Spoiler alert: There's a little more work involved than you'd think.

It&rsquo;s summertime, and that means hitting the beach and pool a lot. Because it&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/fashion/4-swimsuit-trends-for-beach-vacation">bathing suit</a> season, shaving and waxing your bikini line becomes another thing to upkeep for those who choose to do so. Along with hair removal, however, is the maintenance of keeping the area smooth and bump-free. There&rsquo;s more work involved in this than one might think, but the processes between shaving versus waxing are pretty similar, from exfoliation to moisturizing, to the actual act of hair removal, and more.
Here, L'Officiel provides the best tips for maintaining a smooth bikini line.&nbsp;

First thing&rsquo;s first: exfoliation. We all know how important exfoliating on our faces can be, but it&rsquo;s just as important down below for preventing ingrown hairs. Starting a day before, exfoliate using linear movements with your scrub&mdash;we suggest buying one with natural ingredients, such as rosehip powder and argan oil. Whether you&rsquo;re shaving or getting a Brazilian wax, this step is a must.

Before shaving, stay in the shower or bath for about 10 minutes in warm water so the outer layer of your skin softens, and hair is easier to remove. Afterwards, you can gently exfoliate once more before starting to shave.

Listen when I say shaving cream really does help&mdash;if you don&rsquo;t use enough to soften up your skin, it&rsquo;s much easier to scrape or irritate your skin. When buying high-quality shaving cream, look for moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter and oils. If you&rsquo;re down to experiment, conditioner works well too. When applying the cream, rub in a thin layer so you can still see the skin below.

Shave in the Direction of Hair Growth

Be very careful with which direction you shave. We recommend shaving in the direction of hair growth, simply because going against the grain can cause irritation and ingrown hairs.

When you exit the shower or rip the wax off, hold a cold washcloth or towel on the shaved area to prevent irritation and calm the skin. Next, apply an anti-redness serum, preferably one with tea tree oil, or mix tea tree oil with water and apply it with a cotton pad. If tea tree oil isn&rsquo;t an option, try to find an aftershave or serum with glycolic acid, which will help heal any scars, reduce fine lines, and prevent ingrown hairs. We recommend applying the serum for at least two days after shaving.

Aside from a calming serum, you&rsquo;ll also want to moisturize the area with an alcohol-free moisturizer to prevent over-drying and irritation. Products with aloe vera, vitamin E, and jojoba oil will be the most effective. Keeping your bikini line moisturized will help for waxing, too, as the hairs won&rsquo;t break off incompletely as they might with dry skin the next time you wax. When going to the beach or pool, remember to apply sunscreen everywhere, but especially pay attention to your bikini line.

This one&rsquo;s pretty obvious, but if shaving, clean your razor, preferably with rubbing alcohol and hot water after each usage. It&rsquo;s imperative to replace your old blade after five to seven uses, and for bonus points, store your razor in a clean, dry place instead of the shower, where it can collect excess bacteria.

How to Maintain a Smooth Bikini Line this Summer

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