That day has come and you are steeling yourself for a painful afternoon of waxing. But while that initial ‘Ouch!’ moment fades quickly, many of us find ourselves living with the painful consequences of waxing long afterwards due to a lack of proper skin care before, during and after the treatment.
Making sure you avoid redness and painful rashes begins long before your waxing session. In the time leading up to your wax, exfoliate your legs regularly with a good body scrub and then moisturise with a hydrating body souffle.This will make sure your skin is smooth and supple rather than dry and sensitive, as well as getting rid of any ingrown hairs.
It’s also a good idea to let hair grow for a few weeks before you wax; hairs should be at least half a centimetre long for the treatment to work most effectively.
Lastly, on the day of your appointment, make sure not to apply any lotions or moisturisers as these can stop wax sticking to hair. A gentle pre-wax cleanser is all you need on the day.
Besides taking a couple of paracetamol beforehand, there’s not much you can do for your skin during your wax besides making sure that the type of wax being used isn’t going to do any damage. Hot wax is said to be the best option, especially if you have sensitive skin, as it’s much gentler than other methods. Tea tree oil wax is also designed to soothe your skin throughout the treatment. Check with your beautician before you book an appointment to make sure they’re using the right wax for you, or look out for soothing ingredients if you’re self-waxing.
In the hours and for a couple of days immediately after your wax your skin will be feeling extra sensitive so it’s important to take good care of it during this period. Avoid very hot baths and showers, stay out of the sun and avoid tight clothing that might irritate the skin. It’s quite normal to experience redness or a small rash so, if you notice these symptoms, try a special after-wax lotion packed with aloe vera to soothe and moisturise any problem areas.
After those initial days have passed, go back to your exfoliating and moisturising regime and you should be left with beautiful smooth skin for weeks afterwards. Until the next waxing session that is…
