Navigating sensitive skin when waxing is a challenge, and minimising trauma is key.
Waxing specialist Becky Priest shares her top tips for waxing sensitive clients.
"My first piece of advice for any waxer is to make sure you are using the right type of wax for the right area.
"Hot wax is designed to be used on delicate, sensitive areas – this includes the face, underarms and intimate areas. Not only will it feel more comfortable for your client, but it will help to protect the skin too.
"Many therapists still use warm wax on the face and while there isn’t anything wrong with doing this, you will be more at risk of lifting the skin and causing it to feel more sensitive.
"Many believe that they don’t get all the fine vellus hair to pick up with hot wax, which is why they stick to soft wax, but the fact is you’re probably not using a combination of a good-quality hot wax and the right technique.
"The normal reaction to any area of the body that we wax is warmth. Sometimes little red dots and pinkness will appear, and with fair-haired clients you may also see more of a bright red reaction, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s hurting them more.
"Typically, these reactions should go down within a few moments or even a few hours after. Anything that seems to be getting worse or inflamed after 24 hours isn’t a normal reaction and should be checked by a pharmacist or GP as this could be an allergic reaction to something.
"Here are some simple tips to help reduce sensitivity or trauma to the skin:
- Layer as thinly as you can when using strip wax. Thickness will cause skin to bounce and pull underneath; the same goes for changing your strip as the more wax that builds up, the more it will tug at the skin.
- Use a good-quality hot wax designed with sensitivity in mind, especially in delicate areas.
- Don’t wax over damp skin. Prep is key because by checking for any dry areas you’ll see which spots may need a drop of pre-wax oil to protect them, and as you cleanse you will also see if redness appears just from cleansing. This could indicate that the skin is more likely to be sensitive.
- Communication is important, so always educate clients in what can make them more sensitive and to make sure they know to keep you updated about any changes.
"If you ever see a reaction on the skin, it’s best to be honest with your client so you can both discuss what may be causing the it and find an alternative method to help this for next time."
Becky Priest is a waxing specialist and educator with a passion for helping people to feel the body confidence that they deserve. She is also an ambassador for Hive of Beauty.