Shaving. Waxing. Plucking. Laser hair removal. Sugaring. There are so many ways to remove unwanted hair. How you decide to pick which one is for you depends on what hurts the least balanced with what works the best. Two of the more popular picks for removing hair right now are sugaring and waxing.
The texture of your hair, your pain tolerance, and how your skin reacts, will guide you as to which choice is best. Both will give you smooth skin for weeks without having to shave. So, does it matter which one you pick? Let’s break down the sugaring vs waxing debate and see which one you should go with.
Waxing
Waxing uses beeswax or other resin and other ingredients to remove the hair. It’s applied warm to hot and quickly removed in the opposite direction of the hair growth. Scenes from 40-Year-Old Virgin and other movies make it seem absolutely unbearable. But it’s not that bad.
You’ll get about a month of smooth skin before you have to have it redone. You can do soft wax, where you use a cloth wax strip to remove it, or the hard wax, which doesn’t require a cloth wax strip.
Sugaring
Sugaring uses a mixture of water, lemon, and — you guessed it — sugar to remove the hair. Once it’s applied it’s removed with the hair grain. The pain isn’t as bad as with waxing. For that reason, people with sensitive skin might prefer this method.
The mixture is also warmed until it’s almost like a liquid hard candy form. Hair generally takes about a month to regrow with this method.
Which method is best for you?
When it comes to sensitive skin, sugaring is the way to go. It’s more natural, gentler, and best for people with who have allergic reactions to getting waxed. Those that get rashes, bumps, hives, or blisters after waxing should switch over to sugaring.
With sugaring, you’ll find your skin less irritated. Especially in areas where you need to repeat the process to ensure all hair is removed. The sugar mixture is more hydrating than wax so even those stubborn areas will feel softer after treatment.
When it comes to thicker, coarser hair, waxing may be best. If you have to shave constantly, waxing will be the way to go. It’s more effective at getting out stubborn, thick hair.
Differences
One of the biggest ways sugaring and waxing differ – and why the former is better for sensitive skin – is how they adhere to your skin and what they take with them when removed
Sugaring sticks to dead skin cells. Waxing sticks to live skin cells. So when you pull them off, sugaring is grabbing at stuff that is already dead and ready to come off, and waxing is basically taking the top layer of your skin.
Wax is hotter
The temperatures at which the two work are also different. Wax has to be heated up at a higher temperature than sugar. If the temperature of wax irritates your skin, then sugaring is the better option.
Sugaring is more natural
Most sugar pastes used only have three ingredients, and all of them are natural. You can actually eat the sugar paste used. We aren’t saying to try it, but you could. Sugaring is the best alternative if your skin can’t take waxing because of the purity of the ingredients.
Waxing is quicker to do, sugaring is faster to prep
The process of sugaring can take longer if you are removing hair from a larger section of your body. But the sugar mixture takes less time to prep and heat up. Waxing seems to be undefeated when it comes to being faster on a larger surface, like your legs.
Waxing is cheaper
Waxing does tend to cost less than sugaring. If your skin can handle it and you want to save some money, skip the sugar and go for the wax.
What they both give you
No matter which one you go with, you’ll get some nice benefits.
- Skin exfoliation
- Continued use softens hair
- Minimal irritation
Both methods will remove dead skin cells to leave your skin smoother. Ongoing use of either method will cause hair to grow back softer and thinner and, over time, the process will be quicker.
You should also find that this type of hair removal doesn’t hurt as much once your skin adjusts to it. If you have sensitive skin, you should find that your skin doesn’t get as irritated as it would with a chemical hair remover.
So which one will you pick? Which is the best way to remove hair? If you have coarser hair, waxing will be your best option. If you want an organic, natural way that will leave your skin feeling calm, then sugaring is for you.
Whichever way you go, make sure you find a reputable salon. Make sure their cleanliness and sanitary practices are well-reviewed. If you opt to try either method at home, the same rules apply. If you are tired of shaving every other day, then we hope we helped you figure out which to use to rip that hair out and have silky skin for weeks at a time.
BlissMark provides information regarding health, wellness, and beauty. The information within this article is not intended to be medical advice. Before starting any diet or exercise routine, consult your physician. If you don’t have a primary care physician, the United States Health & Human Services department has a free online tool that can help you locate a clinic in your area. We are not medical professionals, have not verified or vetted any programs, and in no way intend our content to be anything more than informative and inspiring.
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