When you go to a waxing session, you expect to leave smooth and hairless after being waxed by a professional using quality waxing supply, but you may leave with other things too. 

You’d never dream that minutes, hours or days later you could experience bumps, ingrown hairs, or bruising, but these side effects are all too common. Even clients the most trained waxer using the best waxing supplies experience these irritations unexpectedly. So the next time you go for a wax, here are some side effects to look out for.

Waxing can cause Redness and Irritation

The most common side effect of waxing is redness and irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. This is caused by the hot wax being applied to your skin and then pulled off with a cloth strip. Even the most experienced clients can still suffer from this, but it is generally a short-term problem. If your skin is very irritated a cold compress can help relieve the pain.

Waxing and Bumps in your skin

Another common post-wax malady is bumping on your skin in the area you got waxed. This generally happens because your hair follicles are inflamed from the waxing process. Another possibility is a burn. Regardless of the waxing supplies, if the wax is overheated it can burn your skin resulting in bumps and discoloration. A topical ointment can help soothe your inflamed skin or burn, but if a waxing professional has burned you, notify them immediately and start looking for someone new.

Bruising and Bleeding due to Waxing

Bruising is another fairly common side effect for people with sensitive skin. Some bleeding may occur in sensitive areas, like the bikini zone, and in your underarms, and can last for a few days.  

Ingrown Hairs by Waxing

As with shaving, a possible waxing side effect is ingrown hairs. This has little to do with your waxer or the waxing supplier they use. Instead, this is caused by the way your hair grows. If your hair curls under the skin it can become trapped in the follicle or push sideways. If you have sensitive skin, you may be more prone to getting ingrown hairs. To help prevent ingrown hairs from forming, exfoliate your skin before getting waxed and apply moisturizer to the area regularly after your waxing session.

Waxing and Infections

There are a few reasons someone may have an infection after waxing. This includes unclean waxing supplies, skin being torn during a waxing session, or a condition called folliculitis where the hair follicle itself actually becomes infected. If you have experienced an infection after waxing, the best course of action is to avoid waxing in future and find another alternative for your hair removal needs.

Allergic Reaction for Waxing

Although rare, some people can have allergic reactions after getting waxed. If you have sensitive skin or are prone to allergies, talk to your waxer before starting your session. Address your concerns and use a spot test for all products before going through the whole procedure.

You may find that certain waxing supplies cause a reaction while others don’t.

When it comes to waxing, the only side effect you want is smooth and beautiful skin; unfortunately, that’s not always the case. If you do experience bumps, bruising, or any of the side effects we’ve listed, start by treating the affected area. After that, it’s important that you investigate what caused the side effect, whether it was old waxing supplies, a careless waxing professional, or just your sensitive skin so that you can avoid the same reaction in the future.