Does Sugar Waxing Hurt? A Clear Answer With No Sugarcoating

Sugar waxing is an ancient hair removal method that can be dated back to 1900 BC. 

Sugar wax is made of sugar, water, and lemon juice. Although ingredients in sugar wax are simple the answer to the question; does sugar waxing hurt is a little more complicated. 

Unlike hard or soft wax, sugar wax is free from chemicals, and with the true sugar wax technique, no sticks or strips are used during the waxing process. The other difference between sugar wax and other wax is that it is applied in the opposite direction of hair growth.

This technique allows more hair to be removed from the root versus just being removed from the surface layer. 

After asking if sugar waxing hurts, the follow-up question is usually how is it made and how does it work? 

Water, sugar, and lemon juice are boiled until it reaches the desired consistency. For a thicker or harder sugar wax, you can add less liquid or boil for a longer time for a softer sugar wax add more liquid or boil for a shorter time 

Usually, sugar wax specialist will combine or create a custom blend. A custom blend of sugar wax is created by mixing a harder and softer consistency wax. 

The consistency the wax specialist chooses will depend on the area being waxed, the thickness of the hair being removed, the temperature in the room, the temperature of the client’s body, and the skill level of the wax specialist. 

During the sugar waxing process, a sticky paste is smoothed onto your hair and skin. The sugar wax is manually massaged or molded into the hair and manually removed. Applying pressure directly after the hair is removed will help alleviate the pain or sting some people feel as the hair is removed from the root. 

Sugar waxes’ sweet name and ingredients cause people to ask; does sugar waxing hurt? Whether or not sugar waxing hurts can also depend on how well you are caring for your skin. Exfoliating and moisturizing your skin can play a role in your hair removal process.

You should stop exfoliating 48-hours before your sugar wax, but it’s important to consistently exfoliate 2-3 times per week and moisturize daily leading up to your wax. 

Hair removal can be a painful experience for many people, and the level of pain experienced can vary depending on the method used and the individual’s pain threshold. For women, how close you are to your menstrual cycle, or if you are pregnant can also affect how painful your sugar wax is. 

A couple of other ways you can minimize discomfort during the sugar wax process is to take a pain reliever at least one hour before your wax appointment and or apply a numbing cream. 

Hair length can also play an important part in your sugar waxing process. Since sugar wax is applied in the opposite direction of hair growth, if your hair is too long when the sugar wax is applied it can feel like your hair is being tugged.

If your hair is too short, it can make it difficult for the wax to grab and remove which could mean your wax specialist will need several passes. 

Ideally, you want your hair to be the length of a long grain of rice, which is ¼ of an inch. If your hair is shorter than that, wait for it to grow out. You should wait at least two weeks after shaving and if it’s longer than that your wax specialist should trim it before the waxing process. 

Your sugar wax process can vary depending on the area you are getting waxed, and the establishment’s procedures. 

Although most sugar wax specialist use the strip-less technique you can also use a strip. As a sugar wax specialist, I believe the true benefits of sugar waxing come from the strip-less technique.

Which includes using your thumb, middle, and pointer finger to create a sugar wax ball and then pressing and molding the ball of wax into the hair. This method allows the wax to securely wrap around the hair and remove it from the root. 

In general, you can expect your wax specialist to cleanse your skin and apply a barrier powder such as baking soda or baby powder to absorb sweat during the waxing process, the wax specialist will press a warm ball of wax in the opposite direction of hair grown and flick off the wax using his or her hand.

The same ball of wax is usually reused throughout the entire waxing process. After, the wax specialist will throw away the wax ball that was used, cleanse the skin again, and apply a cooling or antibacterial product to prevent bacterial buildup within your pores.  

 The pain or discomfort someone feels during sugar wax is based on a variety of different things. One of the most important factors in whether sugar wax hurts or not is your pain tolerance. A few other factors are the area being waxed, how frequently you shave, how often you exfoliate, your hair thickness, and the experience level of the person performing the wax service. 

Pain is subjective. If you’ve never even had your eyebrows waxed before I’d recommend you grab a tweeter and extract one piece of hair from your body. During any waxing process, it will feel like dozens of hairs being extracted at once. 

People don’t get waxed because of the amazing feeling during the waxing process, they do it because of the results. I can say for most people waxing gets easier over time and with consistency. 

Next, I’d say don’t run to sugar waxing if you are looking for a pain-free hair removal option. You should consider it if you want an all-natural wax, have sensitive skin, are prone to ingrown hair, or want longer-lasting results.

After waxing your pores are open and that makes you vulnerable to irritation and infections if you don’t take post care seriously. To prevent infections like folliculitis, ingrown hairs or contact dermatitis follow the recommendations below: 

• Avoid touching the waxed area for at least 24 hours
• Do not apply any oils, or lotions to the waxes for 24-48 hours
• Avoid hot water including baths, saunas, and steam rooms for 24-48 hours
• Avoid friction from tight clothing on the waxed area 
• Apply a cool compress or chilled pure aloe to soothe and skin and reduce redness

To experience the least amount of pain during your sugar wax follow the tips below: 

• Exfoliate 2-3 times per week leading up to your sugar wax
• Moisturize daily leading up to your sugar wax
• Stay hydrated; drink a min of 8 glasses of water per day
• Avoid shaving between waxing sessions to prevent irritation and ingrown hairs
• Wait at least 4-6 weeks between waxing sessions to allow the hair to grow back fully
• Take a pain reliever at least one hour before your sugar wax
• Apply a numbing spray or cream with lidocaine 

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