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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bikini line problems

57 replies

Breadcakes · 15/05/2024 23:39

I'm going on a 2 week family holiday with DP, his parents, 2 BILs and their partners. We're staying in a villa with a pool that's right by the beach, so will be spending a lot of time in swimwear.

However. My bikini line hair grows so fast and I get thick dark stubble. I'll need to get waxed the day before I go and hairs will start noticably growing back within 3 days. If I shave, I get horrendous ingrown hairs so I'll just have to leave it. I can't afford laser treatment and a bit worried about getting it anyway because of stories about poorly trained technicians etc.

I love swimming and so sick of this and really anxious and self-conscious about it - I wish I could just carelessly whack on a swimming costume and enjoy myself, but I need to carry out meticulous maintenence checks every time I get into swimwear! I usually wear a swim shortsuit to my local pool to cover up the issue, but I don't want to spend most of the time wearing unattractive, practical swimshorts when everyone else will be in lovely bikinis! Any advice welcome!

OP posts:
Precipice · 15/05/2024 23:41

How about a lovely legsuit? You can get ones in pretty colours and patterns. Since it's integrated as one suit, it looks more natural than wearing swim shorts over the suit, since it's just the design, but it should cover the same. Should be less stressful for you.

Imnotarestaurant · 15/05/2024 23:41

Nair?

JellyIegs · 15/05/2024 23:42

Have you tried an epilator? They aren’t the cheapest but work out cheaper than regular waxing. Wax before you go and use the epilator when you’re away?

SensualDecay · 15/05/2024 23:44

Use hair removal cream and you won't get ingrown hairs or a rash.

Also, you get much less rash dealing with a bit of regrowth than you do with the first major bush removal, ime.

Going forward, I'd suggest you get laser if this is something which bothers you.

CJ0374 · 15/05/2024 23:49
  • Did you know you can buy IPL and do the laser removal at home. Not as quick as going to a salon (I've tried both) but still very effective over time.
  • Wear swim shorts rather than bikini bottoms
  • Wax/pluck yourself whilst away if your hair grows that quickly
  • Use depilatory cream
taylorswift1989 · 15/05/2024 23:50

Could you bring some hot wax or cold wax strips with you and wax off the regrowth every few days? Get your partner to do it for you, maybe?

Otherwise, a bikini with a skirted bottom might be the way forward.

MadBlack · 15/05/2024 23:52

just rock the boy shorts. Job done.

CrissCrossAppleSauce · 15/05/2024 23:53

I bought an at home ipl thing after a lifetime of this. Either ingrown hair or stubble or both normally, and it’s been really amazing. It was expensive but very worthwhile. Before that I was using an epilator because at least you can do it yourself as frequently as you need. So you take on holiday and do a quick go every evening if you needed to

Precipice · 15/05/2024 23:54

I missed that you already have a shortsuit, but you could get another one in a more 'jazzy' style? Or even just a bikini set with shorts rather than tiny panties style?

They won't all be in bikinis. The company includes your DH, FIL and BIL, who presumably won't be wearing something as skimpy and so revealing on the bum as typical bikini bottoms.

wickerpram · 16/05/2024 00:00

IPL is your friend! I was exactly like this. IPL hasn't stopped hair growth but it has stopped ingrown hairs. Now I can just shave and it's fine.

Nori10 · 16/05/2024 00:19

I got an home IPL and it worked so well on my bikini line. I haven't done it in probably 5 years now and it still hasn't grown back aside from a couple of strays that I just pluck.

It's also been amazing for my legs and arms too. Again, that's with me doing the initial recommended treatments and then being very lazy in subsequent years. I keep telling myself I should do a top-up, but it's hard to motivate myself when it's done such a good job!

Best money I've spent!

Time40 · 16/05/2024 00:20

Couldn't you just work on being less anxious and self-conscious about it? It's only hair. It's natural. Do you really think your nearest and dearest are going to be peering at your bikini line with such close attention? Really? I wish this issue would go away, because in my opinion it's a lot of unnecessary fuss and worry about nothing. I don't think anyone ever looks that closely and notices - and if they do, so what? Men don't worry about hairy thighs, so why on earth should women?

But OP, if you really can't make yourself stop caring about it, the easiest thing is to treat it with cream bleach - that will make it invisible for at least a fortnight.

Bluebellsinthewind · 16/05/2024 00:29

What about this swim suit from Next?

Bikini line problems
Runningbird43 · 16/05/2024 00:40

Swim shorts are not “unattractive and practical”, and bikini’s aren’t definitively “lovely”

I don’t like bikinis. I don’t think they’re flattering on most people, and they’re crap for swimming in. They’re ok if all you want to do is lie in the sun and not move too much.

find a nice two piece or one piece with shorts that flatters your shape. You’ll look amazing and feel more confident.

PurpleBugz · 16/05/2024 00:44

I have a bikini that's tiny triangles on my boobs but like short shorts on bottom so it covers this problem. I refuse to get into the bikini line maintenance, I have electric trimmer and keep it tidy but I'm an adult I have hair I'm not ashamed of that. I cover up my thighs as I have scars.

Other options are things like a sarong? For swimming pools where my bikini is less appropriate I wear exercise shorts over a normal costume. Not great if you are after a tan though

CuteCillian · 16/05/2024 00:45

Veet or Nair?

Original poster
Breadcakes · 16/05/2024 09:09

Thanks everyone.

Hair removal cream doesnt work for me. I have thick black hairs and the cream doesn't dissolve the roots so I'm still left with stubble. Hairs noticably grow back within a day or so too.

Aren't epiltaors absolute agony on your bikini line?!

And I'll take a look into the at home IPL devices. Are they not bad for your skin with the UV light exposure though?

BIL's girlfriends are a bit younger than me (mid 20s, I'm 35) and quite stylish in different ways. I don't want to look frumpy and old in very conservative swimwear. And no, it's a family holiday, of course nobody will be wearing skimpy, I don't want skimpy, just to be able to wear normal swimwear.

OP posts:
PartTroll · 16/05/2024 09:20

OP states in her first post that she doesn't want to have to cover up yet loads of posters tell her to wear shorts/skirted swimsuits 🙄

Runningbird43 · 16/05/2024 09:28

PartTroll · 16/05/2024 09:20

OP states in her first post that she doesn't want to have to cover up yet loads of posters tell her to wear shorts/skirted swimsuits 🙄

No, she doesn’t mention covering up, says she doesn’t want to wear “unattractive, practical swim shorts”

swim shorts can be attractive and look great, and there are other lovely alternatives. It isn’t only bikini’s that look lovely.

saw a woman in a shorts tankini on my last holiday. She looked far better, more stylish than the bikini wearers, and her tits weren’t falling out in the swimming pool. She was confident and having a great time swimming and being active.

GabriellaMontez · 16/05/2024 09:58

Time40 · 16/05/2024 00:20

Couldn't you just work on being less anxious and self-conscious about it? It's only hair. It's natural. Do you really think your nearest and dearest are going to be peering at your bikini line with such close attention? Really? I wish this issue would go away, because in my opinion it's a lot of unnecessary fuss and worry about nothing. I don't think anyone ever looks that closely and notices - and if they do, so what? Men don't worry about hairy thighs, so why on earth should women?

But OP, if you really can't make yourself stop caring about it, the easiest thing is to treat it with cream bleach - that will make it invisible for at least a fortnight.

This is a well intended post and I agree with the sentiment somewhat.

I also don't think you can imagine what it's like to have thick, black, coarse hair growing profusely beyond the bikini line.

No amount of bleach would touch it. Certainly not for 2 weeks!

OP I understand. You need to buy a machine or go to a laser clinic. Its life changing. What bad stories have you heard? I've never heard any.

Notthatcatagain · 16/05/2024 10:07

Have one laser treatment a couple of weeks before you go, should slow down the regrowth for your holiday, regrowth will be finer too. You need 6 weeks between treatment anyway. Just slap plenty of factor 50 on and you will be fine. It's a very safe procedure so long as you are careful with SPF

Aliflowers · 16/05/2024 10:09

Have to say as someone with similar bikini hair issues, laser has been life changing. I know it doesnt help with the upcoming holiday but defintely something to look into in the future. And while the whole cost of the treatment is expensive, its spaced out in 6 week intervals so you can pay as you go. Im in Ireland and got my first 6 sessions as a deal which worked about 60 euro for full bikini and underarms. I needed 10 sessions in total to be completely hair free and I need a top up once a year on bikini

On the upcoming holiday we always travel with family, honestly people really wont notice. I know for me, I generally have a coverup on unless lying on a sunbed or in the pool. And unless youre sitting on the sunbed legs akimbo no ones going to be close enough to notice a bit if stubble. Bring some wax strips with you that you could tidy it up if it really is bothering you but otherwise just relax and enjoy your time away

bryceQ · 16/05/2024 10:10

There are loads of swimsuits now that have more coverage around the crotch. I would get one like that. It's so ridiculous we "need" to wear miniscule knicker ones

GinnlyMontpeler · 16/05/2024 10:15

I got an at home IPL, my skin is incredibly pale but I have dark hair. In the 4 weeks I used the IPL I have got rid of 98% of my leg hair, probably 90% of my bikini line, the only place it doesn't seem to be working is my underarm but shaving that is nothing.

I wish I had bought one years ago. Mine has a cool head so it feels very cold against the skin. I had to shave first before using it and my bikini line was red bump city due to how often I had to do it, ie 3 times a week. As it takes some time to do legs, I did those on a different day ie Mon, Wed, Fri and pits and bits, Tue, Thur, Sat. It has been an absolute game changer. I usually have active holidays so swim shorts or surf shorts and a rash vest but this year I will be wearing a bikini hence the IPL.

Time40 · 16/05/2024 10:19

I also don't think you can imagine what it's like to have thick, black, coarse hair growing profusely beyond the bikini line

Believe me, I can, and I still say men wouldn't do it, so why should we? I think it's a feminist issue. Women should be free to wear exercise clothing without having to spend time, effort and money conforming to unrealistic "beauty" standards.