Tips For Preventing Pimples After Waxing

Is It Normal To Get Pimples After Waxing?

It is definitely normal to get pimples after waxing! During and after the process of waxing, the skin is exposed to friction, bacteria, and high temperatures that can all affect the barrier’s function. 

Pimples after waxing are a somewhat common occurrence, especially for those with sensitive skin! Even the most skilled estheticians cant guarantee that breakouts after waxing won’t happen.

Fortunately, learning what causes pimples after waxing and what can be done before and after waxing can really help prevent those bumps from appearing in the first place. 

READ:Ingrown Hairs and Waxing: What You Can and Cannot Control

Why Do I Get Breakouts After Waxing? 

There are a couple of reasons why you could be seeing pimples after waxing. 

To start your hair follicles are open after waxing, making them a magnet for bacteria and causing pimples. The bacteria can come from your hands, debris on your skin, waxing strips, or even the air around you.

Waxing can also cause micro-tears in your skin. While it may not be visible to the eye, these microscopic tears are easily susceptible to bacterial growth and infection if left untreated.

Bacteria breeds pimples. So it's important to take steps to do everything you can to make sure bacteria is kept at a minimum, like investing in a quality pre-wax cleanser. 

Additionally, if you tend to use comedogenic beauty products, whether it be moisturizers, SPF, or make-up, immediately after a fresh wax or right beforehand, you could be aiding these pimples after waxing due to clogging your pores. 

Another reason pimples after waxing occur could be due to friction. 

The waxing strips used to remove hair from the face and body are often made of paper, cloth, or synthetic materials. These strips adhere to the hair and pull it out with the root by creating traction when sliding them back against your skin.

This repeated motion across the skin can lead to irritation and potential friction that may cause breakouts.

So, when you get pimples after waxing, especially if you are experiencing breakouts only after waxing and not normally, it is likely that the openings of your hair follicles are trapping bacteria and producing excess sebum within the skin. 

How Long Does Pimples Last After Waxing?

Pimples after waxing can last anywhere from a couple of days to a week or more, with most clearing up, or at least beginning to go away, in just two or three days.

Your skin type and the amount of how sensitive your skin is will determine how long pimples after waxing take to heal.

If you find that your pimples last longer than a week post-waxing and are getting extremely inflamed or painful, it may be time to visit your dermatologist or family doctor because that could possibly mean there’s an infection. 

Of course everyone’s skin is different so healing times may vary; but, if you want to accelerate healing time for pimples after waxing we have some suggestions!

READ:Tamanu Oil Benefits for the Skin

Treating Pimples After Waxing

If you have found yourself with pimples after waxing, there are a few things you can do to treat them. 

The most important thing to do is take care of the skin! Cleansing the skin with a good cleanser or applying an antiseptic toner (like witch hazel) helps remove any residue and restore the skin’s pH balance so it can begin to heal the pimples after waxing. 

Using a post wax lotion in addition to cleansing is a good way to aid healing as well. A post-wax lotion infuses the skin with nutrients that it needs to soothe itself when fighting the bacteria trapped caused by the pimples after waxing.

Avoiding touching the pimples is also a huge part of treatment for pimples after waxing!

Pre & Post Wax Pimple Prevention Tips

Like mentioned above, investing in quality pre & post care products, like a good cleanser or lotion, are crucial in preventing pimples after waxing. 

At Nova, we carry apre & post care bundle, which contains our cleanser, lotion,anda first of its kind dual-action oil. The pre & post care bundle is a great way to ensure you have everything you need to stop the bumps before they come or treat the bumps if they come. 

Another gift a new waxer could use is ourFacial Hard Wax Warmer. Since new waxers might be making use of whatever small space they have, this compact warmer is a great idea. 

It melts enough wax in one use for small service areas, like eyebrow waxes or lip waxes. It’s a great way to help a new waxer learn all about getting a great wax consistency while practicing application. 

The first thing you should always do before waxing is properly cleanse the treatment area. Proper cleansing removes surface dirt, debris, and oil (all of which contribute to post-wax pimples).

Applying a cleanser to wet skin and making sure it’s completely removed and dry before waxing is a MUST!

As for other after waxing pimple prevention tips, one of the first things you want to make your client aware of is at-home pre care. 

Before your client comes in for a wax, they should be informed to stop any comedogenic and oil-based products for at least a few days. Comedogenic products aren't great to use on acne-prone skin anyways, but if they are using them, stopping in advance can help prevent their pores from clogging up and causing pimples after waxing.

Additionally, they should gently exfoliate about 48 hours before the wax. This will clear dead skin cells to prevent any post-waxing pimples.

As for after waxing pimple prevention, immediately applying post-care to your client’s skin is essential in preventing pimples after waxing.

When it comes to educating them about their own post-wax care, remind your clients to keep their hands away from the newly waxed area at all times! 

In addition, cleansing and exfoliating the area is a good idea especially if they have acne-prone skin.

On the day of and day after waxing, it is best to stay away from saunas, excessive exercise, or any activities that can cause you to sweat a lot. This sweat can seep into the open pores and create bumps and pimples.

Last but certainly not least, when you commit to a regular waxing routine, it can help your clients avoid pimples after waxing.

The more you wax, the healthier the skin becomes due to increased exfoliation. The clogged pores and dead cells removed with a waxing service also lessen the chances of pimples after waxing forming. 

In the beginning the skin may resist the results waxing provides due to the new sensation. Over time, however, the skin gets used to waxing and therefore produces a less inflammatory and reactive response…meaning less likelihood of breakouts after waxing!

READ: All About Pre & Post Wax Care

Final Thoughts

Developing pimples after waxing is a totally normal thing and a natural side effect of waxing. The skin becomes more sensitive during the process and the open follicles leave space for a bacteria to create breakouts. 

Luckily post-wax pimples go away quickly and can be treated through avoiding touching and restoring moisture, Although pimples after waxing can be unsightly, they are preventative with good pre & post wax care practices, like cleansing and developing a consistent waxing routine.