All over the web there are recipes for homemade sugaring solutions. Some recipes boast that professional sugaring can be done easily at home. While home sugaring hair removal is possible, it is much harder than you think. Here is the experience of one Bellezza Spa client who decided to take the at home sugaring challenge. She was kind enough to share her results which anyone considering home sugaring should be aware of.
The at Home Paste Method
I thought the sugaring paste method was the best to try first because it requires no more additional materials besides some baby powder to prepare the skin. After mixing the solution, I let it sit for several hours until it hardened to a thick, pliable paste and was cooled to room temperature. When it’s ready, the mixture should flow like molasses when you tip the container. If it is more like honey, then the mixture is not fully cooked. To prepare, I exfoliated my legs and put a thin layer of baby powder on my test spot-my shin.
The Unfortunate Truth
Ready to discover the truth, I dipped my fingers into the mixture pulled out a messy blob. Sadly, I forgot to use latex gloves, which would have helped eliminate some of the stickiness. Next, I rolled the sugar syrup into a sticky ball using my palms. Then, I placed the sugaring paste onto the powdered test spot on my shin and began to spread it in the direction opposite from my hair growth. The spreading motion warmed up the paste so that a large amount remained on my fingers, which required a trip to the sink to wash it all off. Finally, I used one hand to hold my skin taut and used the other one to press down on the sugaring paste before pulling upward along the same direction as my hair growth.
A Sticky Situation
I had hoped that the hairs would all come out in one quick, clean pull of the paste; however, my skin picked up a little bit and the paste stayed put. My hand warmed up the sugaring solution, and it clung to my palm again. I tried ten more times to flick the paste from my skin before finally giving up. At this point, my entire shin was covered in a thin layer of syrup and my hands were a sticky, glistening mess of sugar goo. Still, I was determined to soldier on, so I rinsed off and continued with my sugaring gel technique experiment. Maybe this amateur could find a better way.
The at Home Gel Process
The gel method begins by using a microwave to warm up the sugaring solution for approximately 30-60 seconds so that it liquefies. Unlike the professionals, I didn’t have any of those wooden applicators on hand so I improvised by using a butter knife to stir the solution before testing the temperature with a dip of my finger. I decided my shin was sticky enough so I prepped with baby powder on my calf. I then used the butter knife to smear a fairly large amount of the sugaring solution on my leg. Then, I placed a shredded cotton shirt that I had turned into a rag over the gel on my calf. I patted it several times to make sure it was stuck, and then I pulled the cloth upward against the direction of my hair growth. Maybe I shouldn’t have yanked so hard, because all that can be described of what happened next is that it was all pain, no gain.
Unsatisfying Results!
This time, the gel method at least removed some of the sugaring solution along with a few hairs from my calf, which was better than the at-home paste method. Yet, it still left the majority of my leg hair behind and left the surface of my skin stinging with pain. I have a high tolerance for pain, so I continued with the process using five more rags until my whole calf was covered and red with irritation. I could have dealt with the stinging pain if I had at least emerged from the process with a hair-free and smooth calf. Unfortunately, there were multiple patches of hair remaining and a bumpy, red rash that only made it look more awkward. It took an entire 24-hour period for my rash to subside.
Leave Sugaring to Your Aesthetician
The greatest lesson from this whole experiment is that the sugaring process is better left to the professionals, even if it requires a visit to the salon. Even though I followed the instructions perfectly, I still achieved no more than a few smooth patches on my leg and managed to irritate my skin. Now that it is over, I can confidently conclude that the sugaring technique is not effective or simple when done at home.
Sugaring DC
Bellezza Spa offers hair removal services such as sugaring in Washington DC and full leg sugaring. Our aestheticians use our custom sugar blend which is perfectly proportioned to Give you the best sugaring results possible, contact us online or give us a call at 703.266.0063 to experience the results for yourself!
