Nothing can beat the effectiveness of waxing when it comes to getting smooth and silky soft skin. Of course, the procedure may cause excruciating pain, but still, it is a vital part of our regular beauty regimen. However, the one question that always makes us doubtful is the best time for waxing. Whether you visit a salon or do it yourself at home, you should know when to do waxing before or after a shower. So, in this article, we will uncover the truth about going hairless. Read on:
A Few Waxing Secrets You Must Know
Before we dig deeper to discover the truth about the time of waxing, here are a few incredible tricks that will make your hair removal session simple, easy, and less painful:
- The length of your hair is a crucial factor. Ensure that it is (1/4)-inch when waxing. If it is longer, you will feel excruciating pain while pulling at it, while shorter hair will not get pulled out from the root correctly. A trim is recommended for hair that is too long.
- Do not go for a large area at once, especially when just starting the procedure. This will increase the pain and prevent the hair from getting removed from its roots. Instead, start with a tiny section and go ahead gradually.
- Make sure that your wax is cold enough before you put it to use. If you apply it too hot, you may take some of your skin off while removing it.
- Exfoliate the areas you will wax with a gentle yet effective scrub. This will bring the hair to the skin’s surface by removing the layer of dead cells, making it easier for you to properly pull it from the root.
- If you are too worried about pain, use an excellent numbing cream or take an OTC pain reliever before undergoing the method. Both of these help in minimizing pain to a great extent. A cold compress will also greatly help you if you have ultra-sensitive skin.
Do not undergo waxing right before or during your menstrual cycle as the skin remains extremely sensitive at that time and your pain tolerance capacity becomes the lowest.
Waxing Before Or After A Shower?
Option 1 – Taking A Shower Before Waxing
Many of us think taking a good shower right before waxing is excellent as it can benefit the process and the skin. First, however, let us take a close look at the facts and know the pros and cons of it:
(a) Pros:
Using warm or lukewarm water for taking a shower is always a good option, especially if you are planning to wax. It can open up the otherwise closed skin pores and make removing hair much more accessible. The more your pores will get opened up, the better, faster, and less painful your waxing will be.
(b) Cons:
1. Showering with warm or lukewarm water usually makes our skin softer. Hence, if you wax after this, the hot wax used during the method may irritate your skin, cause a bruise, or even burn it out. As a result, you may end up messing up the whole procedure and causing harm to yourself.
2. It will become challenging for the dead skin cells on the uppermost layer of your skin to come off quickly if you wax after a shower. As the skin turns softer, the skin will not remain dry enough, and hence, you will not be able to get rid of the loose cells.
Read Also – 9 Effective DIY Solutions For Upper Lip Hair Removal
(c) Points To Remember:
- Always avoid hot water for bathing before waxing. The temperature of the water must be bearable enough, and it should not hurt your skin.
- Never start waxing right after getting out of the bath. It is always recommended that you maintain a gap of a couple of hours between your shower and the waxing session to allow your body temperature to get normalized. If it is impossible, wait at least half an hour before starting the process.
- Ensure your skin’s temperature is almost average before applying the hot wax. It will help you avoid any discomfort or reaction.
- Applying body lotion, moisturizer, or deodorant is unnecessary if you prepare for waxing. All these will be obliterated during the procedure.
Read Also – How To Prevent And Get Rid Of Bumps After Waxing
Option 2 – Taking A Shower After Waxing
Now, the question is, what happens when you take a shower after waxing? Should you always follow this method instead of the previous one? But, first, let us make the fact clear by revealing the pros and cons of the procedure:
(a) Pros:
Showering after waxing is a wise idea, as it helps a lot in cleaning up. However, its ingredients are pretty sticky, making the method messy. So, a shower is necessary after it.
(b) Cons:
There is no such con to this procedure.
(c) Points To Remember:
- Do not take a shower immediately after the waxing. Instead, give your skin considerable time to adjust to the room temperature so you do not need to face an unpleasant situation.
- Never take a hot shower or sauna before 24 hours of waxing. It will irritate your sensitive skin and hurt it badly. Instead, make use of warm or lukewarm water for this purpose.
Read Also – Waxing Vs. Epilators – Which Is A Better Method Of Hair Removal?
Summary
It is pretty clear from the above discussion that taking a shower after waxing is always the right choice. This way, your skin will feel not only silky soft but also quite fresh. However, you should not opt for any post-wax topical treatment at least for the next 24 hours. Stay away from cosmetics containing alcohol, synthetic fragrance, etc. in order to prevent your skin from drying or getting irritated. Also, do not wear too tight outfits and avoid direct sun exposure right after undergoing your waxing session. So, are you doing waxing the right way?
Read Also – 3 Easy-Peasy Homemade Wax Recipes For Facial Hair Removal (Won’t Hurt As Your Wax Strips, We Promise!)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Should I moisturize my skin before waxing?
It is recommended to avoid moisturizing your skin on the day of waxing. However, you can moisturize your skin one day before waxing, as it will smoothen the process, thus enabling wax to release quickly. Avoid overuse of moisturizer as it creates a thin layer, thus weakening the wax’s grip.
What not to do after waxing?
Avoid exposure to the sun, wait for two days before you start swimming, and stay away from chemical peel treatment. You can apply a cold compress and wear loose and comfortable clothes.
Is there any side effect of waxing?
Although no side effects are associated with waxing, you can experience redness and inflammation. However, apply a cold compress on the affected areas; the symptoms will vanish in a day or two.
How do I stop breaking out after waxing?
Please don’t touch the area immediately after waxing, as it can cause clogged pores. Instead, you can moisturize your skin with an oil-free product.
Can you use witch hazel after waxing?
If you are experiencing redness and inflammation after waxing, go for witch hazel, which works like a natural astringent. It prevents clogging of pores, thus eliminating any possibility of breakouts.
How do you get rid of wax after waxing?
You can dip a cotton pad in olive oil and put the soaked pad in the area where the wax residue is present. Then, wipe it off with a clean cotton pad after a few minutes.
Does baby oil remove wax?
You can try baby oil to remove residual wax from your skin. First, apply some baby oil on a cotton pad to the area. Then, wipe it off with a clean cotton pad or cloth.
