Redness After Waxing: How To Get Rid Of It

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Redness is a common skin condition that you’ll experience after waxing. However, you can reduce its impact through proper skincare. 

If you’re wondering, “How To Get Rid Of The Redness After Waxing”. We’ll explain what remedies you can use at home while also explaining what skin issues can occur. Sure, you can get bumps, ingrown hairs, small blood spots, etc. after waxing. But redness and irritation is the most common issue.

By the end of this article, you’ll have enough information on how to protect and rejuvenate your skin after waxing.

Your skin will be hair-free. Make it redness-free, as well!


Contents

How To Get Rid Of The Redness After Waxing

After Waxing, How To Get Rid Of The Redness?

Through these methods, you’ll have more control over your skin and prevent unnecessary redness, soreness, and discomfort:

1. Use a Cold Compress

To protect yourself from redness, you can create a cold compress to relax the skin. Combine ice, milk, and water in a bowl. Place a clean cloth on the mixture and apply it to the affected area for a few minutes. 

After waxing, inflammation on your skin feels like a sunburn. While it feels painful, it will be minimal if you’re relaxed throughout the waxing operation. Using a cold compress will reduce the swelling and constrict your blood vessels. 

2. Witch Hazel and Cotton Balls

Wtich HAzel

Place about three tablespoons of witch hazel into a small bowl. Soak the witch hazel with cotton balls or a clean cloth. Apply to the reddened area on your skin. 

The oils from the witch hazel reduce inflammation and discomfort.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar 

Apple Cider Vinegar

Vinegar has healing properties for redness and mild burns. To use it, add a cup of apple cider vinegar and mix it with a spray bottle. After taking a shower, apply the apple cider vinegar solution to your skin. 

Alternatively, you can mix cotton balls and apple cider vinegar. This makes it easier to apply to specific areas of your body. Pat the solution onto the affected areas to prevent the redness from getting worse. 

4. 1% Hydrocortisone

Hydrocortisone

Hydrocortisone can be used to treat minor skin irritation temporarily. Hydrocortisone reduces redness by constricting the blood vessels. Wash out the affected area, and place a thin film on the affected regions. 

Use a moisturizer with licorice extract or ceramides to protect your skin. Make sure that you apply this before using the Hydrocortisone to prevent any skin issues. 

Alternatively, you can use Hydrocortisone in spray form. Shake the bottle well and hold it 3-6 inches away from your skin. Cover your eyes and don’t inhale the vapors. 

5. Wear Comfortable Clothing

Wearing tight clothing can increase the chances of skin irritation. That’s why you should wear loose-fitting clothing, so it gives your pores the time they need to recover.

6. Aloe Vera or other Cooling Products

Aloe Vera

Having irritated skin post-waxing feels like a sunburn. Your blood vessels will swell and expand.  If you are experiencing inflammation after waxing, use a product with anti-inflammatory properties or use a cooling product to reduce redness. 

Some cooling product examples are ice packs, aloe vera, or any form of post-wax cooling gel. We suggest using natural, non-scented products because this will cause more skin irritation. After waxing, brew a tea bag, give it time to cool, and place it into your eye area if you have any skin on your eyebrows. 

7. Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil works wonders on everything from your hair to your skin to your nails to your stir-fries. It happens to work very well to moisturize and soothe post-waxing. See our article on coconut oil after waxing for more.


How Long After Waxing Does Redness Last?

Redness and soreness can last for 1-2 days after waxing. If you use any of the above techniques to soothe the redness and pain, the redness should fade more quickly.


Can I Use Home Remedies To Reduce Redness After Waxing? 

There are many DIY recipes and home oils that can reduce redness after waxing. For example, chamomile oil is anti-inflammatory and can remove any redness. Mix a few drops of chamomile oil with jojoba oil and apply it directly to your skin. 

After 15 minutes, you should wash off the chamomile solution. Alternatively, you can use lavender oil because it is an antiseptic.

Using lavender oil on your skin helps reduce redness and heal scar tissues. 


What Should I Avoid to Prevent Redness After Waxing?

Here are some things you need to avoid when caring for your skin:

Heavy Lotions

It might seem like a good idea to place lotion on your skin after a wax. However, it doesn’t do much for your skin. For optimal results, you should wait 1-2 days before using a moisturizer, or else you run the risk of clogging your pores. 

Also, avoid using fragrance or chemical products because they might irritate your skin. After waxing, your epidermis and pores will be very sensitive and fresh. Your pores will be exposed and might not react well with the wax. 

Make sure to give your skin time to recover after a wax. If you want to moisturize your skin, use a thinner product like aloe vera. As we stated earlier, any natural product that has healing properties is great to use once you’re done waxing. 

Avoid using makeup to prevent pore-clogging if you’re getting an eyebrow or facial wax. Similar to armpits, it’s best to avoid using any antiperspirants for a day. Doing this, allows your skin to breathe and reduce the redness that occurs. 

Heavy Exercise

While exercising is great for your health, it’s detrimental to hit the gym after a waxing session. Doing so will add stress to your skin and cause more redness. 

Wait at least 48 hours before exercising again. This gives your skin enough time to recover from the waxing.

Afterward, you can continue to exercise to your heart’s content. 


How to Wax Correctly

Waxing Kit

If you’re planning on getting your skin waxed, make sure it is cleaned beforehand. Start by exfoliating or moisturizing your skin. By doing this, your skin will become less irritated and remain smooth. 

You can apply pre-epilation powder for soft wax if you’re waxing alone. For hard wax operations, you’ll want to use pre-epilation oil .

It reduces the amount of redness and prevents your skin from being torn off in the process. 


What is Waxing Redness?

Even if you don’t have sensitive skin, it’s very common to have minor skin irritation after waxing. Don’t worry because this isn’t harmful, but your skin is agitated from the wax exposure. 

During the waxing process, a wax strip or hard wax is placed over a targeted area of your body. It is applied directly to your skin and removes the hair from the roots.

Like epilation, but unlike shaving, the wax penetrates the root of your hair and removes it. 

After your skin is pulled, it will temporarily upset the skin. As a result, your skin might have a flushed tone and the reddened look. You may also see some minor blood spotting. It should go away within 24 hours, though. 


How to Communicate With Your Esthetician

Before scheduling a wax appointment, it’s good to communicate with your esthetician beforehand. Talk to them about any previous skin condition to prevent any inflammation from occurring, including ingrown hairs.

Once you’ve completed the consultation phase, you’ll be ready for your waxing session.

Keep calm while the wax removes the hair from your body during the procedure. Yeah, it can be awkward, depending on where you’re getting waxed and what’s going on with your body.

If you’ve chosen hard wax, it will feel less painful throughout the process. 


Conclusion

To conclude, you can reduce and soothe redness through proper skincare. Take the time to check your skin’s reaction to the wax and see if any irritations occur.

By speaking to your esthetician, you’ll have more control over your skin after waxing and keep it beautiful for the long term. 

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Written by Kayla Young

Kayla is the founder of LuxeLuminous. She has worked professionally in the tanning industry for years. She has been interested in esthetics since childhood, and has tried every hair, skin, and makeup product ever produced (more or less).