DO: Lightly exfoliate the skin one to two days before waxing. A gentle, physical exfoliant will help the wax to adhere to the hair rather than the skin. It is best to exfoliate a couple days before the treatment – not the day of – in order to prevent unnecessary sensitivity to pain. DON'T: Touch the freshly waxed area. After the skin is waxed, the follicles are typically open for about 24 to 48 hours, making the area more susceptible to infection. Touching newly waxed skin, as tempting as it may be, can transfer bacteria from the hand to the vulnerable follicles. .Want to read more? Subscribe to one of our monthly plans to continue reading this article.