When Can You Have Sex After a Wax?
Key takeaways:
You should wait 24 to 48 hours after a wax before having sex to give your skin time to heal.
Waiting helps prevent skin irritation, ingrown hairs, and increased risk of infections.
In addition to sex, avoid tight clothing, hot showers, and excessive sweating during the first few days after your wax.
The benefits of going hair-free down there –– such as smoother skin and slower hair regrowth –– are hard to ignore. Shaving is one way to get the job done. But many people opt for waxing to achieve weeks of smoothness that razors can’t match.
But what about post-wax care? Better yet, when can you have sex after waxing? Your freshly waxed skin needs time to heal. That’s true whether it’s a basic bikini wax to tidy up your swimsuit line or a full Brazilian to remove everything. You might have to give it a day or two before jumping into intimate activities.
When can you have sex after a Brazilian wax?
It’s best to wait 24 to 48 hours after a Brazilian or bikini wax before having sex. Your skin is usually more sensitive during this time, Hannah Kopelman, DO, a dermatologist specializing in hair loss and skin cancer treatments, told GoodRx Health.
Waxing can also leave your hair follicles open, said Dr. Kopelman. Hair follicles are tiny pockets in your skin where each hair grows. When left open, they’re more vulnerable to irritation and infection. If you’re still feeling sensitive after the recommended waiting period, Dr. Kopelman said it’s perfectly fine to give your skin more time to heal.
And yes, this waiting period applies to oral sex, too. Your partner’s skin, facial hair, or even slight stubble can irritate your sensitive, freshly waxed skin.
If waiting feels challenging, Megwyn White, a certified sexologist and director of education at Satisfyer, suggested gentle masturbation while giving your skin the recovery time it needs.
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Many people get ingrown hairs after waxing. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent ingrown hairs.
Why should you wait to have sex after waxing?
You might be eager to show off your smooth results after a wax. But jumping into sexual activity too soon can cause unnecessary discomfort and even complications. Dr. Kopelman explained why patience pays off.
Increased sensitivity and discomfort
The skin in your bikini area is already thin and delicate. Add a Brazilian wax to the mix, where thousands of hairs are being pulled from their roots, and you’re dealing with increased skin sensitivity. Some people’s skin bounces back quickly from this process. But others need more time before they’re ready for the friction that happens during sexual activities.
Skin irritation
Think about the tugging that occurs during a waxing. It’s normal to have some skin irritation, redness, or itchiness after waxing, especially in sensitive areas.
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These reactions are usually temporary. But sex could worsen these symptoms, making the irritation last longer or even leading to more severe skin reactions. Being gentle and letting the area recover can help prevent prolonged discomfort.
Ingrown hairs
Sure, you can develop ingrown hairs from waxing alone. But sexual activity or improper care after a wax can make ingrown hairs more likely.
Skin-to-skin contact and friction disrupt healing, causing hairs to grow back incorrectly. Hairs may curl back into your skin instead of sprouting straight through the surface. This can lead to irritating, sometimes painful ingrown hairs or bumps.
Chafing
Without hair as a buffer, your skin is more exposed and more vulnerable. Continuous skin-to-skin rubbing during sex can irritate your freshly waxed area, creating painful chafing that might show up as stinging, burning, or a rash. On top of that, chafing can create the perfect condition for ingrown hairs to develop.
Folliculitis
Those sudden, acne-like breakouts that can pop up after waxing have a name: folliculitis. It’s a condition where your hair follicles become inflamed and irritated.
Waxing can leave your hair follicles open or damaged, making them an easy target for germs. Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that lives on your skin, is one of the most common causes of folliculitis. Sex right after waxing can spread bacteria, increasing your risk of folliculitis.
Increased infection risk
Some very small studies suggest that there isn’t a strong link between pubic hair grooming and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). But freshly waxed skin may still be at risk for infections such as herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), and syphilis.
These infections aren’t always linked to sex right after a wax. But the combination of contact during sexual activity, bacteria, and tiny skin openings from waxing might increase your risk. This is especially true if your skin doesn’t have time to recover before sexual activities.
What else should you avoid after a wax?
Sex isn’t the only thing you’ll want to avoid after getting a bikini or Brazilian wax. Here’s what else you should skip for a day or two.
Tight clothing
It’s better to give those yoga pants or tight jeans a break for now. "Tight clothes can trap heat and cause friction, leading to irritation and even ingrown hairs," Dr. Kopelman explained. Opt for loose, breathable fabrics to let your skin heal without added friction.
Hot showers or baths
A steamy shower or hot bath might sound relaxing, but it’s another no-no. White warns that hot water immediately after waxing can increase inflammation and blood flow to the affected area. This may lead to redness and prolonged sensitivity. It can also expand your pores, making your skin more vulnerable to infection, she said. Avoid these issues by sticking to lukewarm water for the first 24 hours.
Saunas and swimming pools
Plan that swim or spa session a few days after your wax. Why? Saunas can heat the skin, causing irritation. Swimming pools, especially chlorinated ones, can irritate newly waxed skin. They can also introduce bacteria into open follicles, Dr. Kopelman explained. According to White, prolonged exposure to moisture from saunas and pools can soften your skin and make it more prone to irritation.
Excessive sweating
This might be a good time for a rest day from that spin class. White cautions that sweat can mix with dead skin cells and bacteria. This may clog open follicles and cause ingrown hairs. Dr. Kopelman recommended avoiding intense physical activity for at least 24 hours to reduce this risk.
Exfoliating
Thinking of exfoliating to prevent ingrown hairs? Not so fast. It doesn’t hurt to exfoliate before a wax. But you should wait a few days before resuming your exfoliation routine after waxing.
"Freshly waxed skin is extra sensitive, and exfoliating too soon can worsen irritation and inflammation," Dr. Kopelman said.
Scented lotion, soap, or body spray
You’ll also want to skip the scented stuff for a few days after your wax. These products often contain harsh chemicals and fragrances that can disrupt your skin’s pH balance, said White. Your skin’s pH balance is the natural acidity that protects your skin. Your skin is less protected post-wax, so these products can easily penetrate your pores and trigger irritation.
But that doesn’t mean you have to go without. Just stick to fragrance-free products until your skin recovers.
The bottom line
Wait at least 24 to 48 hours before having sex after a Brazilian or bikini wax. After waxing, your skin is usually more sensitive and vulnerable and needs time to heal. Jumping into sexual activity too soon can lead to chafing, ingrown hairs, and infections. Give your skin the best chance to recover by avoiding certain things for a few days after waxing. This includes tight clothes, hot showers, and scented products.
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References
American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.). Acne-like breakouts could be folliculitis.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.) Hair removal: How to wax.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). About syphilis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Staphylococcus aureus basics.
Kang, C. N., et al. (2021). Hair removal practices: A literature review. Skin Therapy Letter.
Khanna, N., et al. (2014). Post waxing folliculitis: A clinicopathological evaluation. International Journal of Dermatology.
Lambers, H., et al. (2006). Natural skin surface pH is on average below 5, which is beneficial for its resident flora. International Journal of Cosmetic Science.
Luster, J., et al. (2019). Association between pubic hair grooming and prevalent sexually transmitted infection among female university students. PLoS One.
Martel, J. L., et al. (2024). Anatomy, hair follicle. StatPearls.
Osterberg, E. C., et al. (2017). Correlation between pubic hair grooming and STIs: Results from a nationally representative probability sample. BMJ Sexually Transmitted Infections.
