What is sugaring?

Sugaring is one of the oldest recorded methods of hair removal, dating back to the Egyptian times and it appears that it may be about to have a revival!

Hair removal sugar is simply sugar, water and lemon juice, cooked together until the perfect consistency has been achieved, it is then left to cool and is ready to use. It can be made at home but is so affordable from sugaring manufacturers and specialist salons that I wouldn’t bother risking sugar burns and mess, and that’s before you consider what an incredibly hard technique it is to master.

The benefits of sugaring is that it is 100% natural so is perfect for clients with allergies (although these are fairly uncommon), it is used at body temperature so there is no risk of client discomfort due to skin sensitivity; from our experience, it appears to be less uncomfortable than other forms of hair removal and finally sugar is water soluble, so it is easier to keep your client and salon clean.

Generally speaking, Sugaring has three main advantages over waxing. Most importantly, sugar is applied against the direction of the hair growth and removed with it. This is important because hairs are removed in the direction they are naturally pointing and are not wrenched back on themselves, an action which will cause a certain degree of snapped hairs and follicle irritation/distortion as with waxing. Secondly, sugar is very effective at removing soft, downy, vellus hair, something that ‘peelable wax’ is poor at doing. Finally, sugaring is an excellent method of exfoliation and skin feels beautifully smooth after a treatment.

There are two types of sugaring:

Strip sugar is the same consistency as strip wax and is used in virtually

the same way. It is particularly useful for the removal of facial hair, which is usually prohibitive for strip wax due to the irritation. Strip sugar can be messy and can prove ineffective at removing course hair.

Sugar paste is the more popular choice among sugaring practitioners across the world. The sugar is thicker and when removed from the container, stays in a pliable ‘ball’ which is spread onto the body against the direction of hair using the practitioners’ hands (gloved of course!). As the paste is applied to the body, it encapsulates the entire hair shaft, the paste is then removed using a ‘flicking’ technique removing with it the hair. The same ball of sugar can be used for the entire body, making it a very cost effective and hygienic treatment as there is no risk of cross contamination which can be a concern with certain forms of waxing in some salons.

Sugar paste is a very effective form of hair removal and can remove hairs that would be considered too short for waxing- ideal for clients that struggle to grow their hair for regular 4 weekly appointments. Due to the superb exfoliation properties of sugaring, it leaves skin incredibly soft and because sugaring doesn’t distort the follicles to the same degree as waxing, clients that suffer from in-grown hairs may see a big improvement. The only negatives to sugar paste are that because the treatment can be more time consuming, it can work out slightly more costly than waxing.

I often get asked “which is best, sugaring or waxing?” I personally don’t believe it is a question of one being more effective than the other but rather that one can suit a certain hair/ skin type better.

The best way to really find out about sugaring is to experience it for yourself. Waxed Works are now proud to be able to offer this unique form of hair removal at their Beccles location. If you would like any more information or to book, email beccles@waxedworks.co.uk

Toni Keable

Senior Therapist & Regional Manager

Waxed Works – Beccles and Norwich, Norfolk. 

Sugaring for hair removal in Norwich