Lifestyle June 20, 2018
It's the sweeter option -- literally and figuratively.
Waxing might be known as one of the most long-lasting and affordable hair removal methods, but only because most people haven’t heard of sugaring hair removal yet. Sugaring is similar to waxing, but is more effective, natural and gentle on the skin. Here’s what you need to know about why sugaring hair removal is like waxing, but better.
Sugaring hair removal is an alternative to waxing and an ancient practice that has been used for centuries throughout northern Africa and the Middle East. It simply requires a thick, elastic paste made out of sugar, lemon juice and water.
The aesthetician (or you, if you decide to DIY) combines the ingredients and heats them up until the mix starts to bubble. When the paste cools down to room temperature it gains the thick and elastic consistency. Then the aesthetician forms the paste into a ball, flattens it onto the skin, smoothes it out and leaves it for a few seconds. The paste is applied against the grain of natural hair growth, and binds with the hair as it sits on the skin. When the paste is peeled off in the direction of your natural hair growth, the hairs are pulled out of their follicles.
The process of sugaring hair removal is less painful than waxing because it is applied at room-temperature, not when it is hot. In addition, it is removed in the direction of the hair growth. As a result, it removes the hair more gently.
Because the paste binds with the hair, it is able to remove it more thoroughly. Wax, on the other hand, sticks to the skin. When it is pulled off it often breaks the hair instead of pulling it out, causing the hair to grow back thicker and more quickly. The results of sugaring can last up to 6 weeks, but if you sugar frequently your hair can stop growing altogether.
Sugaring hair removal is not as harsh on the skin as wax, because it is not hot when applied. As a result, it doesn’t cause accidental burns as wax can.
Because the sugaring paste doesn’t adhere to the skin, it doesn’t cause skin irritation and can be reapplied onto the same area over and over again without harming the skin. It can even serve as an exfoliator because dead skin cells stick to the paste.
Unlike wax, it sugaring hair removal paste only contains three natural ingredients: sugar, lemon juice and water. Therefore it is not only gentle on the skin, but it also easily removable with water.
Even though it is not as widespread in salons as waxing, sugaring has increased in popularity in recent years. If you do have trouble finding a salon that offers sugaring hair removal, you can easily make it yourself. Mix all the ingredients together (2 cups sugar, ¼ cup water, ¼ cup lemon juice), heat them up until the mix starts bubbling and then let it cool down to room temperature. You know it’s ready when it has the thick, elastic consistency of honey. Voila!
