Before and after waxing: keep your skin smooth and free of ingrown hairs

Why home care matters so much

Waxing takes only a moment in the studio, but your skin lives with it for weeks. How you prepare and how you care for your skin afterwards largely decides how smooth it is, how long the result lasts and whether you get ingrown hairs.

The guidelines below apply to every area – legs, underarms and the bikini area. For facial waxing there are a few extra tips at the end.

1–3 weeks before: let the hair grow

Wax grips hair that is at least 2 mm long. If you've been shaving, wait 2–3 weeks. Hair that is too short is easily left behind and the result is uneven.

If the hair is very long, don't trim it yourself – the cosmetologist will trim it. Long hair is no problem; too short is.

1–2 days before: gentle exfoliation

Exfoliate the area gently with a scrub or exfoliating mitt. It removes dead cells so the wax grips the hair directly and the hair comes out from the root more easily.

Don't exfoliate on the day of waxing, though – the skin may be too sensitive.

On the day

• No lotions, oils or self-tan on the area. They stop the wax from gripping.
• Wear loose clothing.
• Tell the cosmetologist if you use retinoids, isotretinoin, blood thinners or antibiotics, if you are pregnant, or if your skin is tanned or sunburnt.
• If you're nervous, drink water and eat lightly before. Caffeine can make skin more sensitive.

Skin is most sensitive during and just before your period. Waxing is fine then, but if you can choose, a week after your period is the most comfortable time.

The first 24–48 hours

After waxing the follicles are briefly open, and the skin is more prone to irritation and bacteria. That's why the first days matter most:

• no sauna, swimming pools, hot tubs or hot baths
• no sun or tanning beds
• no hard, sweaty exercise that rubs the skin
• no perfumed lotions, deodorant on waxed underarms or self-tan
• loose cotton clothing, especially after bikini waxing

The skin may be red and small red dots may show at the follicles. They usually fade within hours, by the next day at the latest.

Ingrown hairs: why they happen and how to prevent them

An ingrown hair forms when a new, fine hair can't break through the skin's surface and grows underneath instead. It causes a small bump that can itch or become inflamed. They are most common on the bikini area and lower legs, where clothes rub.

How to prevent them:

• Exfoliate gently twice a week, starting 2–3 days after waxing.
• Moisturise daily. Soft skin lets the hair through more easily.
• Don't shave between waxes. Shaving cuts the hair to a sharp tip, which easily grows under the skin.
• Avoid tight clothes for the first days.

If you do get an ingrown hair, don't dig it out with a needle or tweezers – it can leave a dark mark. Keep exfoliating gently and it usually surfaces by itself. Mention recurring or inflamed hairs at your next visit.

Facial waxing: extra tips

Facial skin is thinner, and many people use active products on the face. Before upper lip or facial waxing:

• stop retinoids and acid products on the area 5–7 days before
• facial waxing isn't suitable during isotretinoin treatment or for about half a year after it
• don't book peels or microneedling in the same week

Afterwards, keep make-up off the waxed area for the rest of the day.

How often to wax

Results usually last 3–5 weeks. A regular 4–6-week interval keeps the hair in the same growth phase, so each wax is easier and the result more even. After many visits the hair becomes finer and there is less of it.

More on waxing: why LYCON wax, leg waxing and your first Brazilian.