Wax or sugar: differences between sugaring and waxing

Elseda Big Encyclopedia of Depilation. Starting a business in the field of depilation from “A” to “Z”

Sugaring and waxing are the most popular hair removal methods today. The procedures have much in common, but there are also differences in the materials used and the characteristics of the techniques. Many people ask the question “what is better – waxing or sugaring”, because both options have their pros and cons. Let's look at this issue in more detail.

Similarities of procedures

Regardless of the type of product (wax or sugar paste), depilation ensures the achievement of ideal smoothness of the skin, because the hairs are removed from the roots. Moreover, both methods allow you to get rid of even very short hair (from 3 mm long), including coarse and shaved hair. Both sugaring and waxing are suitable for treating any area of ​​the body and face. The effect lasts for 2-5 weeks. The exact period depends on individual circumstances. But the best part is that with regular hair removal using any of these methods, their number is reduced, they become thinner and softer.

As you can see, the procedures have a lot in common. Therefore, to figure out which is better - wax or sugaring, you need to consider the pros and cons of each method in comparison.

What is hair removal

Epilation is the removal of the entire hair, including the follicle.

The procedure includes actions that are aimed at destroying the structure of the hair follicle (hair papilla and adjacent vessels). The result is the impossibility of hair regeneration.

Main types of hair removal:

• Electrolysis.
• Photoepilation.
• Laser hair removal.
• Combined hair removal ELOS.

Important!

All types of hair removal have a large number of contraindications: sessions are not suitable for everyone.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis is a method of hair removal using a small electrical discharge. It is directed to the hair root.

The procedure involves inserting a thin needle-electrode into the hair follicle, through which a current discharge passes.

This promotes “burning out” of the hair root. The main advantage is efficiency.

Minuses:

• Soreness.
• It is undesirable to use when treating bikini areas due to the presence of lymph nodes there.
• The duration of the procedure is due to the effect on each hair individually.

The procedure is not performed in the presence of gynecological, viral, cardiovascular and infectious diseases.

A possible side effect of the procedure is thermal burn, which leads to scarring on the skin.

Photoepilation

Photoepilation is a method of hair removal using high-pulse light. Under the influence of heat waves, the blood in the capillaries feeding the bulb begins to coagulate. The result is that the hair follicle is deprived of the nutrients it needs.

Against this background, it dies and the hairs fall off.

Advantages of the procedure: the skin is not damaged during the session. Ingrown hairs do not appear after the session.

Main disadvantages:

• Soreness.
• Blonde and gray hair lacks the necessary pigment, so the result after the procedure may be zero.

Laser hair removal

Laser hair removal is a radical way to remove unwanted hair. It involves the destruction of hair follicles using laser radiation.

The main advantages of the procedure:

• Efficiency A few sessions are enough to remove vegetation.
• Safety In the absence of contraindications, the procedure does not harm health.
• Comfort The intensity of the effect is selected depending on the sensitivity of the skin. If necessary, an analgesic gel is used.
• Speed ​​of procedure The area to be epilated is processed in fragments, which allows you to work on a large amount of hair at once.

The main disadvantage is the need for repeated sessions.

Combined hair removal ELOS

Combined hair removal ELOS is a technique that combines the properties of electrochemical, radio frequency and optical effects.

The procedure involves influencing body cells containing melanin.

At the same time, the blood vessels of the hair follicle are affected. Against the background of their destruction, hair growth stops.

Main advantages:

• Safety.
• High efficiency.
• Possibility of hair removal, regardless of its type and shade.

The main disadvantages: high cost, the need for repeated sessions, the presence of typical contraindications (leg diseases, cardiovascular, infectious pathologies).

How does sugaring affect the growth stage and life cycle of hair on the human body?

The best alternatives to sugaring - laser, electro-, photoepilation, wax, cream, epilator, razor

Benefits of waxing

• Waxing hair removal is cheaper than sugaring. For some, this is a compelling argument.
• The waxing procedure takes less time, since the zones are processed in large areas.
• Wax is easier to work with than sugar. Its structure is not affected by the temperature of the air, the master’s hands, or the treated area. The technique of applying and removing wax from the skin is also less complicated. In this regard, waxing is better than sugaring not only for professionals, but also for clients, because only experienced specialists do an excellent job with paste. Therefore, when coming for waxing, a person is less likely to encounter discomfort from the awkward movements of a beginner and numerous attempts to remove hair in the same area.

Disadvantages of waxing

• Since waxing removes a large number of hairs at once, the pain during the procedure can be stronger than with sugaring.
• In reviews, arguing that sugaring or waxing is better, girls often write that after waxing, the problem of ingrown hairs occurs more often than after using sugar paste. Although experts believe that this largely depends on the skill of the specialist, the individual characteristics of the client and compliance with skin care recommendations after the procedure.
• Previously, hot waxes were used for depilation, requiring heating up to 50 degrees. Such products could leave burns on the skin. Therefore, just a few years ago, the answer to the question of which is better - wax or sugaring, was obvious. Today the situation has changed. Modern high-quality waxes (for example, Elseda) have a low melting point (not higher than 40 degrees). Due to this, the procedures are safe and quite comfortable, even if carried out in delicate areas. However, if a person gets a procedure from a specialist who works with cheap and outdated materials with high operating temperatures, he may encounter great discomfort.

Benefits of sugaring

• Judging by the reviews, sugaring is better than wax in that the process is less painful. This is understandable. Typically, when using sugar paste, a manual technique is used, so the composition is removed from the skin gradually, in small parts. Perhaps this is why most girls, when answering the question of what is better for a bikini - waxing or sugaring, prefer sugar paste.
• It is also believed that sugaring is better than waxing in that hair practically does not grow back after it due to the peculiarities of their removal (in the direction of growth). However, as already mentioned, if a person is predisposed to the appearance of ingrown hairs, this also happens after using sugar. So the only way out is regular scrubbing and the use of special products (for example, Elseda has a whole line of products aimed at combating ingrown hairs).
• Most sugaring pastes consist only of natural ingredients. Therefore, the risk of skin irritation is minimized. However, this advantage can also be called controversial, since many manufacturers add various chemical fragrances and preservatives to pastes. Therefore, before the procedure, it is worth clarifying what products the master uses.

Skin care

You need to carefully prepare for the procedure to avoid unpleasant consequences:

• You should not go to the sauna, solarium or gym one day before;
• Wraps are prohibited;
• It is necessary to do peeling, which will improve the adhesion of the paste to the hairs;
• Before the procedure you need to take a shower.

The methods are similar to impact, so restoration is performed in almost the same way. After the session, the wax is removed with lotion, and the sugar mass is washed off with water. You should not go to the sauna or swimming pool for about a day. Swimming, wrapping, sunbathing are contraindicated. This may affect the occurrence of infection. The following nuances must be taken into account:

• On the first day after the procedure, you should not use deodorant, self-tanner, or lotion;
• For 3 days after taking a shower, chlorhexidine should be applied to the skin; Then Bepanten is applied;
• 3 days after the procedure, scrubbing must be performed. This will protect against the appearance of ingrown hairs. The scrub should have a gentle effect, so it is advisable to use natural products and a hard washcloth;
• You need to scrub every week, and if ingrown hairs appear, then after 3 days;
• After the scrub, the skin needs to be moisturized;
• If redness remains for about 3 days, then you should not use a scrub. Restorative agents are needed;
• Decoctions of chamomile, string, and calendula have a calming effect.

Cons of depilation with sugar paste

• Sugaring procedures in beauty salons usually cost more than waxing. This is due to the greater labor intensity of the process.
• Since hair removal occurs in small areas, the process takes longer. In addition, in some cases, the paste does not capture all the hairs the first time, so you have to re-apply it to individual places, which also increases the procedure time.
• As mentioned above, sugaring is technically more complex. In addition, at high temperatures and humidity, sugar can melt and cause additional inconvenience to the master. In such conditions, the client also suffers, because with insufficient professionalism of the master, “sticking” of the composition can occur.

How to choose

Thus, each method is good in some way. Therefore, when deciding which is better - waxing or sugaring, you should focus on the cost, duration of the procedures, as well as individual characteristics and preferences. First of all, you should make sure that you are not allergic to natural wax or the constituent components of sugar pastes (fructose, glucose, lemon juice). For allergy sufferers, semi-polymer and polymer waxes are an excellent option.

As for contraindications, they are approximately the same for both procedures. Although it is believed that sugaring is a more gentle and delicate process than waxing, they have the same operating principle. When removing hair with sugar paste, the same light peeling effect occurs and the formation of microdamages due to the removal of hair from the roots. Therefore, in both cases, procedures cannot be performed on damaged or irritated skin. Contraindications also include recent chemical peels, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the beginning and end of pregnancy, varicose veins, diabetes, epilepsy, and skin diseases.

So, we have examined in detail the question of what is better for hair removal in the bikini area, face and other places - wax or sugaring. If you have no allergies, no contraindications, and the cost is not of great importance, you can try both procedures and make a choice based on your feelings. Often the master and the client find the optimal combination and use different materials for different areas. Perhaps this option is right for you.

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Ingrown hair

First you need to find out why hair grows. This may be a feature of the structure of hair and skin. Then it doesn’t matter what hair removal procedure is performed, ingrowths will happen in any case. When removed, the hair may break off just below the skin level, which is why it later grows in. Usually this is a consequence of incorrect actions by the master. If you regularly use a scrub and moisturizer on the depilation areas and are confident in the professionalism of your cosmetologist, then you can safely choose both waxing and sugaring. It is also important to know how to wash off wax after hair removal.