Sup gals!

Lately I hear a lot of talk about bikini shaving. "How do I avoid ingrown hairs?" "I'm sick of razor bumps!" "How do I get it as smooth as a baby's ass without waxing or surgical hair removal?!"

Well dudettes, unfortunately every time I run into these threads, there's dozens of replies and I don't think my replies ever get read. But I'm going to come forward here and now with some tips!

So here it is: Fizzbit's guide to bikini shaving.

First of all, like any shaving, you'll need to do it every other day or so. But it's actually not that time-consuming, and the more you do it, the quicker it'll get done each time!

Secondly, this won't get "invisible" results like shaving your legs, nor will it be smooth as glass. However, unless someone is right up in your junk, they're not going to notice. You won't have visible stubble for at least a day. So rejoice! You can still go to the pool in your bikini.

SO! With that in mind, here's what you're gonna need:

• A razor (duh). Preferably with at least 3 blades. I personally use Schick Quattro, and I take good care of my blades so that I only have to replace them about once a week.
• Soap. NOT SHAVING CREAM. Make sure it's a very slick soap. Summer's Eve works really well, especially since you can use it to clean up down there. Some facial soaps (non-medicated) work pretty well, too. If I don't have Summer's Eve, I have a Clinique bar that works fabulously. A lot of people recommend conditioner, but I use vaginal soap since I use it to clean my vaginal area anyway - it's manufactured for that use.
• A stick of deodorant. Make sure it's a stick, not a gel. You can use your standard deodorant or, if you're icked out by using the same stick on your ladybits and your underarms, just go to Walgreens and pick up a travel stick of deodorant for 99cents.

Got everything? AWESOME. Now you just need to get naked and draw a hot shower or bath.

When you're ready to shave, lather up your soap really good and rub it around where you want to shave.

Now take your razor, and begin to shave in the direction that the hair grows. This is important. Never, ever go against the grain of the hair. Don't even shave perpendicular. Shave straight with the way your hair grows.

Try to use as few swipes as possible. 2-3 swipes should seriously be all you need before moving onto the next patch of weeds.

When you start to lose sight of where you're shaving, like around your labia, go slower. Also, most women tend to have softer hair around their labia. It is here where it's okay to shave down the length of your labia, which will typically be perpendicular to the hair growth. Go ahead and shave this way here.

When you're all done, get out of the shower and pat yourself dry down there. Don't rub. Ever rubbed a cat the wrong way? It gets pissed. Your kitty will get pissed, too. Pat it dry.

Now, take your stick deodorant. Swipe it in the same direction that you shaved in - with the grain of the hair. And yes, it's perfectly safe to swipe it on your labia. The deodorant will help soften your skin and help prevent ingrown hairs and razor bumps.

And that's it! You'll want to shave at least every other day to maintain the look. Just remember you need a good slick soap, and a stick deodorant. Those are key.

I've used this method for 2 years after constant razor bumps and ingrown hairs drove me nuts. Even waxing gave me ingrown hairs that festered for months. I'm not kidding when I say that the moment I started using this method, my razor bumps and ingrown hairs stopped showing up.

Good luck! Please give this a try before criticizing. And please share your experience if you do try!

EDIT: The type of shaving lubricant or post-shave treatment doesn't need to be followed precisely. Many readers report having success with oils or conditioners as shaving agents, and using certain lotions or oils afterwards instead of deodorant. Just make sure that whatever you use doesn't piss off your kitty! Summer's Eve and deodorant works for me because I have no reaction to them. YMMV, though!