We, brown girls, are hairy. I still remember, when I was a teenager, I used to have a secrete sugar waxing session in my room with my cousin. The whole process of making sugar wax while no one home, in our kitchen, felt luxurious and exciting at that time. Even though it is a painful process, I always looked forward to doing it again every three months. After coming to the US, I started with salon wax as I lost my sugar wax buddy. But due to few bad experiences of waxing in-salon led me into Sugar Wax again. I learned to do it by myself after a few trial and error method.
I felt, during the summertime, we all want those hairless legs and under-arms for our pool parties. Especially during long summer weekends, I am all about jumping into my pool. Due to COVID -19 situation, waxing spa spots in the bay area are still closed; that’s why I feel it’s the perfect time to implement zero waste, natural, and clean shaving methods. Out of all shaving and waxing way, I just adore sugarring or sugar wax a lot. It’s a simple yet effective process.
The other good thing about sugar waxing or sugaring is: this process will rip your hair out by the root. It’s not thrilling, though; actually, it’s scary for many people, but your skin will glow after this process. This process is going to be your alternative to daily shaving. Forget those razors and wax burns. So why not face the fear, gathered up the ingredients, and gave it a try!
And you know what? You will convert into a total fan of Sugar Wax.
How to Make Sugar Wax at Home?
Sugar is terrible for your health, but not for your skin! If you have a terrible experience with salon wax then, sugar wax is your cup of tea. Sugar wax has only four ingredients: Sugar, Honey, Lemon, and Water. Sugar wax is a paste made from these four ingredients
All these ingredients you can find it in your kitchen pantry. Since this recipe is natural and free from toxins, people like me who would like to know all ingredients inside personal care products will love this idea.
Regular wax applied directly to your skin while it’s hot. In the case of sugar wax, you need to make it paste first and then warming up a little bit before applying on your skin. That’s why there is less chance you will burn yourself.
Plus, sugar wax is gentle and full of alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). It will remove your hair more gently than regular wax. And if you worried about stickiness, don’t worry at all; it will not leave any stickiness on your skin. Now, let me be clear, making Sugar wax is more like making caramel sauce at home. It will be wrong a couple of times, but once you grasp it, you will love making it. The good thing about this recipe, it’s self-preserving wax thanks to honey.
That’s why you might need to make one or two times a year.
When we tucked into our kitchen and made sugar wax without elder supervision, it was a disaster. We didn’t have the internet to look for the instruction, but after 3 burned sugar, I could make this recipe. If you ever make caramel sauce at home, you guys know what I am talking about. Temperature and heat are essential in this recipe. For you, I strongly suggest you invest in a candy thermometer. Do not use a body thermometer if you don’t have a candy thermometer. Instead, just take your best judgment in terms of color, smell, and texture while you make the wax. Just don’t be harsh on yourself, you might need 1-2 trials. Make sure you don’t burn too much; it’s might catch fire. If it happens, just close the lid and take the vessel away from the heat. Later wash it off and drain the leftover liquid.
Here is the video to see the texture and color:
Once the wax is cold, pour into mason jars. It will be thick and brown colored paste. Thanks to honey, this wax is self-preserved for up to two months when you refrigerate. Before every use, heat sugar wax for 1-2 minutes. Using a butter knife or popsicles stick, apply a ¼ inch layer of warm wax in the direction of hair growth. Gently press onto skin.
It is settled the wax for one minute or so, using one corner of wax strip, pull it very quickly against the direction of hair growth. Once the wax has cooled, scoop it out of the container and apply it with a butter knife, popsicle stick, or hands. You’ll want to apply a ¼ inch layer of wax in the direction of the hair and gently press it onto your skin.
Let’s Make Sugar Wax at Home
Ready to use, quick and inexpensive alternative when your spa is closed
Ingredients you need:
2 cups white granulated sugar
¼ cup of lime or lemon juice
One tablespoon Honey
1/3 cup of water
The time you need:
Prep time: 5 minutes
Making time: 5 minutes
Cooling time: 3 hours
Total time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Equipment you need:
Medium Saucepan (use non-stick if you can)
Food Grade or Candy Thermometer
Method to use:
1. First, in a dry medium pan, add sugar, honey, and lime juice. Start the range or gas, and without stirring it up, add water.
2. Turn the heat to medium-high flame; you are not allowed to touch or stir in this recipe. If you start mixing, you will add air into the melting process. It will cause sugar to crystalize on the side of the pan.
3. In 2-3 minutes, sugar will start boiling. Gently from side swirl the pot to mix all the ingredients.
4. Once the mixture turns amber honey color, turn off the gas. The other way is to check the temperature using a candy or food-grade thermometer. Once temperature reaches 260 F, turn off the gas.
5. In this time, immediately remove the mixture from the heat and transfer it into mason jars. Make sure you use jars which is microwave safe. You might need to warm up the wax before the application.
6. The best way to test your sugar wax is: it should be stretchy and slightly sticky. If it’s too runny then, you might need to change the amounts of water, lemon juice, and sugar into the recipe. If it’s too hard then, add more water or lime juice.
7. Once the wax is warm enough, apply to the skin.
Application of Sugar wax at home
1. First of all, you need to wash and dry the skin to be waxed. Make sure your skin is without any products (no lotion, sunscreen, or oil).
2. Using a butter knife or small spatula, test the temperature of the wax. Make sure it’s bearable to you.
3. Now using the same spatula, apply ¼ inch of the wax layer to the small area of skin you plan to wax. Make sure you spread the wax against the direction of the hair growth.
4. Place cotton fabric strip over the wax and press it very well.
5. Holding the skin-tight, from one corner of the fabric piece, pull off quickly in the direction of the hair growth. You can apply a sugar wax mixture without fabric too. I like fabric/cloth as it will give you control.
6. Repeat this process. The pull-off action requires more practice as you need to take a big breath and just ripped off the fabric from the skin.
7. Once you are done, refrigerate the leftover wax.
Shelf life: 6 months refrigerated
Benefits of Sugar Wax
1) It’s an excellent zero-waste and natural product
Traditional wax contains several chemical ingredients that can create a harsh reaction on your skin. Sugar wax is made from all edible ingredients. Most sugar wax recipes include some sort of citric acid and honey. Both these ingredients help in preservation.
2) Do not burn your skin
Burnt skin due to salon wax is no fun. It is really painful, and sometimes it leads to the scar.
With sugar wax, you don’t need to worry as sugar wax can apply cold or warm. I generally prefer to have warm wax, but people who cannot tolerate heat, this type of waxing is such a boon. After this process, you will get no scar, redness just smooth skin.
3) Reduce unwanted hair growth and removes ingrown hair
Once you start applying sugar wax at home regularly, after 3-4 times, you will see a significant difference in hair regrowth. Since it removes hair from the roots, it will reduce the time!
4) Easy to clean process
Sugar wax is so easy to clean from your skin or cotton strips. This mixture is water-soluble, meaning, how long you keep the sugar wax on your skin, it will come out very clean!
5) Less Irritation after Sugar Wax
If you are into gently removing unwanted body hair, due to food-grade ingredients, this is the safest recipe. You will not get any burn after this.
Common Questions about Sugar Wax
In our Instagram, I always come up with unusual topics of beauty and wellness. A month ago, I asked the question about the type of hair removal and process. During that time, many people mentioned that they like to do Sugar Wax but have tons of questions about making sugar wax, applying it, and so on! So here are commonly asked a question to @glowngreen
What is the ideal temperature of sugar wax, while you make?
Generally, I use a food-grade thermometer to measure the exact temperature the whole time. It is safe to turn off heat around 240 F to 260 F.
What if my sugar wax comes out too hard or runny?
If sugar wax comes out too hard, it is better just to throw it away. You can add lemon juice and continue boiling it, but I just throw it away and start the recipe from scratch.
But if it’s too runny, one option is to cook a little longer. You can add honey or sugar if it is more like syrup.
Can I use sugar wax without a cotton strip?
Yes absolutely.
What is the shelf life of Sugar Wax?
Generally, it stays stable in a refrigerated environment, but I usually do not use it after six months.
I made sugar wax 100+ time; it is never right?
There are a couple of reasons for that. The climate you live in, the amount of sugar, honey, water, and the lemon ratio is heating up more or less. Making Sugar wax is more or less like baking. It’s science, and you need to make it right with the practice.
When can I wax my hair? Do I need to let it grow first?
Yes, for best result, it is necessary; you grow your hair up to ½ inch to ¾ inch.
Hope you all like this blog post. Let me know if you have any other questions about this. I will be happy to answer in our comment section. Hope you all have a great 4th of July. Have a great long weekend.