Post-Wax Care: Tips & Best Practices

• Apply a Soothing or Cold Compress

  If a client experiences particularly irritated or inflamed skin following their appointment, it can help some to apply a cold compress to their freshly waxed skin. Cold compresses will ease inflammation, redness, and soothe skin. However, don’t advise them to apply ice or an ice pack directly to the skin, as it can be a little too harsh for the sensitive area. 

• Exfoliate Skin Post-Wax

  Another important step in the post-wax care process is to exfoliate the skin 24 hours before and after a waxing service. This helps prevent ingrown hairs and removes dead skin cells from the skin. Additionally, when done before and after their appointment, clients can reduce their waxing pain by clearing their skin of dirt and debris.

  To exfoliate, advise clients to use an exfoliating glove, scrub, or gentle tool to prevent ingrown hairs and clear skin. Additionally, they can use Starpil’s Original Ingrown Hair Serum Spray to keep pores clear. This post-wax spray also not only releases trapped ingrown hairs but prevents new ones from developing!
  

Moisturize Post-Wax

After exfoliating, make sure to provide skin with additional moisture after their initial application of Starpil’s Post-Wax Lotion and Post-Wax Oil.  

After leaving around 24 hours after the time of their appointment, advise them to give their skin an extra layer of protection with Starpil’s Intensive Post-Wax Cream. This cream not only moisturizes and soothes the skin but also promotes skin cell regeneration to speed up the healing process.

Again, when moisturizing post-wax, make sure your clients are using products specially formulated for freshly waxed skin. This will save them from exposing their sensitive skin to products with pore-clogging chemicals or perfumes. 

• Wear Loose-Fitting Clothing After Waxing

Here’s one we’re sure you won’t have to tell clients twice! Encourage them to wear loose-fitting and breathable clothing to and from their appointment, as well as for a couple of days afterward. 

This is especially important for those receiving bikini or Brazilian waxes, as these areas are particularly vulnerable to irritation, breakouts, and bacteria produced from friction. 

For bikini and Brazilian waxing clients, make sure to advise them at the time of scheduling to also wear loose-fitting and breathable underwear in addition to loose regular clothing. This will make sure their bikini area is free from unnecessary friction and bacteria buildup. 

The Don’ts of Post-Waxing Care

Just as important as making sure your clients know what TO do after waxing, it’s also imperative that they also know what to avoid after their appointment. There are various things that clients may do following a wax that they think helps their healing or soothing process, that actually ends up hurting it!

What Not to Do After a Wax

• Don’t Touch Freshly Waxed Skin

  We know it might be very tempting to scratch or otherwise massage your newly waxed skin, but touching skin that has just had hair removed from it can easily clog open pores or cause bacteria build-up and infection. 

• Exfoliate Immediately After a Wax

  Though it’s recommended to exfoliate 24 hours before and after a service, it’s important not to exfoliate the skin too close to the time of your wax (on either side!). Exfoliating too quickly after service could further irritate vulnerable and sensitive freshly waxed skin.

• Apply Lotions Not Formulated for Post-Wax Use

  Clients might not think there’s any harm in using body butters, lotions, or body washes not specifically made for skin that’s just been waxed, but they would, unfortunately, be mistaken! Products not specifically formulated for use on waxed skin can clog pores and cause breakouts, irritation, and bumps on the skin. 

• Apply Fragranced Lotions or Perfumes to Freshly Waxed Skin

  As is the case with applying lotions or creams not made for use on ultra-vulnerable skin, using perfumes or lotions containing fragrance can also easily irritate and clog pores.  

• Wearing Tight Clothing

  After their waxing appointment, it’s important clients wear clothing that saves skin from friction, sweat build-up, or otherwise stops it from receiving airflow. Stay away from tight jeans or pants, and clothing made from heavy synthetic materials. 

• Exercising or Participate in Heavy Activity

  For about 48 hours after a waxing service, your clients are going to want to avoid doing anything that causes a lot of friction or sweat build-up. This includes exercise, sex, or really just any physical activity. Not only do bacteria thrive on sweaty skin, but sweat itself can clog pores and cause breakouts and inflammation. Additionally, friction will irritate the skin even further and can cause damage to vulnerable skin, leaving it susceptible to infection or ingrown hairs. 

• Going to the Beach/Pool

  Especially during the summer, clients may feel inclined to get waxed, only to go swimming or to the beach directly after, or in the next couple of days. They did just get a fresh wax and are looking their best, after all! 

  However, this is a bad idea. Going swimming in salt or chlorine-filled water earlier than 48 hours after a wax is going to cause irritation and further bumps to form on vulnerable skin. Water can also easily carry various kinds of bacteria, which can also harm freshly waxed skin. Not to mention how harsh chlorine and sand can be! It’s best to steer clear of the water for 48 hours following a wax to keep skin safe. 

  Additionally, exposing oneself to excessive sun at the beach or pool less than 48 hours after a service can leave already-sensitive skin extremely susceptible to burning and scarring, as it’s been stripped of protective layers that would usually shield it from the sun. Even after the 48-hour window, make sure clients take extra care to apply sunscreen to the skin if they’re going to be outdoors (as they should anyway!). 

• Going for a Chemical Peel

  Our last post-wax no-no is to avoid going for chemical peels for at least 72 hours following a waxing service. The superficial layer of skin cells has been previously removed from skin during a wax, which leaves skin ultra-sensitive. Going to a chemical peel less than 72 hours after a wax can result in this vulnerable area being damaged, left overly dry, or can lead to infection. 

Following a session with a client, make sure you run them through the complete do’s and don’ts of their after wax care process. You won’t be there to point out what they’re doing wrong or to advise them away from certain activities, but you can at least provide them with the tools and knowledge they need to keep their skin as safe and protected as possible. 

Final Thoughts

As an esthetician, it’s your responsibility to make sure your clients are educated and have knowledge of the post-wax care process to make sure that not only their skin is well taken care of, but so that your clients are pleased with their continued results after waxing. 

By educating especially new waxing clients as to how to keep their skin in its best shape and giving them the best post-wax care tips, you’re both helping them and building a relationship with them based on trust and confidence. 

Taking care of them during their appointments and letting them know what to do and what not to do to nurture skin after a wax, you’ll provide them with amazing results that will have them coming back time and time again. It’s a win-win!