FitSugar

Take Care of Your Bikini Line

FitSugar — Thu, 10 May 2007 03:30:00 PDT

Everyone has a certain way that they deal with their bikini line. Whether you shave or wax, there's something we all have to deal with - IRRITATION!

Nobody talks much about how to take care of your bikini line once the hair is removed, but we all get itchy or painful red bumps. When the hair grows back, since it's curly and course, it can get stuck underneath the first few layers of your skin, causing ingrown hairs.

Here's how to prevent them:

Gently exfoliate daily - Get yourself a pair of loofah gloves, lather up with some moisturizing soap, and gently scrub your bikini line. They've got a rough texture to get rid of dead skin cells, but they're gentle enough to use every day. My fave are from The Body Shop ($7.00) because they have a little loop on each glove so you can hang them in the shower.
Wear loose-fitting undies - If the elastic on your underwear is making indentations on your skin, than it's way too tight. All that rubbing will irritate your sensitive skin, and cause more ingrown hairs.

Fit's Tips: Sometimes you may need to help get rid of an ingrown hair if it becomes too painful. Sterilize a pair of tweezers with some rubbing alcohol, and pluck the hair out. Wipe the area with some alcohol afterwards.

Do you all have any tips to share on this one? Let me know in the comments below.

Source

Ingrown Hairs - Not a Fan

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 02:00:00 PST

When you remove unwanted hair from your body by waxing or shaving, you run the risk of ingrown hairs. I've had women tell me to never wax my bikini line ever, because those hairs are thick and curly, so they tend to get trapped inside the hair follicle and grow in crooked more often than say your leg hair.

I'm not going to let a little ingrown hair keep me from waxing. Oh no. Here's a tip I picked up from a waitress when I was out to dinner one night (really). She said she was way into waxing (don't ask me how we got started talking about that), and she waxed everything, including her armpits (ouch).

Her advice: To prevent those irritating little red bumps you get from ingrown hairs, you must exfoliate the area daily.

Now I'm not saying use something harsh like a sugar scrub on your sensitive parts - I much prefer using loofah gloves. They are gentle enough to use every day.

And exfoliating consistently to remove dead skin cells really helps prevent those suckers. So you can wax and shave all you want and get silky smooth skin without those annoying red bumps.

How to Prevent Ingrown Hairs

Annie Tomlin — Mon, 09 May 2011 03:10:44 PDT

Spring means it's time to break out warm-weather wear like dresses and sleeveless tops. This also means that you may be shaving more frequently, which increases the chances of developing the dreaded ingrown hair. These little bumps can form wherever you shave, and they can be either harmlessly annoying or surprisingly painful. They develop when the blunt edge of an individual hair grows into the skin, curling up and causing inflammation. Keep reading to find out how to prevent ingrown hairs.

5 Simple Ways to Look Even Better in 2012

Annie Tomlin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:05:47 PST

Making New Year's resolutions is one thing, but making changes that take little effort but have a huge beauty payoff? Now that's something to celebrate. Whether you're looking to banish bikini-line bumps for good, to have stronger nails, or to get that glowing complexion, these straight-from-the-experts tips will give you guidance. Read more to get started.

What It's Like to Get a Brazilian "Facial"

Real Beauty — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:00:00 PST

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.

This weekend I got my very first facial. On an area other than my face. Captivated by a treatment that fights irritating ingrown hairs and, frankly, something that dares to deem itself a facial for your sensitive spots, I volunteered to try.

Read More: Fall-Inspired Beauty Splurges

Named the Brazilian Facial (!!), it's New York's Strip Ministry of Waxing's effort to assuage lady problems that come along with regular waxing (dryness, ingrowns, acne). You can go to your appointment already bare or combine services with the "Wax & Polish." To find out about the experience, just keep reading.

How to Take the Pain Out of Waxing

Allure — Thu, 12 May 2011 13:30:00 PDT

We are proud to present this story from Allure:

Perhaps the worst thing about coming out of winter hibernation is the realization that a '70s-era embrace of body hair is not, in fact, sweeping the nation. That's not to say, though, that there is no way to make the delicate reacquaintance with your waxer more bearable. Here, tricks that actually help take the sting out of waxing. See the pain-relieving tips when you keep reading.

Would You Ever Use a Shaving Brush?

Allure — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:00:04 PDT

We're excited to present this story from our friends at Allure:

I recently discovered eShave, a luxury brand dedicated to scraping the whiskers off men's faces in style. And while their shaving creams are impressively thick and the razors artfully sculpted, the product that really got my heart racing was—of all things—a classic shaving brush.

I have always been fascinated by these sophisticated throwbacks, also known as badger brushes, probably because they're about as far as you can get from the unglamorous, clunky can of shaving cream and pink disposable razor. But when I told the brand’s founder I had never tried one before, she sent me this sexy little black number immediately, swearing that plenty of women are ordering them for themselves.

Following her instructions, I dipped the brush into a jar of the almond-scented shaving cream and lathered up my legs. I was relieved to find the brush felt soft against my skin, nothing like I expected from the porcupine-looking bristles. The brush produced a rich, dense lather that left me smooth, without my usual bumpy patches. I have no idea if it really does exfoliates your skin to prevent irritation and ingrown hairs, as the company promises, but it definitely gave me a closer shave. Although it takes a few extra minutes the shower (I normally use a razor with a built-in block of shaving cream), I'm now hooked on this most traditional male of all beauty products. What do you think—would you ever try a badger brush or any other “boys only” beauty products?

Best of Bella: Wedding Beauty Inspiration, Nivea's 100th Anniversary Cruise, and More

BellaSugar — Sun, 15 May 2011 03:15:00 PDT

Check out our latest BellaTV episode and some of our favorite stories from the week:

We showed you gorgeous wedding hairstyles, makeup tips, and manicure ideas.
20 gorgeous avant-garde bridal couture looks from cities around the globe.
From classic to modern, 20 beautiful movie brides.
Ahoy! Bella hit the high seas for Nivea's 100th anniversary cruise.
Are you at greater risk for developing melanoma?
Start preventing ingrown hairs in time for swimsuit season.
Neon-orange you glad that DayGlo is back?
See the five beauty looks that you should borrow from Something Borrowed.
We made our lips look like a rainbow with Violent Lips colorful lip tattoos; see how they worked out.

Get Through These Taxing Times With Bliss Spa's "Wax" Relief

Brittney Stephens — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:00:39 PDT

Doing your taxes can definitely make you want to rip your hair out, so Bliss Spa is offering some "wax" relief to those of us looking to de-fuzz come tax time. During the week of April 15-22, Bliss spas nationwide are offering 15 percent off all waxing services, as well as select hair removal products, like their Ingrown Eliminating Pads ($38) and Poetic Waxing Kit ($45). We think Bliss's waxing is as close to painless as possible and will leave you feeling smooth, sexy, and ready to spend - ahem, save - that tax return.

So Long, Sarong: 3 Easy Ways to Rid Yourself of Razor Burn

Jaime Richards — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:15:00 PDT

The dog days are upon us, and that means there's still plenty of time to hit the pool or beach. That also means a scramble to stave off razor burn. While there are a few things you can do to prevent razor burn, if you happen to already have the red bumps and irritation, there are a few things you can do to banish the burn.

How do you spell relief?: Formulated with soothing willow herb and ginger root, Kiehl's Razor Bump Relief Lotion ($28) helps to reduce the appearance of ingrown hairs, bumps, and razor burn caused from shaving.
Wipe it away: With Satin Smooth's Res-Q Ingrown Hair Treatment Pads (prices vary by retailer), you can easily wipe away discomfort caused from all sorts of hair removal methods, from shaving to electrolysis to waxing. One side soothes while the other gently exfoliates, loosening trapped hairs.
Get to the root of it: OK, so it's not a treatment per se, but Tria's Hair Removal Laser will help liberate you from many of the problems that come with shaving, especially razor burn and ingrown hairs.