7 Reasons Body Sugaring Will Make You Ditch Wax Strips Forever
Do you hate waxing? But hate body hair more? The Ancient Egyptians (inventors of kohl eyeliner and milk baths) can help you achieve your goals of smooth skin without the dreaded discomforts of waxing thanks to their favorite method of hair removal: body sugaring.
Sugaring is an alternative to waxing, what many of us know as the painful monthly procedure that often causes skin to become red, raw, and sensitive. The main difference with sugaring is the paste is simple recipe made of three ingredients: sugar, lemon, and water — and this taffy-like concoction can grab hair just as well as those intimidating wax strips but without the chemicals often found in waxes.
Hibba Kapil, owner of Hibba Beauty in New York City, concocts her own sugar paste using a technique she adopted from her grandmother, and she’s got some compelling reasons to opt for sugaring over waxing.
1. Sugaring Is a Godsend for Sensitive Skin
If you’re the type who breaks out in rashes with most hair removal products, sugaring might be a excellent option for you.
“Sugar paste contains no chemicals or resins, it is hypoallergenic and safe for all skin types,” says Kabil. “Diabetics, those with eczema, spider or varicose veins and those prone to breakouts and ingrown hairs after waxing will benefit from sugaring.”
It’s also completely sanitary, as bacteria cannot thrive in the solution, she adds. The only caution is to hold off on sugaring (or any type of hair removal) if you’ve recently over-exfoliated skin, such as getting an intense chemical peel. Wait until your skin has completely healed and no longer raw before you sugar.
2. Shorter Wait Time Between Hair Removal Sessions
This might very well be the best part of sugaring. “Hair can be removed at less than one-eighth of an inch (approximately two to three days of hair growth, depending on the person) as opposed to waxing which requires one-fourth-inch re-growth,” says Kabil. This means you can invest a bit less of your time trying hard to prolong the bareness in between waxes or shaving.
3. Potential for Less Hair—Permanently
For many people, the more regularly you sugar at that one-eighth-inch length, the less hair you’ll have in general. When hair is removed during the first stage of growth, called the anagen phase, the process begins eliminating parts of the hair follicle, causing it to collapse and rendering it incapable of producing hair as thick—or ever again. (Hair at one-eighth-inch is right in the thick of the anagen phase.) In fact, according to Kabil, some professionals even believe sugaring can have the same success rate as laser hair removal (at a fraction of the cost, though).
4. Smoother Extraction and Less Breakage
Unlike waxing, sugaring removes hair in its natural direction of growth, which helps minimize hair breakage, ingrown hairs, and irritation. Plus, the sugar formula seeps into the follicle and helps lubricate the hair root before it’s pulled out, making it easier to extract. For many people, these factors make sugaring less painful than waxing.
5. Won’t Burn Skin
“Sugar paste works with the heat of your skin, not the other way around,” Kabil explains. There is never a risk in burning, marking or having a product at the wrong temperature for the skin. Additionally, sugar goop never adheres to live skin cells. This means the process won’t ever cause any damage to skin itself, a common complaint people have about conventional waxing.
6. No Sticky Residue
Traditional waxing sometimes leave your skin feeling sticky. This is especially uncomfortable if you get a bikini or Brazilian wax (who wants their bikini bottom getting stuck inside places?). The sugar mixture is water soluble, so it can be easily rinsed away with good old H2O.
7. Works on Every Body
Sugaring is effective on all hair colors and textures and all skin types and tones. Even men can join in on the fun.
What to Expect at Your Sugaring Appointment
Like any grooming treatment, the process can differ from specialist to specialist. Kabil first sanitizes and removes excess oil from the skin by applying talc-free powder. That’s all as far as prep goes. After that, room-temperature sugar is applied to a patch of hair one at a time and off it goes!
Have you tried sugaring? And, if not, are you now compelled to give it a go? Let us know on our Facebook page!
Related on Organic Authority
How to Make Your Shave Last Longer
How to Exfoliate the Right Way (for Your Healthiest Skin Ever!)
DIY: A Homemade Shaving Cream Shave Soap Bar
