Oriental waxing, also commonly known as sugar waxing, involves covering the area of skin in a gooey, caramel-like substance and pulling it back off, similar to traditional waxing, and removing the hairs at the root. Unlike other forms of waxing, Oriental waxing doesn’t always require strips to pull the wax away. This is because the sugar paste sticks to the hair like wax, but also hardens in the process, forming a solid strip to grip and remove. It is also said to be less painful than hot or cold waxing[1]. This is because Oriental waxing paste is less likely to stick to your live skin. When removed, the paste takes only the hair and dead skin cells with it, thereby exfoliating your skin in the process.
Oriental waxing paste is commonly found in cosmetic stores, and can be a very budget-friendly option compared to regular visits to the salon. An age-old practice, Oriental waxing is a great option if you are a fan of natural ingredients. A homemade version can even be made using a combination of sugar, water, and lemon. However, this can be a very messy process, and could result in quite a sticky kitchen. Be sure to read and follow all label instructions carefully for the best results when using these products.
Temperature is very important when it comes to oriental waxing. To avoid burns, it’s good to make sure that the wax has not become too hot. At the same time, if it’s too cool, it may not correctly grip the hairs.[2] The warm sugar paste is then spread on the skin with the spatula, with strips applied, and is removed against the natural direction of growth, making it possible to remove hair as short as 2mm[3]. This also means the hairs are less likely to break during removal as they are pulled out right from the root. As the follicle has to rebuild the hair from scratch, when the hairs do grow back, they will often be softer, round-ended hairs rather than the course kind of regrowth often experienced with shaving.[4]
Oriental wax can be used effectively on large areas like your legs and smaller, more sensitive areas like your under-arm and bikini line. Like waxing, sugaring can leave a residue on your skin, but because the formula is made up almost entirely of sugar, is it very easily dissolved with warm water in a shower[5].
[1] http://www.thelashandsugarcompany.com/sugaring-hair-removal/
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugaring_%28epilation%29
[3] http://spatique.skincaretherapy.net/body-sugaring-hair-removal
[4] http://www.webmd.com/beauty/hair-removal/for-women-only-best-choices-for-hair-removal
[5] http://hairremoval.about.com/od/sugarwaxing/a/sugaring101.htm
