Sugaring: Who Says You Can’t Go Back to Your Roots?

What is Sugaring?

Sugaring is a form of epilation which requires the hair to be forcefully removed from the follicle by disconnecting the bulb from the papilla.  In laymen’s terms, removing the hair by the “root”.

The Advantages of Sugaring

• Sugar is naturally antibacterial
• Sugar is applied at room temperature or slightly above the skin’s temperature so it cannot burn the skin
• Sugar is great for sensitive skin
• If you get “stuck” a warm, moist towel will get you unstuck
• Clean up is easy. All that is needed are warm, wet towels
• Sugar can remove hair as short as a 1/16^th of an inch long; however, 1/8^th to 3/8^th inch may be easier to work with
• Areas can usually be re-sugared a few times if the hair does not come out the 1^st time
• Repeated sugaring can lead to some permanency
• Because the hair is removed in the direction of the hair growth, it is less likely to break during removal (even up to 30% less breakage)

There are a lot of “Sugar Recipes” out there on line.  If you are going to make it yourself, I prefer the following recipe:

You need:

• – ¼ cup lemon juice  –  ¼ cup water  –  2 cups sugar

• Medium size heavy sauce pan . Heatproof Rubber Spatula . Candy Thermometer  .Medium Plastic container w/lid

Directions:

1. Heat the ingredients over a medium-high heat stirring constantly until it come to a boil.
2. As the liquid come to a boil, check often with the candy thermometer until the liquid gets to the “softball stage” (250 degrees).
3. Remove immediately and set the pan into a pre-drawn ice water bath in the sink.
4. Continue to stir for several minutes until the paste is cool enough to transfer to a plastic storage container with a lid.
5. To avoid a nasty burn, make sure that the paste is completely cooled
6. Cleanse the area to be sugared with a mild antiseptic.
7. Dry the area.  Powdering with cornstarch or talc is sometimes helpful but not completely necessary.
8. Apply in the manner below.  The amount of sugar should suit the area.
9. Warm towel to clean the skin after (Or if you get stuckJ)

Traditional “sugaring” is very much an art form.  Unlike its waxing counterpart, sugaring requires the practitioner to mold/meld a ball of sugar into the hair growth (3 times) and then quickly remove the sugar, along with the hair, in the direction of the hair growth.