Hair Removal 2 - Sugaring

Sugaring is another one of my favourite methods of hair removal. Unlike threading, not only can sugaring remove the hairs on your face, but you can also use this method to tackle larger areas such as your legs, underarms, back, etc.

Sugaring is similar to waxing in a lot of ways, but in my opinion, sugaring is simply a lot better than waxing. Like waxing, sugaring removes all the hairs at the root so you'll be left with a smooth finish that will last days longer than shaving. However, unlike waxing, sugaring is a lot less painful, it is cheaper and can be done at home, easier to clean up because leftover residue can be rinsed off with water (wax tends to resist water), and the sugar mixture is made out of natural ingredients that are biodegradable!

I found this great video on youtube that demonstrates how to perform this technique once you have the sugaring mixture:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK0TOZoAp-8
I'd like to thank the youtube user Amy11190 for this great video and the sugaring recipe below (which I've slightly modified for my own personal preference).

2 CUPS SUGAR
¼ CUP LEMON JUICE
¼ CUP WATER

1. Put the ingredients in a saucepan and heat on medium-high heat until it boils.


2. Once it starts boiling, turn the heat down low and let it simmer for about 20 minutes.


3. When the sugar turns into a deep golden brown colour, begin testing it by taking a small spoonful of the mixture and dipping the spoon into a bowl of cold water to quickly cool it down. It should be stretchy (if not, the mixture probably just needs a little bit more time on the stove). You can test it on your arm. Do this about every two minutes while the wax is simmering until it stretches out on your arm and pulls off easily. If it sticks and won't come off it's not done, and if it's brittle you've overcooked it.

For storage put the hot wax into a glass container that won't melt. Let it sit for a few hours. Make sure the sugar mixture is cooled down to room temperature before using it. To use it, you only need to grab a small chunk slightly larger than a golf ball.

Notes:
-If you have a low pain tolerance or if you've never had hair removed by waxing or sugaring, I'd recommend getting help from a friend to remove the hair for you. People naturally get nervous about inflicting pain on themselves during the first few times.
-For delicate areas such as the underarms, dust a little bit of cornstarch, baby powder, or powdered sugar to the area before proceeding. This will help avoid tugging on the skin.
-Exfoliate your skin in the shower as soon as you can after sugaring to prevent ingrown hairs or irritation (and to rinse off any sugary residue). Going over the areas with a loofah should do the trick.

-For sensitive and hard to reach areas (such as the bikini area), I'd recommend going to a salon to have it done for you.

Cleaning your equipment
If you've ever made candy before, you'll know that it's almost impossible to clean your pot or saucepan just with soap and water. Here's an easy way to clean that leftover sugar that's stuck to the bottom of your pot.

1. Fill your sugar-dirtied saucepan about a third of the way up with water.


2. Bring the water to a boil. You may also dip your spoon/stirring device in the boiling water to clean that as well. The water will dissolve the sugar, cleaning your sauce pan.


3. Repeat if necessary.

And that's it! Salon prices for full leg sugaring/waxing can cost anywhere from $35-$60. This sugar mixture alone will cost less than $5 to produce, and you'll be able to get many sessions out of it! Pretty nifty, huh?