What is sugaring and how effective is it versus waxing? Image via Adobe Stock.
Hair removal is not a new concept. In fact, it can be traced back as early as ancient Egypt where women would removal ALL of their body hair, including the hair on their head, with tools such as tweezers made from old seashells or pumice stones. However, although modern-day hair removal techniques are a lot less barbaric, the pain of hair removal is a tricky element to remove.
These days, along with more permanent hair removal methods such as laser and IPL, waxing seems to be one of the most popular non-permanent hair removal methods because waxing lasts longer than shaving and it allows the hair to grow back at the same rate, so the hairs appear to be finer and the skin is less prone to ingrown hairs and stubble like with shaving. Sugaring is a similar technique to waxing where the hair is ripped out at the root, however, sugaring is said to be a less painful and more natural way to wax, so we did some research into sugaring and found out what sets it aside from waxing.
What is sugaring?
Sugaring is a form of hair removal using an organic paste made from sugar paste, lemon juice and sugar. It is said to be a more gentle form of waxing because the ingredients are all-natural so they tend to cause less irritation. Instead of using a wax strip like most methods of regular waxing, sugaring is balled into a gloved hand by your beautician and rolled onto the skin then the beautician will pull the wax the same way your hair grows, pulling the hair from the skin, eventually ending up with a sticky ball of your hair. This technique causes less stretch on the skin as opposed to waxing where the wax strips are pulled off in the opposite direction of the hair growth.
Sugaring is also used at room temperature, whereas wax is generally used hot. Sugaring is a good option for people prone to skin irritations and allergens because the wax is natural so you can wash the sugar wax off with water where normal wax needs to be removed with a special cleanser that could potentially contain skin allergens.
Sugaring vs waxing?
Generally, sugaring works better for finer and shorter hair, so you don’t need to wait as long between sessions and sugaring is said to last longer than waxing. However, if your hair is thicker and longer, it is suggested to stick to waxing. If you are sensitive to heat, sugaring might be a better option for you as regular wax needs to be reasonably hot to adhere to the hairs. Sugaring tends to be a longer process as the beautician may need to go over some areas more than once, so it might be a good option to stick to sensitive areas such as the bikini line and underarms for sugaring and larger areas such as the legs or arms for waxing.
Either way, no form of hair removal is painless, so it all comes down to your pain tolerance and the skill of the beautician. It is always a good idea to do your research before you book in to have a personal treatment such as hair removal done.
Check out our recent article “How to choose a good beauty therapist” for tips and things to look out for when choosing a beautician.