"Once while getting a facial, the woman decided to wax my upper lip without asking. The result was a lovely pimple 'stache, which was definitely not the perfect-pore look I was going for. It lasted almost a week and was in full effect for my surprise birthday party. Ick."
G.R., Wakefield.
Will we never learn? Facials right before a big event = not a good idea. Same goes for waxing. Ashley McCulloch, an aesthetician at Nami Spa (12 Clarendon Street, Boston, 617.267.NAMI), explains: “It’s common for some people, if they’re sensitive, to break out a little. It’s like a little pimple rash.” When the wax pulls the hair up and out of the skin, it can bring with it bacteria from the lower layers, causing the spots. To avoid a problem, dab on astringent before and after the wax — or tea-tree oil if you know you’re prone to irritation. Hard wax is less abrasive on the skin, so choosing that over strip wax might help as well.
“Some people, it’ll never happen to. Other people it will,” McCulloch says. “And some people, they won’t even turn red after [a wax]. It’s one of those things that depends on the individual.” Bumps probably won’t show up until you’re back at home, but treat them like you would any other pimple: keep your hands off to avoid scarring, keep it clean, and let it run its course — however unsightly that course may be.