How to Care for your Skin after Waxing

This Sunday, July 5 is National Bikini Day, so it's a great time to talk about how to care for your skin after waxing. Waxing is one of the most popular ways to get rid of those unwanted hairs, and gives you a silky smooth feeling, but you can get irritated skin or ingrown hairs if you don't properly care for the treated area. (Read about waxing myths here.) Here's our guide to caring for your newly waxed skin:

• Brow/Facial Wax: First off, avoid touching the area. Your fingers can introduce oil and impurities that may clog the pores and cause breakouts in the freshly-waxed area. Use an ice pack on the area to close the pores and a little aloe vera gel to soothe any redness or irritation if needed. Wash the area using a gentle cleanser, but wait at least 24-48 hours before exfoliating or using any makeup on your brows. Don't tweeze your brows between appointments, or you'll risk changing their shape. Exfoliation is important to prevent ingrown hairs, so simply use a washcloth on your brows up to twice a week or a chemical exfoliant on your face.

• Body (Arms, Chest, Back, Legs) Wax: You'll want to wear loose clothing for a day or so after your wax. Avoid activities that may irritate the skin and cause you to sweat or chafe. Use gentle products and lightweight moisturizers, and avoid products with harsh chemicals or heavy oils so you don't irritate the skin or clog the pores. To close the pores and soothe irritation, you can use ice packs, aloe vera gel, a cooling gel, or a hydrocortisone cream (with a concentration of less than 1%). Stay out of hot water (hot showers, hot tubs, saunas, etc.) and skip the gym for 24-48 hours after your wax. Sweat can introduce bacteria into those open hair follicles. Stay out of direct sunlight and skip the tanning bed for at least 48 hours post-wax, as waxing removes the superficial layer of dead skin, making the area highly sensitive to UV rays. After 48 hours, it's safe to exfoliate the area, which is important to help avoid getting ingrown hairs.

• Bikini Wax: Just like with a body wax, wear loose clothing for a day or so, and avoid any activities that will irritate the skin or cause chafing. Use gentle products and lightweight moisturizers, and avoid products with harsh chemicals or heavy oils so you don't irritate the skin or clog the pores. To close the pores and soothe irritation, you can use ice packs, aloe vera gel, a cooling gel, or a hydrocortisone cream (with a concentration of less than 1%). Stay out of hot water (hot showers, hot tubs, saunas, etc.) and skip the gym for 24-48 hours after your wax. After a few days, gently exfoliate using a light scrub or gentle exfoliating serum to avoid ingrown hairs, and make sure to exfoliate every few days until your next wax.

Ready to book a wax? Call Salon Patrice at (815) 223-8643 or find all of our waxing services here.