As a professional bikini wax specialist, I urge women to avoid this common mistake before their appointment with me

A waxing specialist has urged women who get intimate treatments to abide by key hygeine steps that she says are too often neglected.

One beautician shared common mistakes that women make, unknowingly causing issues like accidentally contaminating their genitals or leaving bits of toilet paper in the vulva. These mishaps can lead to unpleasant outcomes, highlighting the importance of proper hygiene.

Having sex in the hours before a wax is also a no-no, according to US-based waxist Rachel Johnson.

She pointed out that being sexually active before a grooming appointment can be noticeable due to physiological responses. This insight, shared in a viral TikTok video that garnered 38 million views, sheds light on the significance of personal maintenance habits.

The expert explained that when hair is removed, it triggers vaginal muscles to contract, potentially expelling any fluids present. This process underscores the need for women to be mindful of their body’s reactions during grooming procedures.

‘When we pull the strip you lose control of that area and your pelvic floor for a few seconds and it comes out,’ said Ms Johnson.  

‘Everything will be out on the table—believe that. Unfortunately for me it will be.

 ‘Be mindful when you’re going into these services.

‘I’m not trying to shame anyone because people literally don’t know. You need to control these things because this is your body and your health.’

Rachel, a US based bikini waxer in Utah shared her blunt advice for women coming to see her in a viral TikTok which has amassed more than 38million views

The most common unpleasant thing she sees happens as a result of women ‘wiping back to front’. 

This leads to particles from the back passage transferring to the vulva, which not only makes for a foul-smelling experience for the waxist, but can increase the risk of urinary tract infections. 

‘If you didn’t know this know you do—you need to wipe front to back,’ said Ms Johnson. 

‘As a waxer if you wipe back to front I can tell. Your faeces is smearing into your discharge and it’s all the way up the front of you.

‘Obviously this has a smell and this is severely unhygienic. 

‘I’ve got clients after you and now I’m running late because I’m trying to air out the room.

‘It’s introducing a lot of bacteria into the area and you are very prone to UTIs when this happens. 

‘Some women don’t know this because honestly wiping back to front is easier, but it’s not right.’ 

You may not even be aware that those pesky pieces of toilet paper can dry up and stick to your labia for days, another thing that waxers hate to see, she claimed

Ideally, those coming in for a wax should shower beforehand, she advised. 

Being unclean ‘down there’ can lead to what she termed ‘sit down air’—where the gravity creates a draft upwards and brings with it unpleasant odours.

It also means pesky pieces of toilet paper can dry up and stick to the vulva, which is another thing that waxers hate to see, she said.

‘There was a time I thought a client had a tampon in, which is totally fine, I go to move the string to get one side and it’s toilet paper that has been wadded up so far that it looked like a tampon string.’

Coming to an appointment straight from the gym is also another pet-peeve.

Ms Johnson said: ‘I can’t tell you how many clients I’ve had come in and say “hey sorry I’m late, I was at a workout class,” or “sorry I’m a few minutes late I just came from the gym.” Why would you do that? 

‘If you say, “hey, I was just at the gym and I am sweaty down there, I need to shower before my wax appointment,” I promise you I might even give you a discount.’

She advised exfoliating in the shower to thoroughly wash yourself.

‘You need to be exfoliating your whole body. You need to use a washcloth or a loofah of some sort, I use a silicone one because it doesn’t harbour bacteria as much as a netted loofah.

‘You need to wash your whole body, you need to spread your [bum] cheeks and get the water in between them in the shower. You need to wash your legs and your feet. You cannot just use your hands.’