What Is Sugar Wax & What Are The Benefits?

Although body hair is a personal choice, for those who like to keep things smooth, there are plenty of hair removal options on the market. And though no one method is objectively better than the other, there are some that are better suited for certain people, depending on  lifestyle, pain threshold, and possible allergies. For those with sensitive skin, sugaring has become one of the most popular hair removal methods. The process involves an esthetician using a special sugar wax to pull hair from the root without the use of any chemicals, irritants, or wax strips. 

 "Not only is sugaring a more gentle, all-natural way to remove hair," esthetician Cici Huang tells Glamour, "There is generally less redness and irritation associated with it, making it great for people who might have sensitive skin or certain allergies."

Despite the fact that sugaring has been around for centuries, it doesn't tend to get as much attention as traditional waxing. Which, frankly, is a shame because sugaring has a handful of benefits that waxing just doesn't have.

Let's get one thing clear: Sugaring involves removing an entire hair from the root, so it's not completely painless. And if you're getting the bikini area sugared, the experience can be particularly uncomfortable, both during and right before your period. However, sugaring is widely reported to be less painful than waxing because of the manner in which it removes hair. For one, it's applied at room temperature, which eliminates the possibility of getting a wax burn. But also, unlike wax, which sticks to the skin, the sugar mixture only clings to hair. As dermatologist Amy Kassouf, MD tells Cleveland Clinic, "Sugaring doesn't remove as many additional skin cells [as waxing] since the cooled mixture doesn't adhere to your skin." This makes it a far more comfortable hair removal experience.

And, according to some experts, the more you get sugaring services, the easier it becomes. As explained by esthetician and sugaring expert Alexandra Accardo to Byrdie, "[...] When you remove the root, the follicle will have less blood supply to it overtime, which will in turn weaken it. You'll get less hair growth each time, and the hair that does grow will be finer and sparser." As a result, each session becomes less painful.

Although sugaring and waxing are about the same price at the salon, if you take into consideration what you're paying for, you might consider sugaring more cost effective. According to experts, depending on your hair type, sugaring may allow for more weeks between your appointments. "Clients tend to comment that smoother results last longer with sugaring than waxing," wax expert and esthetician Enrique Ramirez tells Byrdie. "

The other benefit to sugaring is that it can be done in the comfort of your own home. All it takes is heating lemon juice, water, and sugar in a pot to a workable consistency. Once it's cool enough to handle, roll the substance against the hair you want to remove. When you're ready, take the end of the sugar wax and pull it in the direction of hair growth — it may take a few rounds to remove all the hair. Any remaining sugar wax can be kept for three weeks.