Waxing and sugaring are both hair removal techniques that have been around since the beginning of time. Although sugaring has only recently gained popularity throughout the United States- both forms of hair removal have been in use as far back as 1900 BC.

Waxing and sugaring are often grouped together because both techniques remove hair by pulling the entire hair follicle from the root.  However, they’re two very different techniques. During the waxing process, wax is applied in the direction of the hair, and is typically removed in the opposite direction of the hair follicle’s growth pattern. Depending on if the wax is a hard or soft wax, it is removed after it solidifies, or a muslin or paper strip is used to remove the soft wax. The opposite happens with sugaring, where the hair is pulled in the natural direction of your follicle’s growth pattern. Wax also tends to be warmer than sugaring, which is normally room temperature.

During the waxing process, every wax strip, for both hard wax and soft wax is used only once and thrown away after the hair is removed. Traditional sugaring is done with only a ball of sugar paste and no strips are needed. This method includes applying the paste to the area against the direction of hair growth and removing the sugar paste in the direction of hair growth. 

Urban Waxx sugar paste is made with a simple mixture of lemon, water, and sugar. The ingredients are heated to a low temperature to form a thick, honey-like consistency and applied in this form to the skin. 

Urban Waxx uses three separate waxes to offer the perfect option for all skin types and specific body parts. All mixtures are slightly different. Hard waxes, which are applied to the skin and removed after cooling, are usually made from a mixture of beeswax, resin, and oils. Soft wax, which requires cloth or strips to remove, is made with rosin, oils, and other additives. 

Although the product and procedure vary greatly between Sugaring and Waxing, both remove hair from the root. Outside of smooth, hairless skin, there are several long-term benefits for both sugaring and waxing. 

One excellent side benefit of both sugaring and waxing is that they are a form of exfoliation. The process removes dead skin cells from the surface while smoothing skin. 

Both waxing and sugaring remove hair from the root, and with continued upkeep, the hair will grow back thinner and softer. With repeated services, the hair follicle can be traumatized, and stop growing entirely. 

Finally, unlike epilators or chemical hair removal, sugaring and hard wax cause little or no irritation — even for the most sensitive skin types. 

For both Sugaring and Waxing, Skin prep is essentially the same.

Grow your hair out to at least  ¼-inch long. This process usually takes about 10 to 14 days. A few days before your appointment, lightly exfoliate the area to remove dead skin cells and prevent ingrown hairs. 

The day before your appointment, avoid aggressive exfoliation and tanning as these might make your skin dry or sensitive. The day  of your appointment, come with clean, dry skin. Avoid wearing lotions or creams. To avoid further sensitivity, don’t have any caffeine or alcohol, and take an over-the-counter pain reliever 30 minutes before.

After your appointment, you can begin using a soothing and exfoliating serum, like Serious Serum, the night of, and every night after that! Return to manual exfoliating about 48 hours after your appointment. Aim to exfoliate two to three times a week to help prevent ingrown hairs between appointments.

Results from both sugaring and waxing last around the same time. It ultimately comes down to how fast your hair grows, but usually, each session will last around 3 to 4 weeks. If you keep up a regular hair removal schedule, the removal process will become less painful and easier over time. 

Both sugaring and waxing are great forms of hair removal if you’re looking for lasting results! 

If you’re unsure which to try, try them both and decide for yourself! Urban Waxx offers both options to accommodate every person and every skin type! We can’t wait to see you!