Kayla Young
Waxing just isn’t a fun procedure. It’s painful, often embarrassing, and you need to know what to do before and after the experience (and what not to do). There’s a lot to worry about!
If you are considering waxing your skin and wondering what to put on your skin before waxing, this is the right place for you.
We’ve got a detailed waxing prep list. Keep reading!
Contents
What to Put On Your Skin Before Waxing
When considering pre-wax skincare, you need to think about both the waxing process and its impacts, as well as the current condition of your skin.
Is your skin particularly dry at the moment? Got an acne breakout? What about oily skin? These circumstances can all impact the waxing experience, and will also alter what you should put on your skin as wax prep.
Before we discuss how these skin conditions impact waxing, let’s start with the basics of what to put on your skin before waxing.
When considering pre-wax skincare, you need to think about both the waxing process and its impacts, as well as the current condition of your skin.
Here are the things you should be applying to your skin before you wax.
1. Exfoliators
Exfoliating is a crucial step in preparing your dry skin (see below) for waxing. It aids in the removal of dead skin cells, leaving your skin soft and smooth for optimal waxing results. Exfoliating also exposes growth, making removal easier during the waxing session.
Exfoliate your skin by gently polishing away dry skin with a body scrub or brash, applying an exfoliating cream, or rubbing exfoliating body cream on your body while showering.Â
Your skin will be left refreshed and nourished, allowing the wax to capture your hair rather than your skin during waxing. Because waxing is a form of exfoliation, you should avoid exfoliating too soon after a waxing session. To avoid skin damage from excessive exfoliation, exfoliate two to three days before waxing.Â
Because waxing is a form of exfoliation, you should avoid exfoliating too soon after a waxing session. To avoid skin damage from excessive exfoliation, exfoliate two to three days before waxing.Â
2. Moisturizers
Moisturizing relaxes the skin and prevents it from burning during waxing. Do not moisturize your skin on the day of your waxing appointment because it may soften the hair and skin, making the hair too slippery for the wax to grip. Moisturizer may also clog pores after waxing.
Apply a moisturizer two to three days before your waxing appointment. Ensure that your moisturizer is water-based and oil-free.
However, you can use oil-based moisturizers to disinfect your waxed area after your waxing appointment.
Cleansers
Before waxing, you need to cleanse the area you want to wax using soap and warm water. Avoid using very hot water because this may irritate your skin. Cleansing the skin will prevent dirt from getting to the surface of your skin during waxing.
Warm water
Hydrate the skin area to be waxed with warm water for about 5 to 10 minutes to make the hair removal easier.
Numbing Cream
Some people like to apply numbing cream to the areas they’re going to have waxed. Others prefer to skip it and just deal with the pain. This is up to you, and you may want to discuss numbing cream with your wax technician, regardless.
Skin Types and Waxing
As mentioned above, the status of your skin can impact what you apply to it. Let’s look at common skin circumstances, and see how they impact the process.
1. Dry and Mature Skin
Dehydration, illness, and genetic and environmental factors can contribute to dry skin. It is not advised to have your waxing done if your skin is really dry. This is because waxing involves some exfoliation, which can aggravate skin dryness.
Waxing on dry skin can cause wax breakage, making hair removal painful.Â
Chlorine can also dry out your skin if you enjoy swimming.
People with dry skin should exfoliate and moisturize their skin the night before their waxing appointment to make it easier and more successful.Â
2. Oily Skin
Oily skin may appear to be adequately moisturized, but it is an easily dehydrated skin type. While oily skin is normal, too much oil can suffocate it.
If you have oily skin and want to get waxed, exfoliate and hydrate it first, then add moisture with rose water before applying your moisturizer or lotion.Â
3. Acne-prone Skin
Acne-prone skin is extremely sensitive, so you must exercise extreme caution when dealing with acne breakouts. You want to avoid causing breakouts on the areas of skin where you will be waxed.
A few days before waxing, you should thoroughly clean your face, drink plenty of water, and then moisturize it with oil-free products.
These products will also help repair the skin after waxing, protecting it from bacterial growth, ingrown hairs, and acne both during and after waxing.
Pre-wax Checklist
Keep these things in mind before you wax any part of your body.
Examine Your Skin Before Waxing
Before waxing, make sure your skin is free of sunburn, breakouts, and irritation, and ensure they heal first.
Keep an Eye Out for Moles and Lesions
You should not wax over lesions, skin tags, or moles because they may rip off during the procedure. Cover them with an aid band before waxing, and let your aesthetician know where they are before the waxing begins.
Examine the Length of Your Hair
Your hair should be 1/2 to 3/4 inches long before waxing. The waxing length can be reduced for fine hair, such as facial hair. If you let your hair get too long, it can be prone to breakage.
Important Waxing Prep Tips
- If you prefer to wax your skin at home, you can use the tips above with a tried-and-true home waxing procedure.
- Exfoliators and moisturizers work differently on different skin types. Consult your esthetician to determine which exfoliator or moisturizer is best for you.
- After getting your skin waxed, moisturize it again to protect it from the sun. Sunburns are more likely on freshly waxed skin.
- Limit your caffeine intake the day before and after your waxing appointment. Caffeine can reduce your pain tolerance, making waxing more painful.
