Brow Wax, Brazilian, and a Retinoid

Defer the brow wax. Proceed with the Brazilian only if the skin checks out and the client accepts the plan.

Brow wax - defer:

• Topical retinoids thin the stratum corneum and impair barrier recovery. Waxing can avulse the epidermis along with the hair ("skin lifting"), leaving an erosion that can scar or hyperpigment - on the face, that is a highly visible risk, and it will not be healed in two days.
• She also has an acute sunburn with tightness on the face, meaning the skin is already inflamed and barrier-compromised. Waxing over it is a second insult.
• Standard guidance is to stop the retinoid for roughly a week before waxing and to wax only after erythema and tenderness have fully resolved. She has done neither, so reschedule after the wedding.

Brazilian - proceed with modifications:

• The treated area was covered, so there is no sunburn there.
• Low-dose aspirin plus self-reported easy bruising is not an absolute contraindication, but it raises the risk of bruising and prolonged redness. Disclose this, get verbal and written consent, and be extra gentle.
• The few red bumps with trapped hairs need to be assessed: if they are simply congested follicles, work around them with careful technique. If any are inflamed, tender, or pustular, do not wax over them.

Temperature

• Use the hard wax at its lower working temperature for the sensitive bikini area; hard wax grips without a strip and is gentler on reactive skin.
• Test before applying to the client: roll a small amount on your inner wrist and hold it - it should feel warm and set to a pliable consistency, not hot or tacky-hot. Then test a small area on the client at the outer edge and ask about heat sensation before continuing.
• Never judge by the pot dial alone; pots drift, and a wax that was correct at 2 p.m. may be hotter at 5 p.m.

Technique

• Gloves, fresh sticks, no double dipping; one stick per application, then discard.
• Apply in the direction of hair growth in a thin, even layer with a slightly thicker lip for grip; remove against the growth with firm, parallel support of the skin.
• Do not pass over the same area more than twice, and never over the red bumps if they are inflamed. Trapped hairs that do not release are left for next time - no digging with tweezers into a bump.
• Work in small sections so you can stop immediately if you see skin lifting or excessive erythema.
• Apply light pressure with a clean gloved hand or cool compress after each strip, and finish with a soothing, fragrance-free product; no occlusive or exfoliating product immediately after.

Aftercare talking points

• For 24–48 hours: no heat (hot showers, sauna, steam), no friction (tight underwear, exercise), no chlorinated pools or hot tubs, no sun on treated skin, no scented lotions or exfoliants.
• From about 48 hours: gentle exfoliation and light moisturizing to reduce new ingrowns. Do not pick at the bumps.
• Expect redness and small bumps for a day or two, and possible bruising given her aspirin use and easy bruising - this is the key thing to have told her before, not after.
• For the face: no waxing, no peels, no scrubs, and sun protection until the burn resolves; she should stop the tretinoin about a week before a rescheduled appointment.
• Seek medical care for spreading redness, pus, fever, or a bump that becomes hot and painful.

Documentation

• Retinoid use and duration, recent sun exposure and current erythema, aspirin use, easy bruising, current bumps, date and result of the temperature/patch test, products used, and the specific consent she gave.
• The brow service declined, the reason, the reschedule offer, and her acceptance - written, dated, initialed.
• Avoid overpromising: do not promise "no redness" or "no bumps" for the wedding.