Sugaring Hair Removal 101 – How to Do it from the Comfort of your Home

Shaving often means tiny knicks and ingrown hairs, but salon waxing can be painful and expensive. In this Sugaring Hair Removal 101 guide we will teach you everything you know to be able to do it at home.

Fortunately, there’s another option that can be easily managed at home: sugar waxing. Read on to find out what exactly sugar wax is and how to safely do it at home. 

What is Sugaring?

Sugaring is a hair-removal method that eliminates hair from the root, meaning that your smooth skin will last for over a month. It’s also completely natural. The only ingredients needed to make the sticky, gel-like substance are sugar, lemon, and water––no chemical additives. 

Unlike traditional waxing, it doesn’t cause any damage to living skin cells. Rather, the sugar mixture is rolled off in the direction of hair growth, leaving your skin feeling radiant instead of raw. 

Over time, sugaring even has the added benefits of reducing general hair growth, meaning that hair removal will get easier and easier over time. 

How to Make Sugar Wax at Home

Though you’ll get more consistent results if you leave “sugaring” to experts at the salon, it’s relatively easy to make sugar wax at home. 

What You’ll Need

• 1 cup white sugar
• ⅛ cup lemon juice
• ⅛ cup water

Steps

1. In a medium-sized pot, mix together all 3 ingredients. 
2. Place on the stovetop over high heat and bring to a boil, watching and stirring frequently. 
3. After the ingredients have begun to boil, reduce to medium heat, continuing to stir. 
4. After the mixture has become a deep, golden brown, remove from heat and transfer to a bowl. 
5. Let gel-like wax, let cool for half an hour before applying. It should be thick yet easy to manipulate. 

How to Apply Sugar Wax

This process should be painless, if not extremely satisfying. Waxing is easiest if the length of your hair is at least ¼ inches before sugaring. 

Steps

1. Cleanse and gently exfoliate the desired area. Do not wax over irritated or wounded skin. 
2. Apply the wax in the direction of hair growth. 
3. With one hand, pull the skin tight while ripping away in the opposite direction of hair growth with the other. 
4. Repeat until desired smoothness is reached. As you continue, dead skin cells may collect and turn gel gray-ish color. When this happens, trade out for a fresh ball of wax.
5. Store extra wax at room temperature for future use. 
6. Gently wash sticky residue off with warm water and a washcloth. Apply antiseptic cream to the waxed area and avoid extreme heat and UV exposure for the next day. 

Here’s a short video to see these steps in action:

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The Bottom Line

For those eager to avoid razor burn or the pain of salon waxing, sugar waxing is the perfect solution. Whether you experiment at home or make an appointment with a professional, you can anticipate smoother, hairless skin in no time.

If you’d rather not make your own sugaring mixture at home, there are professionally-made options, such as this one from  Amazon, or Blue Milk & Honey for pre-made waxes.