There are so many different methods of hair removal. All of them have one thing in common – the fact that there is no perfect way of getting rid of unwanted hairs. Traditional waxing can be very painful, shaving doesn’t last long enough and leaves you with ingrown hairs, and lasers… well, it is so expensive! Nevertheless, there is a method of hair removal that is not well-known called sugaring. If you want to learn how to use sugar wax, you have come to the right place!
Sugaring is similar to waxing but less painful and uses a sugaring paste or wax. The best thing is – the ingredients are all-natural and more gentle on the skin as well! Keep reading to learn more about sugar waxing and how to make sugaring wax in the comfort of your home.
Table Of Contents
What Is Sugar Wax?
Sugar wax is a natural wax made of three ingredients we always have at home: lemon juice, sugar and water. Even though these ingredients are simple, the recipes for making your own sugar wax can be different. By mixing these ingredients, you get a sticky, gel-like paste that is safe, natural and has no chemical additives.
Learn how long sugaring lasts here.
How To Make Sugar Wax At Home
Ready to use, DIY sugar wax recipe, quick and inexpensive!
Ingredients
2 cups | White sugar |
¼ cup | Lime juice or lemon juice or apple cider vinegar |
⅓ cup | Water |
Time
Prep time | 5 minutes |
Making time | 5 minutes |
Cooling time | 2 hours |
Total time | 2 hours and 10 minutes |
Equipment
Non-stick medium saucepan |
Candy thermometer |
Preparation:
- Add ingredients to a non-stick saucepan. Then add warm water without stirring the mixture.
- Turn the heat to a medium-high flame. After 2 – 3 minutes, the mixture will start boiling. Swirl the pot gently to mix all the ingredients.
- When the mixture gets an amber honey color, turn the gas off. Or you can check it with a candy thermometer – when it reaches 240 °F (115 °C), turn the gas off.
- Immediately pour the mixture into the mason jar.
- Make sure the wax is warm enough before application.
Click to read more about the best wax warmers!
Note! This recipe works best for softer hair on your chest, back or legs.
How To Use Sugar Wax At Home
We have learned how to make sugaring wax and now it’s time to learn how to use it for hair removal!
1. Warm It Up
Warm the wax before starting the application. You can heat it up in the microwave or a water bath.
Using a small spatula or popsicle stick, test the temperature of the wax on your skin. If it is too hot, cool it before starting the process.
2. Spread It On Your Skin
Using the same spatula, apply ¼ inch (6 mm) of the wax layer to your skin.
Always spread the sugar wax in the opposite direction of the hair growth.
3. Apply The Waxing Strips
Place the wax strip over the wax and press it firmly. You should use cotton strips as they are best for the skin. You can also do the sugaring session with your hands, without using any strips but in my opinion, you have more control when using the strips.
4. Pull It Off
Hold your skin tight. Leave the sugar wax on it for a few seconds. From one corner of the wax strip pull it off in the same direction of the hair growth. Along with hair, sugar wax helps you to remove dead skin cells.
5. Repeat
Repeat the process all over again until you get desired results. You need to take a big breath and just rip off the wax from your skin. Unlike wax, it’s common to sugar one area a few times.
6. Clean
If you have any sugar left on your skin, you should use a little water to gently wash it away.
Pro Tip! Unlike traditional wax, sugar paste is water-soluble!
If you are still thinking about which method of hair removal to opt for – epilating, waxing or shaving – choose the fourth option, sugaring! But remember, neither of these methods removes hair permanently. Click here to read our blog post about how to permanently remove hair. Or see here for the best epilators on the market.
How To Prep The Skin
Before you start the sugaring process, make sure to prep your skin properly.
1. Exfoliate At Least 24 Hours Before Waxing
While showering, lightly rub your skin in a circular motion with a washcloth. This way you will eliminate ingrown hairs.
Do you know how to prevent ingrown hairs? Find out in our blog post.
2. Trim Excess Length
The hair you want to remove should be at least ⅛ inch (3 mm) long. It is more effective and less painful to do sugaring on short hair.
3. Gather Info And The Supplies
Before getting started, make sure to gather all the information you need and collect all the supplies you need.
4. Test Patch
Make a patch test on a small area at least 24 hours before you start sugaring your skin. If your skin becomes slightly red, it is normal, don’t worry. Redness on your skin should naturally disappear after a few hours. If the irritation persists, do not try to do it again.
Wondering which epilator is best for the face? Read more about them here.
After Care
After you finish your sugaring procedure, you should follow these aftercare instructions to get the best results from your sugaring treatment.
24 Hours After Sugaring
- Refrain from exfoliating the area for the first 48 hours
- Avoid sweating for 24 hours
- Avoid any kind of friction in the area
- Avoid touching the area
48 Hours After Sugaring
- Exfoliate but with care
- Protect yourself from the sun
- Avoid swimming
- Avoid tanning
- Avoid lotions that include fragrances or harsh chemicals
After that, continue with your regular skincare routine until your next sugaring session.
Benefits Of Sugar Wax
Here are the benefits of using a sugar wax mixture:
1. Zero-Waste & Natural Product
Sugaring wax is made from natural products. On the other hand, traditional wax contains several chemical ingredients.
2. Painless & Good For Skin
Sugaring is less painful and better for your skin than traditional waxing. Traditional waxing can be very painful, especially if you have thick hair! And burned skin is not funny at all.
3. Reduces Unwanted Hair Growth & Removes Ingrown Hair
Sugaring removes hair from the root and you will see a significant difference in the hair growth after doing sugaring 3 – 4 times.
4. Easy To Clean Process
Sugar wax is water-soluble, so you can easily clean it from your skin or the waxing paper strip that you are using.
5. Less Irritation After Sugar Wax
You won’t get any burns after sugaring. The ingredients are all-natural and if you perform the procedure carefully, you don’t have to worry about anything. It is perfect for sensitive skin.
6. Lasts Up To 8 Weeks
The results last up to 8 weeks, longer than most other hair removal methods.
Laser vs IPL: which one should you opt for? Click the link to find out. Here you can read more about the best home laser hair removal devices.
Sugaring Tips For Specific Areas
Here are some useful tips for sugaring specific areas of your body:
Sugaring Your Arms And Legs
Sugaring Your Underarms
This area requires sugaring in two steps because hair grows in different directions here. For the lower part, apply the sugar downward, toward your waist and remove the strip in the opposite direction quickly. For the upper part, apply the sugar toward the elbow and quickly pull the strip in the opposite direction.
Sugaring Your Bikini/Pubic Area
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Should I Sugar Wax?
You can sugar wax as often as every two weeks. You can wait longer between sugaring sessions as the results of this hair removal method last up to 8 weeks. For the best results, you should remove hair that is in the growth phase. Keep in mind that after 3 – 4 weeks, hair is no longer in that phase.
What Can Go Wrong With Sugaring?
Sugaring comes with the risk of getting ingrown hairs. Even though sugaring is almost a pain-free way to get rid of unwanted hairs and it seems like a perfect way, it still has that one downside. Just like using razors, sugaring can cause painful ingrown hairs that can sometimes become infected.
Can I Microwave My Sugar Wax?
Yes, you can microwave your sugar wax. There are two ways to use a microwave when it comes to sugaring – you can either make your own wax or warm wax before the sugaring process. Because it only takes up to 15 to 30 seconds to heat the sugar wax, microwaves are perfect for preparing sugaring wax.
Can You Reuse Sugar Wax?
Yes, you can reuse sugar wax. The sugaring wax is reusable even after you’ve used it to remove hair. To make it usable again, all you have to do is reheat the used wax again and melt it down. The process is the same, you already know all the steps!
Does Sugar Wax Work On Pubic Hair?
Yes, sugar wax works on pubic hair. Sugaring is a very popular procedure. The best sugar wax is good for all parts of your body, even for the bikini line. There is even Brazilian sugaring. When it comes to sugaring vs waxing pubic hairs, sugaring is better because it lasts longer and causes fewer ingrown hairs.
Conclusion
You can achieve long-lasting results with this method of removing unwanted body hair. You will get smooth skin with spa-like results in the comfort of your own home. Hopefully, you have learned how to use sugar wax and now go ahead, step into the world of sugar waxing to get the best results. You deserve it!
