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Sugar waxing is one of the few uses for white sugar I can get behind. (Sugar scrubs come in at a close second!) Here’s how to make your own natural DIY sugar wax and use it for smooth, radiant skin.
Sugaring, or sugar waxing, is the process of applying warm, melted sugar to the skin, then quickly removing it and taking body hair with it. It’s different than hot wax, which uses actual wax. Sugaring is considered easier and safer to do at home than other waxing methods. It does require the hair to be at least one-quarter inch long to work, but that’s not so hard to accomplish with a little negligence.
You can safely use sugar wax on most areas of skin, including the legs, arms, underarms, face, and bikini line. Like with other waxing and hair removal methods though, never use it on damaged skin.
If you’re going to remove body hair, sugaring can be a great way to do it. As I mentioned before, it’s more user-friendly than hot waxing with actual wax. Sugaring also lasts longer than shaving (up to 6 weeks!) and isn’t as likely to cause skin irritation. It doesn’t take a lot of time, especially once you get the hang of it, and you can have smooth skin for weeks on end.
Sugaring also helps exfoliate by removing dead skin cells, leaving smooth, glowing skin behind. Unlike waxing, which removes hair against the grain of the hair follicle, sugaring goes with the natural direction of the hair. This helps reduce pain, irritation, hair breakage, and ingrown hairs. Over time, hair may become finer and thinner.
Sugar waxing isn’t for everyone and there are some precautions. Of course, be sure that the melted sugar isn’t too hot before applying. A sticky sugar burn is the last thing we want! Also, people with certain skin conditions, like eczema, or taking certain medications shouldn’t do sugaring.
Some meds, like certain antibiotics, can make the skin much thinner than usual, making it prone to tearing. If you’re unsure you can always do a patch test or consult your physician first.
The first step is to buy or make your own sugar wax (see recipe below). Once that’s taken care of, it’s time to get started. You’ll want to prep the skin area that you want to wax. This is an important first step because without it we risk skin irritation and/or the sugaring may not remove the hair.
You want to make sure the skin is completely clean and dry. If there are dead skin cells and debris then the sugar will just stick to that and not really pull out the hair. You can dry brush or exfoliate the day before to make sure there’s nothing in the way. Exfoliating right before sugaring may cause skin irritation.
Once the skin is all clean you can apply a thin layer of non-GMO cornstarch or arrowroot powder. Be sure to brush off any extra. This helps get rid of any excess moisture or oil.