OT? Waxing

[justduckydancer]

Okay this might be TMI. My husband has been out of town for a week now for work and I'm flying out to spend a long weekend with him in a week. I'd kinda like to surprise him with a Brazilian or a full bikini (everything but the butt), the only problem is is that the last time I had just the bikini area waxed last time YEARS ago I broke out horrible. It was painful and itchy and I couldn't even enjoy the results. Any suggestions? I don't know if it makes a difference, but it was the type of wax that they pulled it off with cloth strips. 

[Miss Phryne Fisher]

Oh god, seriously, I just did this a few weeks ago. I was in Amsterdam, thought to surprise my husband on my return.

Fine the day of. I had a waxing done with one of those that doesn't use strips. I don't know if that is common.

The itch was insane. It started the next day, through the last 4 days of my trip.

Guess what is over the counter in the Netherlands? Contact lenses. Guess what isn't? Hydrocortisone...or really any kind of itch cream. I thought I was going to die. Thankfully I had a tiny bottle of gold bond with me. 2 weeks later I am still suffering the effects.

I had a reaction the last 2 times I got waxed (one was like, 15 years ago the other was probably 9). Never again. I would not risk it if I were you, since you had a reaction in the past since you want to take a special trip. Maybe nair? It works pretty well on the area.

[bluestreet]

I highly recommend sugaring. I have sensitive skin and always broke out in an unsightly rash with waxing, but sugaring did not have that effect. My understanding is that waxing strips the superficial layer of skin, whereas sugaring does not. I highly recommend.

[justduckydancer]

Aug 8, 2017 23:28:40 GMT -5 bluestreet said:

I highly recommend sugaring. I have sensitive skin and always broke out in an unsightly rash with waxing, but sugaring did not have that effect. My understanding is that waxing strips the superficial layer of skin, whereas sugaring does not. I highly recommend.

I'll definitely have to look into this. 

[calico]

I've gotten waxed and sugared for years, and if you go somewhere that uses hard wax (stripless) it doesn't remove the top layer of dead skin like soft wax does and is more appropriate for removing hair in this area. Sugaring is good as long as the person has a good technique and it's not hot as hades in the studio. If you sweat, the sugar will not be able to pick up the hair and you will leave hurting with a half done area. Ask me how I know. Sugaring will not prevent the itchy re-growth problem though. You will also need a good post-epilation serum. Some people like tend skin, bliss also makes something. There are a ton of options out there for this part.

That being said, it helps to start exfoliating the area daily about a week out, then stop about 24-48 hours before your appointment. This is for either method of hair removal. For me, sometimes it itches afterward, but most of the time it does not. I think it helps to to do the pre-wax exfoliation and daily gentle exfoliation starting a few days after, so that the hair can more easily reach the surface. Moisturizing also helps.

[secretlyevil]

I agree with the hard wax. I go to European Wax Center and overall like them a lot. They have a serum I use that really helps afterwards. Some things I suggest:

Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate
Take ibuprofen 30 minutes before
Using a talc-free powder helps a lot


ETA: go full on Brazilian, it will be better. Oh! For planning purposes, I was told to wait 24 hours before having sex or exercising..

[pizzanight]

Aug 9, 2017 4:32:40 GMT -5 calico said:

That being said, it helps to start exfoliating the area daily about a week out, then stop about 24-48 hours before your appointment. This is for either method of hair removal. For me, sometimes it itches afterward, but most of the time it does not. I think it helps to to do the pre-wax exfoliation and daily gentle exfoliation starting a few days after, so that the hair can more easily reach the surface. Moisturizing also helps.

This.  You can use a scrub or a washcloth - you want to make sure you have as little dead skin and as few ingrown hairs as possible.  

I third (fourth?) the hard wax suggestion.  It makes a huge difference. 

Also honestly, the butt part of the Brazilian doesn't really hurt - so if you're going to do full bikini you might as well do that too.  Lol.

[susiebw]

I've never had a reaction to wax, so I can't speak to that, but I agree with just doing a full brazilian if you're planning to do everything but. There are barely any pain receptors there, and it really doesn't hurt.