14 Bikini Wax Aftercare Tips for a Smooth Recovery

Exfoliate Before Your Wax

It might seem like a paradox, but one of the most important pieces of Brazilian and bikini wax aftercare starts prior to the service. The bikini area is notorious for getting ingrown hairs after waxing; by exfoliating beforehand, you may prevent dead skin from clogging pores and causing ingrowns. Exfoliating helps keep the skin looking healthy, and it might also encourage hair to grow back in the correct direction, making future waxing treatments easier.

Dermatologist, Dendy Engelman, MD, urges waxing clients to "exfoliate before hair removal, [using] a multi-tasking treatment that cleanses, exfoliates, and soothes to banish bumps and reduce flaky skin." Her pick: First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub; this product includes both glycolic and lactic acids, meant to help make the skin as smooth as possible (thus promising to reduce the likelihood of ingrown hairs and post-waxing irritation).

Stay Away from Direct Sunlight

Many people opt for Brazilian and bikini waxes so that they can rock a bikini while lounging in the sun, but there's a catch. Experts recommend staying in the shade for at least 48 hours post-waxing, or until any redness and irritation has gone away. Waxing is an exfoliating process in and of itself, and it removes skin cells that offer protection from the sun. Your skin is at higher risk of burning because of the exfoliation combined with the removal of the hair, which can provide somewhat of a physical block. Also, heightened sun sensitivity can result in dark skin spots (also called hyperpigmentation), especially if you're taking certain medications.

Let Your Skin Breathe

NY-based aesthetician, Rhea Souhleris Grous, advises waxing clients to "avoid wearing tight clothes that occlude the waxed areas for the first 48 hours [after waxing], as they will encourage breakouts and ingrown hairs."

Take a Rest Day

Souhleris Grous also suggests skipping fitness classes and activities that encourage "friction, irritation, sweat, and bacteria" for at least 48 hours following a waxing treatment. A prime example of a workout to save for later? "Your typical spin class," she says.

"The day after a wax is not the time to take a cycling class," dermatologist, Rachel Nazarian, MD, adds, echoing Souhleris Grous's thoughts. Not only is it a high-intensity, high-sweat environment, but it requires the area in question– your groin– to be propped atop a bike seat...friction, irritation, and sweat central.

Avoid Soaking and Steam Treatments

When you remove hair by waxing, the empty follicle is more prone to invasion by bacteria. Feel free to shower after your bikini wax treatment, but don't take a bath or get in any type of pool for the rest of day after the service, as any bacteria or chlorine in the pool water can cause irritation. Also, the extreme heat of saunas and steam rooms can disturb skin and should be avoided right after waxing.

Try a Bikini Facial

"If you are at a spa and they have LED light treatments, ask them to put the infrared healing light on you for 10 minutes," says licensed esthetician Jodi Shays. "It's very healing."

Reschedule Your Massage

While we're normally all for stacking spa treatments, it may be best to skip that post-wax massage you've been considering, due to the fact that excessive rubbing isn't ideal when your goal is to avoid bumps and ingrown hairs. "Friction along a freshly waxed (or shaven) area is prone to irritation," explains Dr. Nazarian. "Rubbing and pressure from repetitive motions can increase the chances of ingrown hairs and inflammation."

Moisturize Your Skin Afterwards

According to Dr. Engelman, the best defense against ingrown hairs is soft skin. "Moisturized skin will be more pliable and hair will grow out easily," she explains. She recommends a 20-minute shower after a wax treatment, and while you're in the shower, use an in-shower oil. "Immediately follow with lotion," she says, "Applying oil and lotion on wet skin will allow the product to lock moisture in by trapping some of the water on the skin." 

If you'd like to use a more multi-purpose lotion for post-waxing care, follow Dr. Engelman's advice and seek out a gentle moisturizer with glycerin. "Glycerin in the lotion helps bind to water molecules, which not only gives a supple feeling, but [also] softens the skin barrier," she explains.

Wait a Week Before Exfoliating

As beneficial as exfoliation can be prior to a waxing treatment, it can prove too abrasive immediately afterward. That's why Dr. Engelman tells patients to wait a week before exfoliating their skin after a Brazilian or bikini wax. "Be careful not to over-exfoliate, since this can weaken the skin barrier and break down the stratum corneum, whose job is to be a barrier against pathogens."

Use a Cool Compress

Applying a cool compress following your treatment can help reduce the inflammation that can lead to ingrown hairs. "The goal is decreasing swelling and redness, a technique that also decreases chances of ingrown hairs," Dr. Nazarian tells us. "Either pop your body lotion into the fridge the morning of your wax, so it's nice and cool for when you need it, or grab a bag of frozen peas, which can cool off the skin but have less pointy corners than ice cubes. Applying something cool for an hour or so after your wax can really give the skin a lot of relief."

Apply Hydrocortisone Cream

Another way to decrease post-wax inflammation is with hydrocortisone cream. "The 1% concentration is a go-to for post-waxing," Dr. Nazarian says. "Although daily use long-term is not recommended, a little bit right after getting a wax can decrease the inflammation that typically follows. This is also a great ingredient to use as your wax is growing out, when the short hairs tend to cause a little itching and discomfort."

Try Post-Wax Products

Since Brazilian and bikini waxes are so common, some brands have developed products specifically for helping you avoid irritation and achieve smooth, calm skin after your treatment. Bump-fighting products are effective tools for keeping skin clear and smooth after waxing treatments, while cooling roll-on gels promise to soothe and fortify the skin without the added risk of post-waxing exfoliation that our experts warn against.

Redness is a sign of irritation, so you'll want to look out for it during your Brazilian or bikini wax aftercare. If you have overly red or stinging skin following your wax, try a lotion specifically designed to soothe it.

Know When to See a Dermatologist

Post-wax sensitivity and irritation are a normal experience for those with more delicate skin. As are the appearance of pimples, bumps, or ingrowns as the hair begins to grow back. However, all experts agree that if the problem persists, increases in severity, or becomes recurrent, it may be best to see a dermatologist. Similarly, if irritation turns into a prolonged rash or if an ingrown hair or pimple develops into a cyst or boil, it's best to seek professional help.