{"id":16534,"date":"2019-11-27T09:46:18","date_gmt":"2019-11-27T08:46:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=16534"},"modified":"2020-07-07T14:45:07","modified_gmt":"2020-07-07T12:45:07","slug":"bikini-care-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosy Grooming: Bikini Care Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you love it, hate it, or anything in between, it\u2019s probably safe to say that we\u2019ve all dealt with the dread of a less-than-perfect bikini line. Ingrown hairs, razor burn, bumps, discoloration\u2026 all reasons we might hide behind a cover-up rather than frolic freely.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The annoying truth is, our bikini area is very sensitive and will be affected by what we use around it and how we treat it. Growing up, nobody talked to me about the proper way to care for such a delicate part of my body, and I don\u2019t recall any of my friends having that conversation either.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Anatomy 101<\/b><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s important to note a few things anatomy-wise when tending to your sensitive area. Simply put, vagina and vulva are not the same. Vagina = inside, vulva = outside. It\u2019s pretty common knowledge these days that <\/span>douching is a no-go<\/span><\/a> and can disrupt the pH of the vagina. Well, the same is true for a lot of other products that are specifically marketed as formulated for use on the female genital area.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What NOT to do<\/b><\/h2>\n

Fragrance, harsh soaps, and cleansers that contain perfumes and other chemical ingredients <\/span>can be highly irritating<\/span><\/a> to delicate tissues, further contributing to an anything but attractive bikini line.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, you guessed it, step 1 in caring for your bikini line is to omit anything that might be irritating the overall area. In general, be wary of harsh chemical detergents, dryer sheets, synthetic fragrance, and dyes. More specifically, avoid perfumes and scented soaps\/lotions. The New York Times offers helpful <\/span>advice from Dr. Jen Gunter<\/span><\/a> that reads:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVulvar pH is around 5.3 and water is 7.0. It is best that any soap or cleanser you use have a pH between 5.3 and 7.0 as regular exposure to a higher pH could damage the lipid layer on the surface of the vulva.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSoap can dry the skin and scents \u2014 even botanicals \u2014 can irritate it. A mild unscented soap, such as a pure glycerin soap, or a cleanser (a nonsoap product) is best, but use them sparingly. Special feminine cleansers are not needed and many have fragrance that could be irritating. A hypoallergenic facial cleanser can be used, but many women are also happy with just water.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

What exactly is an ingrown hair and how is it caused?<\/b><\/h2>\n

According to the <\/span>Mayo Clinic<\/span><\/a>, \u201can ingrown hair occurs when a shaved or tweezed hair grows back into the skin.\u201d Being that our pubic hair is typically more coarse and curly, it has a higher chance of curling back into the skin when removed. What is the best way to avoid these pesty little guys? Keep reading!<\/span><\/p>\n

Routine<\/b><\/h2>\n

Wash, exfoliate, dry, moisturize.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Dr. Gunter covered washing, but to sum it up once more, wash vulva daily with either water alone or a mild, unscented, pure soap or cleanser.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Regular exfoliating (3-4x\/week) keeps skin healthy and pores clear and unclogged. It also gets rid of dead skin cells reducing the likeliness of ingrowns. You can use an exfoliating mitt, body brush, or a homemade sugar scrub made of equal parts sugar and oil. If you\u2019re a product guru and would rather buy something, make sure to steer clear of those harsh ingredients we talked about and opts for a natural, mild, gentle, minimal ingredient exfoliant.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Yes, drying off should play a vital role in your grooming routine. Moist areas are particularly prone to bacterial growth, so whether you choose to wash with water alone or a mild cleanser, it\u2019s imperative to make sure you\u2019re completely dry before dressing!<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Moisturizing: Be sure not to skip this step! It\u2019s important to moisturize after shaving. Make sure to use an unscented, alcohol-free moisturizer. Aloe vera, pure shea butter, and coconut oil are all great natural options. An anti-inflammatory cream or oil with vitamin E would be a great option as well!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Other basic tips to prevent ingrown hairs:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Avoid tight workout clothes post grooming. Rubbing from tight clothing can create inflamed follicles.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Avoid tweezing.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Let it breathe. Don\u2019t keep your bikini area trapped in tight underwear or clothing when it\u2019s not necessary.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Wear 100% cotton underwear.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Stay hydrated!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Shaving<\/b><\/h2>\n

      Pros:<\/strong> quick, easy, accessible at all times, essentially free<\/span><\/p>\n

      Cons:<\/strong> razor burn, ingrowns, bumps<\/span><\/p>\n

      Tips:<\/strong> Always use shaving cream. Reach for one with minimal and natural, moisturizing ingredients. This gives your skin the proper buffer it needs for your razor. Stoke the razor in the same direction of hair growth and make sure you\u2019re using a SHARP blade by replacing head every 2-3 uses if using disposable. Avoid hot water directly after shaving.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Waxing<\/b><\/h2>\n

      Pros:<\/strong> lasting results, less shower time, gets hard to reach places<\/span><\/p>\n

      Cons:<\/strong> ingrowns, (temporarily) painful, can be costly, regrowth<\/span><\/p>\n

      Tips:<\/strong> Exfoliate before you go. Do not shave in-between visits (hair has to be grown out enough to be waxed, this is why regrowth can be a con). Dodge visits around your period, you will feel the pain much more.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Sugaring<\/b><\/h2>\n

      Pros:<\/strong> all-natural, less painful, quick, can be done at home<\/span><\/p>\n

      Cons:<\/strong> can be difficult to find a place that offers this service, regrowth, can be pricey<\/span><\/p>\n

      Tips:<\/strong> Great option for those with sensitive skin. To make at home, all you need is sugar, water, and lemon juice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Laser<\/b><\/h2>\n

      Pros:<\/strong> drastically reduces hair growth<\/span><\/p>\n

      Cons:<\/strong> cost, longer process<\/span><\/p>\n

      Tips:<\/strong> Make sure your technician is certified to do the procedure, as laser treatment is not taught in medical school and requires further training.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Fill us in<\/b><\/h3>\n

      Find a to-die-for bikini razor? Create an all-natural exfoliant that you just can\u2019t bare to keep to yourself? Dying to tell someone about the organic moisturizer that saved your sensitive skin? Leave a reply below and let us know what new tips and tricks you discover. Your fellow bikini-season lovers will be glad you did \ud83d\ude09<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Whether you love it, hate it, or anything in between, it\u2019s probably safe to say that we\u2019ve all dealt with the dread of a less-than-perfect bikini line. Ingrown hairs, razor…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":17813,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBikini-Palooza: Caring For Your Most Sensitive Areas<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ingrown hairs, nasty bumps, inflammation; don\u2019t we ladies have it hard enough? Here\u2019s a tell-all guide on how to tend for your sensitive areas and get one step closer to a carefree bikini season.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Bailey Barajas\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Bailey Barajas\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/7059465357e525f3d034fe56b7c76610\"},\"headline\":\"Choosy Grooming: Bikini Care Guide\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-11-27T08:46:18+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-07-07T12:45:07+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/\"},\"wordCount\":974,\"commentCount\":5,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Women's Health\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/\",\"name\":\"Bikini-Palooza: Caring For Your Most Sensitive Areas\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2019-11-27T08:46:18+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-07-07T12:45:07+00:00\",\"description\":\"Ingrown hairs, nasty bumps, inflammation; don\u2019t we ladies have it hard enough? Here\u2019s a tell-all guide on how to tend for your sensitive areas and get one step closer to a carefree bikini season.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Intimina\",\"description\":\"A Health and Wellness Resource for Women\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Intimina\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":543,\"caption\":\"Intimina\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intimina\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intimina\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/intimina\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/intimina\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCR_3_GPO6pkhDiFU9TZRdYA\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/7059465357e525f3d034fe56b7c76610\",\"name\":\"Bailey Barajas\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/20269b178ce44a202c11f13c096d28e2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/20269b178ce44a202c11f13c096d28e2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Bailey Barajas\"},\"description\":\"Bailey is a soon-to-be new mom who goes against the grain. With a degree in communication studies, she has built a skincare company alongside her partner, which represents her lifestyle: natural, holistic, and non-toxic. Re-learning everything she knew her entire life, she began to grow her knowledge for all things natural. As an advocate for truth and women\u2019s empowerment, her passion for writing and sharing her knowledge began to mature. Here at Intimina, she shares her experiences with pregnancy, sexual wellness, and women\u2019s health from the perspective of a non-Western view.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/author\/bailey\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Bikini-Palooza: Caring For Your Most Sensitive Areas","description":"Ingrown hairs, nasty bumps, inflammation; don\u2019t we ladies have it hard enough? Here\u2019s a tell-all guide on how to tend for your sensitive areas and get one step closer to a carefree bikini season.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Bailey Barajas","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/"},"author":{"name":"Bailey Barajas","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/7059465357e525f3d034fe56b7c76610"},"headline":"Choosy Grooming: Bikini Care Guide","datePublished":"2019-11-27T08:46:18+00:00","dateModified":"2020-07-07T12:45:07+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/"},"wordCount":974,"commentCount":5,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Women's Health"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/","url":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/","name":"Bikini-Palooza: Caring For Your Most Sensitive Areas","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2019-11-27T08:46:18+00:00","dateModified":"2020-07-07T12:45:07+00:00","description":"Ingrown hairs, nasty bumps, inflammation; don\u2019t we ladies have it hard enough? Here\u2019s a tell-all guide on how to tend for your sensitive areas and get one step closer to a carefree bikini season.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/bikini-care-guide\/"]}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/","name":"Intimina","description":"A Health and Wellness Resource for Women","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Intimina","url":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png","width":1000,"height":543,"caption":"Intimina"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intimina","https:\/\/twitter.com\/intimina","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/intimina\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/intimina\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCR_3_GPO6pkhDiFU9TZRdYA"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/7059465357e525f3d034fe56b7c76610","name":"Bailey Barajas","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/20269b178ce44a202c11f13c096d28e2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/20269b178ce44a202c11f13c096d28e2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Bailey Barajas"},"description":"Bailey is a soon-to-be new mom who goes against the grain. With a degree in communication studies, she has built a skincare company alongside her partner, which represents her lifestyle: natural, holistic, and non-toxic. Re-learning everything she knew her entire life, she began to grow her knowledge for all things natural. As an advocate for truth and women\u2019s empowerment, her passion for writing and sharing her knowledge began to mature. Here at Intimina, she shares her experiences with pregnancy, sexual wellness, and women\u2019s health from the perspective of a non-Western view.","url":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/author\/bailey\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16534"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16534"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16534\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}