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Sugaring

What it is

Sugaring is a method of temporary hair removal that’s been used by careful groomers for thousands of years. The Ancient Egyptians were keen on sugaring as it can be used on all areas of the body, including legs, underarms, eyebrows and backs (for men). It’s an effective and safe form of depilation, although there’s some debate as to whether it’s as thorough as waxing.

What it does

Sugaring paste is usually a mix of sugar, lemon juice and water, warmed until it forms a soft, tacky consistency. This is rolled into a ball and pressed onto the hair. Then a muslin strip is placed across the sticky area and ripped off quickly in the opposite direction to the hair growth. This process removes the hairs from the root, leaving the skin smooth and hair free for up to 4-6 weeks, with no stubble or regrowth.

How you feel

Like waxing, sugaring can cause mild discomfort to full-on pain at the removal of the hair. Your reaction will depend on the dexterity of the beautician (or yourself if you’re doing a home sugaring), and the area that is being sugared. However, sugaring is generally considered to be marginally less painful and kinder to sensitive skin than waxing because the paste is made of natural ingredients, the sugar solution is only slightly warmed (rather than heated, as wax is), and it sticks only to the hair, not the skin. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the first few ‘sugarings’ are the most eye-watering, and that it gets less painful as you get used to the sensation and the hairs become weaker after repeated removal at the root.

What you should know

You can have sugaring sessions professionally, buy ready-made kits or make your own paste at home out of sugar, lemon juice and water, heated gently until it sticks together as a soft ball. Like waxing, the disadvantage is that hair must grow back by at least half a centimetre before you can sugar it again. This is to allow the paste to have something to grip onto. As with all physical hair removal methods, ingrown hairs are a potential hazard. These appear when longer hairs break off underneath the skin instead of being pulled out. Regular exfoliation can help prevent this problem.

The cost

A half leg sugaring costs from £28, bikini line from £13, and upper lip from £9. Home sugaring kits cost anything from £8.

The availability

Sugaring is available in some beauty salons and spas. Home sugaring kits are widely available in chemists.


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