Male Intimate Wax Aftercare: How to Look After Your Skin After a Brazilian or Hollywood Wax 

Congratulations! 

You’ve just had your male intimate wax. 

Whether it was your first appointment or you’re a regular client, what you do over the next few days plays a huge part in how your skin looks, feels and recovers. 

Many people assume that once the waxing is finished, the hard work is over. 

In reality, looking after your skin between appointments is just as important as the waxing treatment itself. Good aftercare helps reduce irritation, minimise ingrown hairs and keeps your skin in the best possible condition for your next appointment. 

At nkd, we’ve specialised in male intimate waxing for more than 17 years and have carried out thousands of treatments. This is the same aftercare advice we give our clients every day. 

The first 24–48 hours are the most important 

Immediately after waxing, thousands of hairs have been removed from their follicles. 

For a short period afterwards, those follicles remain slightly open whilst your skin begins its natural recovery process. 

During this time, your skin is more vulnerable than usual. 

Anything that introduces friction, excessive heat, sweat or bacteria can increase the risk of irritation, folliculitis (inflamed hair follicles) and, ultimately, ingrown hairs. 

The good news is that giving your skin a little extra care during the first couple of days can make a huge difference to how comfortably it recovers. 

Think of these first 24–48 hours as giving your skin the best possible start. 

For the first 24–48 hours, avoid… 

Heavy exercise and anything that makes you sweat 

One of the biggest causes of post-wax irritation is excessive sweating. 

Freshly waxed follicles are particularly vulnerable during the first couple of days, and sweat combined with friction can irritate the skin and increase the likelihood of blocked follicles and ingrown hairs. 

For the first 24–48 hours, try to avoid: 

• Gym workouts  

• Running  

• Cycling  

• Team sports  

• Heavy manual work  

• Any activity that causes you to sweat heavily  

Your skin will thank you for it. 

Hot baths, hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms 

Freshly waxed follicles and warm, damp environments aren’t a good combination. 

Hot tubs, spas, saunas and steam rooms can expose freshly waxed skin to bacteria at precisely the time when your follicles are most vulnerable. 

Combined with the effects of heat, this can increase the risk of irritation and folliculitis. 

For the first 24–48 hours, we recommend sticking to warm (rather than very hot) showers and avoiding hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms altogether. 

Swimming 

Whether it’s a swimming pool, hot tub, lake, river or the sea, it’s sensible to avoid swimming for the first 24–48 hours after waxing. 

Although swimming pools are treated, they’re still shared environments, whilst natural water contains its own bacteria and microorganisms. 

Allowing your follicles time to close before swimming helps reduce the risk of irritation and infection. 

Tight clothing 

Freshly waxed skin doesn’t appreciate unnecessary rubbing. 

Loose-fitting underwear, shorts and trousers are generally much more comfortable during the first couple of days and help reduce friction whilst your skin settles. 

Sexual intercourse 

We also recommend avoiding sexual intercourse for the first 24–48 hours after an intimate wax. 

Freshly waxed skin is more sensitive than usual, and the combination of heat, friction and bacteria can increase irritation whilst the follicles are still recovering. 

Giving your skin a short period to settle will help you achieve the best possible results. 

Looking after your skin between appointments 

Many people think aftercare is simply about avoiding certain activities for a day or two. 

In reality, the biggest improvements to your skin come from the routine you follow between appointments. 

Clients who consistently look after their skin are far more likely to experience: 

• fewer ingrown hairs  

• less irritation  

• smoother skin  

• more comfortable waxing appointments  

• better long-term results  

At nkd, we keep aftercare simple by focusing on three key areas. 

The (nkd) 3 Steps to Happier Skin 

Step 1 – Exfoliate 

One of the most common causes of ingrown hairs is dead skin cells building up around the hair follicle. 

As new hairs begin to grow, they can become trapped beneath the surface instead of growing out naturally. 

Gentle exfoliation helps remove this build-up of dead skin, allowing new hairs to grow through more easily. 

It’s important, however, to give your skin chance to recover first. 

Wait 48 hours after your wax before you begin exfoliating, then aim to exfoliate every 2–3 days. 

The goal isn’t to scrub your skin aggressively. 

Gentle, consistent exfoliation is far more effective than occasional vigorous scrubbing, which can actually irritate the skin. 

We recommend using the (nkd) All-Over Body Scrub, which has been specially developed to gently exfoliate intimate and body areas after hair removal while helping to reduce the risk of ingrown hairs. 

Step 2 – Cleanse 

Keeping the skin clean is one of the simplest ways to maintain healthy hair follicles. 

Throughout the day, your skin naturally accumulates sweat, oil, bacteria and dead skin cells. 

A gentle daily cleanse helps remove these impurities without stripping away your skin’s natural protective barrier. 

This is particularly important for intimate areas, where harsh soaps or heavily fragranced shower gels can sometimes leave the skin feeling dry or irritated. 

Choosing a gentle cleanser that’s suitable for both intimate skin and post-hair-removal care will help keep your skin comfortable between appointments. 

Our (nkd) All-Over Body Cleanser is soap-free, pH balanced and suitable for intimate areas, making it ideal for everyday cleansing after waxing. 

Step 3 – Moisturise 

Healthy, hydrated skin functions better. 

Moisturising helps maintain the skin barrier, reduces dryness and keeps the skin soft and supple. 

Well-hydrated skin also makes it easier for new hairs to grow through the surface naturally, reducing the likelihood of them becoming trapped beneath the skin. 

Like every part of your aftercare routine, consistency is the key. 

A simple routine that you follow every day will almost always produce better long-term results than an elaborate routine you only remember occasionally. 

To help soothe freshly waxed skin and maintain hydration between appointments, we recommend the (nkd) All-Over Body Balm. 

Regular waxing is part of good aftercare 

Looking after your skin isn’t just about what happens at home. 

Maintaining a regular waxing schedule is one of the best things you can do for your skin. 

Clients who return every 4–6 weeks generally experience: 

• finer, softer regrowth 

• fewer ingrown hairs 

• smoother skin 

• significantly less discomfort 

• more consistent results 

Waiting several months between appointments often means the hair becomes thicker and coarser again, making the next treatment more uncomfortable and reducing many of the benefits you’ve built up. 

Regular appointments allow each wax to build on the progress made at the previous one. 

To find out more about the ideal treatment schedule, read How Often Should You Get a Male Intimate Wax? 

Common aftercare mistakes 

Over the years, we’ve noticed a few mistakes that regularly lead to unnecessary irritation or ingrown hairs. 

Try to avoid: 

• Exercising too soon after your wax. 

• Starting exfoliation immediately instead of waiting 48 hours. 

• Picking or squeezing ingrown hairs. 

• Wearing tight clothing for prolonged periods immediately after treatment. 

• Waiting until a problem develops before looking after your skin. 

• Leaving too long between waxing appointments. 

Good aftercare is about prevention rather than cure. 

If you’re prone to ingrown hairs, you may also find our guide to Ingrown Hairs After Male Intimate Waxing helpful. 

Healthy skin is built between appointments 

Your waxing appointment lasts around 45 minutes. 

Your skin has to look after itself for the other 43,000 minutes until your next appointment. 

That’s why the habits you develop between visits are so important. 

A simple routine of gentle cleansing, regular moisturising, exfoliating every 2–3 days (after the initial 48-hour recovery period) and returning for your next wax every 4–6 weeks will do more for your skin than any single treatment ever could. 

The clients who enjoy the smoothest skin, the fewest ingrown hairs and the most comfortable waxing appointments aren’t necessarily the ones who wax most often. 

They’re the ones who consistently look after their skin in between. 

Build your complete aftercare routine 

At nkd, we’ve developed a simple three-step aftercare routine to help keep skin smooth, comfortable and ingrown hair free between appointments. 

Our recommended routine includes: 

• (nkd) All-Over Body Scrub – to gently exfoliate every 2–3 days and help prevent ingrown hairs. 

• (nkd) All-Over Body Cleanser – a soap-free, pH-balanced daily cleanser suitable for intimate areas. 

• (nkd) All-Over Body Balm – to soothe, hydrate and moisturise freshly waxed skin. 

If you’re starting from scratch, our (nkd) Complete Care Kit contains all three products, making it easy to establish a consistent aftercare routine. 

Related guides 

To help you get the very best from your waxing appointments, you may also find these guides useful: 

• What Happens During a Male Intimate Wax? A Step-by-Step Guide 

• How to Prepare for Your Male Intimate Wax 

• Ingrown Hairs After Male Intimate Waxing 

• How Often Should You Get a Male Intimate Wax? 

• Does Male Intimate Waxing Hurt? 

Ready to improve your aftercare? 

The quality of your wax doesn’t end when you leave the salon. 

By following a simple, consistent aftercare routine and maintaining regular waxing appointments, you can help reduce irritation, minimise ingrown hairs and keep your skin in excellent condition all year round. 

Whether you’ve just had your first male intimate wax or you’ve been waxing for years, investing a few minutes in your skin between appointments can make all the difference. 

Explore the complete (nkd) aftercare range and give your skin the care it deserves.