Before:
1. Exfoliate in upward, circular motion two days before your waxing appointment. This is a great way to lift the hairs, especially those that lie flat against the skin. This is also great for those hairs that are ingrown just beneath the skin. Often there are hairs that grow parallel to (but underneath) the skin, so you can see the hair, but can't really "feel"/touch it. Exfoliation removes the dead, top layer of skin to expose the underlying in-growns.*
2. If you shower/bath before your waxing appointment, make sure the water is not HOT. You can have a warm shower or bath, but not hot. Also make sure that there'll be 20-30 minutes between your shower/bath and your appointment, so that your body temperature can normalize. Your skin must be at normal temperature when the wax is applied to avoid discomfort, and a negative, possibly severe reaction. Also, don't bother applying body lotion to the area that's going to be waxed. If it's your underarms, skip the roll-on/deodorant/antiperspirant. It's going to be removed anyway.
3. If your appointment is for early morning, or you plan on having a nap before the time, make sure that you allow at least 20 minutes after waking before your appointment. While you're asleep, your body processes continue, and often your skin "puffs up", which is why you need to allow time for it to "settle" back to normal before your treatment, to allow for the best hair removal results, especially regarding the shorter hairs.
4. If you frequent saunas/steam rooms/sunbeds/tan-cans or enjoy soaking up the sun (which I don't encourage) you have to wait about 4 days prior to waxing. I explained this in Waxing 101.1.
5. Self-tan. Waxing could make your self tan look patchy and streaky, so it is best to apply self-tan a couple of days after waxing. I'd advise 3-4 days after, so that you can exfoliate before applying it.
6. Avoid a booze-filled night out the day before your appointment. And avoid the morning coffee while you're at it. Caffeine and alcohol are stimulants and raises the acidity level in your body, making skin more sensitive, and more prone to redness, inflammation and irritation. Alcohol also thins the blood, which is not ideal for clotting, especially in cases of blood spots/ pinprick bleeds. Blood spots or pinprick bleeding is caused by blood rising up the hair follicle when the hair is pulled/removed from the root. The root of the hair is attached to a dermal papilla which supplies the hair with oxygen and nutrients via the blood. So...Have a cup of tea, or water, instead.
7. Take painkillers 30 minutes before your treatment, if you so wish. It is really not necessary, but it could help. You could take medication containing ibuprofen or paracetamol. Please avoid Aspirin/Disprin as they have antiplatelet effects, which could inhibit blood clotting. See point 6.
8. Don't "ice numb" the area to be waxed, it will make it more painful, by tightening/contracting your pores.
During:
1. Relax. I know for some people it's hard to do, especially during a bikini wax, but it will hurt a lot less if you just get over it..
2. You may have pinprick bleeds, or blood spots. This is normal. It doesn't necessarily indicate bad technique. I've explained why/how this happens above in point 6 under "Before", as well as in Waxing 101.1
3. If you feel any discomfort at all, such as burning and tingling, you need to tell the therapist immediately. IMMEDIATELY. You could be having a reaction that may not be visible yet, or he/she may have burned you accidentally, or pulled/lifted skin. You need to speak up as soon as it happens/you feel it, so that the therapist can take the necessary steps. If something unfortunate has happened, the therapist should advise you on what you can do at home to take care of the problem, or avoid further problems.
4. You may battle with Urticaria (aka Hives). Characterized by red, raised, itchy welts on the skin's surface, often caused by an allergic reaction, but there are non-allergic causes. I'm not sure where I fall under here, but I suffer from this. And although it would probably be best to not wax at all, I hate shaving (a lot!) and I can't afford regular IPL. Yet, anyway. It is FANTASTIC, by the way. So...I'll take it. Mine clears within a day or two (acute case), but it may last longer than 6 weeks if it's chronic. I hope it never escalates to that. There's not much you can do, but take an antihistamine (preferably before waxing), and follow all the after-care/home-care advice.
Here are few pics of my legs after waxing:
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| This is 5-10 minutes after waxing. You can clearly see that the bumps are raised. Unfortunately you can't see how red it is. Camera-flash and the fact that I took these myself. Sigh. |
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| This is about 45 minutes after waxing, and you can see that it's starting to settle. The bumps are not as raised and pronounced, although still very visible. |
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| About an hour and a half later. Bumps are starting to disappear, even if very slowly and in patches. Sigh |
After:
1. Do not wear tight-fitted clothing after your wax. This will irritate your skin, especially certain synthetic materials. Wear light/loose clothing, preferably cotton, but any loose clothing will do. This includes underwear when waxing your bikini area. Don't wear your cute, tight, lace panties for 24 hours. Tight underwear should be avoided generally, but since very few of us can resist, it is important to follow point 7 (below), and perhaps sleep commando. Tight underwear also encourages ingrown hairs* by placing pressure (however slight) on the skin prohibiting the hairs from surfacing as they usually would.
2. Do not do heavy/high-impact/cardio exercises 24 hours after waxing. Fun times, right? When you exercise, your circulation is increased, resulting in heat and perspiration. Because your pores will still be dilated/open, your skin will still be sensitive to heat, and could become more sensitivite, and possibly infected.
3. No hot showers and baths for 24 hours after waxing. For the same reasons as point 2. You may have warm showers/baths, but not hot, you can cause extreme discomfort to your skin (and yourself)
4. No swimming. No beach. No pool. Your pores are dilated, both salt and chlorine will irritate your skin. You could break out in defence, and experience tingling and/or burning on the waxed area. Wait about 2 days.
Points 3 and 4 also apply to steam rooms, saunas, jacuzzis, and all other heat/water activities. I know, "Why don't you just lock me up in a cold storage unit?!" Because this will also be uncomfortable and cause irritation to your skin. It is painful to get cold after waxing. Arrector/Erector pili muscles are small muscles attached to the hair follicle, all over your body, and contract when you are cold causing your hairs to stand-up and give you "goosebumps". Whenever I wax my legs, I have to walk around in shorts and skirts for 24-48 hours because my skin is so sensitive, and I can tell you that it f****** hurts when I get cold. And obviously I got cold, because I was probably walking around in the smallest shorts/skirt (if anything) ever, and I often have to go outside at night, to check that my pup empties her bladder before bed. Yeah, boohoo for me, right?!
5. No sun exposure for at least 24 hours. Your skin will be sensitized by waxing, and prone to hyper-pigmentation during this time. Apply a sunscreen, regularly. And by "regularly", I mean EVERY DAY.
6. Also, no heavily scented and coloured body lotions. Fragranced products may irritate your skin. Coloured body lotions may cause temporary discolouration of your skin, depending on your skin and sensitivity. I'd advise Bio Oil, but my skin is especially sensitive after waxing, and even Bio Oil gives me that tingling/burning sensation on my legs. A baby lotion, or aqueous cream should be fine, though. If you've got a soothing lotion or gel with ingredients such as Aloe Vera, it should be perfect. Do a little test patch on the area and wait 20 minutes to make sure you won't react before applying it all over. If you're unsure, it's okay to not apply anything (the therapist should have applied an after wax lotion, anyway), and continue as you normally would the next day. I do it all the time. Update: You can also use an after-sun product, be it a milk, gel or lotion. After-sun products are usually very light in texture and very absorbent. They also contain skin-soothing and -calming ingredients.
7. No exfoliation for 3 days after waxing: may irritate your skin. Exfoliation is very important. You have to exfoliate every 2-3 days after the initial one, 3 days after waxing. *
8. No sexual activity for 24 hours. For reals. I'm not joking. While your pores are dilated (yawn), your skin is prone to irritation by (extreme) temperature changes in/on your body, friction, and bacterial infection. So, no, not even oral sex is okay during this time. Just avoid it. Unless, of course, you can have sex without your body temperature changing and without friction. And if you can do this, congratulations. *pops champagne*
9. When doing facial waxes, avoid makeup application on the area for at least 24 hours. If you absolutely have to, and there's no other way, apply an antiseptic cream first, and then your makeup.
10. Deodorant and antiperspirant products should be avoided for 12 hours after waxing underarms, to prevent irritation. If you have to use something because you're going out or to an event, etc, use an alcohol free product, with minimal fragrance. I use Nivea Pure (I think) and I have had no negative (or any) reactions. Update: I've also not had any negative reaction from using Dove's Invisible Dry Anti-White Marks roll-on.
11. If you've had a bikini wax and make use of any kind of vaginal sprays/products, avoid it for at least 24 hours to prevent potential irritation. If you're on medical treatment and have to use it daily, best you consult with your medical professional as well as your therapist, and find a suitable solution.
*Ingrown hairs may initially look like a fine rash, or pimples (papule). You may or may not be able to see the hair in the pimple. If the hair is not released, the follicle may become infected and pus-filled.
During waxing, dead, keratinized skin cells are removed from the skin's surface along with the hair. As the hairs are growing back, new skin cells are keratinizing (ongoing process). By the time that the new hairs are ready to appear on the surface, the "new" skin cells are fully keratinized and may cover the follicle opening on the skin's surface. Because re-growth hairs are much finer and softer after waxing, it is not strong enough to push through the keratinized cells that now cover the follicle opening, and the hairs then grow parallel to the the skin's surface, underneath the keratinized cells, or they make a U-turn and grow down towards the root. They may also hit the side wall of the follicle. This is why exfoliation is important between waxing treatments.
I hope this helps you. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to add them in the comments section below.
In waxing 101.4, I'll talk about hair re-growth after waxing, and perhaps go into different styles of bikini waxing. :-)
Miss B
This is a very popular post, please read the post and the comments before you comment asking a question that has already been asked and answered. I'm not always able to
respond immediately, and the info, questions and responses already available could save you some time and waiting. As always, your questions and comments are always welcome.
Do you know why the hairs grow parallel to the skin surface, but underneath the skin? I tried exfoliating but it just wont come out..and now it looks ugly as you can see the hair, but cant take it out because the skin is covering it ?!?
ReplyDeleteDuring waxing, dead, keratinized skin cells are removed from the skin's surface along with the hair. As the hairs are growing back, new skin cells are keratinizing (ongoing process). By the time that the new hairs are ready to appear on the surface, the "new" skin cells are fully keratinized and may cover the follicle opening on the skin's surface. Because re-growth hairs are much finer and softer after waxing, it is not strong enough to push through the keratinized cells that now cover the follicle opening, and the hairs then grow parallel to the the skin's surface, underneath the keratinized cells, or they make a U-turn and grow down towards the root. They may also hit the side wall of the follicle. Exfoliating definitely works better before all of this has a chance to happen. Next time you go for your wax, ask your therapist to free the hair by lifting it with a lancet. It can be tricky, but hopefully she can do it for you without causing too much discomfort and bleeding. She should hold the lancet parallel to your skin and try to lift it at the end of the hair. Now, obviously, she won't know which side is the root and which side is the tip. If she lifts it at the tip, the end will stick out, and she can grab it with a tweezer and pull it out. If she gets it at the root end, she'll see it "loop" as she lifts it, and can grab the loop with the tweezer and pull it out. It's important that she doesn't hold the lancet perpendicular to your skin and "stab" the area, as this will be more painful and cause more bleeding. Once the hair is released/removed, the area should be wiped gently with an antiseptic such as Hibitane, dabbed dry with a tissue, and you can apply an antiseptic cream such as dettol cream. If the hair was quite deep and/or the hair was tough, you may have a little scab, but it should be tiny, and will heal by itself. DON'T PICK IT! Let it dry out and fall off when it's ready. I hope this helps. And keep on exfoliating. See point 7 in the "After" section of this post.
DeleteThanks for replying, but its not just one or two, but the ENTIRE bottom half of my legs are like that (near my ankles). The top half of my legs are fine. Would you reccommend any product to help with this? I have currently been using Tend Skin for 2 weeks but with no results. I also apply Bio Oil after that in the hope that it may fade away the horrible scars on my legs from the many ingorwn hairs over the years. Summer is fast approaching and I absolutely HATE my legs!
DeleteI'm sorry that you're having such a horrible experience with ingrown hairs. What method of hair removal are you using? You should never apply those products together, immediately after each other. Maybe try the Tend at night before bed, and the bio oil in the morning. I can recommend a few products and have just asked a friend in the industry, too, but perhaps if you tell me which country/region you are in, I can find something that is available there. For now, here's a list of potential products that may work for you, along with some info online so you can read a bit about it:
DeleteEnviron Derma-Lac Lotion, http://www.environ.co.za/products/derma-lac-lotion
(you'll need to wash this off and apply a sunscreen when going outside or if know that you'll be exposed to the sun. You should use a sunscreen regularly, anyway.)
Fino Smoothe, http://www.finocosmetics.com/the-product.html
Also, have you considered laser or IPL as an alternative option for hair removal?
I hope this helps.
I currently wax, and laser is too expensive for me. I'm from the UK (London). So according to you, I shouldnt be using Tend Skin and Bio-Oil one after another? Is it because they wont work well, or will it do more damage? It says Tend Skin is very drying and you need to apply a moistruriser after using it, so I thought Bio-oil would be fine..
DeleteOh and about the sunscreen, i dont currently use any. I only apply Bio-Oil now, and before I used to use Palmer's Cocobutter cream on my hands and legs. Would you reccommend to continue using bio-oil as my legs are really ugly from dark follicles, or use a sunscreen?
DeleteIf Bio Oil is working for you and you're happy with it, then you can continue using it. Do you generally suffer from dry skin on your legs? I mean before you started using Tend Skin? I don't think it is a good idea to apply Bio Oil immediately after the Tend Skin. I'd imagine it would need some uninterrupted time to work, with no addition of oils/creams. If after a few minutes (of applying Tend Skin) your legs start itching, or the skin feels like it's "pulling", you can apply a moisturizer or Bio Oil. Although, among other things, Bio Oil contains mineral oil and mineral oil can't penetrate the skin because it's molecular structure is too big, so you won't be getting "in depth" moisture. But it can help with the scars over time. Palmer's Vitamin E Cream is also really good. In fact, you could benefit from any Vit E moisturizing cream on your legs, or even Vitamin E oil. It shouldn't be bio-oil OR sunscreen. You can use both. If you continue with the Bio Oil in the morning, give it a few minutes, before applying a sunscreen. There are some body lotions (moisturizing body lotions) that contain an SPF, so I think that you could benefit from using one in the morning. So, now, there are plenty options here. Seeing that you already have Bio Oil, stick with it and if you're not happy with results once it's done, I think you should try and get a pure Vitamin E oil for the scarring. So, at night after bathing/showering, you'll apply the Tend Skin to your legs, and in the morning Bio Oil. That's all the products you've got now, right? What body lotion do you use for the rest of your body? I definitely think you should try the Tend Skin for at least another 2 weeks, but if there isn't even a slight improvement, you should move on. Also, what exfoliator do you use? Another therapist of mine, who has international experience, recommended that exfoliating gloves work brilliantly for ingrown hairs, in addition to some products, as some exfoliators that you can purchase at the store are't granular enough, and the actual exfoliating beads may be few and far between. This isn't the case for all exfoliators, but that has been her experience.
DeleteThanks, so I'll continue using Bio-oil in mornings and after a few minutes I'll apply Palmers cream. I also use this for the rest of my body. At night I'll try on Tend skin (it does make my legs dry but not itchy, so it shoudn't be a worry for the night as no one will look at my legs).
DeleteAbout exfoliating, I currently use St. Ives Apricot body scrub x2 a week, and recently I've started using a pumice stone once a week (I'm not sure if thats a good idea or not). I used to try on exfoliating gloves but they are a hassle because I need to hand them out to dry and sometimes moisture remains, so I don't think its very hygienic.
I've been hot waxing my legs for years, and forgot which side of the shower to wax on, so thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteI've got Urticaria, (but not hives) my skin can be written on, and looks like your legs do after waxing, they take a while to calm down, I use a tea tree oil cream after waxing which I think has a helpful calming and sterilizing effect.
I also have a terrible problem with ingrown hairs, but really don't want to shave, so despite the itching and red bumps, I set to with the roughest pumice stone I can find, this will definitely take off the layer of skin hiding the hairs, and use the cream again. It it causes temporary red spots, but relieves....I've been doing this for over 20 years, and the skin on my legs is in great condition. My forearms are sun damaged, dry, and the skin is thinning, causing blood blisters from the merest knock or bump :(, I find Bio Oil is great, my Mum likes coconut oil.
Hot waxing? Do you mean wax that you apply warm and remove with a strip, or hot wax that you apply in patches on your skin, wait for it to set, and the remove it as is without a strip?
DeleteI'm so in love with Tea Tree anything. About the roughest pumice stone you can find... I'm not sure that is the safest way to exfolaite and release potentially trapped hairs. It may be too harsh. You could try exfoliating gloves, or Sh'zen's Skin Stimulator (http://www.shzen.co.za/bestsellers.php). I, personally, LOVE the Skin Stimulator. Works like a dreams.
Coconut oil is great for many things. You can add some to your usual body moisturizer after a bath, or shower. You can also add some to your bath. The same goes for Bio Oil. Whatever you use, though, you should always follow with a sunscreen during the day, or invest in a body moisturizer than contains sunscreen for the daytime. See point 5 under "After".
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that after waxing( bikini area) you should apply coconut oil right after and the following 2-3 days? I´m not very keen on using the chemical products so I wanted to know what do you think about using coconut oil?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletehow often should i use the mixture?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI hear oil pulling with coconut oil helps with skin issues like ingrowns and keratosis pilaris. I'm currently doing it every morning...so far...I see some results but I haven't been pulling everyday. Supposedly it works according to the kp forum people.
ReplyDeleteI'm neither certified in oil pulling nor have I ever tried it, so I can't confirm that for you. If you're seeing results with no negative side-effects, I think it should be fine. But do your research.
ReplyDeleteafter axing on my hands i get severe itching fot almost 3 to 4 weeks...red bumps as well..pls help me...............
ReplyDeleteAre you waxing your actual hands, or somewhere else, but getting the reaction on your hands?
DeleteIt's my first time getting waxed, even though it was not that painful during waxing, I have got red bumps on my hands, that are itchy, what can I do to treat them?? It has been 24 hours since I've been waxed.
ReplyDeleteDid you wax yourself? Did your wax your hand, or did you wax somewhere else on your body, but just got the reaction on your hands?
DeleteI got my first XX today. It is bleeding like it was torn in one part ... It is super painful to go to the bathroom. I rang back and they said simply put some bepanthem cream (for nappy rash) on the split skin. How do I avoid infection "down there". Is this common? I don't think I'll ever try again at this stage soreness is outweighing the benefit. I'm really worried ... Hopefully needlessly!
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I am so very sorry to hear about this experience. It's upsetting, even for me just reading it. Have they apologized and offered any other solutions? It should not be common. If it is, I'd be extremely worried and find a new salon/therapist. I'm not sure on the exact location of the broken skin, but I've certainly never encountered bleeding, I've also never had or heard of difficulty with going to the bathroom afterwards from clients. Bepanthen is good for skin recovery as with nappy rash, but it's not antibacterial. I'd recommend using a topical antibiotic/antibacterial ointment such as Bactroban, or you can ask your pharmacist what they'd recommend. If there is any further discomfort and/or uncertainty, please see your GP. There are many factors that may have been responsible for this, if you're interested to chat about it, please email me, so we can discuss a few more potential (and personal) solutions. There's an email link in the "about me" section. I look forward to hearing from you, and be assured that your emails will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI run a beauty salon in India. We faced a peculiar problem today, that we have never come across so far. Most clients visit us for a combined package of waxing, facial, pedicure and manicure. So we generally finish with the waxing, do a ten minute massage with ice cubes to close the pores and then the pedicure. We followed the same process for a client who came to us for legs waxing and pedicure. However, she called us today complaining of small, white blisters all over her legs which are extremely painful she stated. Can you pls pls help me with this? How can we avoid this situation again and what can be done to soothe these puss filled blisters.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI run a beauty salon in India. We have been running a fairly successful/credible business with very few negative feedbacks so far. However, we faced a peculiar problem today and i need your guidance. Clients generally come to us for a package of services like waxing, pedicure, manicure and facial. So, the process that we typically follow is, waxing followed by application of ice cubes for about ten minutes to close the pores, followed by manicure/pedicure. The same process was followed for a client who visited us yesterday for waxing and pedicure, however she called us today complaining about painful white puss filled blisters all over her legs (from below the knee cap upto the ankle region) I am confused about why this happened and what can we do to treat this reaction? Pls help!
It sounds like folliculitis (possibly bacterial). You can advise your client to use a warm (not hot) compress and dab the area, she could use an anti-bacterial soap or body/face wash on the area until it has settled. She should use her hands to cleanse the area, as a rough cloth/sponge may cause the "pus-filled blister" to break and may spread the infection, as well as cause further irritation. She may also use a calming lotion (not a heavy cream) containing chamomile, tea tree and/or lavender. She may also use a tea tree oil blend. Coconut oil may also help. It is important not to rub the area vigorously and layer on lotion. A thin layer is adequate. She can also use an over-the-counter antibacterial ointment/topical antibiotic or hydrocortisone cream. Calamine lotion is also a soothing option. Explain to her that it is important not to scratch if it gets itchy as it will be painful, and may cause scarring. If she's still in pain after 3-5 days, advise her to see her doctor/GP.
DeleteThis could have happened for a number of reasons. The wax may have been too hot, your client's skin may have been sensitive and/or reactive, or maybe the wax irritated her skin. I wouldn't recommend the ice application when you have package treatments. I wouldn't recommend it at all. The skin is especially sensitive after waxing. The heat from the wax, then the pulling, it's not the most pleasant experience. The ice can only be so soothing, before it becomes irritating to the skin. Because it's so cold, the erector pilli muscles will be activated and circulation in that area will be increased because your body's response is to warm it up to get it back to normal temperature. This increases circulation and becomes overstimulating. See point 4 under "after" in the post above. Rather do a cool compress after waxing, and apply your after wax medium of choice. Once you've moved onto the pedicure, stick with the pedicure, don't come back onto the leg. Usually in pedicures we work up the leg with exfoliation and massage. Don't do this if the legs have just been waxed. The skin there is too sensitive immediately after waxing, and it'll be overstimulating and irritating. Please read all of the aftercare advice I give for post-waxing above, and use it to advise your clients. Many people don't understand why it's important to do or not to do certain things after waxing, make sure you explain it to them, and the rest is up to them. Please also read about contraindications to waxing (http://beautybill.blogspot.com/2012/08/waxing-1011-consultation.html) and make sure you never work on a client with contraindications or hypersensitive skin and explain to them why you cannot.
hi.. I just started to wax (cold wax) regularly and I noticed I have bumps on my armpits. You could say it's like chicken skin but why do I have that? :((
ReplyDeleteHi Bea. I'm not a huge fan of cold/strip wax on the armpits, because the skin there is sensitive and tender, and the pulling of the strip often irritates the skin, and if not supported correctly, could cause a lot of harm and pain. Ask for hot/warm wax or film wax. Both are applied directly to the skin, left to set for a few seconds, and then removed. No strip required.
DeleteIs the "chicken skin" your usual skin colour, but raised a bit, or is it red with little pus-heads?
The first thing that comes to mind when you say "chicken skin" is Keratosis Pilaris (KP). KP happens when keratin forms a plug in the hair follicle. It's more common and tends to be worse in dry skin types. If it is very inflamed and sore, you can get a topical steroid cream and follow the instructions for use. Once the inflammation has subsided, or if you don't have inflammation, you could use a mild AHA exfoliator. Glycolic and Lactic acid are said to work best. An exfoliating cleanser with salicyclic acid may also be beneficial, if you're not allergic to Aspirin. A light, easily absorbed moisturizer may also help. Many people find that coconut oil helps, but since it's on/in your armpits, I think coconut oil may be a bit uncomfortable. You could apply a little (just enough to smooth over the entire area) at night before bed, and then just your regular deodorant in the morning. You could also try a tea tree moisturizer or aloe vera lotion. Make sure your deodorant / roll-on is alcohol-free and gentle and not too heavily fragranced. KP is often hereditary and chronic, but if you haven't experienced this before waxing, and you don't have these symptoms anywhere else on your body, I wouldn't worry about that.
Another reason bumps may occur after waxing is that some people get a bit tense, anticipating the waxing session. When you're tense, your pores may contract, and activate the erector pili muscle (the small muscle that makes hair stand up when you're cold). Of course, air-conditioners in salons that are set to lower temperatures don't help this. When your hair is removed via waxing while your erector pili muscle is active and your pores are contracted, it may actually hurt a bit more. As a result of this "shock", your skin takes longer than usual to settle and calm down, resulting in raised bumps for a few hours to a few days. It shouldn't last longer than 5 days.
Hi! Thank you for the post. After hot waxing, I mistakenly used a towel soaked in tap water to clean the area. Is that okay? :(
ReplyDeleteIt should be okay, most hot waxes are water-soluble, hence the area needs to be dry and powder is used before application. A dilute anti-septic is a better option, though. And then, of course, a post-wax, soothing lotion/oil/gel. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm working from my husbands computer...Ok so I've just had a G-String wax and there is a large blob of wax that has dripped into the remaining pubic hair, how do I get it out? I have searched and searched online and have found how to remove residual wax from the skin but not from hair :( Please help!
ReplyDeleteIf it's hot wax, the easiest way is just to pull it out quickly. It is probably hard and will crack, but it's best and simplest way. Hold the skin around the area taut, and then pull it. If you're too nervous doing that, or don't want an uneven hair removal, the next best thing would be to cut it out: that way the hair isn't completely removed, but just a bit shorter than the rest. Get a clear view of the area where the wax is stuck: sit on a hand mirror, sit on a chair in front of a mirror, put your leg up onto a chair if you must, do whatever you can to get a clear view of it without hurting yourself. Then try to lift the wax away from your skin, and use a small, CLEAN pair of scissors (wiping with surgical spirits or 70% alcohol should to the trick, just wait for it to dry before using). Those scissors you get in nail sets will be perfect, but if you don't have that, any other clean scissor will do the trick. Now, while holding the wax up, away from your skin, cut the hair that it's stuck to AS CLOSE TO THE WAX as possible. Don't try to cut close to your skin, as you may nick yourself. If you feel that you can't do that for whatever reason, the wax should be water soluble, although this is not the case with all wax. Last option is work some oil into it: baby oil, bio oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil. Whichever is available to you. Coat the wax with it generously, as well as the hair and skin around it. Warm hands will help with this as the warmth and oil should soften the wax. If you have cold hands, use a warm cloth to try to work it out of the hair.
DeleteIf you had this done at a salon, please let them know this has happened. It shouldn't have happened. Wax should never be left behind.
Hope this helped you. :-)
Hi,we have the same reaction on skin after waxing my full legs,but its not itchy its just red then a 1 day after it sooths down but the redness is still there,i wonder what can i apply to remove the redness and how long does it really takes to have a bath after waxing? Tnx i hope ypu reply.
ReplyDeleteNo hot baths 24 hours after waxing. Warm is fine, but not HOT! Please read the "After" section in this post, and follow the advice as best you can after your next wax appointment, and let me know if you're STILL having this reaction with prolonged redness. If you have after-sun gel, try to use that or any other hypoallergenic milky lotion instead of your normal body lotion until the redness subsides.
ReplyDeleteI've shaved since I was 16 years old and I now have dark scars from ingrown hairs. A friend of mine suggested waxing. I've waxed twice now and I wanted to know are there any suggestion to help remove the scars I was told that St. Ives exfoliating sea scrub was good to use
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Is it normal for soreness to occur? It's really irritating and I waxed for the first time in my underarms and now it's been sore for 2 days. It actually started a week after I waxed
ReplyDeleteIf the soreness started a week after you waxed, it could most likely be the hair growing back and trying to surface. Have you been exfoliating regularly? See After care advice above, in the post.
DeleteHi - I got a brazalian wax about two days ago and now have a large red welt on my bottom - it is now sore and a bit hot. I was small and I didn't think much of it, but went to the gym last night and after it got a lot larger. What can I do?
ReplyDeleteIS there only ONE from what you can see/feel?
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ReplyDeleteHi Have got bumps on my chin area after waxing, looks like ingrown hair and the chicken skin type effect. can I use derma lac on my face
ReplyDeleteYou can, but proceed with caution. If you feel any sort of irritation, remove it asap, with a damp cloth. Remember to use sunscreen, too.
DeleteI experienced bleeding after a full bikini wax. Is this normal? If so, how much blood and how long should the bleeding last? What should I do to treat the parts that are bleeding?
ReplyDeleteIt depends on the type of bleeding. With any area you wax, a very little bleeding out of the hair follicle is not uncommon, but it should be dealt with when it happens, and you shouldn't still be bleeding by the time you leave. It should've been over within minutes, if not seconds. Were you on any medication at the time? Or have a history of haemophilia?
DeleteHi Ms. B,
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to ask, I'm experiencing itchy chicken skin alike rushes on my legs after I've waxed. The thing is, it's quite my fault for the next day we had a beach outing I think that irritate my lower leg. It't been a month now, and I still have it. huhu My problem is, how to remove or to heal this kind of skin irritation? Yeah, it's red and itchy and i don't want to scratch it. Can you provide me solution pleaseee or tips? or products maybe? or a DIY solution to treat such skin issue? Thanks! your reply is much appreciated!
If you're still experiencing the irritation, redness and itchiness, you should go to the doctor. It's not normal to have that kind of irritation for so long.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI got my legs waxed for the first time about 1 week and 1/2 ago at a salon with hot wax. Now, I feel pain every time I get goosebumps..I exfoliate regularly and I'm guessing it's the pain from the hair growing back. Is this normal? And if it is, how long should it last?
Also, some patches of hair have grown back and I sometimes shave those areas, is it bad to shave after getting waxed?
Thank you
Arrector/Erector pili muscles are small muscles attached to the hair follicle, all over your body, and contract when you are cold causing your hairs to stand-up and give you "goosebumps". This is particularly uncomfortable after you've waxed and while your hairs are growing back. Sometimes it's more sore if your hair grows back at a different angle and hits the side wall of the follicle. This is also how some ingrown hairs are formed. I can't tell you how long it will last because all your hair follicles to not go through each growth stage simultaneously. It's not ideal or generally recommended to shave after/between waxing sessions, but if you really need to for a special occasion, I don't see the problem. I wouldn't advise shaving too often between waxing, though. Do you notice a difference in the hair when you get the regrowth after waxing, compared to after you shave? Have a look at the next post I did about "Regrowth" - http://beautybill.blogspot.com/2012/08/waxing-1014-re-growth.html
DeleteHi, at the spa i went to they used a tweezer to pull off defiant hair after waxing. is this healthy? cant certain infections including hiv be transmitted this way?
ReplyDeleteIt is common practice to use tweezers to remove hairs that didn't come out during waxing. It is only unhygienic and a "health risk" when the tweezers aren't adequately cleaned between treatments. You have a right to ask how the tweezers are cleaned, and if the tweezer that is intended to be used on you is sterilized. If you're unsure, take your own, sterilized (or at least sanitized) tweezer along, and ask them to use that. It is not okay to "dig" into the skin with a tweezer to remove ingrown hairs. This is damaging to the skin. A lancet may be used to lift the ingrown hair, and once it is visible/on the skin's surface, a tweezer may be used to remove it.
DeleteHi there , i got my first wax done yesterday and i see these red bumps all over my chest and they are so irritating. i have my swimming competition in 2 days. waxing lady told me that i can swim in 24 hours. i am worried that those red bumps will turn into dark spots like on face. any suggestion or remedies that can help in these situation?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your help
Ideally, I'd recommend avoiding swimming in chlorinated water (even a salt water pool) because will undoubtedly cause irritation on your obviously sensitized skin. Avoid heavily fragranced body washes and body lotions. Also follow all of the after care advice in this post. Right now, you need a product with soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, such as an aloe vera gel/cream or chamomile, assuming you're not allergic to any of these ingredients. You could also try an antihistamine cream, as it may be an allergic reaction of sorts. If you feel that it's not getting any better after 48 hours (swimming or not) or that it's getting worse, please see your doctor. Best of luck for your swimming competition. :-)
ReplyDeleteI am 37 weeks pregnant and typically have my under arms waxed about once a month without any issues. However, against my better judgement, at my last appointment, I let my regular lady talk me into a Brazilian Wax. I was nervous b/c I've never had any type of bikini wax & I thought my skin is more sensitive while pregnant. It has been 60 hours and my skin is broken out with red raised bumps and some are puss filled. I have coconut oil and lavendar. Should I mix the two and apply a light coat? When should I try exfoliating? Any other recommendations besides never do it again? �� Thank you! I really appreciate your help.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your bad experience. This kind of break out is quite normal for first-timers when it comes to waxing. Skip the lavender entirely. You can use only the coconut oil on your skin. You can exfoliate after 72 hours, but I wouldn't advice that you scrub over the pus-filled bumps. What you can do it use the coconut oil and a soft face cloth and just gently go over the area in upward, circular motions. If the pus doesn't subside in 2 days (from now) talk to your pharmacist about a topical anti-bacterial cream/ointment that's safe to use during pregnancy or check with your OBGYN that you can use tea tree oil.
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