Yes, this is a lot of info! But it is all very important to protect your skin, so read carefully!

For 48 hours after your wax:

Remember to avoid the “S's” up to 48 hours after a wax: sun, swimming, soaking, saunas, sex, and sweating. No pools, saunas, hot tubs, bodies of water, baths, showers that are too hot, sexual activity, tanning beds, direct sunlight, tight clothing, unclean hands, working out, or any activities that cause sweating or friction. Always wear clean, loose fitting clothing after your wax. The most common causes for infection after a wax are sweat and dirty hands. If you have to touch the area, ensure your hands are clean. Your follicles are wide open after a wax and prone to infection until they seal back up. An infection is a breakout with white pustules and can be very painful but is easily avoided with proper aftercare. I always recommend dusting cornstarch in the area for the next 48 hours to keep the area dry and absorb any moisture. Sex, working out, swimming, and fun in the sun can wait. Trust me, it's not worth the risk! Your wax will last plenty long enough for you to enjoy those activities 48 hours later. If you do get an infection, apply polysporin to the area and spot treat with witch hazel on a Q-tip.

The differences between bumps after a wax:

• Histamine: This is normal. It can range from small little red bumps to larger welts. These bumps are not painful & will subside in a few hours. Waxing the face (particularly the cheek area), back, & chest can cause a more drastic histamine reaction that can appear like a breakout, especially for the first few times. This, unfortunately, is normal but can be helped with a salicylic acid acne wash.
• Infection: An infection after a wax occurs strictly due to improper aftercare. It has nothing to do with the wax service itself or the esthetician. An infection looks like white pustules & is usually painful. If you get an infection, ask your physician if you can use polysporin. With physician approval, apply polysporin (NOT Neosporin) to the area. Avoid mechanical exfoliation (explained below) until the infection subsides.
• Ingrown hairs: Ingrown hairs are common & can look like anything from a trapped hair under a thin layer of skin to a larger, more inflamed, infected bump (folliculitis). Proper exfoliation (explained below) is essential to avoiding ingrown hairs and folliculitis.

Why Exfoliating & Moisturizing is so important

When you shave, you’re merely cutting the hair, leaving the strong, prickly base of the hair shaft still rooted in your skin. Although ingrown hairs are still common with shaving, shaved hair is strong & can typically penetrate through layers of dead skin without much difficulty. When you wax, the new hair is fine & thin & has more difficulty pushing through that dead skin that covers the hair follicle, so without proper aftercare, it grows back down under the skin & becomes ingrown. This is why you MUST exfoliate & moisturize to aid the hair in growing back out. Why spend money on a wax & not take care of the skin underneath? Treat your bikini area & underarm skin like the skin on your face. You need to moisturize to nourish your skin so it doesn't get built up with excessive dry, dead skin, & you need to exfoliate to clear away the dead skin. It is best to combine both mechanical exfoliation (such as with an exfoliating glove) & chemical exfoliation (such as with a serum). Recommended products are explained below.

Aftercare Steps

1. Start your aftercare 48 hours after your wax. Waxing in itself is a method of exfoliation, so you don't need to overdo it & irritate your skin.
2. The body wash you use is very important! Do not use one that is “moisture locking,” leaves a residue, or affects your natural pH balance. Dove soap and Summer’s Eve are NOT YOUR FRIENDS! Instead, I recommend Neutrogena Rainbath or Dr. Bronner's Pure castile soap in either the Baby Unscented or Tea Tree Oil varieties. If you decide to use Dr. Bronner’s, understand that it is very concentrated & must be diluted, so use a dime-sized amount for your bikini area.
3. Use an exfoliating glove in the shower every day for about 10-20 seconds with one of the above recommended body washes. Do not scrub excessively! For Brazilians, do not scrub the labia & rectum. Launder your glove once per week.
4. After showering, apply Get the Bump Outta Here ingrown hair serum to the waxed area (again, for Brazilians, avoid the labia & rectum) & allow to soak in before moisturizing. Do not use serums with salicylic acid while pregnant.
5. Apply Deck Polish every day after using Get the Bump Outta Here. Massage into the entire area, paying special attention to areas with excessive dryness.
6. If you get a stubborn or inflamed ingrown hair, DO NOT TOUCH IT! Spot treat inflamed ingrowns with polysporin (with physician approval) until the day of your next wax.

More Tips

1. Never shave or tweeze between your appointments. this throws off your hair growth pattern & can cause irritation, & you will never have the smooth skin you want. DO NOT PICK! You will scar yourself. I will professionally extract any ingrown hairs myself at your next appointment.
2. You will be hair-free for up to 2 weeks, & your hair will grow out within the following 2 weeks. First waxes are almost never perfect, as your hair follicles are all in different stages of the growth cycle from being repeatedly shaved or trimmed. The goal with regular waxing is to get all of the follicles on the same growth cycle. It could take between 5-10 regular waxes (every 4-6 weeks) to achieve a perfectly smooth result.
3. Never apply lotion or body oils prior to your waxing appointment. These products will interfere with your waxing service.
4. You can be waxed on your period as long as you have a clean tampon or menstrual cup in place. Keep in mind you may be more sensitive to pain during a wax while on your period. You cannot be waxed if you have an active flow & are not wearing a clean tampon or menstrual cup due to the risk of blood born pathogens.
5. Always exfoliate with a clean exfoliating glove prior your waxing appointment. This will significantly help the hair removal process & give you the best results.
6. Salt or sugar scrubs are NOT RECOMMENDED for sensitive areas (face, bikini, underarms). They are far too aggressive & typically contain comedogenic ingredients. These products are fine for other areas of the body.
7. If you have any skin lifting (skin can look shiny or red after initial redness has subsided), apply polysporin (with physician approval) to the area & pay special attention to it when moisturizing. Avoid exfoliating this area, as well, until it heals. Minor lifting is common in areas where the skin in thinner (example, the bikini line can lift due to chafing & panty lines). Minor lifted skin will usually heal within a few days. This is why it's so important to not wax when using certain medications & products because they thin the skin, which can cause severe lifting that can scar.
8. If you want to reduce the pain of your next wax, No-Scream Cream is available for purchase. Apply 45 minutes prior to your waxing appointment. This will numb your skin & take about 50-75% of the pain away.