To wax or to not wax? We have all experienced the embarrassment of noticing a missed spot on our body during the hair removal process. With all the new innovations coming into the hair removal world, it can become difficult to understand the benefits and downsides of waxing. The question is when you are ready to wax, which is the best?
What is Waxing?
Waxing is when a wax (typically a hard wax) is applied to an area using popsicle sticks and pulls the hair in the opposite direction quickly. It’s best to ask your aesthetician what type of wax that they use on their clients… some waxes can be all-natural, contain essential oils of your liking, or contain chemical ingredients (which VALLEY wants everyone to avoid).
Is waxing painful? Yes–it’s painful, especially if it’s your first time! The thought of your hair being removed from the opposite direction of hair growth itself is pretty painful.
What are the pros and cons of waxing? It can last a long time, approximately four to six weeks at most! It’s extremely effective for all types of hair texture— fine or coarse, they all respond well to wax. Although it’s a painful process, it delivers a very smooth, long-lasting result.
What is Sugaring?
Sugaring is a more natural and environmentally-friendly process of hair removal. The treatment begins with a lukewarm paste consisting of only three ingredients: lemon, water and sugar. There are no chemical additives involved in comparison to hard waxing, which is essential for those with sensitive skin.
Is sugaring painful? Yes, it hurts! Although it is a more gentle alternative to waxing, the pain is moderate (like tweezing multiple hairs at a time).
What are the pros and cons of sugaring? Sugaring is amazing to help avoid ingrown hairs and the removal of dead skin cells. The only downside to sugaring is it may not be enough for those with thicker, coarser hair texture. Your esthetician can help you determine what works best for your skin type.
Another thing to consider is that sugaring is still relatively new, so it may be difficult to find a sugaring esthetician compared to regular waxing.
How to make your own sugar wax at home: Here is an at-home step by step guide and medical advice for how to prepare for hair removal. This is a good try for those who are more inclined to DIY treatments.
As well as a worth-watching Youtube video version of a simple recipe for beginners and instructions that make the pain look as less tolerable as it could be.
VALLEY has searched for many different versions of how to make sugar wax, and here is one of our favorites:
What You’ll Need:
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup water
What You’ll Do:
- Bring the ingredients to a boil, approximately 235 degrees Fahrenheit
- Reduce to medium heat until the mixture is brown and syrupy (takes up to 30 min)
- Cool for 30 minutes before use
- If the mixture is not consistent, it may be best to re-boil it
Which process is more effective for hair removal?
Both processes of hair removal pull the hair follicles out from the root, so it’s expected for the hair to grow back in approximately two to six weeks depending on what you get done. If you have thicker and coarser hair texture, VALLEY suggests that waxing is going to more effective. If you have sensitive skin, VALLEY suggests that sugar wax will be more effective on your skin type as well as exfoliating the skin in the process of removal.
Price Comparison
Sugaring is a little more expensive than waxing since it is more time-consuming (anywhere from $5-$15 more).
So, what’s the verdict?
The bottom line, you’re choosing the lesser of the two most painful hair removal techniques. VALLEY suggests to weigh out the pros and cons to see which is the best fit for you!
Tweet us, @VALLEYmag, with what hair removal process you prefer.
