Bikini Line Blues

Although Friday is the official start of summer (and, if I'm not mistaken, the longest day of the year in terms of hours of sunlight), it's been bathing suit season for quite a while now, and many of us have no doubt begun the seasonal struggle with our bikini line. Below are a few tips for keeping the area a bit smoother (and more comfortable) by reducing irritation, such as nicks and those lovely red shaving bumps.

The Multipurpose Hair Dryer
I have no idea where I first read this, and I can't find anything on-line to support it now, but several years ago somewhere, I read or heard that the warm, dry air of your hair dryer--set to its lowest setting and not held too closely to your skin--can help reduce irritation on the bikini line post-shave. Obviously, if you hold the hair dryer too close, or have the heat setting too high, this practice can backfire quickly. My recommendation is to leave the hair dryer running on its lowest setting on the counter, pointed in your general direction, for just a few minutes as you comb your hair/apply lotion/brush your teeth/do your make up, etc.

Don't Go Against the Grain
Instead of shaving against the grain of your hair (pulling the blade upward), shave with the grain to reduce irritation. Shaving against the grain tugs at the hair follicle and can result in irritation. Now, shaving with the grain of your hair does not result in as close a shave as does shaving against it; however, you can achieve a closer shave by shaving perpendicular to (across/side-to-side) the grain after you have shaved with the grain. 

A Surprise Use for Deodorant
I have never, ever tried this and don't plan to, so I can't vouch for its efficacy or lack thereof, but I have heard from many girls that applying deodorant to their bikini line right after they shave significantly reduces the appearance of shaving bumps. If you're braver than I am, you can try it. I'll just stick with my tried-and-true techniques.

Squeaky Clean
To remove any dead skin or dirt that might cause irritation as you shave, wash your bikini line with a mild soap or body wash before you shave the area. Some sites also recommend going so far as exfoliating pre-shave.