(WellnessPursuits.com) – Waxing can give legs and other areas a smooth feel and sleeker look, but it’s no secret that it’s also painful. Fortunately, there’s another option that might be right for anyone looking for good results and less discomfort: sugaring.
What is Sugaring?
Sugaring, which is using a sticky paste made from sugar, water, and lemon to remove unwanted hair, has been around since ancient Egypt. It’s similar to waxing in that it uses a substance to coat the hair and then removes that hair. But the biggest difference between sugaring and waxing is that waxing breaks the hair off at the skin’s surface, while sugaring removes it at the root. It also doesn’t pull at or stick to the top layer of skin, which reduces the chances of discomfort, ingrown hairs and other issues.
How Does Sugaring Work?
Like waxing, sugaring relies on coating the hair to remove it. The warmed sugar paste, which is more or less the consistency of a cohesive gel, is applied in the opposite direction from hair growth. This allows the paste to seep in around the hairs and completely coat and surround them. After the paste cools and sets, the gel/paste itself is flicked off and removed in the direction of growth, taking the embedded hairs with it.
Because the gel/paste is actually pulled off the skin in cohesive strips, external cloths or strips aren’t required. It’s a less stressful method of hair removal because hair is removed from the root. After repeated treatments, hair grows back finer, more sparsely and takes longer to grow back.
This can result in less body hair over time and reduces how frequently it needs to be removed. For those who make waxing or other hair removal methods a part of their beauty routine, this can be a big benefit to choosing sugaring over other options.
Is It Safe to Use This Method?
Because there aren’t any harsh chemicals, sugaring is considered to be very safe. Unless someone is allergic to lemon, sugar, or water, there’s really no risk of having a skin reaction. People with very sensitive skin might still experience discomfort, though, because hair removal is generally never a completely painless process. Still, with the much lower level of discomfort and the ability to use natural options instead of harsh chemicals to remove body hair, sugaring is a typically safe and effective method to getting rid of hair that’s growing in areas where it’s not wanted.
For people who take certain medications — including Accutane or steroids — it’s important to know that sugaring isn’t a good choice. The same is true for those with skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema, which sugaring can aggravate.
What Kind of Results Can be Expected?
Sugaring provides good results. It helps slow hair growth and keeps it from coming back, since removing hair at the root gives the hair follicle a lower blood supply over time. You can expect skin that’s smooth and hairless for four to six weeks, and a sparser, finer level of hair that returns after each sugaring session. Sugaring can be used anywhere that waxing would be used. A little bit of hair growth is required for the sugar to have something to hold onto, just like between waxing appointments.
The bottom line? Sugaring is still a method of hair removal, so it can cause some discomfort — but it’s also generally considered less painful than waxing. It’s safe and effective for the majority of people. While it’s usually a little more expensive than waxing, it can be well worth it if you’re trying to avoid harsh chemicals on your skin and the pain that waxing causes. Sugaring may just be the hair removal option you’re looking for.
~Here’s to Your Healthy Pursuits!
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