Waxing can be a great option rather than shaving. However, what isn’t so fun is the uncomfortable pimples and bumps after waxing. Whether this be breakouts after waxing your face, painful bumps around your bikini area, or ingrown hairs on your legs, it is all the dreaded aftermath of a wax. However, there are some things to be done to help prevent this from happening, and as a fan of waxing myself, I am going to share my knowledge with each of you to help make your waxing experience the best possible.
Like I mentioned, there are lots of areas of the body that get waxed: your face, your legs, brazilians, and plenty more. Each has different skin types and, in response, needs different care at times. However, I am going to highlight some broad tips that will help any area as well as a few more specific tricks.
Prep Care
When you are quickly approaching your wax session, there are a few things that can help your skin prepare. Here are my biggest must do’s before a wax session:
- Exfoliate the area: Exfoliation is key to your skin’s health. However, there are loads of exfoliators that are much too harsh on your skin. Try a washcloth or a dry brush and gently rub this all over your skin to remove any dead skin cells and pull any hairs stuck under the surface out.
If you are exfoliating in preparation for a brazilian or bikini wax, do NOT add any fragrance, body wash, or potentially irritating solution with the exfoliation process. This can irritate your skin before the waxing has even begun and, in result, cause painful pimples after waxing.
- Clean the area well: Having a clean canvas to work with will help not only your hygiene but your waxing experience. This will prevent breakouts and keep the skin fresh. Find a body wash that is fragrance free and as natural as possible. This will help with any risk of irritation. Scrub your fingers and nails especially as they are what you will most likely touch the area with.
Be mindful of this post wax as well to try and refrain from touching the area.
- Wear baggy clothes: This trick obviously only applies to areas that would be covered with clothes typically such as legs, brazilians, ect. Tight clothes can be harmful before and during waxing. This can cause ingrown hair easier, irritate the skin after you leave your wax appointment, and are quite uncomfortable on a freshly sensitive area.
Best thing is to stick with a baggy shirt and pair of pants and keep your body free of anything that could rub against it.
Post Care
So you made it through the wax. The pain is over. However, there are still a few more steps to be completely finished, so bear with me. Post wax care is probably the most crucial step to prevent painful bumps. Here’s the most useful tips:
- Avoid exercise for 48 hours: For those gym addicts, this might be a difficult task, but exercise is one of the leading reasons for bumps after waxing. This irritates the skin from sweat, rubbing against clothes or other parts of the body, and adds to the redness dilemma.
Do whatever you need to do. Make those two days your rest days of the week, or opt for a few days off. Your skin will thank you.
- Soothe the area: Just like when you burn your skin, there are some things to add to your freshly waxed skin to soothe the redness. You can add a dab of witch hazel which can help reduce the risk of infection. Add it to a cotton ball or applicator of choice and gently rub it on the area. Some also suggest a tiny bit of aloe vera to reduce the burning feelings. Opt for natural aloe vera rather than the kinds that are jam packed with chemicals, as these will harm more than help.
- Stay away from oil: No, I’m not talking about cooking oil. Your cooking preferences can stay just as you like. However, body oil is a big no for post wax care. This can clog your pores and irritate the sensitive skin, resulting in breakouts. If you don’t take away anything from this entire guide, understand the best thing to do for freshly waxed areas is to leave them alone!
Give your skin time to heal from the hair that was just freshly ripped out of it. Don’t add anything else to the mix, especially body oil.
- No baths: Don’t worry. You don’t have to say goodbye to your beloved bubble baths forever. Just stick to showers for about 2 days post wax to avoid irritation. This doesn’t apply to the face, though, so if you got an eyebrow or chin wax, your bubble baths are good to go.
