More and more people are sporting tattoos these days, and while waxing over a fresh tattoo is a recipe for disaster, this hair removal method is ideal for pre-ink skin prep and fully-healed artwork, offering numerous benefits your clients won’t get from shaving. Join us to learn how properly timed tattoo waxing can support the healing process, brighten existing ink, and even boost your waxing studio’s bottom line.
Why clients should wax before a tattoo
It’s a service many people overlook, but a pre-tattoo wax can be beneficial for your clients and the growth of your studio or spa. Here are some of the perks:
Save time during a tattoo appointment
Typically, a tattoo appointment starts out with a shave of the area where the design will be placed. However, scheduling a wax a few days before the appointment eliminates the need for a razor and ensures the skin is ready for the needle. This saves tattoo artists valuable time that they can use to focus on their artwork.
Be sure to plan it out, though. Waxing can irritate skin for 24 to 48 hours. Allow ample time to return to normal before any tattoo appointment. Three days is usually the perfect amount of time to ensure the skin is happy, healthy, and ready to go.
No hair growth during the healing process
Shaving only eliminates the visible hair beyond the skin’s surface. Shaving before a tattoo appointment causes new strands to begin growing back during the healing process. The last thing your itchy, scabbing skin needs is painful ingrown hairs.
On the other hand, if your clients wax instead of shaving before a tattoo, it prolongs the regrowth process. Since the hair is removed at the root, the tattoo should be just about healed by the time that hair begins growing back.
Complementary branding for your studio
Not only is tattoo waxing a great service that you can offer to your existing clients, but it’s also a complementary branding opportunity. Reach out to tattoo shops close to your waxing studio and ask about potential collaboration opportunities.
They can direct their customers to your studio for a pre-tattoo wax, and you can place some of their business cards at your front desk and recommend their artists to any interested clients. Consider offering a discount for referrals from the tattoo shop to sweeten the deal.
Related reading: Why You Should Avoid DIY At-Home Waxing
How waxing a healed tattoo brightens the skin
Obviously, waxing a fresh tattoo is strictly off-limits, as it could permanently damage the skin and the artwork. Always wait until a tattoo is completely healed to wax your clients. Once the skin has fully recovered, waxing can make that tattoo look brand new again!
Hair removal for a clearer look
As hair grows back over a tattoo, those fresh strands obscure the vibrance and clarity of the ink. Waxing over a tattoo removes that hair and with a regular treatment schedule, your clients can enjoy weeks of silky-smooth skin without any stray hairs.
Exfoliation for brighter tattoos
Gentle exfoliation is another benefit of tattoo waxing, especially when you use soft wax. By removing dead skin and impurities from the skin’s surface, the tattoo and overall complexion will brighten up. An application of a post-wax lotion adds to that radiant glow and helps to hydrate the skin.
Related reading: Types of Exfoliation: Which Provides Best Results?
The best waxing brands for tattoo waxing
Wondering which wax you should choose? Soft wax is the top choice for many waxing specialists and tattoo enthusiasts, as it eliminates dead skin cells that can interfere with the artwork. However, the answer will also depend on each client’s skin type and pain tolerance, as well as the chosen treatment area.
Soft wax is best for large zones like the arms, legs, and back, and may be too harsh for sensitive skin. But hard wax is a gentle alternative that can eliminate unwanted hair, even if it doesn’t have the same exfoliating power as soft wax. Here are a few of our favorite products to consider:
WaxOne Strip wax
First, we have WaxOne’s Strip wax. This soft wax is a hypoallergenic paraffin blend that helps leave the skin hydrated after waxing, without the stickiness associated with traditional soft waxes. Estheticians love this brand for its great quality and price point, making it an excellent option for any waxing studio.
ItalWax soft wax
Next up, ItalWax offers a line of soft waxes to suit a wide range of professional needs. With scents like Rose Oil, Raspberry, Amber, and more, each of their soft waxes is designed to remove every single hair. They melt at low temperatures to ensure a quick and efficient wax every time.
Waxness Russian Pearl hard wax
Clients with sensitive skin will appreciate a gentle alternative to soft wax. Russian Pearl from Waxness features a creamy, hypoallergenic formula that’s ultra-low temperature for a soothing hair removal experience that won’t irritate skin.
Related: Top Professional Wax Brands for Estheticians
Find the best tattoo waxing products at Bare Beauty Wax Supply!
Bare Beauty Wax Supply is your source for high-quality waxing supplies at a competitive price. Shop our extensive online collections of hard and soft waxes or reach out today to learn more.