Eyebrow wax gone wrong

[fingersandthumbs]

This isn’t right is it?

I went for a LVL treatment and an eyebrow tint and shape yesterday at the usual salon I go to. I have had a patch test for all procedures in the last 4 weeks.

LVL treatment was fine, lovely results, but the eyebrow waxing has left me with open red, weeping sores under, over and between my brows.

I sent an email including photos to the salon on the same day who suggested I had used a sunbed in the past 48 hours or had other treatments. I haven’t.

I emailed again this morning, sending further photos and received a response saying: that the wax has clearly taken more skin off than it should and that if this has never happened to me before, and I don’t feel that the wax was too hot it was hopefully a one off.

The owner then goes on to suggest that it must be something I’ve done and it’s not their fault as “the skin can be sensitised by so many things. Previous treatments, heat or moisture on the skin, change in products used, time of the month, change In medication, exercise, hay fever, if you have been recently poorly. The list can be extensive. “

She says she is sorry this has happened and thanks me for keeping in contact.

Would I be wrong to ask for my money back for the eyebrow treatment? She’s not offered it and seems to have dismissed this. It’s my birthday this week and we had planned a couple of nice outings,subject to Covid, that I now feel embarrassed to go on. I know that’s my issue, but red weeping sores are not covetable by makeup and these are really obvious.

These photos are over 24 hours post treatment after being treated regularly with aloe Vera.

That looks really sore. I do think this answer is a bit of cop out. You would think as a regular customer she would want to keep you on side. Yes, I would ask. I am wondering if there was something else you can use apart from the Aloe Vera. Did she not suggest anything else?
Maybe someone else can? Have you had this treatment elsewhere without issues?

It looks to me as if you have had an allergic reaction rather than she had taken skin off with the wax? Have you tried taking piriton and putting Sudacreme on it? You can develop an allergy at any time - even to products you have used before. It is just one of those things.

If that is the case then I think you will just need to let it settle over a few days.

I don’t think that is the salons fault if you have reacted to something. It just a case of learning that you are not suited to that treatment.

It’s not a reaction. Layers of skin have been removed, either via a burn from the wax or the wax being ripped off, that’s what’s causing the weeping. My next door neighbour who is also my GP has had a quick look and has said it will heal with aloe vera which is good news but I’ve never had anything like this before.

The almost blasé response from the salon owner made me think it was something that “often” happens, it’s just one of those things.

But I wanted to check others thoughts before requesting my money back for the eyebrow shape.

Oh my god you poor thing. It looks really bad (sorry) and VERY sore :-(

This happened to me after I'd been using retinol and forgot to tell my beauty therapist (totally my fault!).

Have you started any new treatments, creams, products recently?

Also, massively empathise, mine was super sore and I was really embarrassed about it, though the initial luminosity did subside pretty quickly, so hopefully yours will to. I kept it dressed with Vaseline to provide a barrier, as it was so raw.

The wax was too hot - did she check the temp was ok for you when she first applied it?

TriciaMcMillan - exactly the same thing as me. I hadn’t realised the retinol made the skin so delicate.

I was going to ask about Retinol, the same thing happened to a friend.
Looks very sore.

I am a therapist and also experienced in this as it happens to me every single time I was my eyebrows (don't know why I keep doing it!!)

It could be a number of things and the salon owners response is absolutely correct.

However that's terrible customer service and I would definitely expect a refund for the eyebrow wax.

Depending how deep the skin has come off it may be ok in a day or 2. Otherwise expect full scabs and any future waxes to do the same!

I sympathize this is really sore!

Nope, no retinol. Pleased to hear yours healed quite quickly and thank you for the Vaseline tip.

Ouch. That looks painful. She seems dismissive.
Why don't you be more direct, in your emails and say that you don't like the way she keeps trying to blame you, avoiding responsibility herself.

I was also going to ask about retinol - this looks like a textbook example of what wax does to skin when you use retinol.

Do you use any other exfoliating / skin thinning products OP? Salicylic acid?

Nappy cream containing zinc is great for this. Hope it heals soon.

1% steroid cream will help.

Thank you for all of the responses. It’s reassuring to know it’s happened to others but I still don’t understand why. No retinol in any of my skin care products. I use the ordinary buffet and vit c and hyaluronic acid and boots no7 standard day cream and sunscreen.
Presumably, avoiding wax and sticking to tweezing would solve future problems?

When this has happened once, you'll always be prone to skin lifting in that same area.

I'd avoid waxing in future.

The salon owner's response is totally off. Did the therapist carry out a full consultation with you and ask you about any medications you are on and what skincare products you use?

I think you should be offered your money back or a complimentary facial once your skin has healed. I wouldn't accept the brush off you've been given.

Try threading instead.

I never had a reaction as bad as yours but I’d still have a couple of days of sensitive skin after waxing.

I wouldn’t be happy with the salon’s response - they would have definitely lost a customer after those emails (not that I’d want to go back after this regardless)

It looks very very sore - hope you feel better soon.

Thank you all for your advice. I’ve had another few messages from the salon owner that not only asks how the wounds are but provides a response that I’m much happier with.

Aloe Vera is great stuff, it’s definitely helping reduce redness and stop the weeping.

But not going to get my brows waxed again.

This happened to me the day before my wedding. Everyone looked at me with pity!! Was able to cover it up with makeup but never again. Now just get threading and only between and underneath eyebrows - not on top.

Of I forgot to say, use Sudocreme. It's very good for this! x