When you get a Brazilian wax, you lay down on a special table and allow an aesthetician to apply warm wax to your crotch. After it dries, the wax is ripped off quickly. This leaves your vulva hairless, smooth and beautiful.
However, if you have sex right after a wax, it could lead to bacteria entering your open pores and causing infection. The same goes for working out, hot showers and exposing yourself to the sun.
Wait at Least 24 Hours
When you have a Brazilian wax, it’s likely you’ll lie on your back with your legs spread and knees bent while an aesthetician applies the wax to your crotch. Then, the wax dries and is yanked off, leaving your crotch looking as hairless as a boiled egg (we swear it’s not as uncomfortable as you think). To help make the process as pain-free as possible, ask for some numbing cream, preferably one that is safe to use on intimate areas.
However, it’s important that you do not do anything that will cause friction to the area immediately afterward. This means no tight clothes, hot showers, intense workouts, swimming, or tanning in the sun.
This is because your skin will be irritated and tender after your wax, so the last thing you want to do is put more pressure or friction on it. In addition, the sweat, bacteria, and yeast that might normally be in your hair follicles can rub into the broken skin after waxing and lead to a complication known as folliculitis.
This condition looks like red bumps on the vulva and can be painful. So, to avoid it, it’s best to wait at least 24 hours before you can have sex after getting a wax. This isn’t just for Brazilian waxes; it’s also recommended to wait for this period of time after a leg, bikini, or eyebrow wax.
Don’t Exfoliate
As any woman who has had a bikini wax or other wax knows, the process isn’t exactly pleasant. It’s painful, leaves the skin red and inflamed, and the follicles are left open to infection/bacteria. It’s a good idea to not engage in anything that could cause bacteria or infection in the area for 24 hours post-wax. That means no creams, lotions, tanning solutions, the gym, and especially no sex (unless you throughly clean the area).
Exfoliating the face and body is a regular part of most people’s skin care routine, and it’s certainly important for maintaining smooth, soft, and radiant-looking skin. It also helps to prevent ingrown hairs. However, it’s not as common to hear of people exfoliating their “down there” regularly. Yet, this is just as important as exfoliating the face. It can help to prevent new ingrown hairs and work loose any that have already formed.
However, it’s important to avoid exfoliating your genital or vaginal areas after a wax, as this can irritate the skin and cause inflammation. It can also be harmful to the follicles, which is why it’s best not to have sex too soon after waxing in this area. The friction from sex can rub the open, traumatized follicles and introduce bacteria or yeast into them. This can lead to folliculitis, which is a painful condition that can cause itching, pustules, and rashes.
Don’t Exercise
While we know you might be itching to hit the gym or a SoulCycle class, it’s best not to exercise immediately after a wax. The sweat from a workout may clog the pores and cause irritation. The hot temperatures of a sauna or steam room can aggravate the skin, as well, leading to redness, ingrown hairs, and other problems.
The same goes for showering, bathing, and swimming. Directly after a wax the hair follicle is still open, and exposing it to hot water too soon can cause an infection. This is also true for hot tubs and saunas, which should be avoided.
You should also be careful about public pools and beaches. This is because the salt in the water can irritate freshly waxed skin and cause an infection. If you must go to the beach, we recommend scheduling your wax a few days before your trip.
Tight-fitting clothing can also be an issue after a wax, as it creates friction against the sensitive skin that’s just been exposed. To prevent this, you should opt for loose-fitting clothes like maxi dresses and pants after a wax.
Don’t Wear Tight Clothes
Waxed skin is incredibly sensitive and susceptible to infections. Wearing tight-fitting clothing that rubs against the area can further irritate it. That’s why it’s best to stick with a loose pair of cotton pants and a soft thong for at least 24 hours following your waxing session.
You should also avoid exposing your skin to intense heat, like a hot shower or sauna, immediately after a wax. That’s because it can cause the salt in your sweat to irritate freshly-waxed skin and lead to infection.
It’s also a good idea to steer clear of the pool and the beach for a day or two after your wax. That’s because your skin is more vulnerable to harmful UV rays and may become sunburnt, which can lead to pigmentation problems later on.
Finally, you should skip sexual activity for a day or so after your wax, as it can irritate the skin and cause ingrown hairs. That’s because the skin in the vagina is so sensitive right after a wax and may become irritated by the friction of sexual activity. In addition, lubricants, spermicides, bleached panty liners, and soaps can also irritate the area.
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