Sugaring Hair Removal 101

Sugaring hair removal, an ancient middle-eastern practice uses an all natural paste made from food-derived ingredients like sugar, water, and lemon juice to remove the hair follicle from the root. The results can last up to 6 weeks. While there are many sugar paste recipes, only natural ingredients are used in real sugaring. It’s also been called sugar waxing, although not a correct term, because it's done very similar to waxing.

How Does it Work?

The paste in applied to the hair either warm or cold and then removed with the use of strips, by grabbing it with the hand, or by flicking it off with the fingers. When using the traditional sugaring technique, the sugar paste is applied against the hair growth (waxing is applied in direction of growth) and pulled off in the direction of growth (waxing is pulled off against the direction of growth). The entire hair follicle should be removed from the root, if the sugaring is done correctly. While sugaring can be applied with the hair growth and removed against it, just like waxing, there are more benefits to using the traditional sugaring technique.

The Pros

1. Someone experienced can do sugaring quickly. Large amounts of hair can be taken out at once, and finished faster than even waxing. With most waxes, you have to apply them to a limited area- remove, go to your next area- remove and so forth. With sugaring hair removal you can speed things up by applying the paste to a very large area, and it won’t dry out, even if you remove it in smaller sections.
   
   
2. Easy clean up. The paste is water soluble, meaning you can clean off sugar paste residue with plain water, unlike regular wax.
   
   
3. Sugar right in your own home. Entire sugaring hair removal kits, supplies and can be bought online, or you can whip your paste at home. (Be aware of conditions or circumstances in which you shouldn't sugar, and follow all instructions).
   
   
4. Sugar paste can be applied over missed hairs. The paste is very gentle and can be put right over an area that was just sugared but missed some hairs, without fear of much irritation.
   
   
5. Temporary results can turn into permanent. Over time, frequent sugaring can cause the hair follicle to become damaged, and stop growing hair.
   
   

The Cons

1. It’s hard to find a pro that does real sugaring. Some salons and spas use a wax that has been mixed with sugar, and advertise it as sugaring- but it isn’t the same. Few places offer the real sugaring method.
   
   
2. Getting just the right consistency can be tricky. If you make your own paste at home, you’ll have it get it just right for the paste to hold on to the hair.
   
   
3. Some hair growth is needed. 1/16 of inch is needed when using the traditional sugaring technique, which is about 2-5 days of hair growth after shaving.
   
   
4. Lack of knowledge or cleanliness can lead to disaster. If sugaring contradictions (circumstances or conditions when you shouldn't get sugaring) are simply unknown or ignored, skin could end up extremely red, and even become scabby. Salons or spas not adhering to safe and sanitary sugaring procedures could give a client a skin infection, or even a disease.
   

Ouch Factor

Okay, it’s still pulling out hair from the root, but most people find it less painful than waxing. Sugaring doesn’t stick to the skin as much as waxing, which means less irritation. The upper lip, chest, bikini and genital areas rank as the highest pain offenders. If you find someone experienced that uses the traditional sugaring technique, the discomfort is less because hair is removed in the natural direction of its growth (as opposed to waxing, which removes hair against hair growth).

The Costs

At Home: Sugaring kits cost $25 - $40. You can make your own sugar paste for a couple of dollars.

Professional: Sugaring hair removal is generally more expensive than waxing because it’s not as commonly found. The price will also depend on where the facility is located, and type of salon or spa. A 15% - 20% gratuity on your total bill is customary and suggested.

Face:

• Eyebrow (both eyebrows, including in-between) $10 - $50
• Lip (skin right above upper lip) $10 - $25
• Sides of Face (side burn area) $10 - $18
• Chin $10 - $25

Body:

• Underarms $15 - $40
• Chest $35 - $120
• Shoulders $40 - $55
• Full Arm (wrist to shoulder- both arms) $35 - $80
• Half Arm (wrist to elbow or elbow to shoulder- both arms) $40 - $60
• Back $50 - $110
• Bikini $30 - $75
• Brazilian Bikini $60 - $110
• Half Leg (ankle to knee or knee to thighs, not including bikini- both legs) $30 - $55
• Full Leg (ankle to thighs, not including bikini- both legs) $55 - $100