All about waxing.

[lunaticalm.livejournal.com]

Just got waxed... my second time around to go bare down there. I used to shave but I'm kind of into waxing now. The pain is arghhhh but it's worth it. But of course I haven't completely given up on shaving. Anyway, my esthetician warned me that the more I wax, the more I will be prone to ingrown hairs. What do I do? Waxing tips, thought, experiences and advice please!

Comments

[emmycantbemeeko.livejournal.com]

I don't think that's true, I think it just seems that way because all your hair is growing back in at once, so you notice ingrown hair more easily.

Treat them as you would any other ingrown hairs- exfoliate regularly, use war compresses to bring any infected ones to the surface, don't pick.

[malantha.livejournal.com]

WAR COMPRESSION ENGAGED! *explosion*

(sorry.. probably not funny.)

[valkin.livejournal.com]

No, it's VERY FUNNY!!! hahahahahahaaa!

[faeryguinevere.livejournal.com]

I wish it weren't true in my case, but I had to stop waxing after several months of really liking it. The ingrown hairs were causing scarring on my legs and bikini line - I never had so many problems with them when I shaved. I did exfoliate daily and used all the treatment techniques you suggested. I guess I'm just prone to them.

[lunaticalm.livejournal.com]

What are war compresses? Never heard of them. I really don't know how to deal if an ingrown hair occurs. Grrr.

[malantha.livejournal.com]

She meant warm compresses. :)

You can take a washcloth or something and run it under water about as hot as you can comfortably stand, then hold it against your skin until it gets cool. You might want to repeat it a couple times.

[red-rogue.livejournal.com]

I heard aloe vera gel works WONDERS after you get waxed.

[punk-is-so-dead.livejournal.com]

For soothing the skin - ingrowns and irritated skin aren't very related. Pretty much everyone will be a bit red and itchy and sore after waxing which aloe will help with, but it certainly won't help with ingrowns.

[red-rogue.livejournal.com]

Interesting, aloe vera works WONDERS on my ingrowns.

I have an actual aloe plant that I use on ingrown hairs, or random "bumps" I want to get rid of.

[punk-is-so-dead.livejournal.com]

It may help, but logically it doesn't make sense. When you wax, it exfoliates the skin. The skin starts to grow back over the hair follicle and closes it up so the hair can't poke through which is why you get ingrown hairs. Aloe soothes skin and has soothing properties, but it certainly can't make skin go away... so *shrug* It might help on you but it certainly wouldn't be my first suggestion.

[red-rogue.livejournal.com]

Well I was giving a suggestion and what I had heard from friends who have been waxed before. I'm not a waxer or waxee, so I was just trying to help.

[punk-is-so-dead.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know. I'm not trying to insult you or anything. It's great that it works on you and whoever. And aloe is great in conjuction with waxing -- it just wouldn't be what I'd suggest for ingrowns. But hey, to each his/her own ;)

[red-rogue.livejournal.com]

WORD!

[punk-is-so-dead.livejournal.com]

That's simply not true. I'm an esthetician. You are no more prown to ingrowns if you wax than if you shave or whatever. You either are or aren't prone to them. Exfoliating after you get waxed should help prevent them.

[iamyoursunrise.livejournal.com]

I know you need to have a certain length of hair in order to get waxed, like 1/4 inch or so, but is it a problem if the hair is longer? Do you need to trim before getting waxed?

[punk-is-so-dead.livejournal.com]

It shouldn't be too long. You ought to trim for your own good. It is much more painful for you if the hair is too long and more difficult for the esthetician. I mean, half an inch isn't too bad, (especially if it's just regrowth from being waxed before) but if it's really long, you should trim.

[lunaticalm.livejournal.com]

How exactly do I exfoliate? What method or product should I use?

[punk-is-so-dead.livejournal.com]

You can use products such as Tend Skin.... or you could just gently rub your loofah or body poof thingie over your skin. It doesn't have to be anything extreme.

[valkin.livejournal.com]

I don't think waxing causes ingrown hair. I've waxed for what, 7 years now, and do not have an ingrown hair problem.

It's good to exfoliate though, but not immediately after waxing or it'll hurt. And try tendskin.

[lunaticalm.livejournal.com]

You're lucky you're not prone to it. How do I exfoliate? Never heard of tendskin.

[valkin.livejournal.com]

You can take a dry loofah and gently, in small circles, go over the areas affected. Don't be too rough or you can irritate the area even further. The wet poofies for the shower doesn't work well in exfoliating as it's too soft.

Tendskin is a product for ingrown hairs. You can find it online or at the waxing salon. Works pretty well. It's a liquid that you dab onto the affected area until the inflammation/redness goes down.

[lunaticalm.livejournal.com]

Okay will try your suggestion on the dry loofah. I hope Tendskin is available here in Manila, Philippines.