Lisa's Waxing Tips

Originally posted July 17, 2012

Summer is here and more and more of us are turning to waxing – a relatively quick way to go hair-free and worry-free for about the next month or so.  Going bare down there is an increasingly popular option these days, too, but things can get hairy if you don’t take care of your sensitive skin pre- and post-wax.

So, how do you take care of the skin before and after waxing?  These tips will help minimize the pain and take care of your skin.


Pre-Wax Pointers:

• You need at least 1/4" hair growth. Any shorter and the was won't be able to grab it, but if it's too long, it may cause you more discomfort during the procedure.
• You might want to pop some ibuprofen or acetaminophen 30 – 45 minutes before your appointment.  It won’t take away all the discomfort, but it could definitely help take the edge off.
• Try to make your appointment no closer than a couple of days before or after your period - your body is more sensitive during this time.
• Be clean for your appointment. 

And lastly,

• Breathe! Your natural reaction will be to hold your breath and tense up. If you can just pretend to relax and breathe through it, you'll actually be in less discomfort. 

Post-Wax Pointers:

Next 24-48 hours

Do...

• Take a shower instead of a bath
• Use a cold compress to help soothe the area
• Use only gentle cleansers and moisturizers
• Use tea tree oil, lavender oil, antibiotic ointment or hydro-cortisone cream to calm the area
• Wear cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes to help reduce friction

Don't...

• Go in a hot tub or swimming. Heat, chlorine, or salt may irritate or sting.
• Go tanning. This goes for both natural sun and tanning beds. You don't want a sunburn, believe me!
• Exercise vigorously or engage in sexual activity. Friction on the skin can cause it to become inflamed.
• Use product with harsh chemicals, perfumes or dyes. 
• Touch freshly waxed skin, this can encourage irritation and breakouts.

48 hours+

• Feel free to return to your normal activities!
• Exfoliate using a product specifically designed for waxing after-care such as Get the Bump Outta Here.
• Try to gently tweeze out ingrown hairs after you shower or bathe. Resist the temptation to pick. If ingrown hairs are not remedied with gentle tweezing, use of regular exfoliation and the correct products, then it's a good idea to go back to see your esthetician, who is trained to extract stubborn hairs.

Contraindications:
Waxing may not be for you if you are using Retin-A, Renova, Differin or Accutane. These medications can weaken your skin, and tearing may occur. Also, if you have diabetes, very sensitive skin, sunburn, sexually transmitted diseases, skin conditions, or contagious diseases, your body may be more prone to infections.