Bikini Wax Aftercare: Everything You Need to Know for Smooth, Bump-Free Skin
Sticking to a bikini wax aftercare routine is crucial if you want to stay smooth, bump-free, and avoid added irritation. I’ve gotten about a million and one bikini waxes in my day, and I’ve experimented with a plethora of products, tips, and tricks to prevent ingrowns from popping up and making my bikini wax last as long as possible. Because who wants to go through all that pain for such temporary results?
Below, you’ll find all my secrets to the best bikini wax aftercare, so you can stay fuzz-free for longer.
Bikini Wax Aftercare
Unfortunately, caring for your bikini area doesn’t just stop right after you get a bikini wax. It’s important to upkeep your bikini wax aftercare routine so that you avoid as much irritation as possible. Unfortunately, painful, unsightly ingrown hairs are more often to develop around the bikini area, so keeping the area clean and calm is key.
You want to make sure that you’re soothing the skin (which just went through a pretty painful waxing process). Your bikini area is one of the most sensitive parts of your body, so you want to make sure you’re treating it well!
What To Expect After a Bikini Wax
Your experience after getting a bikini wax is really going to be individualized. For example, some people have really thick hair, which might make the whole waxing process take longer than someone with thinner hair. Additionally, someone with thick hair might be more prone to ingrowns around their bikini area, so it’s important for them to perform proper bikini wax aftercare to avoid painful bumps.
After a bikini wax, you can expect redness on the waxed areas, a bit of discoloration in the pubic area, and/or small bumps immediately after the bikini wax session. It’s important to note that this happens to most people, and it should be less noticeable after 24 hours.
If you have sensitive skin, however, it’s possible that you’ll still see these irritations up to 48 hours after your waxing service. And that, my friends, is why it’s so crucial to give yourself the right type of bikini wax aftercare. Below, we’ll get into some general steps to address waxing care at home as well as the best post-bikini wax products.
After Bikini Wax Care At Home
Stay Away From Direct Sunlight
Even though you are probably getting a bikini wax because you’ll be exposed in direct sunlight at the beach or at the pool, you definitely want to avoid the sun for the first 48 hours if possible. The skin is very raw up to 48 hours post-bikini wax, so try to plan your waxing sessions a few days before you plan to sunbathe. That way, you’re not allowing the sun to wreak havoc on your skin after waxing—at least not immediately. If you absolutely must be in the sun, make sure to apply SPF beforehand and aloe vera after.
Let Your Skin Breathe
You want to avoid wearing tight clothing because it could lead to breakouts or ingrown hairs in the bikini area. This could also happen if you’re doing hardcore exercise, as that causes friction, sweat, and the growth of bacteria in hair follicles. Letting your skin breathe is one of the best ways of preventing ingrown hairs. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of activities that you shouldn’t partake in until after 24 hours:
- Steam rooms
- Hot baths
- Swimming pools
- The beach
Wait to Exfoliate
This goes back to the fact that your skin is pretty raw post-wax. Exfoliating is my go-to when trying to remove dead skin from anywhere in my body. However, when you exfoliate after a bikini wax, you’re likely further tenderizing the sensitive area. One of our best wax aftercare tips? Wait at least a day before you use a scrub or ingrown hair serum that’s meant to remove dead skin cells.
Moisturize the Area
This is probably the most important tip following wax appointments because it’ll ensure that there’s no scarring and it’ll help minimize redness and dryness. Since your skin is tender from the wax, applying moisture to the bikini area is beneficial in helping it regenerate.
What To Put On After Bikini Wax
Paula’s Choice Ultra-Rich Soothing Body Butter
Available at Paula’s Choice ($32)
We’re big Paula’s Choice fans around here! This body butter is a lush blend of plant oils and shea butter, so it works wonders to soften the skin. It’s also great for bikini wax aftercare because it’s formulated with sensitive skin in mind.
Topicals High Roller Ingrown Hair Tonic with AHA and BHA
Available at Sephora ($26) | Also available at Amazon
This roll-on with AHA and BHA makes ingrown prevention a whole lot easier. Not only is it vegan and great for redness, acne, and uneven texture, but the AHA and BHA ingredients will help treat and prevent ingrowns around your bikini area.
Fur Ingrown Eliminator Serum
Available at Fur ($37)
This is another serum that works to treat and prevent ingrown hairs, but has gentler ingredients than the Topicals product listed above. You can expect ingredients like willow bark extract and lactic acid to penetrate pores and clear oil buildup to prevent inflammation, while witch hazel and aloe help reduce oil production and soothe the skin.
Megababe Après Shave
Available at Amazon ($8)
This is another great roll-on with fun packaging. This pick also has salicylic acid to prevent ingrowns, along with glycerin and witch hazel to soothe the skin. The formula feels lightweight and almost cooling, and is great for summer months, too.
Clean + Easy Aloe Vera Treatment
Available at Amazon ($14)
Aloe vera is an amazing ingredient to help soothe your skin for post waxing care. It’s gentle, cooling, soothing, and can help reduce redness as well. The only thing to remember about this pick is that it’s not going to help reduce ingrown hairs. So if you struggle with that often, you might want to consider adding in another product from this list to your routine.
Sliick Soothe Post Wax Oil with Lavender
Available at Amazon ($8)
This brand has an incredible at-home waxing kit, and their post wax oil is no different. This product features lavender oil to help soothe the skin, and can be used to help hydrate and soften skin around the bikini area post-wax.
Clean + Easy Post Waxing Treatment
Available at Amazon ($10)
This is another post-waxing oil that features Azulene Oil—it’s a soothing ingredient that can help reduce irritation and redness. This oil is also great to help remove any traces of leftover wax after your treatment.
CeraVe Healing Ointment
Available at Amazon ($11)
I’ve been writing about beauty for a while. In that time, I can confidently say that I’ve not found a better, more versatile product than CeraVe Healing Ointment. It’s a great occlusive, meaning it locks in moisture, and it helps regenerate skin because it contains ceramides. Both of those facts make it a great product for bikini wax aftercare.
What to Wear After Bikini Wax
What you wear immediately after your bikini wax matters more than most people realize. The wrong clothing choice can cause serious irritation, ingrown hairs, and even infection on freshly waxed skin. Here’s what I recommend reaching for post-appointment.
Loose fitting cotton underwear
This is the number one most important thing you can do clothing-wise after a bikini wax. Always wear 100% cotton underwear after a bikini or Brazilian wax. Cotton is breathable, soft, and won’t create friction against your freshly waxed skin the way synthetic fabrics like lace, nylon, or spandex will. Go for the most relaxed fit you own—this is not the time for a thong.
Loose, breathable bottoms
Whatever you’re wearing on your bottom half, make it loose and comfortable. Wearing anything loose and comfortable that lets the area breathe, as well as anything cotton-based, is always recommended post-wax. Think a flowy skirt, a loose pair of linen trousers, or your most relaxed pair of sweatpants. Tight jeans, leggings, or anything with a snug waistband is going to rub against the skin and cause irritation, redness, and potentially ingrown hairs.
Avoid synthetic fabrics
Synthetic fabrics like nylon, polyester, and spandex trap heat and moisture against the skin, which is the last thing you want when your pores are open and your skin is sensitive. Stick to natural, breathable fabrics like cotton and linen for at least 24 to 48 hours after your appointment. This applies to both your underwear and your outer clothing.
When to Exfoliate After Bikini Wax
Exfoliating after a bikini wax is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent ingrown hairs and achieve smooth skin between appointments. Exfoliating too soon can seriously irritate already sensitive skin, so here’s what I recommend.
Wait at least 48 hours before exfoliating
This is the golden rule of post-wax exfoliation. Your skin needs at least 48 hours to calm down and recover before you introduce any kind of exfoliation—physical or chemical. Two or three times a week is enough to help you avoid the ingrown hairs and bumps that can come with regrowth, but don’t forget the 48-hour rule. Going in too soon with a scrub or exfoliating product on skin that’s still sensitive and inflamed is a recipe for irritation, redness, and potential breakouts.
Use a gentle physical exfoliant
Once you’ve passed the 48-hour mark and your skin is feeling calm, a gentle physical exfoliant is a great way to start keeping the skin smooth and preventing ingrown hairs. Look for a soft sugar or salt scrub rather than anything with harsh, jagged particles that could be too abrasive on the bikini area. Apply it in gentle circular motions two to three times a week and follow up with a fragrance-free moisturizer. An exfoliating dry brush like the Merben Bikini Brush can also help prevent ingrown hairs and is great for sensitive skin.
Try a chemical exfoliant for ingrown hair prevention
If you’re prone to ingrown hairs, incorporating a chemical exfoliant into your post-wax routine is a game changer. Salicylic acid is particularly effective because as a BHA it is oil-soluble, allowing it to penetrate deep into pores to clear out the dead skin cells and sebum that trap hairs. Apply a salicylic acid toner or serum to the bikini area a few times a week starting about three to four days after your wax. It’s a much gentler approach than aggressive scrubbing and tends to deliver better results over time.
Keep exfoliating regularly between appointments
The key to consistently smooth, ingrown-free skin between wax appointments is making gentle exfoliation a regular habit rather than a one-time thing. Aim to exfoliate the bikini area two to three times a week consistently, and you’ll likely notice a significant reduction in ingrown hairs and bumps over time. The more regularly you wax and exfoliate together, the smoother and easier the whole process becomes—another great reason to stay on a consistent waxing schedule.
