TIFU by waxing my underarm at home

Submitted by Ok-Train-4244 t3_121g52x in tifu

I (F23) have never waxed before and I wanted to try it once, and I am going on a trip in 5 days I though this would be a good time to try. A friend of mine suggested it get the cool wax stripes and do it at home (they said that its the same, it's more convenient and not very messy).

Now, I did test one on my leg and it didn't hurt much. So naturally I tried doing on my underarm right then.

And oh fck! Not only did it hurt momentarily but there was a some blood and a lot of bruising (which has not turned purple blue) and it hurts so much that I can't even lift up my hand. I should have started by testing it on a small patch maybe.

I only did one side and now one of my under arm is bruised the other one is still hairy and I am in a lot of pain. Never gonna try this ever again!

TL;DR tried waxing underarm at home and ended up with a lot of bruising.

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ASlightHiccup t1_jdmx0pz wrote

Ok I totally can tell that you pulled out instead of down with the skin very loose. That’s why it hurt so bad and you have the bleeding. It’s REALLY hard to wax your underarms alone. Your leg is easier and less painful because the skin is tighter and it is easier to pull down so the strip is close to the skin—not to mention you can easily pull your skin taut on your leg. Get some ice and some aloe on your under arm and maybe stick to your legs-I’ve always heard that waxing your underarms can leave hyperpigmentation marks anyway so maybe stick to a different area and just shave or get some nair for the underarms. Ouchies! Good luck!

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Im-Spreading-for-you t1_jdpb7cc wrote

Hyperpigmentation? How?

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ASlightHiccup t1_jdr41ka wrote

It’s called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Basically waxing can traumatize the skin (especially if not done correctly) and the skin reacts by basically changing color. It’s like when you pick at a pimple and it leaves a red mark on your skin even after the pimple itself has healed.

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IrisRowan t1_jdmzyuh wrote

Just a note for the future:

In general, humans have an inherit instinct to do no harm to themselves. Therefore, it's harder to wax an erogenous zone such as the armpit. To curb this, and also avoid bruising I suggest to

  • Wash the armpit clean and pat dry.

  • Get baby powder/corn starch and dabble some on a square piece of fabric (maybe a shirt you don't use anymore or a rag that isn't texturized) and use that to rub over the skin. This helps to remove moisture from the skin and helps the wax grip the hair follicles better.

  • Cut the waxy strip in half and wax the top part of one armpit first, making sure to go against the way your hair is growing (if after you lift your armpit and looks like it's growing upwards then wax downwards) Al then immediately press a hand firmly over where you just waxed. This applied pressure helps relieve the sting, prevent bruising and help the skin become less sensitive. >Side note: if you have someone to stretch your underarm skin above your armpit, this helps too.<

  • Alternate between armpits, doing only the top part of one armpit and moving to the other armpit to wax. This way you give your armpits time to relax and cool down, while also not having to deal with the wax strip sticking to either part of your armpit as the wax melts into and/or around your armpit hair.

  • Don't forget to re-powder when needed

  • After this, simply use the oil given in the boxed wax strips (or baby oil) to remove excess wax. Then grab a rag and dose it in ice water, wring till it's damp (or use a cold compress) and press it to your armpit to relieve pain and to reduce swelling/bruises. After 5-10 minutes of applying cold compresses, you can stop and go about your day.

It's easier to be waxed by an Esthetician, as they learn how to prevent bruising when waxing and you can walk out the door without having to go the extra mile, as they apply pressure and powder while you lay back and (try to) relax. But, when you're at home waxing, doing the things I've listed does help!

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nomorelawyers t1_jdn96si wrote

Been here, least painful/ most effective one I've found is sugar wax

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