Waxing removes hair from the root, and after a fresh waxing, some people experience irritation of the skin. Luckily, there are some easy home remedies to help ease that discomfort while you wait for your hair to grow back long enough for your next waxing session. So lets discuss first why your wax getting red and how you can sooth it.
Why You May Be Getting Waxed Red
Improper Application of Wax
The skin should be completely dry before applying wax and this includes having all oil removed from it so that no residue is left behind which can cause skin irritation and even an allergic reaction. Having the hair too short or having too thick of a layer of hair can also cause redness as well as simply not pulling off the strip quickly enough causing pain caused by ripping off several hair at once rather than one at a time as is required to avoid pulling off live tissue. Practice makes perfect!
Accidental Plucking of Hair by the Aesthetician:
It is very common for people to get waxed red when they are tweezing their brows or removing facial hair at home. If you do tweeze your brows then it’s best to wait until 2 days after waxing before plucking them again. I know I’m guilty of trying to clean up my brows between waxes and this is never a good idea.
Skin Allergies: Some people have allergies to certain metals used in the manufacture of an open coil spring called “Grip Strip” which holds the strip onto the wooden applicator stick. Using metal free grip strips can help with this problem but sometimes even these can cause an allergic reaction. Also, some aesthetician’s eyebrows and/or facial hair can cause redness in people with allergies to their skin products.
Improper Aftercare:
If you have used a wax that contains a sensitizing agent such as lemon or lavender oil then your skin may be more sensitive after removal of the strip causing a greater inflammatory response. This is why it’s best to avoid using these products anywhere on the body but especially on delicate areas such as face. Also, applying too much pressure while washing off any residue from the area being waxed should be avoided for this same reason. I prefer that my clients go home and shower before coming back into contact with mucous membranes such as those in your underarms so going home and taking a shower is the best option. I find that my clients who do this have less problems with getting red after waxing.
Cool it down
After removing the wax, immediately put some ice cubes in a paper towel or cloth and then place it on your skin for about 10 minutes, this will soothe your skin. It’s okay if the ice falls off sometimes because even without it your skin would be fine. If you can’t use coldness for any reason , do not fret, just skip to the next point.
Treat it with Aloe Vera. It is very helpful in soothing sun burn, scrapes and rashes as well as waxing pain! All you have to do is take a leaf from an aloe plant and slather some of its gel on your skin . Since I don’t have an aloe plant at home, I just use a store bought product . It’s cheap and can be found almost everywhere. However, if you have sensitive skin or are allergic to Aloe Vera , skip this point.
Apply some moisturizer
When you’re done with the ice/aloe process, apply a good moisturizing lotion all over your body. My favorite is Johnson’s Baby Lotion because it has no scent that might irritate already irritated skin and its very light on the skin!
Get rid of redness Find a concealer that matches your skin tone and dab it on your red areas, wait for the concealer to dry up then apply some loose powder over it. This way you can even out the color of your face. If ever none of these tips work for you, just put some cold water in a spray bottle and spritz…
You’re all set. Just don’t forget that if waxing is not your thing, there are other methods to remove hair from legs , underarms or whatever part of your body you want to rid of excess hair on.
Wear loose clothing
Because the skin tends to swell a bit after waxing. And if you’re going out for a night on town, make sure you wear clothes that don’t show parts of your body with red marks all over them!
So there you have it ladies and gentlemen these are my tips on how to soothe irritated skin from waxing. If ever I missed something, please feel free to leave a comment below and let me know about your experience .
I hope this helps some people who would like to get rid of hair but cannot afford laser hair removal or even electrolysis . But anyways, more power to those who can afford laser hair removal because it really works wonder!
