The evolution of eyebrows has come a long way from skinny and over-plucked in the 90s to thick and fluffy today. However, most people can agree that nothing is better than getting your brows freshly done. One of the most common services for brows is waxing.
Eyebrows frame your face, and they can be stressful to maintain. If even one hair is out of place, it can completely change the way you look. Thankfully, you can leave your brows in the hands of a professional who knows how to structure your brows.
Waxing is a common service to keep brows in shape, but it comes with a hefty cost. First, waxing can be pretty painful, and side effects include redness, swelling, and tenderness, especially if you have sensitive skin. However, it’s worth the results.
Why do your eyebrows swell after waxing? Swelling, redness, and other side effects are very normal after waxing due to the somewhat traumatizing process of pulling hair directly from the follicles. However, waxing can also cause issues such as wax burn and allergic reactions.
The skin around the eyes is very delicate, so waxing your brows can come with a lot of irritation. Thankfully, most of the irritation is normal and goes down within a few hours. However, the aftercare from a wax session is crucial, especially for serious cases.
If you don’t think the swelling around your brows is normal, have a look at some of the other reasons you could be experiencing irritation.
Why Your Eyebrows Swell After Waxing
Waxing is a hair removal technique that effectively pulls the hair from the roots to offer a smooth finish. This service is known to be painful and uncomfortable, but the results last longer than shaving and takes less effort and time than plucking, so many individuals continue to wax.
Because waxing involves pulling the hair right from the follicles, it can lead to some irritation, especially in a delicate area around the eyes. Redness and puffiness are expected after a fresh wax. In addition, aftercare is crucial to keep your skin happy.
Soothing skin care with aloe (make sure the brand you choose does not include drying ingredients like alcohols) or a cool compress can alleviate the pain and reduce swelling. Usually, after a few hours have passed from your service, your brows should no longer be red, sore, or swelling.
However, what if the swelling doesn’t go away?
If the symptoms don’t disappear after a few hours, this can indicate something else is causing your irritation. Thankfully, you can quickly figure out what is triggering your sensitive reactions so you can continue to enjoy freshly waxed brows.
1. Sensitive Skin
Your skin may be extremely sensitive, or the irritation may last longer than most people. This issue can be dealt with efficiently, and it includes an effective prep and aftercare routine.
First, make sure your brows are clean, and you haven’t recently completed a vigorous activity. Then, take an Ibuprofen before your wax appointment to reduce pain and inflammation.
Finally, ensure you have a soothing skincare routine for after your service.
2. Wax Burn
Nothing is worse than when an unprofessional beautician touches your brows. Not only do you risk infections due to unhygienic practices, but some beauticians won’t prepare the wax for your brows properly.
For example, your waxer should always test the temperature of the wax before applying it to your skin, especially if you are waxing skin as thin as the area around your eyebrows. Wax burn is serious and it can take time to heal.
Let’s not forget waxing can also remove dead skin from the surface. It can be irritating to burn the skin while removing the excess skin cells. So, double check your wax temperature.
3. Allergic Reaction
Salons use multiple products to conduct a wax service, even for something as minor as eyebrows. A wax service usually involves a cleanser, baby powder, or a drying agent to prep the skin, the wax itself, aloe vera, moisturizer, and more.
Either the wax or the skincare products could have caused an allergic reaction, which can explain the uncontrollable redness, puffiness, and irritation. Try to figure out which product or ingredient is the main culprit and eliminate it from your wax routine.
4. Infection
Infection is no fun. You may notice discoloration, pus and redness, or an unusual skin reaction that can display signs of an infection. Salons and waxers need to ensure each tool used on every client is sanitized and sterilized.
In addition, the workspace should be cleaned and disinfected after every client. More importantly, the wax stick shouldn’t be double-dipped into the heated pot, which could result in cross-contamination.
5. Aftercare
Keep your freshly waxed brows clean and untouched after your wax service. Applying soothing skincare ingredients or cool compresses can minimize harsh waxing side effects.
This lightweight multi-use cream works great on all skin types, plus the bottle size makes it easy to pop in your purse.
If your symptoms last longer than usual, it may be time to see a dermatologist to figure out the culprit of your irritation and find a solution.
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