Valentine ’s Day is around the corner and as you are making erm preparations for the day grooming is the part of the process. One of the major aspects of grooming is hair removal. If you don’t have the funds or are not interested in either laser hair removal or electrolysis waxing is the way to go.
There are currently two types of ‘’waxing’’ available in the market sugaring and waxing. Although the process of hair removal is extremely similar for both there are some differences. To help you make the best choice, I wanted to talk about the differences and the similarities and which come out ahead in each category.
So what are they?
What is waxing?
Waxing is a hair removal method which uses resins made from bee wax and oils. There are two types of waxes available – hard wax and soft wax. Both are applied and removed slightly differently hard waxes are applied to the skin and removed after cooling while oft wax requires cloth or strips for it to be removed. Both remove the hairs from its root.
What is sugaring
Sugaring (sugar waxing) is a natural method of hair removal which originated in Persia and is used like traditional waxing to remove the hairs from its roots. Sugaring paste is made from a mix of lemon, water, and sugar which are heated together and forms a candy-like consistency which is applied to the skin.
Differences
Application
Despite their similarities, there are some key differences between sugaring and waxing based on how the technician applies and removes the paste.
With sugaring, the paste is in the opposite direction of hair growth and removed direction as hair growth. While with waxing, the paste is applied in the same direction of hair growth and removed in the opposite direction. In addition, the sugar paste is applied when it has cooled while the wax is applied hot and removed after it has cooled. This leads to slightly different results.
Because the sugar only exfoliates the surface of the skin, it can be reapplied multiple times to the same area of skin.
Due to how it’s removed, some waxes can be harsh on the skin and break shorter hairs instead of removing them from the root. To help prevent this, wax should only be applied to the same area once or twice.
Sugar 1, Wax 0
Ingredients used
Regular wax used in salons often contains a number of chemical ingredients while the sugar wax paste consists of sugar, lemon and water. Because sugar wax uses only natural ingredients it means that it can be used on sensitive skin or if you are allergic to wax.
Sugar 1, Wax 0
Risk of burns
With regular waxing there is a risk of burns If the wax is too hot, it can also burn your skin, especially in sensitive areas. This is unlike sugaring where the cooled pasted is applied to the skin. This means that with sugaring there is no risk of burns unlike with wax.
Sugar 1, Wax 0.
Transmission of infection
The sugar mixture is resistant to bacteria growth which means that there is no likelihood of transmission of any infections. Wax, on the other hand, allows bacteria to grow which means that a new applicator must be used each time to prevent double-dipping which can cause transmission of infections.
Sugar 1, Wax 0
Clean Up
With wax removal, the clean-up can be difficult and require additional products like oils to get the residue off and It can be painful. Sugaring on the other hand only requires a basic clean up since it is water-soluble.
Sugar 1, Wax 0
Side effects
With both sugaring and waxing there is increased sensitively and redness after the procedure. However, with waxing, there is a greater likelihood of ingrown hairs because the wax mixture can lead to breakage during the application process. This is not the case with sugaring. In addition, wax uses harsh chemicals that can leave your skin swollen afterwards; this is the opposite with sugaring.
Sugar 1, Wax 0.
The duration they last?
On average, both sugaring and waxing last around 3-4 weeks depending on how fast your hair grows. In addition, to both most people report less hair growth over time.
Sugar 1, Wax 1
Length of the process
Both last roughly the same amount of time when you include the prep time. But sugaring may take a slightly longer since the sugaring paste must be moulded before it can be reapplied to your skin, unlike wax which is kept hot.
Sugar 0, Wax 1
Pain level
Of course, your pain threshold comes into play, however with sugaring; the paste only sticks to your hairs and the dead skin cells on your skin. This means there is less risk of hair breakage and skin irritation so people report less pain with sugaring. Wax, on the other hand, adheres completely to the top layer of the skin including live cells so can so tend to be more painful.
Sugar 1, Wax
Cost
Both Sugaring and waxing cost about the same amount of money
Sugar 1, Wax 1
Do’s and Dont of sugaring and waxing
There are a few things you can do (and a few others you should avoid) before and after your treatment to more fully enjoy all the benefits
- Don’t Shave In Between Treatments –Both processes need some amount of hair available for grip so do not shave in-between visits
- Exfoliate Between Treatments helps prevent ingrown hairs, so use a dry brush or a shower scrub to exfoliate at least 3 times a week will help prevent ingrown hairs
- Do not apply lotion on the day of your appointment because it makes the hair more difficult for the sugar to grab and remove.
- Take a Salt Water Bath After this will help detoxify the hair follicle and prevent infection and ingrown hairs.
Which is better?
We have looked at the pros and cons of both sugaring and waxing and it may seem like sugaring is the better option.
Overall, sugaring is a gentler experience than traditional waxing. It uses natural ingredients so is suitable for sensitive skin, doesn’t cause irritation because it is more malleable than wax, which allows it to get down to the root making hair breakage less likely.
However, the only con with sugaring is if your hair is very thick or coarse, it may not be effective so your aesthetician has to determine which option is better for you. So for me, sugaring is the clear winner, it gives you the same effect of waxing with fewer the risks as side effects
Which method will you choose for your hair removal appointment? Let me know in the comments.
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One of the most appealing aspects of sugar waxing is its simplicity and use of natural ingredients. Traditional waxing products often contain chemicals and resins that can be harsh on the skin.