How to Be Frugal by Making Our Own Wax

When you start to live frugally you always look to the big expenses right? I don't know about you but I'm always wondering how I can save money in waxing. Switch to cheaper salons? Maybe but it's not cheap anyway. I tried wax-at-home kits but I kept asking myself if there was a better way. That's when I found sugaring, free of chemicals, almost inexpensive, therefore great for frugal living.

The recipe consists in three ingredients: water, sugar and lemon. If you've your own lemon tree sugaring will be even cheaper!

Here's the recipe!

- 2 cups sugar

- ½ cup water

- ½ cup lemon juice

- Pour everything in a saucepan and let it cook in medium heat (be very careful in the heat, it's best to take a while than to have spoiled the whole recipe)

- Let it reach the soft ball stage (two ways to test it: pour some in ice cold water and it must form a mouldable ball or with a candy thermometer check the temperature - 120ºC/248º F). It'll be amber color when it's done.

- Turn off the heat

- Let it cool a bit and pour in a container (I prefer to use a glass container)

- Just use it when it's close to room temperature, if you need it a little more spreadable reheat in the microwave for a short period of time

Tips & Special Notes:

- If you're not sure about the consistency just turn off the heat and check, then reheat again in the stove if necessary. Always this way, at least you are sure you won't spoil the mixture. I always do it this way.

- You can buy the strips in a salon but you can also rip a men shirt and cut it in strips and use them. To wash just let it rest in boiling water to remove all the sugar. Then throw everything in the washing machine. It has been very effective for me and inexpensive!

- You don't need it hot to have results so don't burn yourself!

- Wax adheres to the skin while sugaring adheres to the hair, it'll hurt anyway but some people say it's easier. Personally I think pain doesn't go away but I don't have red bumps and my ingrown hairs seem to have disappeared!

- One more advantage: you can use it anywhere, it works in the armpits, bikini area, legs, everything. I've read a couple of things about having the hair at least ¼ inch but I also have good results with short hair. My armpits actually got better waxed with sugaring then any other wax I tried before.