Ladies and gentlemen—because it’s 2018 after all and ladies aren’t the only ones who are turning their genitals into smooth criminals—let’s talk about products made especially for our genitals post-waxing. The key to staying smooth weeks after your Brazilian wax can really be broken down in three easy steps: exfoliate, moisturize, and treat! But it’s not enough just to follow those steps, you’ve got to use the right products too. Read on to learn which products should be in your Kitty Care Kit/Penis Care Package.
Exfoliate
For exfoliation, you’ve got your standard loofah and for most people this is enough. But if you’re prone to ingrown hairs or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in your genital area after waxes, you may want to get a pair of exfoliating gloves or a fine pumice stone. With either product, use small, circular motions to exfoliate the area. For the ladies, I personally recommend the exfoliating gloves because you can get into the creases of your vagina with a bit more ease since you’re just using your fingers, essentially, for a gentle exfoliation. The pumice stone works great for the larger areas and inner thighs. Just make sure you aren’t using a coarse pumice stone like the one you might use if you were giving yourself a pedicure. That might hurt a bit.
You can also use a gentle body scrub (pro-tip: go for one that smells great and tastes better!) by massaging into the skin and rinsing throughly. Avoid scrubs with harsh chemicals enzymes as you wouldn’t want to accidentally get any of those ingredients inside your vagina. Trust me. It burns.
Why exfoliate? Exfoliation helps the hair to grow up and out of the skin instead of being trapped beneath, leading to ingrown hairs and bumps. Waxing in and of itself is a form of exfoliation so you’ll want to start your manual exfoliation at least 48-72 hours after a fresh Brazilian wax.
Moisturize
There are a lot of articles online that suggest using coconut oil to moisturize after a Brazilian wax. Please don’t do this. Coconut oil is comedogenic and will actually cause you to have ingrown hairs. Go for a soothing aloe or any non-comedogenic lotion to moisturize the area. If you want to go a completely clean or organic route, mango butter or almond oil with hints of lavender and tea tree oils not only help to with inflammation but are antibacterial as well. Eucerin Dry Skin lotion, Aquaphor, and baby oil with aloe are moisturizers I recommend. These are typically occlusives and are best for the genitals since they are fragrance free.
Treat
If your wax was a bit painful or if your skin becomes irritated immediately after a Brazilian wax, calming the inflammation is crucial. There are a few ways you can do this. Once you get home, you can apply a cold compress to the irritated area for 10 minutes followed by a topical antihistamine (think hydrocortisone). You could also apply aloe vera gel to the area (and most estheticians apply this immediately after a wax). Lastly, an azulene w/ chamomile oil blend will help to calm irritation as well.
If you’re experiencing breakouts, bumps, and ingrown hairs, there are several products you can try to get your skin back to feeling silky smooth. The first product is Tend Skin which is great for preventing ingrown hairs. The second product I’d recommend is PFB Vanish + Chromabright. This product helps with both ingrown hairs and the hyperpigmentation that some get as a result. In addition to salicylic acid, this product contains glycolic acid, lactic acid, and camphor oil.
It’s also a good idea to keep some genital-safe antibacterial wipes handy for the first 48 hours immediately following a wax. Especially if the wax lifted your skin as you want to be sure you keep the area clean to prevent infection.
So, to summarize, your Kitty Care Kit/Penis Care Package should have:
- A good exfoliator (exfoliating gloves, loofah, pumice stone)
- A good moisturizer
- A product to treat ingrown hairs/hyperpigmentation/inflammation; and,
- Antibacterial wipes
Looking for a Brazilian wax service in the Bay Area? Come see me! Send a text to 650-332-4569 to schedule an appointment.