The original purpose of a bikini wax was to remove unwanted hair from the “bikini” area so it looked respectable when wearing a bikini or other swimwear. These days, teens and women get bikini waxes for all sorts of reasons–some innocent and some not so much.
Obviously, there’s nothing in the Bible about bikini waxes, but the way a women presents herself is mentioned. In summary, a woman must be modest in her appearance. She should not bring unnecessary attention to herself, distract others, or cause men to lust after her.
Based on these guidelines, I’d propose that, although I believe it’s okay for Christian teens to get a bikini wax, it should only be done under certain conditions.
Before considering a bikini wax, ask yourself why you’re interested in one. Is it necessary? Do you have a specific purpose for getting a bikini wax, and is it one that still maintains your modesty? Remember that all girls develop differently, so what may be necessary for one girl may not be needed for another.
You don’t have to wear a bikini to get a bikini wax. In fact, if you read my style post on swimwear, you’ll find swimming costumes that are modest. But even with some modest swimsuits, you may have to remove unwanted hair that is visible. If this is the case, then getting a bikini wax may be necessary to avoid both embarrassment and exposure.
Another reason it would be okay for a Christian girl to get a bikini wax is for hygienic purposes. Shaving or waxing the legs and underarms is commonplace–although not in some European countries–and is often done for the sake of comfort and hygiene. During puberty and beyond, it’s very important to maintain healthy habits. For some ladies, it’s easier to remain sanitary with a bikini wax, especially in preparation for menstrual cycles.
I do feel that Christian girls under 16 are too young to get a bikini wax. Young teens who are concerned about exposure when wearing a modest bathing suit should opt for a swimsuit with shorts or a swim dress. I feel that a bikini wax is just too much of a grown-up procedure for young teens.
Christian teens should not get bikini waxes for the purpose of being or feeling sexy. Although it is a beauty treatment, it should not be considered for vanity purposes, either. A bikini wax should only be done as a necessity.
PI girls, what do you think about my bikini wax guidelines?
I think it should be ok if you really don’t like alot of hair there either. I don’t get them (i shave) but it really gets on my nerves. But its always important for girls NEVER to leave your privates completely bare of hair as it can create infecting to it
Can it really? I heard about ingrown hairs, but anything else? Usually, people argue that completely bare is more sanitary, this sparks my curiosity.
for me, I’m just going to be honest, I don’t like to shave my legs because 1, I have very sensitive skin so it hurts a lot to shave and causes my skin to cut easily. 2. I don’t think people should worry about girls having leg hair, because well hey we have hair on our head is that a problem? no that means being on the legs shouldn’t be either especially because all girls are Beautiful. That’s my opinion.
Yeah, and it’s not like girls grow beards and back and chest hair like guys do.
I’ve never gotten one, I just kinda shave…but being a former competitive swimmer it was really kind of a necessity.
Well, I never removed any hair from that area but as I am getting older I might, not because my swimwear is immodest, but for embarrassment purposes. I mean I am a pear shape body so I’m a bit heavier at the bottom (I’m not overweight, it’s just how God made my body.)It’s kind of like shaving your legs… that doesn’t mean I’m going to wear booty shorts, but I want my legs to breathe when it’s like 90 degrees outside! I don’t wear anything that is like waaay above the knee so that’s ok. God looks at the heart not on the appearance, just don’t go overboard.
I don’t think it’s bad unless you do it for “naughty” reasons. I would probably get one just for hygiene.
I like this post, this is something I’ve been thinking about, especially since a friend of mine and I disagreed on a similar issue, though it wasn’t focused on Christian girls but women in general.
I would like to know which European countries do not shave or wax the legs or under the arms, because the same friend of mine let me know that nowadays in many European countries, women practice the same or similar grooming practices as American women (which is basically “the less hair, the better”).
I don’t feel like a person should be looked down upon just b/c they don’t remove a little hair on their body, it’s completely natural! And it doesn’t harm anyone, as long as they practice good hygiene, why should females feel pressured to be ‘hairless’? We’re not plastic! We’re people! And it’s not like women grow beards, or chest and back hair like men do, so what’s the big deal? Why is it so appealing these days that women groom themselves to look almost childlike? My friend already gave me his reasons for preferring it, but what bothers me is that he seemed to assume that just because everyone (the majority) agrees with something, that means I should agree with it, and then he had the gall to bring up Miss Universe pageant contestants… -__- Those women do not represent true beauty, they represent this ridiculous, corporate idea of ‘beauty’, it’s very unrealistic.
If you prefer removing hair from your body, that’s fine, but I don’t think people should judge others for not wanting to do the same, or pressure them into treating their bodies the same way everyone else does. That’s one thing that I really don’t like about society, the pressure placed on individuals to ‘conform’ to ‘the norm’. I’m not a picky person, but I think that (or feel that) most everyone else is.
I agree. It’s also a little hypocritical of guys to think “Oh, well, you should make yourself look like a model,” when it seems hardly any guys strive to make themselves look “perfect,” yet they are somehow perfectly acceptable. It’s not exactly fair, you know?
It isn’t fair, I don’t like double standards either. I read an article — obviously a non-Christian one, but it said that it’s becoming a trend that more men are getting bikini waxes (or shaving themselves — although I know a guy who’s been shaving there since he was 14, and he’s 27 now, so I dunno).
to 1_artist: THAT IS DISGUSTING!!!!! not to mention very unmanly!
I believe I recall a PI article that talked about the trend of wearing pajama pants outside of home. The article said that while it certainly isn’t unbiblical to do so, it might send out the wrong message and cause people to think a person doesn’t care about the way they look. I’m not saying that that’s the case with you, but personally, that’s why I shave my legs. I want to look clean and modest wherever I go. 🙂 Again, this is just my opinion.
@sisterwhocares
Well, I don’t know if it’s exactly unmanly (although I do think it’s a little weird). I mean, I knew someone who did it out of curiosity. 😛 I think he gave up on it after that though. XD
I think that’s fair!
Good tips Mrs. Gaouette. If you are under 16,but your doctors tells you to remove the hair,then that is okay.
I haven’t done it because of the cost. It’s so much cheaper for me to wear swim shorts or a skirt. The same goes for eyebrows. I want to get my eyebrows waxed (plucking does not sound fun), but it’s because of cost that I don’t.
Plucking really isn’t too bad 🙂 you can make your own wax at home for a very cheap price. Just Google how to make it and you should find some recipes.
Unless you’re squeamish, you can buy a waxing kit from the store and do-it-yourself, if you would like the wax treatment.
I have a unibrow that I do not like, but I’m afraid to get it waxed cuz 1) its painful 2) what if they wax more than I want them to wax, and are materialistic and 3) my unibrow might make a statement in the future
If you’re ever getting a wax, remember that the hair does grow back. If you don’t like this, pluck a little everyday to avoid having to go back for appointments as much. A few tips I learned from my mom. 🙂
Try threading! There are people who will do it for you, not too expensively. It is when they twirl a thread around several hairs and pull them out. It sounds painful, and it is painful the first time, but it only takes a few minutes and it looks much better that plucking or waxing in my opinion.
You’re right on the target! Thanks!
I shave my down there area at least once a week. I would get it waxed probably if my mom had no problem with it, but I’ve never brought it up with her before. I have three reasons why I shave down there. 1- Because hair down there itches. At least for me. 2- Because I get changed in front of my friends, and I don’t want hair peaking out of my panties. Feel free to comment whatever you guys like on this one, but 3- Because it does make me feel sexy. I find nothing wrong with wanting to feel sexy. I’m most confident after I’ve shaved. I feel like I can conquer the world.
I see what you mean, it’s like wearing a bra not to attract guy’s eyes, but because it looks better than when you’re not wearing a bra. Very understandable!
I don’t think God cares if you get a bikini wax. You’re his girl and he loves you.
I agree with you,even though it seems kinda pain full. I know when I wear a bathing suit I always worry that you could see something.
I think it’s okay, I can see how you can get irritated by too much hair there
I’ve never gotten a bikini wax. Although when I do, I know my aunt will do it for me (she does my eyebrows and legs already)I think it’s fine…
What i really dont get is that girls who have body hair are considered ugly by society, and to be beautiful u have to have long hair on ur head and no hair on ur body. everyone says u have to remove ur hair, but then they make fun of people with cancer and other diseases that cause them to go bald. i dont like arm pit hair or leg hair because it is annoying and kinda gross, but the hair in other areas is to protect ur skin.
I pretty much agree with you on this one, although I don’t have a problem with hair in general. I’ll wax my legs or under my arms — and my eyebrows don’t really need plucking or waxing, and I might even get waxed down south (how much hair I remove is a personal choice), but I don’t think it should be a big issue, I think people should groom themselves however they feel comfortable to (within reason) without being judged for it — but society will always put pressure on everyone and people are gonna judge, it’s not cool, but I guess I/we gotta deal with it :P.
I’m not brave enough to get a bikini wax. XD I have a lot of hair down there, though, so I have just learned to wear bathing suits with shorts (which I’m fine with, since it’s a little more modest).
I don’t really see a problem with it. It’s a pain to have to constantly shave the hair and just annoying for it to be there in the first place. I shave my legs, and I find it extremely annoying when you have to constantly shave them. If you want to remove it, then by all means, go for it. As long as you’re doing it for the right reasons, then I don’t see why God would have a problem with it, either.
If you don’t like it, you don’t have to shave your legs. I don’t, and my social/emotional/spiritual life is perfectly fine.
Ive never gotten one, but I shave, as I took a lot of swim classes, and now summer is approaching, I just feel it isnt very nice to have any bit of hair sticking out there
I agree with your points, but you don’t have to be under 16 to wear shorts/skirts with a bathing suit. I understand though, since I have a bikini area that my mom brought up, and now I have bathing shorts, which work perfectly fine. So girls, I only recommend waxing if you ABSOLUTELY need it. If you can easily buy or use bathing shorts, then it is not necessary.
seriously? you can be christian and get a bikini wax…that is kinda outrageous to make someone ‘question’ themselves why. most people, like me, find it kinda nasty to be hairy, so i think bikini waxes are TOTALLY fine…yeesh.
I’m 21 and have never gotten a bikini wax. I was thinking about getting one in two months for my wedding. Is that ok?
I wouldn’t know, since I’m only 18, but what if instead of waxing or shaving (if you’re not sure), you just try trimming it a little? That way it’s not totally…out of hand, let’s say, and you haven’t gone all out either. Honestly I was kind of wondering the same thing you were (not that I’m getting married any time soon!). Also, it’s kind of hard to know what your husband-to-be is expecting and stuff. But I think if you trim it, that might be fine. Besides, then you’re not creating any expectations to constantly wax even after your wedding.
i get them just because i hate hair down there i think its gross i mean to each her own but i just hate it!!!
i think it’s fine. i feel gross if i don’t at least shave.
I’m 15 and would only get one for the same reason why I’d wax my eyebrows–because I feel like I have a lot of hair on various places around my body. But I do feel that your guidelines are great for the most part, although I think people who are of the age of a high school student–about 14–should be allowed to get one if they wanted to because they’ve entered puberty and want to be “cleanly shaven” for the pool.
this really is no ones business but the girls and her mother
I do agree with getting waxing done, but I do not believe in bikinis.
These conditions are logical and of course, good conditions.
I have to wax because 1) my sensitive skin gets cut easily, 2) my hairs are dark and thick, so shaving, surprisingly, hurts, and 3) my mother and I have a condition that makes us grow a lot of hair and fast. I feel more comfortable without the hair, and the waxing has been making less grow. So… yeah. I do it for the sake of comfort.
Considering that special time of the month, it’s a good idea to have as little hair as possible since it makes everything about that week a bit worse.
I am on the swim team, and a swim skirt/shorts or a bikini are frustrating when you are swimming laps. It is a necessity to bikini wax for me, I tried to use a razor but my skin did not thank me. So far, it has been working out.
I agree with everything said here except the part about being 16 for a bikini wax because, my bathing suit is a tankini and the bottoms are shorts but the shorts are not skin tight or anything so I still have to be careful, which is a lot easier said then done when you’re are swiming and practicing a whole bunch of cheer jumps off the diving board.
I think it brings more attention to the area to have hair there than not.