Showering after waxing is something that many might be inclined to do after returning home from the salon. After all, it’s natural to want to clean off and make sure that your freshly waxed skin is thoroughly cleaned and properly nourished after a service. When going to do this, you might stop and wonder whether it’s a good idea to do so - or if it will irritate your skin.

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When it comes to post-wax care, your cleansing, and skincare routine matters and goes a long way to keep your freshly waxed skin in its best condition, and your results lasting for as long as possible. 

So should you shower after waxing? And if so, how do you take care of your skin immediately after hair removal to keep results long-lasting and your skin in good shape? Learn more about showering after waxing and get other post-wax tips when you keep reading below. 

READ: Post-Wax Care: Tips & Best Practices

How to Care for Skin After Waxing 

Having the right after-wax care routine will allow you to keep your results looking their best and lasting as long as possible. It will also help to avoid or alleviate any irritation or sensitivities more delicate areas can experience after hair removal. 

So how should you care for your skin post-wax, and what things should you avoid after leaving the salon? After just waxing your skin, your esthetician should use Starpil Post-Wax Lotion and Post-Wax Oil to deeply hydrate and moisturize your skin while also removing any residue that could be left over from your service. 

However, once you leave the salon, it’s all on you! Besides wearing loose clothing and allowing your skin to breathe after hair removal, there are plenty of things you can do to dissuade any irritation or breakouts that you might be worried about popping up. 

Doing things like applying a cold compress to the area to soothe your skin when you get home can help, but there are some areas of your daily routine you might want to temporarily stay away from or change a little bit immediately after your service to keep your skin in its best shape. 

READ: Why Using Pre & Post-Wax Products is a MUST!

Showering After Waxing

One of the biggest questions people tend to ask their estheticians after waxing is whether or not they can take a shower or bath after their service, and if not, how long they have to wait before they can do this. 

Generally speaking, it’s not recommended to bathe for 24 hours after a waxing session. However, we know that life happens, activity happens, and you might feel the need or an inclination to bathe before this amount of time has passed. 

If you’re going to bathe after waxing, try to at least avoid doing so no sooner than 2 hours after hair removal, and give your skin a chance to breathe!

You should also never take a bath just after getting freshly waxed. Instead, take a lukewarm shower and use a non-scented cleanser or body wash to clean with. Using water of this temperature and non-scented products will help your skin stabilize and will save it from getting too over-sensitive or reacting to products or too hot of water. 

After getting out of the shower, don’t be too harsh with your drying routine - rubbing too harshly against the skin that was just waxed can further irritate the sensitive and vulnerable area and could result in unwanted irritation from the friction. 

Go the extra mile to moisturize your freshly waxed area and the rest of your body with either Starpil Post-Wax Lotion, Post-Wax Intensive Cream (for those a little more sensitive or who have dryer skin types), or a lightweight lotion that will give your skin a little extra love. 

READ: An Esthetician’s At-Home Skincare Routine

Should You Exfoliate After Waxing?

There’s no doubt that exfoliation before waxing is a huge asset to the comfort and success of your service, but it’s a big no-no for just after you wax. Stay away from exfoliating with your regular products for 2-3 days after waxing so as not to accidentally irritate your skin. This goes not just for applying exfoliating products, but using cloths or generally just rubbing exfoliants or scrubs into your skin too harshly. 

If you’re concerned about irritation or ingrown hairs forming on your skin, however, we’ve got some great news. 24 hours after your wax, it’s encouraged to use Starpil’s Ingrown Hair Serum on your waxed skin to (safely) exfoliate, cleanse and remove any debris buildup while stopping the formation of ingrowns before they have the chance to form. 

This will keep your skin clear and smooth even before you’re given the green light to exfoliate as you would during your regular routine. 

The reason why it’s advisable to stay away from exfoliating after waxing for a few days after your service is due to your pores’ openness and vulnerability post-wax. After a couple of days, your pores will close back up and be less susceptible to potential clogging or irritation. Though it will then be safe to exfoliate again, try to use products free of mineral oils or products that will exfoliate without clogging your pores. 

READ: Exfoliating and Waxing: The Definitive Guide

What Not to Do After Waxing

What you do after your waxing service can make all of the difference between keeping skin smooth and hair-free for longer periods, or otherwise experiencing breakouts or irritation in the hours or days following hair removal (especially for those with sensitive skin types). 

After waxing, you should make some amendments to your routine or just be a little extra mindful of how you tend to your skin to keep yourself nourished and soothed. 

After a wax, always avoid the following: 

• Touching your skin: Outside of just massaging in lotions or moisturizer, it can be tempting to scratch your skin or touch your skin after waxing. Always refrain from doing so, however, as it can lead to bacteria buildup or breakouts. 
• Exfoliating too early: As we mentioned prior, only use Starpil’s Ingrown Hair Serum 24 hours after your waxing service, and wait even longer to exfoliate with other products post-wax. 
• Using fragranced or heavy products: Using lotions, body washes, or other products on your skin just after waxing that are fragranced, not formulated for use on freshly waxed skin, or that are too thick can easily lead to irritation or your pores getting clogged after waxing. Remember, your skin is super vulnerable after waxing: keep it soothed, but allow it to breathe and readjust after hair removal. 
• Exercising: Avoid exercise or any activity that might cause unnecessary friction or sweat in your freshly waxed areas for at least 48 hours after your service. 

• Visiting pools: Avoid pools, beaches, or saunas for 48 hours after your wax. Chlorine, salt water, or excessive sun can cause bumps, irritation, or breakouts on skin that has been too recently waxed, and can cause discomfort and bacteria build-up. 

READ: 5 Tips for How to Wax Sensitive Skin

Final Thoughts

As a client, you might be surprised to find that your post-wax routine can make a world of difference in the longevity of your results and the overall appearance and condition of your skin in between waxing appointments. Educating yourself as to the best things you can do to keep your skin in its best condition will go a long way in keeping your skin smooth and free from unwanted breakouts or irritation, and small changes to your routine can go a long way. 

From amending your shower routine to holding off on using exfoliants or certain products, it’s genuinely up to you to properly keep up your skin’s health and waxing results once you leave the salon. 

Don’t forget, though you might be out of the salon during this process, your esthetician is still there to support you. Always ask your professional during your appointment if there’s anything you can do for your skin to take your care to the next level. Outside of that, with the above tips, you’ll be in good shape to keep your skin healthy and looking its best after waxing.