How to prepare for a wax — and what to do after
Nearly every disappointing wax comes down to one of five things. All of them are fixable before you arrive.
A wax that goes well is mostly decided before you walk in. Here is what makes the difference.
Before your appointment
Let the hair grow to about 5 mm
This is the single most common problem. Wax needs something to grip — roughly two to three weeks of growth from your last wax, or about the length of a grain of rice. Too short and the wax lifts skin instead of hair, which hurts more and leaves patches. Too long is uncomfortable but workable; we can trim.
If you have been shaving, give it at least two full weeks. Shaving cuts hair at an angle and blunt, so the first wax after shaving is always a little less clean — the second is noticeably better.
Exfoliate — but not on the day
Gently exfoliate two or three days before, in the shower, with a mitt or a mild scrub. That lifts dead skin so hairs come away freely. Do not exfoliate the same day: the skin is then already sensitised and the wax has more chance of irritating it.
Arrive with clean, product-free skin
Shower beforehand if you can. Skip body oil, thick creams, self-tan and heavy deodorant on the area — anything that coats the skin stops wax adhering properly.
Time it around your cycle
Skin is measurably more sensitive in the few days before a period. If you can choose, book for the week after instead. It is a small thing that makes an intimate wax markedly more comfortable.
Go easy on the caffeine
Coffee and alcohol both tighten the skin's response and make you more sensitive. A strong double espresso right before a Hollywood is not doing you any favours.
What to expect during
For intimate areas we use hot wax rather than strip wax. It sets on the hair rather than gripping the skin, so it lifts the hair without pulling at the surrounding surface — considerably kinder if you are sensitive or new to waxing. It also works better on short, stubborn hair.
You will be covered other than the area being worked on, and you set the pace. Say if something is uncomfortable — there is always something we can adjust.
The 24 hours afterwards
Freshly waxed skin has open follicles. For the first day, avoid:
- Hot baths, saunas, steam rooms and very hot showers
- Swimming pools and the sea
- Sunbeds and direct sun on the area
- The gym and anything that makes you sweat heavily
- Tight clothing and synthetic underwear — go for loose cotton
- Fake tan, perfumed lotions and exfoliating acids on the area
A little redness and some small bumps for a few hours are normal. A cool shower and a plain, fragrance-free moisturiser will settle it.
From day three onwards
Start exfoliating gently two or three times a week and keep the skin moisturised. This is what prevents ingrown hairs — see our piece on ingrowns for the full routine.
Keep the rhythm
Waxing works best on a schedule. Every four to six weeks keeps the whole area on the same growth cycle, so each wax is quicker, cleaner and less uncomfortable than the last. Let it grow out completely and you start again from scratch.
A note on all of this: everything here is general guidance based on standard practice, not medical advice. If something is painful, spreading, or simply not settling, please see a GP or pharmacist rather than waiting for your next appointment.
