Sugar waxing is a type of issues I at all times swore I’d by no means strive. I chalk it as much as one too many botched eyebrow waxes as a teen—or perhaps it is simply the considered burning myself with melted sugar that does not sit nicely with me.
Both means, I am completely satisfied conserving a protected distance between me and any kind of depilatory wax if I may help it. However I am curious by nature, so I began doing a little analysis. It turns on the market’s a very good motive sugaring has grow to be so in style. Mentioned to be conventional waxing’s cheaper, much less painful and extra pure sister, sugar waxing guarantees a 3-ingredient various to each day shaving.
Whereas the considered ripping my hair out by the foundation does not precisely thrill me, not having to shave my legs for a few weeks completely does. So I went forward and regarded concern within the face, gathered up the elements, and gave it a whirl.
And guess what? I am now a wax-at-home convert. I even wax my face.
Leap to:
Meet the consultants
Robyn Newmark, esthetician and founding father of Newmark Magnificence
Tami Blake, sugaring knowledgeable, esthetician and founding father of Candy + True
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Haley, board-certified dermatologist
Advantages of Sugar Waxing
For these of us who’ve had a foul expertise with waxing, sugaring generally is a godsend. It is made with simply three elements—sugar, lemon juice, and salt—so it is freed from skin-irritating chemical compounds and toxins. And it’s virtually free to make, too!
However there’s different causes to like sugar waxing:
Much less breakage and ingrown hairs. Since you take away hair within the path it grows, it is gentler on the hair and pores and skin, which implies fewer ingrown hairs. Plus, the sugar wax wraps across the hair follicle and stays tender throughout all the course of, so there’s much less probability of breakage.
There is not any probability of getting burned. “With conventional waxing it’s as much as the ability set of the practitioner to regulate the temperature and strategy of the process,” says Robyn Newmark, esthetician and founding father of Newmark Magnificence. “Sugaring might be carried out extra usually with much less trauma though neither approach must be creating trauma if carried out appropriately.”
Clear up is a breeze. Sugar wax melts proper off when it is available in contact with water. So if there’s any lingering wax in your pores and skin, a moist washcloth will do the trick.
Sugar wax might be reapplied. For those who missed a spot, be at liberty to use sugar wax to the identical space a number of occasions with out opposed results.
It is tremendous mild. Sugar wax will not follow dwell pores and skin cells, so it does not rip off a layer of pores and skin if you pull. This implies it is much less painful than conventional waxing, and you will not have the injuries besides.
Higher for the surroundings. Sugaring can also be extra sustainable in lots of respects! “Sugaring paste is biodegradable (meals grade) and creates much less waste, because it eliminates the necessity for sticks and strips,” explains Tami Blake, licensed esthetician and founding father of Candy + True. “The truth is, you should utilize the identical ball of paste all through all the service!”
The right way to Make Sugar Wax
Now, I’ll be fully trustworthy. Making sugar wax is straightforward when you get the hold of it. However in the event you’ve by no means made it earlier than, choose up an additional bag of sugar (or two) earlier than you get began.
The sugar wax recipe that Newmark recommends is:
-1 cup white sugar
-⅛ cup lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar)
-⅛ cup heat water
As a sugar wax beginner, I scoured the web for instructions and adopted the directions to the letter, however I nonetheless managed to burn my sugar the primary few occasions. As soon as the sugar begins boiling, it could go from golden to black in 2 minutes flat, and you will not even discover till it is too late. After studying this the laborious means, I dug an outdated sweet thermometer out of the drawer to save lots of me the continued problem of eyeballing it.
If you do not have a sweet thermometer, do not panic. Simply be versatile and do not count on perfection on the primary go-around.
Because the wax continues to prepare dinner after it comes off the burner, you wish to pull the sugar off the burner as quickly because it turns a lightweight honey coloration and pour it into one other container. For those who overdo it on the primary strive, pour it within the trash (fastidiously) and begin over once more.
The right way to Apply Sugar Wax
Whereas sugaring is loads like conventional waxing, there are a pair variations:
1. Let the wax cool to room temperature. Not like conventional wax, sugar wax does not must be sizzling to work.
2. As soon as cool, scoop the wax out of the container and apply it with a butter knife, popsicle stick, or your arms. You may wish to apply a ¼-inch layer of wax in opposition to the path of the hair and gently press it onto your pores and skin.
3. Pull the pores and skin taught. Then get a very good maintain off the wax and, with a fast flick of your wrist, pull in the path of hair development.
4. You may roll the wax between your palms and re-use it on completely different sections of pores and skin till it is not sticky.
One cup of sugar wax ought to final for a number of functions, so make certain to save lots of any leftovers within the fridge and gently heat prior to make use of.
What to do Earlier than and After You Sugar Wax
An excellent pre- and post-wax routine will assist hold ache, ingrowns and an infection to a minimal. This is child your pores and skin earlier than and after sugaring.
Earlier than Waxing
1. Let hair develop a bit. An excellent rule of thumb is to let hair develop to about ¼” earlier than waxing. Something shorter and the wax gained’t follow the hair shaft very simply, which means you’ll find yourself with a splotchy wax job. How lengthy is ¼ of an inch? Properly, in the event you presently:
–Shave – it’s about 10-14 days of development
–Wax – it’s about 4 weeks of development
–Sugar – it’s about 4-6 weeks of development
2. Deal with flakes. For the very best outcomes, Blake recommends gently exfoliating the pores and skin earlier than your first appointment and in between appointments. Strive utilizing a loofah, sugar scrub, or bathtub mit 3 days earlier than sugaring. This must be simply sufficient time to take away flakes whereas nonetheless permitting any micro-tears or irritation to heal.
3. Skip the sweat session. Extreme sweating can open pores, which can make your pores and skin extra susceptible to an infection. So, don’t do something that may trigger extreme sweating inside 24 hours of sugaring, corresponding to visiting the sauna, figuring out, taking a sizzling yoga class or soaking within the tub.
4. Don’t have an excessive amount of caffeine and alcohol earlier than. Consuming and caffeine could make you extra susceptible to bleeding, notes esthetician, Mehvish Patel. She additionally recommends avoiding the usage of any retinoid lotions for a minimum of 24-48 hours beforehand.
5. Keep away from solar publicity. Sunburn and sugar waxing don’t combine (all I can say is ouch!) Keep out of the solar for a minimum of 48 hours previous to sugaring. If that’s not potential, a minimum of cowl any areas you propose to wax.
6. Skip the tub and physique merchandise. Don’t apply deodorant, make-up, lotion, fragrance or every other physique merchandise the day of your wax session. Not solely does the wax adhere finest to scrub hair follicles, nevertheless it’ll assist hold the chance of irritation and an infection to a minimal.
After Waxing
Similar to earlier than your wax session, it is best to child your pores and skin for 24-48 hours after you wax.
1. Let your pores and skin breath. Put on loose-fitting garments and keep away from all bathtub and physique merchandise, corresponding to lotions, make-up, deodorant, and lotions on freshly waxed pores and skin for 48 hours. After 48 hours, start making use of an all-natural moisturizer to replenish moisture and soothe pores and skin.
2. Exfoliate. Beginning 2 days post-wax, gently exfoliate to maintain pores and skin clean and freed from ingrown hairs. Use a dry brush or exfoliating glove, and transfer in a delicate, round movement. Repeat each 3-4 days.
3. Keep away from sweat classes. Similar to earlier than, don’t work out, spend time within the solar or do something which will trigger extreme sweating for 48 hours after waxing.
4. Do not contact. Keep away from touching, scratching or selecting at lately waxed pores and skin.
Sugar Waxing FAQs
We often get lots of questions on making your individual sugar wax at house. It seems that, even with a recipe and a video, making your individual sugar wax is not at all times really easy. Hey, I get it! Hopefully, I may help shed some mild on it for you.
What if I haven’t got a sweet thermometer? Would one other form of thermometer work?
You are free to eyeball it and cease the cooking course of as soon as your sugar combination turns a lightweight honey coloration.
One other option to verify the temperature is to fill a medium-size bowl with ice water. Take a small spoonful of the sugar combination and place it within the bowl of ice water for just a few seconds. As soon as cool, if it nonetheless appears stringy and will not kind a ball, which means it must prepare dinner longer.
When you have one other sort of kitchen thermometer, it ought to work so long as it could stand up to constant warmth and skim temperatures at or beneath 260°F.
Can I exploit different sorts of sugar, like brown or caster sugar?
Sure, it is best to have the ability to. However it would possibly take some trial and error to get the ratio of sugar to liquid proper.
What if my sugar wax comes out too laborious?
In case your sugar wax constantly comes out too laborious, you are overcooking it.
Add extra lemon juice (the precise quantity you want depends upon how laborious the sugar combine is) and proceed boiling for one more 1–2 minutes. If it is nonetheless not pliable sufficient, add extra lemon juice and hold boiling.
As soon as it is overcooked, generally the simplest factor to do is to toss it out and begin over once more.
For those who’ve tried batch after batch and it is at all times too laborious, overlook utilizing the thermometer and simply strive cooking it for a shorter period of time. And do not let your sugar wax cool within the steel pot you cooked it in, or it’ll overcook as a result of it retains cooking even after you’re taking it off the burner.
What if it comes out too tender?
If it is not laborious sufficient and does not adhere to the hair, you are undercooking it. The one resolution for that’s to prepare dinner it longer.
You may attempt to get it to the appropriate consistency by placing it again within the pot on the burner and heating it for one more couple of minutes. Or you may try to make use of the tender wax as-is with cotton wax strips.
The strips will give the wax one thing to carry on to so you may peel it off, hopefully taking the hair with it. If the wax is just too tender to stay to cotton strips, then you definitely positively have to prepare dinner it one other couple of minutes, let it cool, and check out once more.
I’ve tried this recipe ‘x’ occasions, and it nonetheless will not come out proper. Now what?
For a wide range of causes, there is not a one-size-fits-all sugar wax recipe. Listed below are just a few of the potential points which may have an effect on how your wax seems:
It could possibly be the local weather you reside in (extra moisture within the air will have an effect on your sugar wax), or it could possibly be your provides.
Your thermometer is not calibrated appropriately or it isn’t delicate sufficient.
Your burner will get too sizzling and the liquid evaporates too shortly.
Possibly if you eliminated the wax from the range, it stored cooking (it is a massive downside for lots of people), so even when it was good if you turned off the warmth, it could have burned because it sat.
As at all times, if this recipe does not be just right for you, one other one would possibly work higher. Maintain making an attempt till you discover a methodology you want.
Do I would like to make use of cotton cloths with this?
If the sugar wax is the appropriate consistency, then no, you do not want cotton cloths. It ought to adhere on to the hair and draw back from the pores and skin cleanly by hand.
But when your sugar wax is not the appropriate consistency, cotton waxing strips could assist by giving the wax one thing to cling to.
What sort of cotton cloths ought to I exploit?
You may both purchase pre-made waxing cloths on-line (like these), or make your individual utilizing outdated cotton pillowcases, sheets, or curtains lower into 2-inch x 4-inch strips. You may need cloth with none stretchiness, so it pulls off in a single fell swoop.
Can I sugar wax if I am diabetic?
Sure! Except you are ingesting the sugar wax (which, um, you should not be…), the sugar won’t ever enter your blood stream and subsequently will not have an have an effect on on blood sugar ranges.
Can I retailer leftover sugar wax?
Retailer it in an outdated microwave-safe container. Once you’re prepared to make use of it, pop it within the microwave and warmth in 15-second intervals till melted. Simply be tremendous cautious as a result of sizzling sugar wax could cause severe burns.
How lengthy will it keep good?
“The excessive focus of sugar naturally preserves the paste permitting it to remain recent for 2-3 years if saved and maintained in a local weather managed surroundings,” says Blake.
How lengthy ought to your hair be to be able to follow the wax?
Hair must be a minimum of ¼-inch (5–6 mm) lengthy.
Are you able to make sugar wax within the microwave?
I examined it out utilizing this recipe:
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
Mix every part in a bowl and microwave it on excessive in 20-second intervals for about 2 minutes with out stirring. At this level, it must be the best consistency for sugar wax.
Irrespective of how lengthy I microwaved it for, I simply could not get mine to come back out proper. Since making sugar wax is all about evaporating the liquid till the melted sugar reaches a tender, sticky consistency, microwaving made it laborious to boil off sufficient liquid.
It additionally made it in order that I could not bodily watch the sugar because it boiled, so after one microwave session too many, my wax burned. (See how darkish it’s beneath?)
For me, no, it didn‘t work. Whereas technically a microwave would possibly work, in the event you’re new to creating sugar wax or you do not have the time or endurance to undergo just a few check rounds, follow doing it on the range the place you may hold an in depth eye on it.
The right way to Make Sugar Wax At Residence
This 3-ingredient sugar wax is a fast, cheap various to dear spa visits and each day shaving.
Yield: 1 cup
Price: $2
Gear
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Sweet thermometer
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Medium saucepan
Supplies
- 2 cups white sugar
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon salt
Directions
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Add all elements to a pot, and with out stirring, flip the warmth to medium-high (stirring could cause sugar to crystalize on the perimeters of your pot). When you have one, connect your sweet thermometer to the aspect of the saucepan so you may watch the temperature carefully because it cooks.
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As soon as the sugar combination begins to boil, gently swirl the pot to combine the elements.
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Maintain an in depth eye on the combination and prepare dinner till it turns the colour of honey or till your thermometer reads 260 levels F (this took about 5 minutes for me, nevertheless it may range relying on the dimensions of your saucepan).
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Instantly take away wax from the warmth and switch it to a glass jar to cease the cooking course of (the wax can shatter chilly glass, so run your jar beneath sizzling water for a minute to prep it for the wax). In the meantime, take a spoonful of wax and put it within the freezer. Wait till it has cooled fully, then verify the consistency. It must be stretchy like a chunk of bubble gum and barely sticky. If it is too runny, return wax to the pot and boil for one more 30 seconds. If it is too laborious (like crunchy sweet), both add extra water and boil just a little longer or throw it out and begin over.
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As soon as your wax is the appropriate consistency, let it cool fully earlier than making use of to pores and skin.
Video
Notes
You may retailer any leftover sugar wax within the fridge indefinitely. When it is time to reheat it, microwave in 15-second intervals till tender and pliable however not sizzling. For those who overcook it, you run the chance of significantly burning your self or ruining the wax so it is not pliable.
This submit was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Haley, a board-certified dermatologist with intensive expertise in medical, beauty and surgical dermatology. Study extra about Whats up Glow’s medical reviewers right here. As at all times, this isn’t private medical recommendation and we suggest that you simply speak together with your physician.
