You've just treated yourself to a smooth, hair-free experience. Now, it's time to give your skin the love it deserves. Proper post-wax care is essential to ensure optimal results and prevent any unwanted side effects.
Why is Post-Wax Aftercare Important?
Post-waxing aftercare helps soothe your skin, prevent ingrown hairs, and reduce the risk of infection. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your skin recovers quickly and looks its best.
The First 72 Hours:
Resist the Urge to Touch
Throughout the day your hands are constantly touching surfaces that are teeming with bacteria. Touching your freshly waxed skin can introduce these bacteria, leading to infection, irritation, and potential scarring.
Keep your hands clean: Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap before touching your skin.
Practice mindfulness: If you feel the urge to touch your skin, take a deep breath and redirect your attention.
Dress for Comfort and Healing
Tight clothing can cause friction, irritate your skin, and trap sweat and bacteria, which can lead to infection and ingrown hairs. Loose-fitting clothing allows your skin to breathe and heal properly.
Choose natural fabrics: Cotton and linen are breathable and gentle on the skin.
Avoid tight clothing: Opt for loose-fitting pants, skirts, and tops.
Change your clothes regularly: This helps to keep your skin clean and dry
Keep Your Cool: The Benefits of Cold Showers
Stick to Cool Showers: After waxing, avoid hot showers, baths, hot tubs, and saunas for at least 72 hours. Hot water can irritate your skin and open up your pores, making you more susceptible to infection. Cold showers, on the other hand, can help to soothe your skin and reduce inflammation.
Limit shower time: Short, cool showers are best.
Avoid harsh soaps: Use gentle, fragrance-free cleansers.
A Clean Slate: Minimize Product Use
After waxing, your skin is more sensitive and prone to irritation. Skip applying deodorants, lotions, or any cosmetics to the waxed area. These products can contain ingredients that may irritate freshly waxed skin or clog pores, leading to discomfort or breakouts. Stick to gentle, fragrance-free options if necessary.
Wait a few hours: Give your skin time to calm down before applying any products.
Choose fragrance-free options: If you must use a product, opt for fragrance-free, hypoallergenic formulas.
Take a Break: Rest and Recover
Avoid intense physical activities like working out or swimming for at least 72 hours after waxing. Sweat from exercise can irritate the skin and lead to breakouts while swimming pools or the ocean contain bacteria and chemicals (chlorine) that may cause infection or further irritation on freshly waxed skin.
Relax and unwind: Take some time to relax and let your skin heal.
Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to keep your skin healthy.
Plan your workouts: Schedule your workouts around your waxing appointments.
Protect Your Skin: Shield It from the Sun
For 72 hours post-wax, avoid spray tans, tanning beds, and direct sun exposure. Freshly waxed skin is more sensitive and prone to sunburn or irritation from tanning solutions. Sun exposure can darken your skin and lead to premature aging and skin cancer. After waxing, your skin is particularly sensitive to UV rays, so it's important to take extra precautions. If you need to be outside, use a high-SPF, fragrance-free sunscreen to protect the area.
Sun safety tips:
Wear sunscreen: Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all exposed skin.
Seek shade: Limit your time in direct sunlight, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.
Wear protective clothing: Cover up with hats, sunglasses, and long sleeves.
Avoid tanning beds: Tanning beds emit harmful UV radiation that can damage your skin.
Prioritize Healing: Postpone Intimacy
After waxing, your skin is more sensitive and prone to irritation. Engaging in intimate activities can increase the risk of infection and discomfort.
Take a break:
Communicate with your partner: Explain the reasons for postponing intimacy and reassure them that it's for the best.
Focus on self-care: Use this time to pamper yourself and prioritize your well-being.
A Protective Layer: The Power of Antiseptic Cream
To further protect freshly waxed skin, apply a small amount of antiseptic cream daily for the first few days post-wax. This helps prevent infection by creating a protective barrier that keeps bacteria at bay and supports the skin's healing process.
How to apply:
Cleanse your skin: Wash the waxed area with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser.
Dry thoroughly: Pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
Apply a pea-sized amount: Gently massage the cream into your skin.
Avoid over-application: Too much cream can clog your pores.
After 72 Hours:
Exfoliate Gently: A Key to Smoother Skin
After the initial healing period (typically 72 hours), gently exfoliate the waxed area 2–3 times per week with a gentle scrub or exfoliating mitt. This helps to prevent ingrown hairs and removes dead skin cells stimulating cell turnover, promoting smoother, brighter skin.
How to exfoliate:
Choose a gentle exfoliant: Look for a product with physical or chemical exfoliants that are gentle on the skin.
Exfoliate 2-3 times per week: Over-exfoliating can irritate your skin.
Be gentle: Use circular motions to exfoliate your skin.
Moisturize afterward: Apply a gentle moisturizer to soothe your skin.
Nourish Your Skin: The Benefits of Moisturizing
Keep your skin hydrated and nourished by applying Follicle Friend Soothing Oil daily after the initial 72 hours. This oil helps calm the skin, reduces redness, and prevents ingrown hairs, by keeping the skin soft and hydrated between waxes.
How to apply:
Cleanse your skin: Wash the waxed area with warm water and a gentle cleanser.
Dry thoroughly: Pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
Apply a small amount: Gently massage the moisturizer into your skin.
Embrace Waxing: A Smoother, Longer-Lasting Solution
Resist the urge to shave the waxed area between sessions. Not only does shaving disrupts the waxing cycle leading to uneven regrowth, shaving can lead to ingrown hairs, irritation, and razor burn. Stick to your regular waxing routine for smoother, longer-lasting results.
The benefits of waxing:
Reduced ingrown hairs: Waxing removes hair from the root, reducing the likelihood of ingrown hairs.
Smoother skin: Waxing leaves your skin feeling smooth and soft.
Longer-lasting results: Waxed hair grows back slower and finer.
Consistent Waxing for Smoother Skin
To maintain smooth results and minimize hair growth over time, plan to wax every 4–6 weeks. Sticking to a regular schedule helps keep hair growth consistent, making each session easier and more effective.
Why regular waxing is beneficial:
Reduced hair growth: Consistent waxing can lead to thinner, finer hair growth over time.
Smoother skin: Regular waxing helps to remove dead skin cells and prevent ingrown hairs.
Long-lasting results: By sticking to a regular waxing schedule, you can enjoy longer periods of smooth, hair-free skin.
How to maintain a regular waxing routine:
Plan ahead: Schedule your waxing appointments in advance to avoid forgetting.
Communicate with your technician: Discuss your goals and preferences with your waxing technician.
Be patient: It takes time to see results. Stick to your waxing schedule and trust the process.
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