Comments on: Eyebrow Waxing

By: David Dinsmore

David Dinsmore — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 23:20:34 +0000

You need to stop using the retin A more than a month before waxing. I recommend 2 months. It thins the skin even in areas where it has not been applied. You could put it on your chin and it could make your brows lift. If you have been using retin A I recommend Threading or tweezing.

By: Emily

Emily — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 03:32:48 +0000

Ok- I’m an esthetics student. There are just some basics you have to follow if you want to get waxed. List any medications you have taken in the last 6 months. Some meds cause skin to be sensetive or weakens it, making it prone to lifting. If you are taking an oral drug that causes sensetivity it could take months for the skin to go back to normal (accutane for example.) If you have taken these and do not tell the esthetician, its your fault if you lift. Also make sure they prep your skin accurately, it has to be cleansed, then dry, and then have a light layer of powder (or oil) applied to create a barrier between the skin and the wax. Before the wax ever touches your skin they are supposed to test it on themselves. Once they apply it they should ask you if the temperature is comfortable. The wax only needs to be warm enough to spread on the skin. Also it should be applied in as thin a layer as possible. After the strip is on the wax they should lift it in the opposite direction the hair grows, but rip it off as parallel to the skin as possible. Lifting straight up can rip off your skin.

When they are done they should remove any leftover wax and cleanse the area again, and apply something soothing (like aloe gel) to reduce redness. Remember it is common for some people to see a little pink on their skin for up to 24 hours. So dont wax if you need to be somewhere important in an hour, especially if you dont know the esthetician’s technique or how your skin will react.

As far as breaking out; dont wear ANYTHING on your skin for at least 24 hours, with the exception of sunblock(google: hyerpigmentation after waxing). So no make-up, deoderant, fragranced body washes, and I would stay way from harsh soaps in general. Then 24 to 48 hours after getting wax EXFOLIATE! That will prevent the little “bumps” that you get from waxing. BTW the little bumps are your hair folicles trying to grow new hair, OR you havent been cleansing properly after the wax and you got bacteria, dead skin cells and oil (formula for acne) stuck in the folicle. And you did not have folliculitis, that is a reacuring skin condition found mostly in men with really thick curly beards that they shave, and then since the curly hair does not grow straight up, it becomes ingrown, get infected, and is really painful. You had pseudofolliculitis. Commonly confused with folliculitis, but not the same. Not nearly as severe. And you got it because you didnt exfoliate.

one more thing to think about: did you know in some states you dont actually have to go to school to become an esthetician? Or the state requirement for the hours they have to complete to get the lisence is like 300 or 400 hours. I live in Utah, the state requirement here is 1200 hours. Meaning I have to learn a hell of a lot more to get my lisence. So make sure your esthetician knows what the hell she is doing before you let her put hot wax on you.

By: Christina

Christina — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:20:24 +0000

The EXACT STORY YOU POSTED happened to me last year. I was on the acne medication Retin-A which makes the skin thin and I always went to get my eyebrows waxed. But when I went to get my eyebrows waxed for the first time after using Retin-A MY EYEBROWS WERE ON FIRE! The first thing I was thinking is I’M SUEING, but i knew it was my own damn fault for not using common sense. Anyways, I couldnt wax them anymore so I decided to pluck my own eyebrows. It’s hella cheaper than waxing and less of a hassle. I suggest plucking.

By: Joy

Joy — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:14:33 +0000

Tracey, you probably got some sort of staph infection, and that can cause boils. You should probably go to the dr. for that.

By: DermaTalk

DermaTalk — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:23:11 +0000

Its normal for many people to experience some swelling at the first and will go away by itself but if you experience boils that might be folliculitis…. use some antiseptics and keep the area clean

By: stranger (:

stranger (: — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 18:45:38 +0000

here’s a tip for those who get “pimples” after threading!
exfoliate the day before threading (remove dead skin, etc), wash face again prior to threading (keep pores clear from the day’s oil+dirt), immediately wash and tone face after threading (clean pores again + close pores), exfoliate reguarly thereafter (but only 2 days after threading because the skin will be real delicate the first 2 days!)

threading sans pimples! :D

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:29:35 +0000

This comment is posted in response to mesha Says:

-Quoted text-
January 18th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I am wondering with reading all these about waxing if any of you are on Retina A acne medications. I am an esthecian and have been waxing for years and find that when people are on medication that rapidly exfoliates the skin it causes the skin to lift off.
Most of the waxing problems associated with waxing is because the customer has not disclosed their health history. Hope this helps.
-End of quoted text-

Mesha,

Most waxers do not request health history… they just whisk you in and do the waxing as quickly as possible to achieve greater turnover and more money. There is no guarantee you will not be burned or scarred regardless of your medication history.

Additionally, as one of the people who initially posted above, I was on no medication and had been going to a different Esthetician for years with no problem. The issue is more with the quality, or lack thereof, of the technician and technique. This profession should be more highly regulated to prevent the damage and permanent scarring it can cause (and has likely caused several people on this page alone). Most licensing boards do not realize the pain and suffering potentially caused by this procedure and subsequent permanent damage. I just want to alert those reading these posting to (1) either find someone you highly trust or (2) to find alternative methods of hair removal. Otherwise, you risk permanent scarring and discoloration in an area you can never hide.

By: Tracey

Tracey — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:17:31 +0000

I am wondering if any of you ever experienced something besides skin burning and skin peeling…..my problem is swelling and like a boil, almost in the form of a zit full of liquid…..I mean it’s the weirdest thing ever…..I don’t think the wax my lady used was NOT hot enough…..can that be a problem???? I appreciate any help or suggestions!!!

By: nisha

nisha — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:19:44 +0000

I had my eye brows threaded few days ago and the lady ripped off chunks of skin along. I am hoping I won’t have a permanent scar. I have known threading all my life and I can tell that the person who did this was not an expert. It makes me furious how could she hurt someone this badly. She was very careless.
I just hope I won’t end up with permanent scaring. The wound has shrunken but is still red. Any idea if it could leave scaring?

By: lea

lea — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:29:19 +0000

i need help!! i got my eyebrows waxed yesterday and i have to go to a party tomarrow. my eyebrows look great but the skin around my eyebrow is like white and my regular skin is tan. i layed out in the sun for a long time but its still white. my mom said we could wax my whole face but i dont want to do that. the two things i first think of are tanning spray and makeup. any other ideas or ways to do my ideas?? please!