Pregnancy is an exciting time. Your body is going through lots of changes and hormones are causing lots of new changes to your body. Some of these, like growing extra hair in unwanted places, can be embarrassing. You may find yourself looking for ways to remove it.
Pregnancy is an exciting time. Your body is going through lots of changes and hormones are causing lots of new changes to your body.
Some of these, like growing extra hair in unwanted places, can be embarrassing. You may find yourself looking for ways to remove it.
Barring any sensitive skin issues you might have, it's generally considered safe for pregnant women to get waxed during pregnancy. Thanks to your hormones, your hair is probably growing at a much faster rate now, which means you might find yourself more fixated on hair removal than ever before. Some women find their hair growth totally slows down during pregnancy. Which for women (like me) that like to stay waxed anyway it makes for easier trips to the salon!
There aren’t any known medical problems with using waxing for hair removal during pregnancy, as it doesn’t penetrate the skin, however, the increased blood flow in your body could mean it feels more painful than usual, and could cause some broken blood vessels, which are harmless but visible.
Make sure you always inform your beauty therapist you are pregnant and do patch tests even if you have never had a reaction in the past.
Skin with the following conditions or blemishes should not be waxed while you are pregnant:
- open cuts
- varicose veins
- rashes
- scar tissue
- moles
- pimples
- warts
- areas where acne medications are applied
Waxing
- Using wax to remove unwanted hair can be done by a professional at a salon or spa, or at home using your own kit. Before getting waxed, make sure hair grows out about 1/2 an inch so the wax will stick to it.
- There are two types of wax, warm wax and hot wax.
- Warm wax is spread on with a thin layer. A cloth strip is placed over the wax and rubbed on, then quickly torn off in the opposite direction that the hair grows.
- Hot wax is spread on in a thicker layer and then allowed to dry until it hardens. Then the wax itself is peeled off in the opposite direction that the hair grows.
- Hot wax doesn’t stick to the skin as much as warm wax, so it’s often used in more sensitive areas, like the bikini line or under the arms.
Safety
Getting waxed during pregnancy is generally considered safe. But there are some precautions you should be aware of, whether you’re waxing at home or going to a spa or salon.
Make sure to see an experienced and licensed therapist. You should also be sure to ask about their experience with waxing pregnant women. Always go to a therapist that has expertise in this area specifically.
Sensitivity During Pregnancy
Your body is producing extra blood and fluids to support your growing baby. As a result, your skin may be more sensitive than usual, making waxing more painful.
If you’ve never been waxed before, it might not be a good idea to start during pregnancy.
Alternatives
If you find that your skin is too sensitive for waxing during pregnancy, there are other options for hair removal. Depending on where the unwanted hair is, you might be able to simply use tweezers. This is best for smaller areas like eyebrows or nipples. You can also have the hairs threaded away.
Shaving is the safest way to remove hair during pregnancy. But you may find it difficult to shave some areas as your pregnancy progresses. In this case, your partner may be able to help.
Written by Laura Doyle staff writer at FFHQ who also blogs at www.lovelifeandlittleones.com.
