What anyone does (or doesn't do) with their bikini line is entirely personal. But if you're into grooming, you know how delicate and sensitive that zone is. Even worse: Using improper tools, like a dull razor or the wrong shaving cream, can cause painful shallow cuts or razor burn.
We conducted hours of research on the best products for grooming your bikini line to find the best trimmer, razor, and ingrown hair treatment. We evaluated products on type, ease of use, and any potential irritation associated with the hair grooming process. After consulting with editors for tips on the products that work best on them and considering dozens of products, we landed on the following best in show.
Affordable
Has a shower mount
Comes in various colors
Strong scent
Type: Shaving kit, includes razor, shave gel, and soothing lotion
If you're not ready to abandon razors, but the one you're using isn't cutting it, direct-to-consumer shaving brand Flamingo has a kit to get you on the right track. Like most other shaving companies, their kit includes one of their signature razors, razor heads, and a shower mount so you can keep the razor close. This bundle also contains a shave gel meant for use all over your body, including your bikini line.
Safe for sensitive skin
Affordable
Soothes skin
Can clog razor
Type: Shaving cream
Using a good shaving cream is one of the ways to give your pubic area a proper shave. If you've never used a shaving cream before and just want to dip your toe into the waters, spending around $5 on EOS's Sensitive Skin Shave Cream is undoubtedly going to be a worthwhile purchase. Like many products on this list, it uses aloe to calm the area you're shaving and provides a super smooth shave sans razor burn and bumps. It's also fragrance-free, which means you don't have to worry about irritating sensitive skin. What you see is what you get, and for products touching the most sensitive skin on your body, transparency is key.
Formulated for your intimate areas
Creates a close shave
Prevents irritation
Doesn't come with a razor
Type: Shaving kit includes skin softeners, shaving foam, and post-treatment oil
There are shaving kits for your face, so why not for your bikini area? The people behind DeoDoc had the same question and developed a three-step kit intended to give your intimate areas the best shave possible. Their Pre-Shave Intimate Oil softens up the area, their Shaving Foam provides a lush and silky cushion to use while you shave, and their After Shave Balm moisturizes the skin and prevents irritation. For special occasions, or if you really want to up your shaving game, DeoDoc provides a genital-safe alternative to traditional shaving sets.
Prevents ingrown hairs
Cleans out pores
Gentle formula
The texure is a bit greasy
Type: Oil
Fur was one of the first brands to focus fully on skincare for your more personal areas, and their signature Fur Oil has become a beauty editor favorite. It can help to prevent ingrown hairs and ease difficult shaves by softening pubic hair and cleaning out dirty pores. It's like a leave-in conditioner for your nether regions, with a gentle cleanser built in.
Can use all over the body
Long-lasting results
Can use wet or dry
It can hurt
Type: Epilator
For the heavy-duty shavers, there's no better than Braun's epilator, which pulls out hair rather than trim it. It's meant for all over, so you will probably want to test it out on other body parts before moving to your pubic regions. This device hurts a bit and does take some getting used to. However, it's not incredibly painful, and the completely smooth result is totally worth it. As with any epilator, we recommend following the proper steps to safeguard hygiene and minimize ingrown hairs.
Exfoliates
Soothing
Hydrating
Liquid formulation can be hard to apply
Type: Ingrown hair treatment
If you've had one, you know how irritating it is to deal with pesky ingrown hairs. Gigi's topical treatment can be used before and after your preferred grooming practice to eliminate bumps and prevent ingrown hairs while also hydrating your skin. It contains salicylic acid to exfoliate and clean pores—though it may be too harsh for those with sensitive skin—and reparative ingredients like Panthenol. Plus, you can use it anywhere on your body.
Portable
Ergonomic
Designed for use on underarms, legs, and eyebrows, too
Not waterproof
Type: Electric razor
This perfectly portable groomer is super-easy to use and comes with many useful accessories, including three interchangeable heads, a five-position guide comb, and a cleaning brush. Store everything in the handy storage pouch and take it on the go for last-minute travel touch-ups. Plus, in addition to your bikini line, it's also designed for use on underarms, legs, and even eyebrows.
Helps calm redness
Fun to use
Moisturizing formula
Mask can be awkward to apply compared to a cream or gel
Type: Calming mask
With hemp seed oil, rosemary, and other nourishing oils, this mask, specifically made for the bikini area, helps to calm and soothe skin post-hair removal. Use it when your skin really needs a boost—it comes in a pack of five and is meant to help prevent bumps and inflammation. You apply it just like you would a sheet mask on your face: press onto the area, let sit for 15-20 minutes, and then pat the leftover essence into your skin. Skin feels softer and looks smoother, too.
Comprehensive kit
Wax is easy to use
Sticks to hair, not skin
Can hurt
Type: Wax
Hands down, Nad's makes some of the best at-home wax products, especially for DIY bikini waxing. This kit includes everything you'll need: gel wax, reusable strips, cleansing wipes, and a balm for post-hair removal. Many home wax kits miss the mark, but this one really delivers salon-quality results because the wax is sticky enough to remove hair but not so sticky that you'll have trouble removing it from your skin. It is also easily removed with water, just in case you need to redo it. As a bonus, the strips are large enough so that they work not only on the pubic area but on legs, arms, and other areas as well.
What to Look for in Products for Your Bikini Line
- Multifunctionality: If you’re choosing a shaving tool, one that has multiple settings, works wet or dry, or has different attachments can help you get more out of it. If you can use it in different situations (such as in the shower or out) or can groom multiple areas of your body with it, it will be a better investment. Some of the best epilators, for instance, are versatile enough to be used to remove hair from head to toe. And for styling or grooming products, look for something that goes above and beyond the basics.
- Ingrown hair prevention: The tools and products you use will be the number one way to prevent ingrown hairs. For people with curly hair, this is most important. When your hair starts to grow, sometimes it curls inward and gets trapped back under the surface of your skin. This can happen because dead skin cells clog up your hair follicle (so always exfoliate), but ingrown also exist just because of your hair's natural growth pattern.
- Suitable for sensitive skin: The bikini area is especially prone to razor bumps and razor burn, so it's important to use a product that's designed for sensitive skin. Using a shaving cream made with soothing ingredients or a trimmer that's made to be gentle on sensitive skin are two ways to help prevent pubic shaving rashes.
Why Trust Byrdie
Naomi Torres is a freelance writer for Byrdie and a licensed cosmetologist and hair removal expert. Her expertise has led her to give hands-on training and create online classes for estheticians and cosmetologists. She's worked in salons providing hair, nail, and skin services. She's been writing for Byrdie since 2019.