Combining Waxing and Tanning Services

The response to skin therapies like sunless tanning and waxing is different from patient to patient because of biological variables. For example, when we speak of recommend drug doses, we calculate the dose based on the individual 's weight. To determine the "who, when, how and why" of the skin we also need to have criteria to help predict suitability and effectiveness of a specific procedure. A variety of classification methods have been developed to assist us, the simplest of which is the classification of skin condition (normal, dry sensitive, combination). While important, classifying skin condition is not vital in the assessment for laser hair removal or other hair removal therapies, like waxing. Skin typing  is a more detailed classification that defining skin condition. It gives indications as to how a certain skin type will react to various treatment conditions. 

The condition of the skin is especially important for an effective waxing service. This is particularly true of soft wax, which adheres to the surface of the skin and less so for hard wax, which does not. Skin that is dry may present with scaly patches of dead skin cells that may benefit from the exfoliating properties of soft waxing, but the dry skin may also trap multiple hairs that should be released with exfoliation prior to the service. Very moist or hydrated skin can also be problematic as the moisture inhibits the wax from adhering to the skin and from being left behind during the removal process. Continuous dusting with powder during the service helps alleviate the problem.



Where skin typing can have a more far reaching effect is ethnicity and the skin's response to injury from a poorly administered waxing service. Caucasian skin that has been injured resulting in scabbing can hipopygment, and skin that has been exposed to UV light while still in a state of erthema from waxing can become hyperpigmented. With people of African descent, the hypopigmentation can be even more dramatic and problematic. This can be especially true with overly aggressive facial waxing of coarse curly hairs with curved follicles that are difficult to epilate with waxing. Hair follicles may produce ingrown hairs and become infected, a condition known as pseudofolliculitis barbae. The result of this inflammatory condition is both hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation.

It is not advisable to tan 24 hours before or after waxing. Waxing and sugaring removes a few layers of skin and those layers protect the skin from light and heat. Waxing before tanning will expose sensitive layers of the skin and can result in hyperpigmentation marks that could become permanent.Waxing after tanning will remove the layers of skin you just tanned exposing the lighter colored layers underneath. This is also true with spray tans or sunless tans- waxing will remove your tan leaving you as pale as you were before applying your tan.

Schedule your waxing and tanning treatments on different days, and if you can, schedule them two days apart.