There’s something so hypnotizing about the silky, post-wax skin you feel as you rub your legs together, cozying up in some freshly laundered sheets before bed. In fact, if we could bottle that sensation, we’d be making millions!
Your skin health is our main priority, and we’re here to help you take things up a notch by modifying just a few things you can control after your wax appointment.
What not to do following your wax appointment
We’re all about a little rebellious energy to keep things light and fun, but save it for vacation, and not when it comes time for managing your skin health. Whether you're due for a Brazilian wax, bikini wax, or full body – following your esthetician’s guidance can mean the difference between safety and hazardous conditions for your skin.
No hot water or sun exposure
Ensuring healthy skin after your wax appointment means skipping out on hot water and sun exposure. Even if you’re craving the hottest, most relaxing bath on the planet, or hopping in the hot tub with your significant other, you’ll have to save it for the following weekend.
Avoid friction, tight clothing, and exercise
Your skin is extra sensitive after a waxing session, and giving it the environment it needs to thrive is the best way to help keep inflammation at bay. Avoiding all types of friction, especially when caused by tight clothing and exercise, is crucial.
Don’t use unapproved skincare products
The type of skin care products you use after a wax can impact all sorts of inflammation-related issues. Keep retinol or products that have active ingredients like AHAs or BHAs away from your freshly waxed skin for at least 48 hours and stock up on a fragrance-free, hydrating moisturizer to keep your skin calm and relaxed.
Never shave in between appointments
Your natural hair growth cycle has a mind of its own. And in order to get the longest-lasting, most effective wax, you’ll want to be sure you skip shaving in between your wax appointments. Shaving interrupts the hair growth cycle, and if your hair is less than a quarter inch long, your wax specialist won’t be able to pull those shorter hairs that won’t adhere. Your best bet is to let your hair grow out and schedule regular waxing appointments for both the health of your skin and the effectiveness of the wax.
The best tips for reducing irritation and ingrown hairs
Estheticians have spent hundreds of hours studying the skin, cellular biology, and how to transform irritated skin into neutral, calm skin, free of ingrown hairs, and inflammation.
Keep your skin properly hydrated and moisturized
One of the simplest and most effective resources you have available to you after a waxing appointment is keeping your body hydrated and moisturized. By keeping up with your water intake throughout the day, your skin has what it needs to shed those dead skin cells, and regenerate. As long as you drink water and keep the skin moisturized, you’ll have better luck with your other skincare products, exfoliation, and promote a healthy environment for your skin to thrive in.
Exfoliate 2 to 3 times a week
Exfoliation is your best friend. It primes the skin for all things smooth and silky. It also helps prevent ingrown hairs, and if they are present, knock them loose for easy extraction. Over-exfoliation can lead to irritated, dry skin. But, a gentle exfoliation 2 to 3 times per week gives your skin time to build up a dead layer of skin cells and protects the underlying layers.
Consider using an ingrown hair serum
Ingrown hair serums are widely underutilized and offer a deeply penetrating level of hydration, but also an overall reduction in hair growth within around four weeks. You can use ingrown hair serum 3 to 4 times a week after you shower.
Most ingrown hair serums will include ingredients like glycolic acid to create a clean slate on the top layer of your skin. With antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, this is one product you don’t want to leave out of your regimen.
Watch out for prolonged irritation or redness
Make sure to keep an eye out for prolonged irritation or redness. While some people with more sensitive skin may experience 24 hours of irritation, it should not last more than 48 hours. If you’re noticing that your inflamed skin is sticking around for longer than that time, reach out to your esthetician to talk strategy and determine what your skin needs.
Book your next waxing appointment at Stripped Wax & Beauty!
We eat, sleep and breathe waxing. And we’ve watched our clients learn to fall in love with our waxing services at Stripped Wax & Beauty. We cannot wait to meet you, so hop on our schedule, and get ready for the skin health you’ve only ever dreamed of!