Shaving, IPL, epilating, waxing—everyone has a favourite method to deal with their hairy problem, but we can all admit that there’s no one perfect way. The painless solutions like shaving and IPL either grow back too quickly, or involve a long-term process, while the painful solutions like epilating and waxing are, well, painful. But what if you could have the best of both worlds—the fast and enduring results of waxing, with a lot less discomfort? Enter sugaring, the not-so-new hair removal solution.
Also known as oriental waxing or Persian waxing, sugaring has been in use since 1900BC, originating from the Middle East. The method involves an all-natural paste of sugar, lemon juice and water, which is applied to the area at body temperature, and then removed in the natural direction of growth. The same ball of sugar can be used to remove hair from the whole area (and body, even), making this an eco-friendly alternative to wax strips and spatulas.
Having stayed under the radar for centuries, the organic hair removal technique is seeing a revival of sorts in recent years, with people who have tried it swearing by the method—take it from Sugar(ed) founder and master sugarist Jasmine Yong, who found it so life-changing that she has since built a career around it.
“I was simply looking to get a Brazilian done when I stumbled upon sugaring in Seattle,” she says.
“It was a completely different experience to have my hair removed without heat and barely any pain. Even after waxing for several years, I had never experienced regrowth results that were of the standards of sugaring. In a nutshell, it was enough to change my life.”
