Bikini Wax Gone Wrong

Don't pluck them out, or it'll get worse. Scrub the part with a gentle scrub or a gentle glove regularly. Then apply some aloe gel to take care of the inflammation. Also, use some oil regularly (like almond oil) because it softens the skin and it is easier for the new hair to come out. It's normal to get bumps and redness if this is the first wax. It'll get easier and better with time. Only after you do this, can you take care of any hair that's left with the help of tweezers. That is what I do, although because I have been waxing since I was a teenager (I am 40 now) I have very little hair left and it's very weak. Hope this helps.

Bella Pelle salon in San Francisco has a product that I have found helpful. It's a scrub called Chiara Polish. It's expensive, but effective.
http://www.bellapelle.com/products/chiara-polish

Tend Skin!!! I've only purchased it in a salon, but I bet you could find it online. Works great for razor burn and ingrown hairs. It will help you exfoliate now, so you can pluck out the ingrown hairs, and then you can use it as maintenance in between waxings to prevent future ingrowns. Stings a little, but it does work!!

In addition to all the exfoliating you are planning to do (which is very important), be sure to use a good, gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer afterwards. Cerave cream is excellent and available at Walgreens (the cream is in a tub). Softening the skin makes it easier for new hairs to pop thru the skin when growing in. If you still have some nasty ingrown hairs after a week of exfoliating and moisturizing, you might want to try tweezing just those few stubborn ones with a very good pair of tweezers, such as the Tweezerman ones that are for removing splinters (they have long, pointed ends instead of slant tips). I should note that you could, theoretically get some kind of infection from doing this, but I always disinfected my tweezers first and used Neosporin where the ingrown hair was afterwards, and I have never had a problem. The safest bet would probably be to have a dermatologist deal with any ingrown hairs that remain after a week or so. A few years ago I had laser hair removal done, and I am soooo glad I did! I know it's expensive, but for me, it was totally worth it. Plus all the waxing adds up over the years. There is now an at-home laser hair removal system developed by the same guy who developed the commercial one. I believe it's about $700 -- still really expensive, but cheaper than the full 5-6 treatments per area at a clinic or salon and then you have it for other areas, such as the underarms as well. If you stick w/waxing and/or shaving, Tend Skin is indeed an excellent product.

Waxologist here...exfoliate daily...go to drug store/beauty supply and get a "bumps no more" formula...once you learn your body and continue proper care, you will love the wax...

Best of luck,
T.

Try roughing up the area with a lufa sponge and soap in the shower. It may loosen the ingrown hairs. Also, call who ever did your wax and ask for help. If you need a recommendation try Jen at www.icanwaxthat.com. She is in Folsom and she is great --really professional.

Yes, ingrown hairs. If you pluck them out, you get more ingrown hairs. Some people can take waxing better than others.

Exfoliate daily. I know it's a pain, but it does help with the ingrown hairs. You could either use a shower pouf type thing, or use an actual exfoliating scrub (I like the Peter Thomas Roth's Botanical Buffing Beads, which I buy at Sephora - but you could use whatever you have). The idea is to remove any dead skin cells that are clogging the pores, and that should help.

That's the nature of a bikini wax. You look pretty for a few weeks then the bumps happen, then the hair grows back, then you start all over again. It's just he way it goes....

Hi J.,

Unfortunately, bikini waxing is not pleasant. UGH!!! Don't shave! Get Tend Skin and rub it on after the wax from now on and it should help eliminate the ingrown hairs. I would mention this to my waxer to see if she can try a different wax next time you go in. Ask about a blue wax. Good luck.

Have you ever considered electrolysis? It is permanent, although it takes time to get rid of the entire area.

Also, try gentle exfoliation and lots of moisturizer after the waxing. This makes it easier for the skin come through the skin.

exfoliate-a lot-don't pluck! a loofa or scrub-good luck!

Like others have said, exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. My waxer gave me an ointment for use after a wax that has tea tree oil in it along with other stuff and it has done WONDERS for reducing the amount of ingrown hairs and bumps. That first waxing is tough, but if you keep doing it, the hair will get less and less and more fine.

We have all been there...The ladies are right, exfoliate! I used to use betadine scrub in the shower for a few days after a wax and it elimiated the folliculitis(red bumps). You can also try bacitracin oint, any anitbacterial should help. I am a true believer in the laser treatment, it worked well for me, no more waxing!! Good luck!
S.

Clinique makes a lotion for razor burn - it might even be for men? It works awesome - I'd try it!

My advice would be to exfoliate really well for now, then rub a little neosporin on to deal with any litle infection.

For future (and you will get fewer ingrowns in future) be sure the area is really clean before you wax then try putting on a burn ointment right after (something with aloe and lidocaine), that works really well for me.

Hope this helps,
T.