You know that feeling of freshly waxed legs and then you jump into your bed with clean sheets and just feel like an absolute goddess? I know that I’m not the only one. It is probably one of the best feelings ever, lowkey.
Many women, myself included, love a close, clean shave or wax to have silky, smooth skin.
But let’s be honest: doing any sort of hair removal feels like such a mundane chore. Razors are usually terrible and take a lot of effort, especially during summer months where your hair decides to grow as quickly as bamboo.
Plus, you can easily nick your skin and no one likes seeing their legs covered in a bunch of bandaids. And you know when you somehow miss that one area by your knee? Every. Single. Time.
Traditional hot waxing is no better: it is usually pretty expensive, often quite painful, and, admittedly, sometimes a little awkward. I mean, who likes having a random lady ripping hair from your body? No one does, that’s who.
Well, fear not my fellow ladies, there’s a wonderful little solution that can replace all these other annoying, painful hair removal processes: sugar waxing.
Sugar waxing is a type of waxing, yes, but don’t be fooled — it is a relatively painless method of hair removal because you wait for the wax to cool, unlike traditional waxing where it needs to be warm to use.
Also, the sugar in the wax doesn’t attach itself to the skin like normal wax — it attaches to only the hairs so it won’t pull the skin when you rip off the wax.
Sounds pretty great, right? It is amazing. So, let’s jump right in — we’ve got everything you need to know about sugar waxing and how you can get started. We know that you’ll never go back to traditional waxing again after this.
A Brief History of Sugar Waxing
Sugar waxing, or sugaring, has been in practice for quite some time. In fact, it’s been around since around 1900 BC. It began in ancient Egypt and was adopted by other Middle Eastern countries. Back then, smooth and hairless skin was the epitome of beauty and youth among Egyptian women.
In fact, some Egyptian women even removed the hair from their heads. It is also said that even Cleopatra used this sugaring method.
Though this practice has been around for thousands of years, it’s been gaining popularity recently because many users of the technique swear that it is much less painful than other methods.
Nowadays, there are slightly different variations to each sugaring recipe that mostly has to do with different ratios of ingredients. However, there are a few key ingredients that almost every single one contains: sugar, lemon juice, and water. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy, literally.
Where to Get a Sugar Wax
With its increasing popularity, it’s becoming a much more common practice used in salons, so it’s usually pretty easy to find a salon that provides this service. You can look around your town or online for an esthetician that provides a sugar wax option. Yelp is a great way to do so and you can also see reviews.
You can also find sugaring wax on Amazon here. The average cost depends on what area of the body you are doing. However, they typically range anywhere from $10 to $60 or more. So it’s roughly the same price as a traditional hot wax, but with much less pain.
But what if we told you that there is a much cheaper option? Oh yes, there is a cheaper option and one that we just absolutely love: you can make your own sugar wax right at home.
That’s right! Not only is sugar waxing a much more painless option than traditional hair removal techniques, but it’s also incredibly affordable because you can make it right at home with just four simple ingredients that you already have in your pantry. That’s right — four ingredients are all you need to get started. It’s perfect for anyone who’s on a budget or simply loves going the DIY-route.
Homemade Sugar Wax Recipe
All of these ingredients for DIY sugar wax are typical pantry staples, so acquiring them shouldn’t be too difficult.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of white sugar
- 1 ¼ cup of lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons of water
- 1 teaspoon of salt (optional)
How to Make Sugar Wax at Home:
- Place the sugar, lemon juice, water, and salt (if you’re using it) in a large pot or saucepan on your stove and turn on to medium-high heat.
- Stir the mixture every few minutes until a candy thermometer reads 260 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, you can use any type of kitchen thermometer you have on hand. If you don’t have a thermometer, wait until your mixture turns into a light honey color and pull it immediately from the heat. Be careful — if you don’t immediately pull it from the heat, it can burn within a matter of a couple of minutes.
- Let the wax cool slightly before placing the wax into an airtight container. Let cool completely before use.
I won’t lie — this can be pretty difficult to get just right. When I first tried this a couple of months ago, I burned my sugar wax four times before I was able to get it right. I don’t say this to discourage you, but rather to remind you to keep in mind that this may take you a few trials and errors until you learn to make the mixture just right. Don’t sweat it! Once you get it down, you’re going to love the results.
I do highly recommend investing in a candy thermometer if you want to avoid wasting money on ingredients. They’re usually around $15, and you can easily find one on Amazon (this one works great and is super affordable), so it’s not an expensive investment. And it’ll save you so much trouble, plus you can use it for when you’re baking if you want to. It’s really a win-win and you can’t go wrong with it.
How to Use DIY Sugar Wax
Back to sugar wax though…Once you’ve made your sugar wax, you’ll use it almost like a traditional hot wax. However, there are a couple of key differences and it’s important to keep those in mind.
With hot wax, you would let it cool slightly after it heats up, so it’s still warm, and then apply it in the direction of the hair growth. Afterward, you would remove it in the opposite direction of the hair growth.
For sugar wax, you do the opposite. You’ll let it cool completely and then simply apply it in the opposite direction of the hair growth by using a popsicle stick, butter knife (use caution!), or even your fingers to spread about a ¼ inch layer of wax onto a small patch of hair.
Press gently into the skin and get a good hold of a corner of the wax and pull quickly in the same direction as the hair growth. You can also re-roll the wax and use it again until it’s no longer sticky.
Once the hair is removed, it’s important to get rid of any wax residue. You can do it with the help of warm water and washcloth. Take note that lemon is acidic in nature and it can irritate your skin.
We recommend that you apply coconut oil to neutralize this and calm your skin. And it’s best that you stick with organic and unrefined formulas. COCO & CO. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is a great option.
Tips and FAQs about Sugar Waxing
We get it — this whole process might be a bit intimidating, especially if you’ve experienced traditional waxing and have gone through that pain. We know that you’ve probably gone to see an esthetician and heard them say that their wax is “pain-free,” only to have your skin feeling irritated, burned, or simply a bit of stinging after your appointment. Luckily for you, we’ve compiled a list of tips and answers to common questions about sugar waxing for all you curious newbies.
Quick Tips
- Before your wax, be sure to wipe your skin clean with a baby wipe or something of the like. If your skin still has lotion or creams on it, it can cause the wax to slide off.
- Wax always works best when your hair has grown out. Wait about a week after your last hair removal process (or until your hair is about ¼ to ½ inch long), whether that was shaving, plucking, or traditional waxing, before trying the sugar wax. You don’t want your hair too long because the longer it is, the more painful it can be.
- Your first time using the wax will most likely not result in getting every hair. That’s okay! That’s because your hair is growing at different rates, especially if you were shaving before. After using the sugar wax, you can go back with tweezers to remove any stray hairs. Not only will your skin be bare but it’ll ensure that all your hair grows back at roughly the same rate.
- Do your best not to shave or pluck hairs in between sessions. This will result in your hair growing at different speeds.
FAQs
Can I use sugar wax anywhere on my body?
Yes, you can. Just use caution on more sensitive areas, such as your face, underarms, or bikini area.
Is this a good option for sensitive skin?
Definitely! When I used to do hot wax treatments, I would always have lots of redness or bumps on my skin because of the wax. But because sugar wax is made with all-natural ingredients, your skin is safe from any harsh chemicals or additives that may be found in other waxes.
Can I use brown sugar or other types of sugar instead of white sugar for the wax?
You can use brown sugar or cane sugar, as long as it’s a granulated sugar — no powder sugars. However, it may not work with the ratio of ingredients for the recipe we have provided.
How painful is it really?
Waxing will always be painful no matter what because you are literally ripping your hairs off your body. With sugar wax, there will be some pain, of course, but nowhere near as much as hot wax.
The sugar wax only clings to the hair and any dead skin cells. A hot wax attaches to the top layer of the skin, so once it’s pulled, it’s pulling your skin.
However, just like any other hair removal techniques, there is always a higher chance for pain in sensitive areas like your underarms or bikini area. Use caution or ask a trusted friend to help you out.
Is it safe to use the sugar wax when you’re on your period?
Just like traditional hot wax, your skin is much more sensitive while on your period, so it’s best to save the waxing for a different day, especially if you were planning to wax your bikini area. If you continue forward with the session, just know that your skin is going to feel quite tender afterward.
How long do the results last?
The results will usually last 4-6 weeks, depending on how thick your hair is and how fast it typically grows. Also, remember to do your best not to do any hair removal in between sessions.
What do I do with the leftover wax?
You can keep the sugar wax in an airtight container until you’re ready for your next session. Just reheat for about 10 seconds in a microwave-safe bowl or container to make it pliable again (just remember to let it cool a bit before putting it on your skin).
Conclusion
Though sugar waxing may seem a little complicated, it is really so simple, whether you do it at a salon or at home.
As with any new hair removal technique, use caution, and take your time. It’s better to go slow and take the time to get it right. Just don’t be discouraged if you mess up — it happens to all of us!
What do you think of sugar waxing? Are you going to try it next time? Are you going the DIY route or go to a trusted professional? Let us know in the comments below!
