Waxing in Pregnancy and Postnatal Waxing – what do I need to know?

If you have a client who is pregnant you may be wondering if it’s safe to wax them and the simple answer is yes! However, here we’ll answer some of the questions you might have to make you feel more comfortable when treating pregnant women in the salon.

Why wax?

During pregnancy your hormones changes a lot and that can have an affect on complexion, skin, moods and hair growth. It can create unwanted and additional hair growth in areas such as stomach, upper lip, armpits, chin and pubic area which can make people feel self-conscious.

And it’s safe?

There has been found no substantial proof available that shows wax is unsafe in pregnancy and many many women will wax right through their pregnancy up to the due date. You just might have to make minor adjustments to your routine in order to make your client more comfortable.

Will it hurt more?

The fluctuating hormones can cause your client to be more sensitive to pain so even seasoned waxers may feel the sting of waxing a little more when pregnant. As long as you stick to good pre and post waxing products and ensure that you are working with the client’s comfort levels you should have no real issues.

What will I need to do differently?

In order to make your client more comfortable, you should ensure that the head of the bed is raised  as pregnant women should not be laid flat on their back for any length of time.  You should check in to make sure they’re comfortable, if they need a break or drink and if they need to change position. With some waxes like Hollywood or Brazilian you will need to adopt different positions to remove the hair from underneath such as having the client lie on their side, rather than lift their legs up.

Is there anything else I should be aware of?

• It is always sensible to conduct a patch test before getting waxed if a client is pregnant in case hormone changes have affected their reaction to the wax
• If a client has melasma or the mask of pregnancy, a kind of skin condition, causes brown patches to appear on the face of a pregnant woman. It is advisable to avoid waxing in such a condition as waxing can further irritate the skin and worsen the condition.
• If a client’s skin tends to get particularly itchy or irritable during pregnancy, it is best that they avoid waxing as it may lead to breakouts.
• You should always refrain from waxing, if a pregnant client develops varicose veins during pregnancy.
• If your client has sunburn, you must avoid waxing during pregnancy as it can flare-up the skin.

Waxing during pregnancy shouldn’t be much different to waxing at any other time, just be mindful of your client at all times, listen and communicate to give them the best experience possible.