Sugaring hair removal: What is it and why should you consider it?
There are multiple forms of professional hair removal on the market, one of the most well-known being waxing. If you’re like me and have stayed away from waxing due to sensitive skin or because of a fear of ingrown hairs/cysts, you may opt into shaving instead. Ugh, right?
Well, shaving might not actually be your only option! I recently learned of another form of hair removal that’s been on the rise called sugaring.
I did some preliminary research about sugaring to get an idea of what it’s all about, and I found the following:
Sugaring is a form of hair removal that appears very similar to waxing on the surface, but actually differs largely in a handful of ways.
First, sugaring adheres to dead skin cells, whereas wax adheres to live skin cells. This means that sugaring allows for a lower risk of hair breakage and skin irritation.
The second main difference lies in the way the paste is applied. During a waxing appointment, the paste is applied in the direction of hair growth and removed in the opposite direction. The process during sugaring is flipped, with the paste being applied in the opposite direction of hair growth and removed in the same direction as hair growth. Because of this, the sugaring process diminishes the probability of ingrown hairs.
To learn even more about the sugaring process, I chatted with Ariel Lowell at Bloom Sugaring in San Diego.
Q: WHAT INITIALLY GOT YOU INTERESTED IN SUGARING?
A: Sugaring found me! The first time I got sugared I actually thought the salon was a waxing salon! I was pleasantly surprised to be introduced to an all natural alternative. I was getting sugared regularly, and then coincidentally went to esthetician school. After graduating, I moved to San Diego and planned to give facials as that was my primary focus; I had no intention of doing any sort of hair removal. Two weeks after I moved in, I went to a sugaring salon two blocks from my house, and was chatting up the owner as she did my brazilian service. To be polite, I mentioned it would be cool to learn to sugar, and she offered me a job on the table right then and there. I gave it a shot, and fell in love with the product and client connection!
Q: WHAT TYPE OF CUSTOMER DO YOU RECOMMEND SUGARING TO, OVER OTHER FORMS OF HAIR REMOVAL?
A: I recommend sugaring to everyone and anyone. All ages, all sizes, all races, all humans. Being a natural and more effective form of hair removal that is less abrasive on the skin and
truly removes hair from the root, I always recommend sugaring over any other form of hair removal. Sugar works with any and every hair type.
Q: IT SEEMS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH WAXING, BUT NOT AS MUCH WITH SUGARING. IN WHAT WAYS IS SUGARING DIFFERENT FROM WAXING?
A: Sugaring is a natural form of wax made of just sugar, water and lemon juice. It is vegan, hypoallergenic, biodegradable, water soluble, and some pastes can be organic. Wax does not have any of these traits, so we are dealing with the curiosity of why wax can be different colors, what chemicals it contains, and how we will remove it if a mistake is made. Wax adheres to your live skin cells where sugar only adheres only to your hair and dead skin cells. This means that wax is removing a very small layer of skin where sugar is just essentially giving you a good exfoliation. Sugar is body temperature, which diminishes the possibility of getting burnt, where wax can be harmful to the client’s skin if too hot.
Q: WHAT TYPES OF AFTERCARE PRODUCTS ARE BEST SUITED FOR SUGARING CLIENTS, AND WHAT SPECIFICALLY DREW YOU TO OUR PRODUCTS AT SCRUB ME GOOD?
A: The best way to enhance your sugaring appointments is by keeping up with an exfoliating and moisturizing routine – which is why I’m so obsessed with sugar scrubs! They are all-natural, and are both moisturizing and exfoliating. I also am a big fan of the body butters for extra moisture. If we don’t exfoliate, new baby hairs can get stuck under dead skin cells. On top of that, if we don’t add moisture, new hairs can get stuck under dry skin. So the combination is key for great results. I also love recommending a soothing oil that includes healing and anti-inflammatory benefits to target ingrowns. Another form of exfoliating products that I carry include aha/bha toner pads, and lastly, I offer a skin lightening/ingrown reducing product. Body products are what sell best in my salon!
So there you have it! Whether you’re looking for a less invasive alternative to your current hair removal routine, or are just looking to get into the professional hair removal game, give sugaring a try! I know I’m going to!
