Beauty: Hair be–gone

Laying on the beach, pool deck, or porch this summer, a cool drink and a hot swimsuit are all but required to keep the heat away and attract the attentions of a cute summer fling. Also required? A thorough removal of hair from all unnecessary areas – and let’s face it, what hair isn’t unnecessary nowadays?

I’m not just talking to my fellow ladies here either. In these current times, a hairy chest and (shudder) a hairy back are sure ways to deflect the flirty glances from that jock rocking a Speedo across the sun deck. Bellow, some of the best tips and products to help you prepare your rocking bod for a summer of fun, in and out of the sun.

For the Legs: To prevent irritation, experts suggest hydrating leg hairs in the shower beforehand, as it makes the hairs softer and easier to cut. If your skin is sensitive, consider preparing the skin with pre-shave oil (try The Art of Shaving Pre-Shave Oil, $25, The Art of Shaving) prior to your shaving cream to add an extra layer of protection. As you shave, pulling the skin tight will minimize damage to the skin and help the blades cut closer, resulting in a smoother and closer shave.

For the Bikini Area: One of the most dreaded areas in all of hair removal, it’s tough to get a proper clean up without paying for professional help. To help with a smooth shave, try Bikini Zone’s Anti-Bumps Shave Gel ($4.50, Drugstores), an extra gentle formula that provides a close shave while moisturizing the skin with botanicals and vitamins A and E. Post-shave, prevent in-grown hairs by gently clearing away dead skin from the area with a topical exfoliator like Tend Skin Lotion ($21, tendskin.com).

For a (semi)-Painless Wax: For those daring souls looking for an at-home waxing solution, first of all, I salute you. To minimize the pain, apply a topical numbing cream in the area you plan to wax about a half and hour prior to temporarily numb the skin. To allow the wax to adhere to the hair better, use baby powder to soak up moisture before applying the wax. Pull the wax strip against the grain of hair growth, and try not to scream too loudly (you don’t want to scare the neighbors).

For a More Permanent Solution: Recent innovations have helped consumers bring home a more lasting hair-removal treatment—at a cost. The Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X ($445, triabeauty.com) is the only FDA-cleared laser available for home use. With continuous use, this laser promises significant lightening of dark hairs and in time, a deactivation of hair follicles. Although not as powerful as professional hair-removal laser treatments, this product makes hair regrowth less of an issue for users.