It’s winter, it’s cold, we’re hiding under blankets, sweaters, and leggings all while sipping cocoa and finding something binge watchable on Netflix. The last thing on the mind when snow is falling is “Wait, I wonder how my bikini line is doing?”

If you’re part of the 99% of women in the United States who wax their legs, bikini lines, upper lips, underarms, and eyebrows, you know the struggle of timely execution. You also know that winter time is the ideal season to disappear to someplace tropical for a few days. All that while you’ve been hiding (and let’s be honest, skipping shaves and waxes, too) under the coziest of winter layers?

Knowing when you should get waxing before vacation is vital to showcasing your confidence and putting you in your best skin. Timing and care are everything. Sit back and relax, this will be (relatively) painless.

• Give yourself at least a couple days: You need some time before you’re sitting on the beach or in the water for your skin to heal. Getting waxed at your hotel’s spa isn’t the best idea because that skin will be incredibly sensitive and you don’t want to skip activities or cause yourself avoidable discomfort. Get your wax done at least two or three days before your vacay.
• Pre-treat and post-treat your skin: Waxing is as much about skin care as it is about hair removal. The two go hand in hand. You want your healthy skin to shine when hair is removed, don’t you? We know you do. Stay moisturized and be sure to exfoliate. Tanning moisturizers are popular, too, so if you want to prepare your skin for the rays you’re going to soak up, grabbing a tanning lotion with moisturizer and SPF is key.
• Vajacial? Caring for skin after waxing is important to maintaining smooth, healthy, bump-free skin. Sure, it’s not really concerning when you should get waxing before vacation, but we’re looking out for your future vacation skin, too! These procedures, which often go by different names, are specifically concerned with the dermatological and aesthetic health of the skin in your bikini area post-wax as your hair begins to grow back in.

When you’re ready to hit the waxing salon for bikini waxing, Brazilian waxing, or you’re just stopping by here for some skin-healthy beauty pointers, we’re here for you! Pause the Netflix and bust out the bikini, the beach is calling.