Ready, Set, Wax! 7 Insider Tips for a Confident and Comfortable Bikini Wax

Putting strips of wax on your skin and letting a stranger rip out some of your most sensitive body hair doesn't sound like the ideal way to spend an afternoon. But when beach season rolls around and the thought of stubble or razor burn makes you cringe, you might want to consider a bikini wax.

Plenty of people say a professional wax is worth it for super-smooth results. You can tell the waxer how much or how little you want removed, from just a tidy up to a more thorough job going up and past the crease of your thighs. A bikini wax usually means tidying things up beyond the panty line, not a total shave job, aka Brazilian wax.

Make sure your hair is the right length
"Your hair should be about a quarter of an inch long—or what we call a grain of rice," Roberts said. If you have long hair, waxing will be more painful. If it's short, there won't be enough to hold onto the wax, so it may not come off at all or lead to pesky ingrown hairs.

Consider going when you don't have your period
You can get wax when you have your period. Just be sure to use a tampon and give your waxer a heads-up! But most experts advise against it, especially if it's your first time.

Do your research and find a reputable salon
Of course, the salon you go to should be completely professional and hygienic. Also, make sure it's not double dipping; You don't want to use the same stick every time.

Word of mouth and referrals are the best way to find the right studio. If a friend has had a good experience somewhere, chances are you will too. And if all else fails, there's Google.

Skip the exfoliants a few days before
Keep your skincare regime gentle in the days leading up to your wax. At most, do a very light exfoliation a few days beforehand, Roberts said. Anything too harsh will irritate the skin, causing more redness and irritation after the wax.

Take a painkiller on the day of your wax
Pain is the number one (and totally legitimate) concern of first-time bikini waxers. And although wax is unlikely to be as bad as you might imagine, the fact is, it can hurt or cause discomfort to varying degrees.

Hit the salon in loose clothing
Leave your leggings and tight skinny jeans at home, and go to your appointment in something a little lighter and looser. "You don't want to wear really tight clothing or leggings that could cause any friction in this area,

Be prepared for redness and discomfort
Your post-wax bikini area won't look perfect right away. "Then, it doesn't look smooth and pretty. In fact, it looks a little like chicken skin," Dr. Bowe said. "It's red and bumpy, and that's normal." Don't worry: it will disappear in a few hours.