You got waxed, it was smooth for two glorious weeks, and then a few angry red bumps showed up right where you least want them. Ingrown hairs are the one waxing side effect that puts people off for good, and the frustrating part is that almost all of them are preventable. Here’s what’s actually going on under the skin, and the routine our therapists give clients at the salon near Big W.
What an ingrown hair actually is
After waxing, a new hair has to push its way out through the follicle opening. If that opening is blocked by dead skin, or the hair is fine and curly and bends back on itself, it grows sideways or curls under the surface instead of coming out. Your skin treats it as a foreign object and inflames around it. That’s the bump. If bacteria get involved, it fills with fluid and looks like a pimple.
Three things make ingrowns more likely: coarse or curly hair, tight clothing rubbing the area, and skin that isn’t being exfoliated. The Brazilian and bikini area ticks all three boxes, which is why that’s where most people get them.
Why waxing causes fewer ingrowns than shaving over time
This surprises people. Shaving cuts hair at an angle just above skin level, leaving a sharp tip that easily pierces back into the skin as it grows. Waxing removes the whole hair from the root, so the regrowth is a fine, tapered tip that finds its way out more easily. Regular waxing also thins the hair over time, so there’s less of it and it’s softer. Most clients who switch from shaving to waxing see ingrowns drop off after the second or third wax, once the shaving-damaged hairs have fully cycled out.
The first wax or two after years of shaving can be the worst for ingrowns. That’s the transition, not the new normal. Stick with it.
The prevention routine that works
The week before your wax
- Exfoliate the area gently two or three times in the week leading up. A soft washcloth, an exfoliating mitt, or a body scrub in the shower is enough. This clears dead skin so the wax can grip cleanly and hairs come out whole rather than snapping.
- Don’t shave in between. Let hair reach about 5mm, the length of a grain of rice. Too short and the wax can’t grip, and broken hairs are the ones that grow back ingrown.
- Moisturise daily. Soft, hydrated skin lets hair through more easily than dry, tight skin.
The first 48 hours after
Freshly waxed follicles are open and slightly inflamed. This is when bacteria and friction do the most damage.
- Loose cotton underwear and loose pants. No leggings, no gym tights, no tight jeans.
- No gym, swimming, hot baths, saunas or sunbathing. Sweat and heat push bacteria into open follicles.
- No exfoliating, no scrubs, no acids. The skin needs to close first.
- Skip perfumed body lotion on the area. A plain, fragrance-free moisturiser or a post-wax lotion is fine.
Day 3 onwards
Now exfoliation matters most, because this is when regrowth starts and follicles need to stay clear.
- Exfoliate gently every second day. Mitt, washcloth or a mild scrub. Light pressure, not scrubbing until it’s red.
- Moisturise after every shower.
- If you’re prone to ingrowns, a product with salicylic acid or glycolic acid used two or three times a week keeps follicles clear. Ask us and we’ll point you to something suitable.
You’ve got one. Now what?
The urge is to squeeze or dig it out. Don’t. That’s how you get scarring and dark marks that last far longer than the bump would have.
- Warm compress for five minutes, twice a day. It softens the skin and encourages the hair to surface.
- Gentle exfoliation over the area once it’s not tender. Often the hair frees itself within a few days.
- If you can see the hair loop just under the surface, a sterilised pair of tweezers can lift the loop out. Lift, don’t pluck. Leave the hair in the follicle.
- Leave it alone if it’s deep, red and sore. Most resolve on their own in one to two weeks.
If a bump is hot, swollen, spreading, or hasn’t improved after two weeks, see your GP. Occasionally an ingrown becomes infected and needs treating properly.
What we do at the salon to reduce them
Technique matters more than people realise. Hair should be removed in the direction it grows, in small sections, with the skin held taut. Rushed waxing that pulls against the grain or lifts wax at the wrong angle snaps hairs instead of removing them, and snapped hairs are ingrowns waiting to happen. Our therapists work quickly but not carelessly, and we use hot wax on intimate areas because it grips hair rather than skin and lifts coarse hair cleanly at the root.
Every wax finishes with a calming lotion, and if you’re someone who gets ingrowns easily, tell your therapist. We’ll adjust and give you a routine that suits your skin.
Common questions
Is it normal to get ingrown hairs after a Brazilian wax?
A few, especially in your first couple of waxes after shaving, is normal. Lots of them, every time, usually means the after-wax routine needs work, or the hair is being snapped rather than removed. Regular waxing every four to six weeks reduces them over time.
How long after waxing do ingrown hairs appear?
Usually one to two weeks after, when regrowth starts. Bumps that appear within a day or two are more likely irritation or folliculitis from heat, sweat or friction, not ingrowns.
Can I exfoliate straight after waxing?
No. Wait at least 48 hours, ideally three days. Then exfoliate gently every second day.
Does waxing or shaving cause more ingrown hairs?
Shaving, over time. It leaves a sharp hair tip that pierces the skin easily. Waxing removes the whole hair and regrowth has a soft tapered tip. The switch from shaving to waxing can be bumpy for a wax or two, then it settles.
Should I stop waxing if I keep getting ingrowns?
Try the routine above for two full cycles first. If they persist, book a chat with your therapist. Occasionally a different wax type, or a slightly longer gap between appointments, is all it takes.
Book your wax
Brazilian waxing at Iconic Brow Wax N Beauty is $55 with hot wax in a private room, and every wax includes calming aftercare. New to it? Read what to expect at your first Brazilian and how often to book. Still deciding? See waxing vs shaving and Brazilian vs bikini vs G-string. Full body waxing and every other area is on our price list. We’re near Big W at Westfield North Lakes, open seven days, walk-ins welcome.