Cheap, Efficient, and Extremely Effective Hair Removal: Sugaring

Sugaring has been an effective method of hair removal for thousands of years. It is similar to waxing in procedure and effect, but exceeds waxing in a number points. Sugaring is less painful than waxing because it adheres only to the hair, not the skin; while wax sticks to both hair and skin. Thus, it is less irritating and safer to use on sensitive skin than wax. Additionally, since the sugaring paste is merely a mix of sugar an lemon, any excess left on the skin or floor can be easily wiped off with warm water. This is especially good news for those sugaring for the first time! If you apply the paste and chicken out at the last minute, just wash it off and you're good to go. Last but not least, sugaring is one of the cheapest methods of hair removal.

Here's a simple recipe and some basic instructions for sugaring...

To make the sugaring paste, you will need:
- 1 cups of white granulated sugar
- 0.25 cup of lemon/lime juice
- A small-sized plastic container to store the sugaring paste (make sure it's microwaveable thick plastic)

Pour the sugar and lemon juice into a pot. Heat them while stirring over high heat until the sugar dissolves completely. After the mix turns into a pure liquid (no sugar granules), reduce the heat to low. Let the mix simmer over low heat. It will slowly start to turn golden in color and caramelize. Prepare a small bowl of cool water to test the consistency of the mixture. Dip the tip of your mixing utensil into the mix and drizzle a small amount of sugaring solution into the cool water bowl. If the sugaring mix melts instantly into the water, then you have to let it simmer a bit longer. If it firms up in the water and you can feel it with your finger (like taffy), then it's time to take the mix off the stove. Slowly and carefully pour the mix into your plastic container. Let it cool by refrigerating it. If you use it hot, it will burn your skin severely! You can later microwave it for about 10 seconds to warm it up before you use it.

To sugar, you will need a spatula to apply the paste to your skin and some cloth strips to pull it off your skin. If you do not have a special spatula, you may use popsicle sticks, or purchase waxing sticks from your local beauty supply store. Start by sugaring manageable areas such as legs and arms to perfect your technique, then move on to tougher areas such as the bikini area. Spread the paste using the spatula on the desired area. Cover the sugared area with a cloth strip, stroking firmly in the direction of hair growth for a couple of times. Finally, grasp the cloth at the edge and firmly and quickly rip it off in the opposite direction of hair growth. Make sure to keep your hand as parallel to the area being treated as possible while pulling off the strip; otherwise removal will hurt a bit more and will not be effective at all. Now look at all those pesky hairs go! After you are done sugaring, you can rinse the cloth strips and dry them for re-use.

Sugaring is safe to use on all areas of the body if done properly. And again, if you chicken out at the last minute or find it way too painful, you can simply wash it off and call it a day! You would have only lost some sugar, lemon, and a couple of hairs... not much at all.