Posted on July 7th

Hair removal may have satisfying results but can be painful.

Razors come with the risk of nicking the skin and creating razor bumps; waxing strips make some flinch; while IPL hair removal devices quite literally zap away hair. If your skin keeps speaking up through redness and irritation, it may be time to graduate to body hair removal's more sensitive skin-friendly method: Sugaring.

Sugaring is a gentler alternative to traditional waxing, and it's easy to make at home. Our Good Housekeeping Institute regularly tests hair removal products of all kinds, and armed with this categorical knowledge, we rounded up everything you need to know on how to make sugar wax (and DIYing it at home!).

What is sugaring?

Sugaring, an all-natural method of hair removal, commonly uses a mixture of sugar, lemon and water that forms a hair removal paste. Sugar wax is applied against hair growth to remove hair. Hair removal enthusiasts tend to reserve it for the bikini area, face, underarms, legs and arms, but it can be used for other parts of the body as well. Sensitive skin types tend to go for sugar waxing as it's less irritating and painful than waxing, according to Michele Green, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York.

Is waxing or sugaring better?

Both make effective ways of removing unwanted body and facial hair, but there are a few differences to keep in mind:

Sugaring uses fewer potentially irritating ingredients. "Based on the ingredients alone, sugaring is a better option since additives have a higher chance of causing skin irritation," says Dr. Green. Waxing uses beeswax, resin, oils and other additives that might irritate sensitive skin.
Sugaring has a lower risk of breaking hair follicles on removal. Sugaring is applied against the hair growth and removed with the hair growth while waxing applies wax in the direction of hair growth and then removed against hair growth. As a result, waxing may cause hair follicles to break in half, which may cause ingrown hairs and additional irritation, according to Dr. Green.
In-salon sugaring is pricier than waxing. In terms of affordability, waxing tends to be slightly more inexpensive when compared to sugaring.
Sugaring might take longer. Waxing can be a faster process than sugaring when used for larger surface areas like the legs or back.

Is homemade sugar wax safe?

When properly educated on how to safely sugar wax at home, it can be a good option, plus cheaper and more comfortable, says Dr. Green. That said, DIY sugar wax removal can come with some risks. You can accidentally rip your skin off instead of hair, which can cause pain, inflammation and an increased risk of infection — sugar waxing at home is often less sanitary than sugar waxing done at a salon. That's why it's best to start on clean skin, use clean tools, let the hair grow out slightly so the wax has something to grip onto and follow all the proper skin prep steps, below.

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