Can You Shower After Waxing? All You Need to Know

Skin feels soft and smooth once you are done waxing the unwanted hair. Some wax residues stay on the skin making you take a shower. However, did you notice that you get skin sensitivity or bumps on the skin after the shower?

So, can you shower after waxing? If yes, what is the best way to shower after waxing? If not, what is the downtime for showering and what can you do to take care of your skin? 

Well, let us answer all your queries in this article and help you achieve silky smooth skin that lasts for a long time.

Table of Contents:

• Part 1: Pre-Waxing Showering: Is it Necessary?
• Part 2: Can You Shower After Waxing?
• Part 3: How to Get a Proper Shower After Waxing?
• Part 4: Waxing Alternative: IPL Hair Removal

Part 1: Pre-Waxing Showering: Is it Necessary?

We are aware of the fact that skin must be clean and well-prepared before waxing as explained in Nearly painless Wax: How to Do Waxing at Home Without Pain. However, showering might make the skin too dry making hair removal more painful and reducing the effectiveness of the wax.

Thus, women wonder if it is alright to shower before waxing or if they can skip it in the first place. Let us answer it for you. 

Showering immediately before waxing is not necessary if your skin is clean and free of all impurities, dead skin cells, and excessive oils before waxing. This is only possible if you have had a bath in the last few hours before your session.

However, if you did not take a bath, showering with a gentle, non-irritating, and mild cleanser before waxing is mandatory. 

Furthermore, here are some tips to ensure that your skin is not too dry or too oily before your session.

• Shower at least 30 to 60 minutes before your waxing session
• Use lukewarm to room temperature water for showering
• Stop using hot water 2 days before your waxing appointment
• Ensure that your skin is dry before putting on the clothes
• Wear loose and lightweight clothes after showering 
• Do not put any tanning agent, moisturizer, or sunscreen on the treatment area before you leave for the salon 
• Exfoliate the skin with a gentle exfoliating agent 2 days before waxing but not immediately before your session

Part 2: Can You Shower After Waxing?

Yes, your skin is clean before you go for your waxing session. In the session, a sticky material is applied to your skin, and your hair is pulled out. The wax might linger on the skin and Some hair also shed. So, should you shower after waxing to remove this hair and wax? 

No, you should not shower immediately after coming home once you are done with your waxing session. The ideal time to wait before showering is 24 hours as hot water and body wash can irritate your skin. 

This downtime is essential to help your skin calm down after the waxing sessions. Small bumps are formed on the skin, the skin becomes sensitive, the pores open up and out layer of the skin is also removed during waxing. So, you need to give it some time to relax and heal.

You will feel itchy and uncomfortable during this time. For this, we suggest using a soothing ointment or gel as recommended by your wax expert.

However, if you do not like the feeling of having sticky wax or hair remanents on your skin, you can take a shower 2 to 4 hours after your session. 

Also, note that showering with hot water or an irritating body wash immediately after waxing can burn your skin, increase skin redness, and make it more itchy. So, it is better to avoid bathing for 24 hours after showering. 

Part 3: How to Get a Proper Shower After Waxing?

If you decide to get a shower earlier than recommended, here are some tips to help your skin stay calm and achieve the best results,

• Only use cool to lukewarm water and not hot water
• Your body wash is natural, fragrance-free, and non-irritating
• An unscented baby wash can do the job well
• The shower is not too long
• You should pat your skin dry after the shower instead of rubbing it 
• Moisturize your skin with a lightweight and quickly-absorbing body lotion as well
• Avoid exfoliation, hot showers, swimming, sweating, and saunas for 1 to 2 days after your session
• Be as gentle as you can

Cool to lukewarm water and remove the sticky residues of the wax without adding to the skin’s sensitivity. Additionally, patting your skin dry is a gentle way to treat the skin after waxing. If you rub it harshly, the skin becomes inflamed and irritated. 

Swimming after waxing is avoided as chlorine in the swimming pools can irritate the skin and germs can also get into the opened skin pores. Saunas open the skin pores instead of closing them and hot water adds to the inflammation. 

Therefore, you must wait for 24 hours before trying such activities. Additionally, here are the 15 Essential After Wax Care Tips to Protect Your Skin.

Part 4: Waxing Alternative: IPL Hair Removal 

Imagine having to wax every other week because of  Waxing Regrowth After 1 Week. Additionally, taking all the pre and post-care measures of waxing can be tiring. Therefore, how about you simply try another hair removal method that does not require such extensive precautions and offers better results as well?

IPL hair removal has an advantage over waxing because of the following factors,

• IPL hair removal does not exfoliate and remove the top layer of the skin as waxing does
• The skin rarely becomes red, itchy, inflamed, and sensitive if you are using a high-quality IPL device
• Hair removal with an IPL device is much comfortable as compared to that of painful waxing
• You do not need to go to a salon for IPL hair removal as at-home devices are available
• IPL devices are durable and can last a whole lifetime making them more economical as compared to expensive monthly waxing sessions
• The results of IPL hair removal last for 6 months after you are done with the initial treatment sessions in contrast to the waxing where hair regrows after 2 to 4 weeks
• IPL hair removal helps you get rid of ingrown hair, strawberry legs, bumps, and cuts as well

Looking at the benefits of IPL hair removal, it is better to stop waxing your delicate skin and shift to a gentle alternative. However, you must take care to buy a high-quality, FDA-cleared, clinically-tested, and user-friendly IPL device for the best results and value for money.

Therefore, Ulike Air 3 IPL Hair Removal for Face, Pubic & Body Hair can be a good choice for you.

Conclusion 

While taking a shower before waxing is recommended to keep your skin clean for the waxing session, it is better to avoid bathing for approximately 24 hours after waxing. It is because the skin after waxing is sensitive and a shower can add to this sensitivity.