Do-It-Yourself Waxing: Get Bikini Ready at Home

Most women this time of year are faced with a dilemma: Should I pay $50-$100 for what seems like a sadistic ritual of hot wax, sharp tweezers, and howls of pain? It seems inevitable that this ritual take place, since no one wants to hit the beach without it. If you want to save money (and face), though, here are some tips for bikini prepping at home, where the alcohols free, and no one will looks at you strangely if you scream obscenities.

First thing's first: Make sure you're not PMS'ing. Not only will it make you a happier customer in general, it will also mean you'll be in less pain. Next up: Don't muck about with the super-easy wax strips; they don't work, and they will have you picking small bits of wax out of your nether regions for hours. If you can find it, grab some Gigi Brazilian Wax Microwave Formula, which is easy and works like a dream.

Before you start doing anything, make sure you're not PMSing. Not only will this greatly reduce the amount of swearing bound to come out of your mouth, it will (more importantly) make sure the process will be as painless as possible.

Trim the bikini area, preferably with an electric razor. This is perhaps the most important way to cut down on irritation and pain, so take it slow and easy.

Next, take a hot shower to cleanse the bikini area, soften the hair follicles, and enlarge the pores. Get out, dry off thoroughly, then dust the bikini area with baby powder. The powder will hold on to the wax, making sure you don't need to go through the process more than once.

Follow the instructions on your product's package to heat the wax. Make sure the consistency of the wax is correct before you start: It should run easily, but still keep its shape as it falls into the container (like pancake batter). Spread the wax in the direction of hair growth, then wait. The waiting is difficult, but crucial to making sure the wax holds the hair (and its shape) when you pull it off.

After about 30 seconds, place one hand at the far edge of the wax section you will pull, holding the skin taut. Quickly pull the wax off in the direction opposite to the way you put it on. As soon as the wax is off, place a hand on the bikini area briefly to calm the skin.

If the product you bought comes with after lotion, apply that liberally, both to calm the bikini area and to remove excess wax. If you don't have anything official, go grab some olive or vegetable oil, which will accomplish the same thing (if not smell quite as good).

Once you are thoroughly moisturized and wax free, apply some cheap stick deodorant to the bikini area. This will prevent red bumps and ingrown hairs, and has a bonus calming effect on the skin.

The whole process should take less than 15 minutes, and you'll be ready to hit the beach!