I Tried “Sugaring” Instead of a Brazilian
Talking about your pubes can be a bit uncomfortable. And defending your choice on whether to wax them or let it all hang out is even more awk because even though it’s your body and you can do what you damn well please, people will still judge you.
But if you low-key want to look as smooth as Rihanna when she did that photoshoot in Brazil for Vogue, here’s what I’m gonna put you on: sugaring.
I was a devout shaver throughout high school, and I can honestly tell you it was the worst. I mean it was like a weekly job, and let’s not even talk about the razor bumps! So I threw my good ol’ Gillette razor in the garbage and moved on to the next thing.
Now we all know what a Brazilian wax is and either it’s your go-to, or you stay far away from it. Anyone that’s ever had a Brazilian wax knows that it hurts like hell. Not only is it painful, but if you have sensitive skin like I do, a Brazilian isn’t great for your skin — it’ll irritate you like crazy. I was about to give up and go natural (or, let’s be real, commit to my razor again), I came across another hair removal technique called sugaring.
READ ALSO: The 1 Thing You Need to Understand Before Getting a Brazilian Wax
Still kind of confused on what sugaring actually was, I decided to just give it a try. I low-key thought it was the same thing as a traditional Brazilian wax with just a prettier name. And just like I would prep for a Brazilian, I let my hair grow out for about four weeks, and made my appointment the day before I planned to go in.
I really prayed that sugaring actually lived up to the hype that I had read about and that I wasn’t just about to waste my money on something because it sounded nice. Not really knowing what to expect I figured I’d just ask everything while I was getting waxed.
“What exactly is sugaring?” I asked as the aesthetician told me to lay back keeping my legs in a butterfly position. She told me that sugaring was an all-natural method of hair removal and that it was basically made out of water, sugar, honey, and sometimes lemon. Before I got to the next question I felt a pull. Shit! I thought to myself. I didn’t even feel her put the wax on. She asked if I was okay, I said yes and 30 minutes later I was freshly waxed, almost bare and newly educated on the sugaring process.
Now unlike regular hot wax, sugar wax isn’t actually hot. It’s applied at body temperature and will not burn your skin. It also sticks only to the hair so when the wax is pulled off, only the hair is being pulled not the skin. This makes it less painful than typical waxing, and more ideal for people with sensitive skin. Your skin is not being irritated as much or even at all.
But there is a problem with this. Since the wax pulls almost no skin off you’re left with dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. It is very important to exfoliate before you go in for any wax. Your waxer may tell you to exfoliate before, but they might not tell you why. I mean it does sound gross. Who wants to hear about dead skin cells…. ever? But exfoliating before will give you better results and it’s cleaner.
READ ALSO: Brazilian Waxes Increase Chances of This STD
You are also not completely bare after your first wax. That smooth, flawless look will come after a couple of sessions, but the difference between the sugaring and the hot wax is that the sugar wax really gets the hair from the root, leaving you with a little peach fuzz (rather than those stubborn stragglers that wouldn’t come out with the hot wax). Think of it like the hair on your face… okay, okay maybe just a tad bit thicker.
Also if your hair is coarse it may take a little longer before you see the results you want. You will have to go often until the hair gets thinner. The thinner the hair, the less you’ll have to get waxed. So instead of every five to six weeks, you may have to go every four weeks.
You may be tempted to shave in-between waxes, but trust me if you slip up and shave, you just set the whole process back. It’s a little disappointing to wait and it seems like a pain at first, but all good things take time right?
Also, the sugar is usually natural — it’s made of water, honey, lemon and of course sugar, and it allegedly doesn’t contain any chemicals, coloring or fragrance. Of course, some salons might sneak some in so you’d better ask and make sure, if that’s important to you.
Bacteria is also something to worry about when considering any type of wax, but with sugaring, they told me it’s almost impossible for bacteria to breed in a tub of sugar. Turns out that’s true! So you don’t have to worry about cross contamination, and since the wax does not pull off the skin leaving it raw, you also don’t have to worry about skin infections. A major plus!
While the end goal is the same with both techniques — a smooth, hairless well you know… — sugaring does way less harm to the skin and is less painful. It lasts longer if you’re consistent with your waxing schedule and after the first couple times. But you won’t be completely bare after your first sugar wax *sighs again*. Sugaring is an alternative if you are looking for other ways to stay groomed down there. Just keep in mind before your first sugar wax to exfoliate, let those pubes grow out, and breathe it will be over before you know it!
