Sugaring (epilation)
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This article contains instructions, advice, or how-to content. (December 2011) |
Sugaring, sugar waxing or Arab waxing is a method of hair removal.[1]
It has been in use since 1900 BC,[citation needed] although probably using honey. (Sugar, as such, only spread to the rest of the world in the first millennium AD from Papua New Guinea. It was not found anywhere else prior to this.)
The Sugaring substrate sticks to the hair without attaching to the skin and may be applied at room temperature or heated to a lukewarm temperature, preventing burning.[2][3] Nevertheless, there is some risk of skin irritation, sensitivity, and reaction.[3]
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Sugaring paste[edit]
Sugaring paste can be prepared with common household food items, such as water, sugar and lemon juice,[3][4] and cornstarch,[5] honey or molasses. Getting the consistency correct takes some practice for most users. Pre-made sugar paste is also sold; professional and retail versions are available.[3] It may contain guar gum in addition to the other ingredients.[4] Since the sugar solution is water-based and water-soluble, the substance can be easily cleaned up with warm water.[3][4]
Studio Smooth website states that sugaring is preferable to waxing, because the former has no resins, except for guar.[4]
Standard recipe[edit]
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (June 2011) |
The most common recipe for sugaring wax is as follows (units by volume):[6]
- 2 units of sugar
- 1/4 unit of lemon (either fresh or from a bottle, not from concentrate)
- 1/4 unit of water
The ingredients are heated and mixed until they are completely liquid; after this the liquid changes from seemingly white to a light, gold-like color (while being heated). The solution should not be allowed to become too dark. Darkness and hardness are controlled by heating the solution to specific temperatures. For a thick paste, the solution should be heated to 118°C, and to 121°C for a gel.
When completed, the solution is left to cool to room temperature.
Lemon juice is added for its acidity, which breaks up the sucrose into fructose and glucose. As in candy making, this gives the finished sugaring wax a non-crystalline, or amorphous, structure.
Process[edit]
With the strip method, the area to be epilated is typically dusted with powder (commercial or corn starch) prior to application of the sugaring solution, which is spread on with a spatula or tongue depressor.[5] After the sticky paste is applied to the skin in the opposite direction of hair growth, a strip of porous cloth or paper is pressed into the preparation, and "ripped off" in the same direction of hair growth, taking hairs with it.[2][3][5][7]
References[edit]
- ^ Tannir, Dania; Leshin, Barry (March 2001). "Sugaring: An Ancient Method of Hair Removal". Dermatologic Surgery 27 (3): 309–311. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2001.00175.x.
- ^ a b "Hairfacts definitions - S". Retrieved 11 April 2009.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f "Sugaring vs waxing". Splendicity.com. Retrieved 11 April 2009.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d "Your Questions". StudioSmooth.com. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
- ^ a b c "Sugaring". Spaindex.com. 11 April 2009.
- ^ http://hairremoval.about.com/od/sugarwaxing/ss/sugar-hair-removal-recipe.htm
- ^ "Sugaring or Sugar Waxing". SimplyHairRemoval.com. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
External links[edit]
- Bond, Annie. "Natural Hair Removal: Ancient Egyptian Art of Body Sugaring". Care2.com. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- "Sugaring Hair Removal Recipe". About.com Hair Removal. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- "DIY Body Sugaring For Removing Unwanted Hair". HairTipnut.com. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
