For me, bare is best.
This may sound odd, but I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with my pubes. Once puberty kicked in, I couldn’t wait for them to grow in. Having pubic hair meant I was finally becoming a woman—my own person. It meant independence. Freedom. Autonomy. But the appeal of having extra hair down south soon wore off when I realized every time I wanted to wear anything less than shorts, I would have to factor in hair removal. 10w Laser Diode
Meet the experts: Christian Karavolas is a laser hair removal expert and founder of Romeo & Juliette Laser Hair Removal. Michelle Henry, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. Shauna Ryder Diggs, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in Detroit, Michigan.
I tried shavin my bikini line at first, but the amount of ingrown hairs and razor burn that came as a result made the excruciating pain of virgin waxing feel like a breeze. I did eventually get my bearings, though, pledging my loyalty to the beloved European Wax Center (EWC). They were my number one choice for a Brazilian wax for many years. It was easy to book last minute appointments, the staff was quick in terms of letting ‘er rip, and the process was mostly painless.
And while I still visit my local EWC in Brooklyn to get rid of my leg hair, when it came to my vulva and the surrounding area, I eventually got to the point where I decided I needed a more permanent solution—and the answer was laser hair removal.
Laser hair removal is one of the most effective (and permanent) ways to remove unwanted body hair. It involves using light energy that targets pigment in the hair to damage the follicle, and ultimately, remove the hair. "The energy heats the hair quickly and powerfully then the heat spreads to the hair root, destroying it," Shauna Ryder Diggs, MD, told WH in a previous story. It can be done on most areas of the body, though the most common areas that people like to get laser hair removal are the underarms, the bikini area, the legs, and the arms.
Although it's been around since the late ‘90s, the service hasn’t always been accessible to everyone. “People of color have been told to avoid laser hair removal in the past as most facilities did not have the correct laser to treat dark skin,” says Christian Karavolas, laser hair removal expert and founder of Romeo & Juliette Laser Hair Removal, where I got my treatments done. “These lasers have been available for over 25 years, but most laser hair removal facilities didn't invest in them.”
New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD adds, “[If the wrong laser is used] there is an increased risk of targeting the darker pigment in the skin, leading to potential skin damage, such as burns, blistering, or changes in pigmentation.”
That said, as a Black woman (although I am quite fair) it took a while for me to find a place where I felt comfortable. I didn’t want to feel rushed through my appointments, and to avoid any of the potential aforementioned side effects, I knew it had to be a slow and steady process. So when I found out that Romeo & Juliette Laser Hair Removal has used Nd:YAG lasers for over 22 years in its practice, I knew I found my new home.
“[This laser] emits a longer wavelength—1064 nm—which has the advantage of penetrating deeper into the skin compared to other laser types, Dr. Henry explains. “This wavelength allows the laser energy to bypass the top layers of the skin where melanin is concentrated.”
When I arrived for my first treatment in this past fall, I was greeted by two laser hair removal technicians who took me over to a private room to assess the goods. Brazilian laser hair removal typically entails the removal of all pubic hair, including the area around the vagina and butt crack. I told them I was looking to remove most of the hair, but still wanted to keep a little patch at the front—I wasn’t ready to fully say goodbye to all my pubes after all these years. And to be honest, I didn’t want to look down and feel like a 12-year-old.
Once we were ready to go, one of the techs took out a pink marker and traced around the area where I wanted to keep some hair. They then assessed my complexion, and decided to first test the laser’s lowest setting to ensure my skin wouldn’t be negatively affected.
“Romeo & Juliette has many lasers for all types of skin, hair type, density, and color—12 lasers [in total],” explains Karavolas. “As such, when a client comes in, we treat them based on their needs.”
In terms of pain, I’d say the treatment doesn’t hurt any more than waxing, and my tech moved pretty quick. From start to finish, each session took about five minutes total. The only time things got really spicy was if I went in around the time when my period was about to kick off, which according to Dr. Henry is completely normal due to hormonal changes and increased blood flow.
“Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle can affect pain perception,” the MD explains. “Estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate, and these hormones can impact nerve sensitivity, making the skin more sensitive to pain. There is also increased blood flow to the pelvic region, which can lead to more sensitivity and heightened nerve responses, making the skin in the Brazilian and/or bikini area more sensitive.”
Since starting my treatments, I’ve been going to Romeo & Juliette consistently every six to eight weeks, as recommended by Karavolas, and the results have been amazing. I think I’ve done around six sessions so far, and while I’ll spare you graphics of my private parts, every area of my vulva (minus my little pube triangle) is soft, smooth, and free of ingrown hairs—amen! I’ve also experienced zero negative side effects—no discoloration, no burns, no nothing. Just a little redness immediately after treatment, which is completely normal and goes away in about ten minutes.
All that said, I’m so glad I did this—and I'm sure I'll be even more excited once summer comes. ‘Cause girl, when I tell you I’ve been doing the most over these past few months? I’ve traveled to Toronto, Philly, and the South of France (where I slipped on the tiniest thong bathing suit). I wore next to nothing playing mas at Caribana, saw Usher and Beyoncé (three times, might I add), and was running up and down New York City in between—and never once did I have to think about my bikini line or altering my clothing as a result.
Now that’s freedom, baby.
Kayla A. Greaves is an award-winning journalist, beauty expert, consultant, and speaker with over a decade of media experience. She was previously the Executive Beauty Editor at InStyle, and has held positions at Bustle and The Huffington Post. Her work has appeared in Vogue, ELLE, FASHION magazine, and more. Kayla has interviewed the likes of Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Pharrell, Gigi Hadid, Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell, Halle Berry, Dionne Warwick, Dolly Parton, Chaka Khan, and many more stars.
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