Waxing is one of the most popular hair removal methods out there. Not only does it remove hair, but it also results in silky-smooth skin.
There’s no more dealing with stubble that comes back after shaving or going through the same process every couple of days – waxing lasts for weeks and makes our lives much easier.
That being said, it does have its downsides. Some of the main side effects of waxing include redness and irritation.
While this doesn’t last long, there are still plenty of people who wonder how to get rid of redness from waxing.
Whether you want to look more put together or have to go to an event soon after waxing, we have some amazing tips that can help speed up the healing process.
In this guide, we cover everything from how to get rid of redness from waxing to causes and prevention. Read on to learn about the essentials of post-wax care.
Why Do You Get Redness From Waxing?
Before talking about how to get rid of redness from waxing, you need to know why waxing causes redness and irritation in the first place. Unfortunately, this can occur even when you don’t have sensitive skin.
Waxing is excellent at pulling out hair and giving you smooth skin. However, it does so by pulling out the hair follicles at the root.
This, in combination with tugging at the skin, causes stress and results in inflammation. Redness and irritation may be significantly worse when waxing sensitive areas with more delicate skin, such as the upper lip area, around the eyebrows, and the bikini area.
For most people, the redness caused by waxing goes away in a matter of hours or a day or two. That’s why dermatologists and aestheticians recommend getting waxed a couple of days before an event.
Post-Wax Tips to Avoid Redness
There are several methods you can use to soothe your skin after being waxed. Follow these tips if you want to learn how to get rid of redness from waxing.
Don’t Exfoliate
While gentle exfoliation before waxing can be helpful, post-wax care dictates that exfoliation should be avoided at all costs.
Scrubbing the affected area will make things worse and slow the healing process. It’s important to be aware that this includes both physical and chemical exfoliation.
In addition to any gritty products, avoid skincare with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), and polyhydroxy acids (PHAs).
Use a Cold Compress
Using a cold compress on the area goes a long way in helping it heal. In addition to reducing redness, it can soothe skin and relieve stinging.
If you don’t have an icepack, don’t worry – you can also use ice wrapped in a clean cloth. Be careful not to apply ice directly to your face since this can do more harm than good.
Avoid Tight Clothes
One of the biggest tips we can give on how to get rid of redness from waxing is avoiding tight clothes at all costs, especially right after your waxing session.
Continuing this throughout the day will help reduce friction and rubbing, thus avoiding additional irritation to the skin.
Don’t Touch the Area
It can be tempting to touch the inflamed area and try to soothe it using your hands. However, this should be avoided at all costs – not only can you introduce bacteria and dirt and cause an infection, but you also risk irritating the skin further.
Avoid Makeup
If a noticeable part of your body is extremely red, you may be tempted to cover it up using makeup.
This is especially common after facial waxing since no one likes going out with redness around their eyebrows or upper lip.
Take our advice and skip the concealer – not only does this let your skin breathe and allow it a chance to recover, but adding makeup on top of freshly waxed skin can also cause breakouts or further irritate the skin.
Home Remedies on How to Get Rid Of Redness From Waxing
In addition to general post-wax care tips, you can also use various home remedies to try and reduce redness and irritation. The following home remedies are our top picks for eliminating redness.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of the most calming plants out there and has been used to soothe irritated skin for years.
Apply 100% pure aloe gel on the inflamed area and allow it to get fully absorbed. In addition to reducing inflammation, aloe gel is cooling and will provide some much-needed relief to the irritated area.
If you don’t have access to an aloe vera plant, you can always use store-bought aloe gel – just make sure that it is pure aloe gel and does not contain alcohol, fragrances or other additives.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is an astringent that can help reduce redness from rashes. Because it is antiseptic, it will also prevent infections.
Cucumber Masks
Cucumbers are great at calming red skin because of their antioxidant properties. You can apply cool cucumber slices directly on your skin or blend the cucumber to make a paste. This is especially great for redness after facial waxing because of how soothing it is.
Apple Cider Vinegar
A natural antiseptic, apple cider vinegar is used in many homemade remedies. When suffering from redness after waxing, it can be applied to the affected area to prevent infection and reduce redness and promote healing.
Dilute the apple cider vinegar with some water and then apply this mixture with a cotton round.
Lavender, Calendula, and Chamomile Oils
Certain oils are calming and can greatly impact the appearance of redness on waxed skin.
Calendula oil is known for having antioxidant properties and helping with swelling or stinging, while lavender oil is an antiseptic and has anti-fungal properties.
Chamomile oil is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and is used in home remedies all over the world.
Please note that you shouldn’t apply these directly onto your skin because oils can clog pores when applied to freshly waxed skin.
However, you can mix them into creams and then use them on your skin.
Products That Help Get Rid Of Redness From Waxing
Certain products can help soothe your waxed skin and speed up the recovery process. The following products are tried-and-true favorites that have helped us time and time again in similar situations.
Hydrating Body Wash
The CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash is an excellent drugstore option that is both hydrating and soothing. With ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin, this gentle, fragrance-free body wash will cleanse your skin while ensuring it remains nourished and moisturized.
Hydrocortisone Cream
Anti-inflammatory creams like hydrocortisone creams can be applied after a waxing session to help your skin recover. In addition to eliminating redness after waxing, it also helps with itching.
Also don’t forget to checkout how often to get Brazilian wax.
Preventing Redness
Instead of wondering how to get rid of redness from waxing, the best thing you can do for your skin is to prevent redness in the first place.
While redness can be inevitable if you have sensitive or irritation-prone skin, taking steps to prevent it will ensure that it does not last as long.
Gently Exfoliate Beforehand
While exfoliating post-wax is a bad idea, gentle exfoliating before your waxing session can help reduce redness and achieve a smoother finish.
Of course, this does not mean opting for harsh scrubs with plastic beads that can cause micro-tears in your skin.
Gently exfoliate with a scrub or use a dry brush a day or two before your waxing appointment to remove dead skin and loosen any stubborn ingrown hair.
Ensure Proper Hair Length
One of the ways to prevent redness from waxing is to ensure proper hair length. If your hair is too short, the wax may not be able to adhere to it.
Repeatedly waxing over the same area results in redness, irritation, and itchiness, all of which can be avoided by making sure that your hair is at least ¼ inch long.
Not only can the wax properly adhere to your hair, but you will notice a cleaner result.
Double-Check Temperature
Some women think that hot wax needs to be scalding hot – it doesn’t. It’s always best to double-check the temperature of the wax by applying a small patch on your hand to ensure that it isn’t too hot for your face or body.
Hot wax can burn you and take redness to another level. That being said, don’t let the wax cool down too much. If your wax gets too cold, it can be hard to remove and cause irritation and redness.
Use a Suitable Wax
There are different wax options for different skin types. If your skin is especially sensitive, you may want to opt for sensitive skin-specific formulations or those that are formulated with soothing ingredients like lavender.
Those with irritation-prone skin can also try using sugar wax since it is much gentler than traditional waxing. Sugaring adheres to the hair instead of the skin and doesn’t result in as much redness.
Apply a Thin Layer of Powder
Because waxing tugs on the skin and removes the top layer of skin along with any hair, your skin is often left red and irritated. This is especially true when using soft wax since it adheres to both your skin and hair.
Applying a thin layer of powder beforehand absorbs oil on the skin and acts as a barrier between the wax and your skin. As a result, hair is removed without too much irritation to the skin.
Prepare Your Skin
If your skin is adequately prepared, you won’t have to worry about how to get rid of redness from waxing. This includes everything from ceasing the use of actives in your skincare to checking your prescriptions.
Stop Using Chemical Exfoliants
AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs may be great for your skin throughout the month, but they shouldn’t be used before or after waxing.
Exfoliation removes the top layer of your skin, making it more sensitive and more prone to redness and irritation. Cease the use of these actives at least 3-4 days before your appointment.
Stop Using Retinols and Retinoids
If you’re using a product with retinol on the areas you’re getting waxed, reconsider. Retinols and retinoids are powerful anti-aging ingredients but are not compatible with waxing.
They make your skin extremely sensitive and may even cause skin lifting or wax burns. Stop using skincare with retinol or retinoid at least a week before getting waxed.
Don’t Tan Beforehand
Take care of your tanning a few days before getting waxed. Experts and aestheticians have advised clients not to tan for at least 24 hours before their waxing appointment.
Avoid Shaving or Trimming
Shaving or trimming in between waxing appointments can be a bad idea. This is because hair needs to be at least ¼ inches long for the wax to adhere to it.
If you’re worried about your hair being too long, ask your aesthetician to trim it instead of doing it yourself. They will trim the hair to the appropriate length and then proceed with waxing.
Do Not Pick At Ingrown Hair
Picking at ingrown hair before waxing can introduce dirt and bacteria and can lead to infections.
Because you’ve been picking at your skin, it will already be irritated. The waxing process will worsen this and result in even more redness.
Final Thoughts
Because waxing is such a harsh process, it can cause inflammation and irritation. However, these do not have to last for long. Now you know How to Get Rid Of Redness From Waxing.
We hope that these tips on how to get rid of redness from waxing help you deal with your post-wax redness or better prepare you for your upcoming waxing appointment.