So “new frontier” was really just a journalistic hook because there is actually nothing new about the ancient practice of “sugaring” (a technique of hair removal originating thousands of years ago in Egypt) but it is, relatively speaking, new to us North Americans. If you live in the Big Apple, you probably are familiar since Shobha, which started as a singular salon off Broadway a few years back and has now officially garnered the title of “Empire,” is ubiquitous in beauty circles as the hair removal destination for New York women.
Hair removal is a sticky subject (pun intended) as each person reacts differently to every method. So to say one method is better than another can only be applied on a personal level. That said: Sugaring changed my life.
My very first bikini wax took place at a rather divey little place by the beach in Barcelona. At age 18 I hadn’t quite developed a sense of caution regarding the condition of my surroundings. My biggest concern was if I could afford it, and there I could. Halfway through I was praying that something would happen that would force her to stop without me being the baby that couldn’t handle the pain- a fire, a hysterical woman acting out on the feelings I was experiencing- ANYTHING. But that didn’t happen; she kept tearing those sheets off and such intense nausea was building up inside me that once it was over, I felt that I had just come down with the flu and would require a few days bed rest. I was bleeding and the job was uneven and awkward. I swore to never do it again.
And then I heard about Shobha. Sugaring was reportedly 40% less painful and at this point (2 years later) I knew I had to face my demons. Terrified but with flecks of optimism I entered my appointment.
And left a convert. The procedure was so startlingly different than the aforementioned nightmare, I almost wondered if the hair hadn’t really been removed at all.
But it had and the job was fantastic.
I referred several friends who actually felt deceived by my praises of sugaring, as many of them were forced to incorporate wax at some point in the process. As said before, each person is different and thus what removes hair on one may not do the same on another. But I believe that in the right salon, with a caring practitioner, you won’t ever experience the trauma that I went through. My friends that did go reported that the mixture of sugaring and waxing was actually ideal.
Bikini follicles are extra stubborn, but sugaring is safe and effective on legs, arms and anywhere else body hair is unpleasantly lurking.
If you have sensitive skin it is definitely worth a shot, as sugar is made entirely from natural kitchen ingredients (sugar, lemon juice, and hot water); you are much less prone to become irritated after.
Any particularly ambitious ladies out there looking to DIY, this is possible- many recipes are lurking around the internet. But I’d caution you to make sure you don’t burn yourself. Skin patch tests are crucial with a very small amount of your concoction. You’ll know if it’s too hot. Most recipes call for cotton swatches to adhere to the substance, and at Shobha they use denim. I’d definitely go with denim because of its very durable nature and the fact that it’s not likely to stretch or give much in the removal process.
Would love to hear from anyone that tries it out. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even try it out.
~ Olivia Villanti
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