With Valentine's Day just around the corner, everything seems to be in place: Reservations are made, a dress is picked out, perfume and makeup are bought.

But one thing seems to be missing ... or not missing for that matter.

No, it's not the money from your wallet. It's the hair on the bikini line. In order to have a sweet and entirely sexy night with your sweetie, down-there hair removal is a must.

Before jetting to the nearest drug store and picking up the two-dollar waxing kit, some tips and suggestions are in hand. No one wants to expose a red, itchy and inflamed bikini area, no matter how confident they are.

The most inexpensive way to remove stubborn bikini hair is, of course shaving. Razors cost about $3 for a pack of three, and shaving cream is about $4. That's where the convenience ends, though. Stubble, nicks and even razor burn can burden, and your down-there area can be in for a hurtin'. There are ways to avoid some of the pain though; according to a Glamour article, using a one-blade razor can cut down on the nicks.

"Two or more blades may give a closer shave, but when coarse, curly bikini hair tries to push through skin, it can curl back in and become an ingrown," said New York City dermatologist Amy Wechsler, who is featured in the article.

In order to avoid unsightly bumps and ingrown hairs caused by shaving, many turn to waxing. With waxing, smoothness can last for up to three weeks, and can run anywhere from $15 for an at-home kit to $60 for a Brazilian wax at a salon or spa, which consists of removing more than just the bikini line hair. The only con to waxing is the pain factor, as well as the money, but it is well worth it when you don't have to shave every day.

For the penny-pinchers and those with low pain tolerance, a depilatory cream may be just the thing. Depilatories are simply wiped on, are kept on for five-10 minutes and are then wiped off. Be careful of the chemicals though: According to a New York City cosmetologist who is also featured in the Glamour article, the chemicals can irritate skin, so do a patch test first. The hair grows back in three to four days, so it lasts slightly longer than shaving, and costs about the same amount.

If you're a hair phobic and want it gone forever, then laser hair removal is the answer. It's the most permanent way to remove hair, as well as the most expensive. It can cost anywhere from $175-$375 a session, depending on how much hair you want removed. The pain factor is also an issue; according to Glamour, it feels like rubber-band snaps around your down-there area.

Whatever your preference for hair removal is, or if you've never tried it at all, give it a try this Valentine's Day. Surprise your honey, or surprise yourself, with a fresh and newly groomed bikini area. Then truly everything will be in place for the perfect Valentine's Day ... as well as night.

Reach reporter Stephanie Small at editor@thedaily.washington.edu.