What Your Skin Wishes You Knew Before Your Next Wax
Waxing seems pretty straightforward. Hair grows. Wax removes it. You move on with your life a little smoother than you were before.
But your skin has a much bigger role in the process than most people realize.
After more than 30 years of waxing Lake Country clients, I’ve seen how much of a difference a little preparation and the right aftercare can make. Whether you’re coming in for your brows, upper lip, legs or a bikini wax, what you do before and after your appointment can affect everything from how comfortable the wax feels to how your skin looks afterward.
Here are a few things your skin would probably like you to know.
Give Your Hair Enough Time to Grow
It can be tempting to shave or tweeze the moment you notice regrowth, especially if your waxing appointment is still a few days away. Try to resist.
Wax needs enough hair to grip properly so it can remove the hair from the root. If the hair is too short, some of it may be left behind or require additional passes over the skin.
This is also why consistency with waxing can make a difference. Hair grows in cycles, which means not every hair is at exactly the same stage of growth at the same time. With regular appointments, those growth cycles can gradually become easier to manage and your results may last longer and look more even.
Exfoliation Helps, But Timing Matters
Gentle exfoliation between waxing appointments can help remove dead skin cells and reduce the chance of hairs becoming trapped beneath the surface of the skin.
The key word here is gentle.
Scrubbing aggressively right before an appointment isn’t going to give you a better wax. In fact, freshly exfoliated skin can be more sensitive. Give your skin some breathing room before your appointment, particularly if you use stronger exfoliating products.
After waxing, wait until the skin has settled before returning to your usual exfoliation routine.
Your Skincare Routine Matters More Than You Think
This is especially important when it comes to facial waxing. Retinoids, prescription acne treatments, exfoliating acids and other active skincare products can make the skin more sensitive or fragile. Waxing skin that has been affected by certain products or medications can cause more irritation and, in some cases, can lift the surface layer of the skin.
That’s why it’s important to let your esthetician know what you’re using, even if it doesn’t seem related to your waxing appointment.
The same applies if you’ve recently had a peel, laser treatment or another professional skin treatment. Sometimes the best thing we can do for your skin is simply wait.
Sunburned Skin Needs a Rain Check
If you’ve spent a little too much time enjoying an Okanagan summer day and your skin is pink, hot, tender or sunburned, waxing should wait.
Waxing already temporarily stresses the surface of the skin. Adding that to skin that is inflamed from sun exposure can lead to unnecessary irritation and discomfort.
Even without a burn, protecting freshly waxed skin from direct sun exposure is important. The area may be more sensitive for a short period after your appointment, so sunscreen, shade and a little common sense go a long way.
Your Skin May Be a Little Pink Afterwards
A little temporary redness after waxing is completely normal for many people. Hair has just been removed from the follicle, and your skin may need a little time to settle down. How much redness you experience depends on your skin, the area being waxed and even where you are in your waxing routine. Some people barely react at all. Others stay pink for a few hours.
This is also why technique matters. Wax temperature, application, removal and knowing when an area has had enough all play a role in minimizing unnecessary irritation.
After three decades of working with skin, one thing I’ve learned is that more isn’t always better. Sometimes the best thing you can do is leave the skin alone and let it calm down.
Give Your Skin a Quiet 24 Hours
Freshly waxed skin doesn’t need much from you afterward. In fact, it generally prefers less. For the first day or so, avoid anything that creates a lot of heat, sweat, friction or irritation in the waxed area. Depending on where you’ve been waxed, that may mean taking a break from hot tubs, saunas, very hot showers or intense workouts.
Loose, comfortable clothing can also help after body or bikini waxing, particularly if your skin tends to be sensitive. Once everything has settled, you can return to gentle exfoliation and your normal skincare routine as appropriate for the area.
Good Waxing Starts With Paying Attention to the Skin
Removing the hair is only one part of a good waxing service. Your skin type, sensitivity, hair growth, products you use and how your skin responds all matter too.
That’s one of the reasons professional waxing can feel very different from trying to manage everything yourself at home. An experienced esthetician isn’t only looking at the hair that needs to come off. We’re paying attention to the skin underneath it.
At Simply Skincare, I offer professional waxing in Lake Country for the face and body, including brow, lip, chin, underarm, leg and bikini waxing, along with brow and lash tinting.
If it’s been a while since your last wax, or you’re not sure whether something in your skincare routine could affect your appointment, give me a call. A quick conversation beforehand can make all the difference in helping your skin leave as happy as possible.