If you’ve heard the terms “waxing” and “sugaring” used interchangeably, you may be wondering about the difference. Leticia Bailey is a licensed esthetician and certified in both methods. While both are used for body hair removal, the techniques are different…
Sugaring
Sugaring is the preferred method of hair removal at Firecracker Beauty Spa. Using a paste of natural ingredients that usually includes lemon, water, and sugar, hair is removed from the root. The sugaring paste is heated to a taffy-like consistency and handled by the esthetician like putty. Sugaring can be used across any area of the body in most clients and because it’s gentler than waxing, is better for people with sensitive skin.
Pros and…(there aren’t really any cons)
Sugaring is a more natural, gentle method of hair removal. Because the sugar paste doesn’t adhere to skin, there’s very little irritation and because the paste is cooled (enough to be handled by the esthetician) it can’t burn the skin. Sugaring can lightly exfoliate the skin, as it will adhere to dead surface cells, which results in healthier skin that looks renewed. A key difference between waxing and sugaring is the direction of the hair removal. In sugaring, hair is pulled out in the direction of the hair growth. Waxing removes hair in the opposite direction of growth, which can cause breakage.
Waxing
Waxing refers to hair removal using heated wax applied to the body, covered with a strip of cloth, and removed along with the hair down to the root. Waxing has been done since ancient times, with evidence of hairless women in Egypt dating back to 3000 B.C. Waxing is effective for removing large swaths of hair at once, resulting in smooth skin that last for up to 3 weeks.
Pros and Cons
Waxing is versatile and can be done on any area of the body as long a she hair is at least 1/4 inch long. Unlike shaving, which leaves hair stubbly and skin abrasive-feeling, waxing removes hair at the root with new growth that feels softer and finer. Because of the sudden removal of hair, waxing “traumatizes” the hair follicle, which often leads to slower re-growth. Over time, hair grows in slower and slower, so you smoothness last longer and longer!
For some people, waxing can cause irritation and ingrown hairs. If done improperly, waxing can burn the skin or remove the top layer of skin, causing redness and sensitivity. At Firecracker Beauty Spa, skin is carefully prepped and treated to a soothing post-treatment serum to ensure the best results and prevent any irritation or injury.
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