown Hair Eliminating Pads to maintain that smooth ingrown-free appearance.

Other Medieval Methods Of Hair Removal

OK, so I thought I was going to cry when I read about this. Some people actually use tweezers to remove hair from the bikini area. Tweezers? Like, removing one, single hair at a time? No thanks. But for those of you lucky enough to have only a few strays, this just might be a viable option. If you must tweeze this area, try to do it after a bath or shower, when the skin is warm. And make sure to buy the best tweezers you can. After all, the last thing you want here is a pulled, tugged, broken hair (ouch!). A good pair to try: Rubis Swiss Cross Slant Tweezer. Even if you don't want to tweeze the entire bikini area, these tweezers are great for touch-ups and for tweezing other areas, such as the face.

Waxing Hair-Free

One of the most popular methods for removing hair from the bikini area is waxing. Now, in California, where typical year-round sunshine and mild temperatures send us flocking to the pool or beach even in the winter, bikini waxes are extremely popular.

Though waxing is not a permanent method of hair removal, when done properly, waxing can keep the bikini area free of hair for as long as six weeks, says Lynn McGalliard, a certified esthetician at Parks Salon in Valencia, California (a Los-Angeles suburb).

McGalliard stresses that in order to get the best results, the client should wait until the hair has grown to at least 1/4 to 1/2 inch before scheduling an appointment. If the hair is longer, the esthetician will trim the hair with scissors before using the wax.

Waxing leaves the skin smooth and stubble-free. When the hair does regrow, McGalliard says, it is much thinner and finer. "With waxing, you don't experience that itchiness and stubble that comes with the hair growing back," she says. You also minimize the chance of getting bikini bumps because the entire hair is removednot just the surface part of the hair, as in shaving.

Does waxing hurt? I'd be lying if I said it felt good. But the process is so fast that any pain or discomfort is transient. And a good soothing aloe vera gel usually does the trick. McGalliard says that for some clients who have especially sensitive skin, an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream, such as Cortaid 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream, or a copper peptide product like Neova After Shave Therapy can be applied to lessen any residual irritation.

McGalliard says that clients should not exercise just prior to their waxing appointment. "This can make the skin more sensitive because the perspiration just under the skin's surface can make it more difficult for the wax to adhere properly to the skin and hair. When the esthetician tries to remove the wax strip, it can pull the skin, which is very painful and can even cause bruising," she says. She also warns that other factors, such as menstruation, can make your skin more sensitive, thereby increasing the discomfort associated with the procedure. And if you haven't heeded the warnings of doctors and are still out there sunbathing, be sure not to schedule your waxing appointment after a tanning session.

There are, McGalliard says, some people who should not have their bikini areas waxed. Clients who use Accutane, or apply Retin-A and Retin-A-containing products such as Renova to the bikini area should stay away from waxing. Vitamin A meds and creams have the theorhetical potential of increasing skin fragility which can result in tearing when the wax is removed. "A well-qualified esthetician should know to ask clients whether they use any of these products," McGalliard says. "People who have used Accutane, for example, should not be waxed for at least nine months after stopping their treatment. For Retin-A, the window is approximately three months."

There are a few other things to be aware of, McGalliard says, when deciding the type of bikini wax you want (conservative, Brazilian, Playboy, etc.). "There is a small danger, though I've never personally encountered this, of tearing the labia (the outer portion of the vaginal lips) during a Brazilian or Playboy waxing," she says. "This can happen when the client has exercised prior to the waxing and/or when the esthetician is not qualified and does not follow proper procedures."

McGalliard says that clients should be sure to check the credentials of their technician. Be sure they follow proper sanitation protocols, and that they have adequate training and experience.

Prices for bikini waxes vary depending on several factors, including the extent of the waxing, the region of the country in which it is performed and the place of business to which you go. For example, a typical salon, conservative wax in Los Angeles costs approximately $25 to $30; however, you can find all sorts of lower-price establishments. But when choosing a person to wax this very sensitive of areas, don't let price be your only guide.

Try waxing at home with the Poetic Waxing Kit. You'll wax poetic about this marvelous effective method for removing unwanted hair.

Sticking It To Your Hairs

If you are looking for a longer-lasting, even permanent method to remove the hair from your bikini area, electrolysis might be an attractive option.

Basically, an electrologist inserts a very fine needle into the hair follicle, according to Teresa E. Petricca, CPE, executive director of the American Electrology Association. Then, a small electrical current is sent to the follicle, preventing that follicle from producing any more hairs. The trick here, though, is that each hair follicle must be treated individually, so electrolysis, though permanent, does require a time commitment to work. Prior to the procedure, the technician sanitizes the area and applies any topical anesthetics such as LMX 4% Topical Anesthetic Cream - 30gm, if necessary.

Petricca says that bikini area appointments typically last approximately one hour, but some clients, depending on their needs and levels of tolerance, may request longer sessions.

So, does it hurt? Well, that depends on whom you ask. Petricca says that electrolysis is no more painful than waxing. In fact, she says, "With the modern technology available today, delivering the current at 1/1000 of a second and insulated needles, electrolysis is not painful."

Joan Wolf, a Los-Angeles based electrologist and esthetician, says that the degree of discomfort varies from client to client. "There is discomfort with electrolysis," she says, "but there are some great topical anesthetics available that minimize the discomfort." Wolf, who has more than 28 years of experience in electrolysis, says electrolysis is a great way to remove hair from the bikini area. "Electrolysis is permanent hair removal, so there is an end in sight. With waxing and shaving, you will have to continue for the rest of your life."

Petricca agrees: "Upon completion of a course of electrolysis treatments, the skin returns to its original, clean-looking, soft texture. Temporary methods, such as shaving, tweezingand waxing require frequent, time-consuming maintenance, skin irritations, ingrown hairsThese [temporary] methods can actually contribute to an increase in hair grown activity."

Typical treatment courses vary, both Wolf and Petricca say, depending on the individual. The amount of hair, the hair's texture, growth cycle and past hair-removal methods all can impact the amount of treatments a given client will need. But those who have had it done say it is well worth the time.

"I personally have not had to use a razor, tweezers or wax for 25 years," Wolf adds.

And what about bikini bumps: Nope, not with electrolysis. For minor irritation, the technician may recommend an astringent and topical aloe vera gel for the client to use after treatment.

Prices for electrolysis, like waxing, vary by region of the country. Petricca says that prices for a 15-minute treatment can range from about $20 to $30. A one-hour session, for example, may cost from $65 to $100, depending on where you go.

When selecting a technician, Petricca says to check out their credentials. Her organization, the American Electrology Association, offers certification for electrolysis and "promotes the highest standards of electrology education, practice and ethics standards," she says. Be sure your technician has experience and can provide current references.

Hair Removal in the 21st Century

If you're not thrilled with the idea of shaving, having strips of wax ripped from your body or enduring needles with electrical current, there is yet another option for cleaning up that bikini line: Laser hair removal.

"Laser hair removal is the fastest method of long-lasting hair removaland may be permanent," says Simon Ourian, M.D., medical director of the Epione Medical Corporation in Beverly Hills, CA, and president of the American Society of Aesthetic Laser Medicine.

The key with laser hair removal, Ourian says, is that it only may be performed by a physician or registered nurse. He cautions: "Many doctors or even nurses rent their lasers for a day or two a month. This does not make them a qualified laser specialist. There are only about 30 skin laser centers in the country, so be sure to research the center" you are planning to use before you start treatments.

Like electrolysis, patients typically need to undergo a series of treatments, the length of which depend on the amount of hair to remove and the hair growth cycle. "Three to five sessions is usually enough to send the hair to a point of no return," Ourian says.

Here's how it works: After shaving the bikini area to the desired style (like those mentioned above), the physician or nurse places the laser hand piece on the area to be treated. Then, a focused beam of light is directed at the pigment in the hair follicle. "The light is pulsed for only a fraction of a second," Ourian says. "The duration of each pulse is just long enough to disable the follicle, but not so long that excess heat is transferred to the skin surrounding the hair." Hundreds of hair follicles are destroyed with each pulse of the light.

Laser hair removal is best when dark hair is growing on light skin. This tends to leave out at least 30% of Caucasian patients who are prone to a more subtle blonde, gray or very fair hair. One way to get around this is to ask your laser surgeon if they are familiar with Meladine. A natural stain, it darkens only the hair (not your skin) increasing the effectiveness of the laser.

Laser hair removal is fast: A typical session lasts no more than 15 minutes. And there are no bikini bumps to speak of. The skin may appear a bit red after treatment, but this doesn't last long.

As far as pain or discomfort is concerned, Ourian says that they vary based on the individual. Some patients can receive topical anesthetics if needed. Again, LMX 4% Topical Anesthetic Cream - 30gm is a favorite. After treatment, Ourian says, some patients experience very mild pain, which is transient and can be easily treated with a topical aloe vera gel or hydrocortisone cream.

Ourian says pregnant women probably shouldn't undergo the laser treatment, simply because it's best to avoid elective procedures during pregnancy. However, the procedure is not harmful during pregnancy.

The cost of laser hair removal can vary, but typically you can expect to pay between $50 and $300 per session.

The Final Tally

So, what's it going to be? Stay with the razor? Try out a waxing? Or just go for the permanent methods? The nice thing is you can't really go wrong with any of the optionsthey all serve the same general purpose of making your bikini area tidy and swimsuit-ready. And as for those nasty bikini bumps, well, it looks like they just hit a smooth patch of road.

Robin Heinz Bratslavsky
DERMAdoctor Staff Writer

(Any topic discussed in this article is not intended as medical advice. If you have a medical concern, please check with your doctor.)

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