Bikini Line Confidential: How to Get a Smooth Bikini Line at Home

Editor’s note: During the month of May, when you purchase the original (50 milliliter) Microderm for your face, we’ll send you the body edition to try. It’s on us, until we run out—enter code BODYGIFT at checkout. (And you can see the full terms and conditions here.)

Where exactly the bikini line might be has wavered considerably from decade to decade, and we’ve arrived at a place where anything—from minimal trimming to maximal waxing—goes. “For too long, the only bikini area grooming routine that was considered normal for women was full hair removal,” says Laura Schubert, cofounder of Fur, a clean line of pubic hair and skin products. “It’s important to us that we validate the bush as a legitimate body hair expression. If you choose to keep all your body hair or some of it as an expression of your identity, that’s great, too. Everyone across the gender spectrum should feel empowered to make up their own mind on their body hair, which is why we work so hard to normalize all grooming routines as equally valid options. Why shouldn’t freedom of expression extend to body hair?”

Whether you like to err on the side of smooth and hair-free or you prefer to experiment with something bushier and more ’70s-inspired, there are some brilliant clean ways to keep your bikini zone free of irritation and ingrown hairs.

“Any sort of pubic hair or bikini line regimen starts with exfoliation,” says Schubert. She likes a scrub with both chemical and physical exfoliation (we included both in our Microderm exfoliating scrubs for face and body for the same reason—the two types of exfoliation optimize each other for better results). “When your pores are clogged, your hair isn’t able to grow up and out, so it curls inward and results in ingrown hairs. When your skin is clear and healthy, your hair can grow more comfortably,” Schubert says.

Exfoliating often—the more you do it between treatments, the better—prevents a buildup of dry skin and dead skin cells, which can in turn create ingrowns. Schubert exfoliates two or three times a week but says the right amount of exfoliation for you depends on how sensitive your skin is. “If you have sensitive skin, your exfoliator may just be a good dry brush followed by a powerful serum. If you have rougher skin, you might want a stronger exfoliator. No two skin types are the same, so take time to experiment until you find the right fit,” she says.

If your skin is particularly prone to redness, bumps, or itching, Schubert recommends a treatment with soothing ingredients. Her special serum for ingrowns, made with willow bark extract, witch hazel, and aloe leaf juice, is designed for this purpose. “The longer you go in between sessions, the worse ingrowns can get,” says Schubert. The brand also makes brilliant patches—tiny microdarts on the sticky side of each patch deliver moisturizing hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, algae, licorice root, and more deep into the problem area for next-level results.

“Once you move through that initial itchy, red ingrown phase, then you want to condition your pubic hair to help make it softer and more manageable,” says Schubert. Her oil—made with grape-seed, jojoba, vitamins A and E, and tea tree oil—is designed to help soften, soothe, and calm both skin and hair. “Immediately after your shower or bath, apply it to hair you’d like to soften and to skin that could use a little extra hydration and clarity,” she says.

“Over time, you should see fewer ingrowns, smoother skin, and softer hair. And honestly, I think it’s a cool opportunity to grow hair that you might not otherwise,” Schubert says. “You can always take it off later. Just let the hair grow naturally. But if you’d like to achieve a sleeker look, we recommend using clean, sharp trimming scissors—not the ones you use to open packages—or an electronic trimmer with a guard to determine exact length.”

Whether you’re just keeping the area neat or you’re entertaining a major hair removal operation, Schubert has some fantastic tips.

“The right shaving cream creates a buffer to protect your skin, and the wrong one—conventional foams in particular—can be really drying, with potentially irritating fillers and chemicals,” says Schubert.

“Always shave with the grain (direction of hair growth) as opposed to against,” says Schubert. “And while this seems obvious, it’s important: Use a sharp razor blade. In general, you should replace the blade every time you shave that area, especially if you’re very ingrown-prone. Safety razors are great for this, and they’re more sustainable.”

“After shaving, follow with a thin layer of stubble cream—Fur’s is made with skin-softening olive extracts, tea tree oil, and lavender oil—to smooth skin and soften regrowth,” says Schubert. An aftershave serum can help soothe postshave skin irritation—like razor bumps or razor burn—and nourish, too.

For those opting for a bikini wax at home or in a salon, prep and aftercare are crucial, says Elizabeth Taylor, the owner of True Beauty Brooklyn spa. “Always prep the area you are going to wax by cleaning it with wipes or an antiseptic solution,” says Taylor. “Then use a small amount of fast-absorbing oil—like Fur Oil, grape-seed, or jojoba—to moisturize your skin. Next use a clean cloth or arrowroot powder to blot off excess oil. You want the wax to pick up only your body hair, but when the skin is dry, the wax can adhere to it more and cause painful results.”

“Afterward, exfoliate your skin three times a week with a gentle scrub to keep your skin and hair regenerating on a cycle where the follicle is free to breathe,” says Taylor.