Waxing Advice Pre Treatment
For a smooth and effective waxing experience, we recommend that you follow the following guidelines before your treatment.
- Exfoliate - Gently exfoliate the area 48 hours before waxing, to remove dead skin cells and to help prevent ingrowing hairs.
- Hair Length - Please allow the hair to grow to a minimum length of 6mm / 1/4" before waxing treatment, for best results.
- Hydration - Skin should be well hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoid alcohol for 24 hours before treatment and using a lightweight moisturiser to the area.
- Products to Avoid - Stop using Retinoids, AHA's or BHA's for 7 days before treatment, to avoid skin thinning.
- Avoid Heat - Avoid sun exposure, sun beds, hot steamy showers or baths for 48hours before waxing.
- Clothing - Wear loose clothing for your appointment.
- Pain Relief - Everyone's pain threshold is different. Pain relief can be taken paracetamol / Ibuprofen 30 minutes before treatment.
Waxing After Care
It's normal to experience some slight soreness, redness, or small bumps after your waxing session, especially if it's your first time. These are temporary reactions and should fade within 24-48 hours. However, if the redness or irritation persists, it's important to seek professional advice.
To ensure your skin heals properly and stays smooth after waxing, it's important to take extra care during the first 24-48 hours.
The first 48 hours after waxing keep the waxed area clean and avoid heat and friction during the next 24-48 hours.
To avoid complications or reactions after waxing we recommend you follow the following:
- Stay cool avoid steamy hot baths or showers. Stick to lukewarm or cool water to prevent irritation.
- No saunas and hot tubs, these can cause your pores to open further and increase the risk of infection.
- No tanning, avoid sunbathing, sunbeds, or using fake tans as freshly waxed skin is more sensitive to UV exposure.
- Avoid strenuous activity, Hold off on intense workouts, sports, or exercises that could cause sweating and friction on the treated area.
- Refrain from scratching or touching the waxed area with dirty hands to prevent irritation or infection.
- Loose, breathable clothing, opt for clean, loose-fitting clothes to allow your skin to breathe and reduce friction on the treated area.
- Avoid swimming in chlorinated pools to protect the delicate skin from bacteria and chemicals.
- Be mindful of products, do not apply deodorants, body sprays, powders, lotions, or other products unless specifically recommended by your therapist.
Common Post-Waxing Concerns
Redness & Irritation
It’s not unusual to experience some redness or irritation after waxing, given that the waxing process strips away the top layer of skin, leaving it more vulnerable to external factors. This is especially the case if you have sensitive skin, it’s your first time waxing (and especially if you have shaved a lot in the past), or if your hair is particularly thick, coarse or curly. Whereas a lot of people, either with less sensitive skin, those who are used to waxing, and those do not have particularly thick coarse or curly hair can experience no side effects whatsoever.
Ingrown Hairs
This happens when hair grows back under the skin or sideways, causing bumps and irritation. This is common in areas where the skin is more sensitive and the hair is thicker, coarser and curlier, such as the bikini line.
Bumps & Folliculitis
After waxing, some people may notice small bumps or tiny pimples. This condition, known as folliculitis can occur if the hair follicles become infected.
Some Causes of Allergic Reactions:
- Ingredients - Sensitivity to Wax Common allergens in waxing products.
- Physical Trauma - The process of pulling hair from the root can cause minor trauma to the skin, which may activate the immune response and lead to irritation.
- Environmental Factors - Heat, sweat, and friction from clothing can exacerbate skin irritation after waxing, contributing to allergic reactions.