Get a Perfect Bikini Line

You Don't Have to Suffer (So Much) Anymore

A new crop of OTC skin-numbing topical creams and sprays containing lidocaine and benzocaine can take the sting out of wax jobs. (Previously, you needed a prescription to get your hands on them for waxing.) You should apply one 15 to 20 minutes before you're ready to rip — or be ripped. And while it won't leave you as numb as, say, a shot of novocaine, it will significantly reduce the ouch factor. Try GiGi Anesthetic Numbing Spray, $12, and LMX 4%, $47.

Lasers Are Now for Everyone

It used to be that unless you had fair skin and dark hair, you risked scarring and pigmentation problems or, at the very least, poor results from laser hair removal. But lasers like YAG and EpiLight work better on a broader range of complexions and hair hues, says Teresa Battaglia, co-owner of the New York Center for Hair Removal and Skin Rejuvenation. And yes, time with beam machines is still expensive (averaging around $200 a session), but 12 salon waxes a year at $30 each equals $360, which is almost two laser sessions. Plus, just one or two treatments can yield impressive results.

Read more: Bikini Line Hair Removal - Get a Perfect Bikini Line - Cosmopolitan Hair Inhibitors Are Flooding the Market

Last year, soy was the word in the hair inhibitor market. Now people are buzzing about an ingredient called capislow. A slew of new products contain this plant extract, which reduces hair regrowth by slowing down the metabolic activity involved in the hair's anagen growth process. Clinical studies found that it's on par with the results from soy lotions. It won't make you totally hairless, but if applied twice a day for a month, you'll be able to shave or wax less often. New products that contain it: Completely Bare Completely Smooth, $80, and Noxzema Soothe and Smooth 3-in-1 Bikini Area Relief, $6. 

Beauty Alert

Going for a superbare Brazilian effect? Steer clear of depilatory creams, says Ava Shamban, an L.A. dermatologist. "They're fine for the outer edges of your bikini line but can give the sensitive inner areas a chemical burn."

If You Decide to Shave

Make sure your blade is sharp and clean. We like the new crop of high-performance tools: Gillette Venus Vibrance razor, $10, stimulates your hair to stand up (like goose bumps) so the blade slices the hair extra close to your skin. Also, Noxzema 4-Blade System Razor, $6, and Schick Quattro, $9, have four blades that leave not a single hair behind.

Try a transparent shaving gel. They allow you to see clearly where you're going. Some options: King of Shaves AlphaGel, $6, and Tend Skin Air Shave Gel, $16.

To reduce irritation, shave in the direction of hair growth. It's also wise to defuzz at the end of your shower so that the steam has softened your hair and skin, says Will King, founder of King of Shaves.

Prevent razor rash by applying a toner with witch hazel or rosemary. Try C.O. Bigelow Dr. Galen Herbal Skin Tonic, $5. If you still get bumps, try the antibiotic ointment Neosporin; your follicles could be infected.