Is Sugar As Sweet As It Sounds?
What is sugaring? What makes it better than waxing? Does it actually work? These are questions new clients consistently ask. I want to share with everyone what sugaring entails and why it's preferred over waxing.
What exactly is sugar?
Sugar paste is formed by 3 different ingredients: sugar, lemon juice, and water. Instead of using wax sticks and strips, I apply this ball of paste to your skin. I mold the paste evenly across the skin in the opposite direction of the hair growth. Then, with a flicking motion, I quickly remove the sugar and with it comes the hair!
Left: leg ready to sugar! Right: sugaring completed!
Will it grow back darker and thicker?
No, this is a myth! The removal of the entire hair follicle has no impact on the color of the hair. When you deplete the hair follicle, you're damaging the root of the hair causing it to grow back a little slower and appear more fine.
Why is this better than waxing?
Most clients find sugaring to be more tolerable than waxing. Due to the high temperature of wax, many people get burned as soon as the wax is applied to the skin. When heat touches the skin, it swells, making it more difficult for the hair to be gently removed, especially without breaking.
Sugar paste is not hot eliminating that chance of an unwanted burn. Since we are applying the paste in the opposite direction of hair growth (unlike wax), we are pushing the product into the follicle so that way it creates somewhat of a suction wrap around the hair. This makes it easier to remove with less breakage.
Another sugaring benefit: you don't have to grow your hair out as long! Every client loves this idea since they hate the waiting period for growth. After shaving you can come in 7 to 10 days later to receive a sugaring treatment whereas with wax you have to wait about 14 days. If you're an avid waxer, you can come in 3 1/2 to 4 weeks later for your sugaring service, unlike wax that requires more of the 5 to 6 week range.
Does it actually work?
Many people come to me with the expectation that any hair removal I do is permanent. It's sad to say, but unfortunately it's not. I wish it were! The only "permanent" solution to hair removal would be laser (which doesn't work for everyone and usually needs touch ups every few years) or electrolysis (which I hear is quite painful). However, there are some perks to sugaring on a regular basis. Because we are removing the hair while it is shorter, we are honing in on the anagen stage of growth, helping that follicle deplete at a faster rate. Depleting the hair follicle is a GOAL, not an expectation. A person's hair growth depends on their genetics. I have clients who have seen me for 2 years whose hair has depleted beautifully. Then there are many, like, myself, who have been doing it consistently for 4 years and even though the growth is patchy in some areas, it is in fact, still there.
Is sugar as sweet as it sounds?
I'm going to be completely honest with you guys. Sugaring, although sweet sounding to the ear, is still a form of hair removal. Any time you are removing the entire hair follicle, it unfortunately will not be pain free. That being said, many find the recovery time to be less with sugar than with wax. The discomfort is more in the application of the sugar, since it is applied in the opposite direction of the hair, rather than the removal stage.
I hope this clears up some questions and doubts about sugaring. Still have some unanswered questions? Please comment below! I'd love to hear your feedback!