During traditional hair waxing, the wax adheres to the unwanted body hair and the top layer of the skin. This leaves the skin very sensitive after the hair removal process. However, another ancient hair removal method uses regular kitchen ingredients to remove unwanted hair daily. This hair removal method is called “Sugaring” and is otherwise referred to as “Sugar waxing” (1). It is a more accessible alternative to traditional waxing because the waxing substance only adheres to the hair follicles and not to the top layer of the skin. This article shares an informative guideline on the Sugaring hair removal process.
Hair Removal Methods
There are several hair removal methods, and everyone has a favorite one. Whatever the choice, the intended goal remains: to remove unwanted hair from the body. Some of these hair removal methods include
The Sugaring Hair Removal Method
This process involves using natural sugar paste to remove unwanted hair from your body, explicitly uprooting the hair. The sugaring paste contains sugar, lemon, and water (2). These ingredients are made into a blend and heated to a gel-like consistency. It is allowed to cool – to warmness, then applied directly to the skin. The sugaring paste is a natural paste with no chemical additives. Also, it does not stick to the top skin layer; it is only soft enough to penetrate the hair pores. Careful attention is paid when applying it to ensure it is removed in the direction of the hair growth (3).
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In the sugaring process, removing hair roots diminishes the blood supply to the follicles, weakening the hair. Consequently, you experience reduced hair growth with each sugaring session, leading to a consistent decrease over time. This ongoing reduction in hair growth results in finer and sparser new hair growth until the skin becomes virtually hairless. Following sugaring hair removal, the skin remains hair-free for 4 to 6 weeks.
Sugaring is an effective hair removal process for ingrown or curly hair. It removes the hair from the root, not breaking the hair at the surface, and does not pull at the live skin cells.
Types of Sugaring Substances
The sugaring substance has two forms, which depend on the substrate’s consistency.
Sugaring Paste – This is a thick consistency used at room temperature, just like a paste. Because of the paste’s thick consistency, all application stages are done using fingers. The sugar paste is molded in a ball and applied directly to the skin, against the direction of hair growth, then pulled out in the same direction as hair growth.
Sugaring Gel – This has a thin consistency and is used at a warm temperature. It is applied directly on the skin toward the hair growth and pulled in the opposite direction against the hair growth. An applicator is used during the application stage to use the gel, and a cloth or muslin strip is used in the removal stage (4).
What Body Areas Can be Sugared?
This hair removal process is viable for all body parts (5). It does not adhere to the top skin surface. This makes it a preferred option for sensitive skin and delicate body parts, as there is less skin irritation. The body areas include
- Face
- Sensitive parts – bikini lines
- Abdomen
- Legs, toes
- Fingers
- Underarms
- Arms
- Back
- Happy trail
- Eyebrows
How to Prepare the Sugaring Solutions?
It is most recommended to have a hair removal expert carry out the sugaring process. However, if you like DIY, you may carry out your sugaring processes yourself. But first, you will need the sugaring substance – paste or gel. You may buy pre-made sugaring paste from your local store or make one. To make the sugaring paste, you will need
Ingredients
- Half a cup of lemon juice
- 4 cups of white sugar
- Half a cup of water
- Heater – preferably microwave
Direction
- Pour all ingredients into a bowl and heat up into a perfect mix
- For paste sugaring consistency, heat at 118 degrees Celsius
- For gel consistency, heat at 121 degrees Celsius
- In 3 minutes, the blend will turn thick or silky, changing to a slightly golden color.
- Take the mixture from the heater and allow it to cool to room temperature.
- Pour in leftovers into a reheatable jar for easy heating for subsequent uses.
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The Processes – What to Expect Before, During, and After
- Your hair has to be long enough, although the sugaring method takes out the shortest range of hair. The preferred length range is 1/8 to ¼ inch.
- A light skin exfoliation may be needed a few days before your appointment to remove dead skin cells.
- You may be required to avoid applying certain skincare products at least 24 to 48 hours before your appointment (retinoid-based creams).
- You may also be required to avoid all skin tanning activities at least 24 to 48 hours before your appointment.
- You may also need to minimize alcohol and caffeine before your appointment to prevent your skin pores from tightening.
- You may be required to wear loose-fitting clothes. Wearing tight-fitting cloth may cause you to sweat, encouraging bacteria growth near the sensitive hair follicles. It may also result in allergic inflammation and irritation. In addition, your skin needs to breathe.
- The sugaring process is painful; you may grab pain relief and swallow the proper dosage 20 to 30 minutes before your appointment. Also, please speak to your technician; they may have an in-house solution for pain relief.
- Your beauty technician may start on the scheduled day before your procedure by cleaning the target skin areas with a gentle cleanser.
- After this, they generously apply cornstarch or powder on the skin area. This acts as a protective barrier, shielding the top layer of the skin from the paste.
- The technician takes up the paste and molds consistently to warm it up – this helps the paste spread thinly to your skin without causing a burn.
- Then, the warm paste is applied directly to your skin in a direction against your hair growth.
- And the dried sugar paste pulled off in the same direction as your hair growth.
- The same ball of paste is used for the entire procedure; it is enough for all the target skin areas. However, there is repeated hand molding of the paste between applications.
- At the end of the sugaring procedure, the technician will apply oil or serum to soothe and hydrate your skin. This may also prevent ingrown hair.
- After a sugaring session, you may be required to avoid some activities for at least 48 hours. Some of these activities include sex, exfoliation, working out, and a hot bath. Engaging in these activities may cause pimples, rashes, and ingrown hairs. The skin area should be kept cool and clean through the healing process.
- With consistency, the damage caused to your hair follicle during the sugaring process reduces hair growth. As a result, subsequent hair growth may be sparse, thin, and delicate hair.
- You may be required to apply a cold compress after the process, especially if you develop bumps, skin redness, rashes, or experience intense itching. The cold compress may eliminate these reactions in 15 to 20 minutes.
Also Read – Waxing vs Epilators: A Real Answer On The Best Hair Removal Techniques
Benefits of Sugaring
Here are some benefits of using the sugaring method to remove unwanted body hair.
- It is a less painful method than traditional waxing. The sugaring paste or gel does not adhere to your live skin cells; it sticks only to your hair follicles. This reduces the irritation and discomfort due to adherence and pulling of the skin cells.
- Sugaring is environmentally friendly. The ingredients (sugar, lemon, and water) are hypoallergenic and biodegradable.
- The sugaring procedure is fast; you can cover a large skin surface area.
- Residue clean-up after sugaring is easy; all the used substances are water-soluble and easily washed off.
- The sugaring substance is made of natural ingredients and is safe. It does not contain harmful chemical substances such as resin.
- It is a hair removal process that can eliminate hair on all body areas, including sensitive and delicate skin areas.
- Sugaring removes dead skin cells, providing light exfoliation and improving skin appearance.
- Because the sugaring process removes hair from the roots, consistent sessions may result in an overall reduction of hair growth.
Precautions
There are precautions you need to take to ensure a smooth sugaring process.
- Avoid exfoliating the skin area intended for sugaring at least 2 to 3 days before your appointment.
- After your sugaring procedure, avoid shaving, picking stray hairs, or tweezing. This will reduce the possibility of ingrown hair.
- Apply oil or serum on the skin area after sugaring to prevent ingrown hair.
- Avoid sugaring if you have an active skin disease on the intended skin area. Such skin diseases may include eczema folliculitis.
- Some medical treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy, may increase skin sensitivity. Therefore, sugaring may not be an excellent choice for hair removal.
- Discuss your current medical prescription with your technician, as certain medications may make your skin overly sensitive. Some of them include retinoids, vitamin C, steroids, and Accutane.
- If you opt for the DIY procedure, achieving paste gel consistency may be difficult.
- You may have to avoid sugaring when you are on your period. This is because menstruation increases skin sensitivity and hormonal fluctuations; sugaring may result in skin reactions (6).
- If pregnant, check with your doctor before requesting sugaring hair removal. Pregnancy may change your skin sensitivity.
- Avoid sugaring if you have skin bruising, rashes, open sores, cold sores, or swelling.
- If you have genital piercings or tattoos, discuss them with your technician before your appointment to confirm they do not interfere with the procedure.
- Avoid sugaring if your skin is sunburned. Instead, wait for the sunburn to heal completely. Sunburned skin is like an open wound; the exfoliating and sugaring process irritates the skin.
- Resist the urge to scratch your skin after sugaring.
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Possible Side Effects
The risks associated with the sugaring hair removal process are mainly caused by user error. They include
- Burning – this could happen if the paste is too hot
- Rashes
- Bruising – may occur if the paste is pulled off wrongly
- Redness
- Itching skin
- Bumps
- Ingrown hairs
- Folliculitis – occurs when the paste is left on the skin for an extended time.
- However, these reactions are temporary and fade after a few days.
Summary
Sugaring is an effective hair removal process involving the use of natural sugar paste to remove unwanted hair from your body, specifically uprooting the hair. This hair removal process is viable for all parts of the body. It does not adhere to the top skin surface, this makes it a preferred option for sensitive skin and delicate body parts, as there is less skin irritation. It is most recommended to have a hair removal expert carry out the sugaring process. You may need to consult with your dermatologist to confirm you are a good candidate for a sugaring procedure. As with all hair removal process, there are some precautionary measures to ensure the procedure is successful. After the procedure, you may experience mild reactions such as skin redness, itching, and irritation. This may be temporary and can be relieved by applying a cold compress. There are various methods of removing unwanted hair from the body, if you haven’t tried the sugaring technique, you may schedule an appointment for one session.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is sugaring a better hair removal method than waxing?
Sugaring is not necessarily better, but there are some pros. Sugaring offers a gentler experience. There are no chemicals in the sugaring substance; everything is natural, which means fewer reactions. Sugaring only targets and adheres to the hair follicles, while waxing adheres to the top layer of the skin, ripping the skin off its cells.
How long does the results from sugaring last?
This procedure may leave your skin hairless for 4 to 6 weeks. This will depend on some factors, such as your hair growth rate. However, it is also important to note that because the sugaring process removes the hair from the root, the consistency of application destroys the hair follicles and reduces hair growth. As a result, subsequent hair is less and appears sparse and delicate.
Can you exfoliate your skin after sugaring?
Avoiding all exfoliation for 24 to 48 hours after sugaring would be best. However, you may have to exfoliate your skin afterward to prevent ingrown hair.
Can sugaring be done at home?
Yes, it can. But it is most recommended to be done by experts – trained professionals. This will significantly reduce the risks and possible complications.
References –
- “Sugaring—Modern Revival of an Ancient Egyptian Technique for Hair Removal” – jamanetwork.com
- “I Tried Sugaring and I’ll Never Get Waxed Again“- self.com
- “What Is Sugaring? 14 Things to Know Before You Go” – healthline.com
- “Sugaring Paste Vs. Sugar Wax“- liveabout.com
- “Sugaring Hair Removal 101: Pros, Cons, and Costs” – byrdie.com
- “Sensitive skin and the influence of female hormone fluctuations: results from a cross-sectional digital survey in the Dutch population” – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
