sugaring
What exactly IS Body Sugaring?
Sugar hair removal is a temporary removal of body hair, similar to but also superior to waxing. The history of Body Sugaring actually dates back to the time of the ancient Egyptians, Cleopatra herself! The women of that day and time considered a hairless body to be the standard of beauty and youth. Not so different than from today, judging by the popularity of hair removal, either temporary (i.e. waxing, sugaring, threading, tweezing) or looking towards more permanent hair reduction (laser, electrolysis).
The Sugar Paste is applied at room temperature by hand directly to the body area to be treated and, after smoothing it over the skin, the hair is gently removed using a flicking motion. The sugar is never hot so it cannot burn you. It is only warmed to be pliable and can actually be used cold. Warming it just saves time!
Sugaring is done in the direction of hair growth and this is a key difference from waxing and is more beneficial because you have less chance of breakage and this usually results in near-perfect root removal results. But, in case some hair is missed, we are able to go over the skin again as there is no risk of burning to the skin (as Sugar is not hot, like Wax). As well, the Sugar does not stick to the skin at all – all Sugar does to the skin is provide it with exfoliation, nothing more. Some people say and feel that Sugar is more gentle and less painful than traditional waxing techniques. We will let you be the judge of that!
Who is sugaring for?
Everyone! However, my focus is exclusively for providing service to women of all ages (18 and older), shapes, sizes, colors and girls too after the onset of puberty. Everyone is welcome and sugaring is for anyone in fact who desires to be hair free.It is especially good for those with very sensitive skin as it hurts less than waxing and is gentler on the skin. As far as contraindications of who cannot be sugared, users of Retin A type products, anyone undergoing Accutane treatments, persons under a dermatologists care for lasering or any type of chemical peels to the face, if you are currently on an antibiotic, it is best to wait a week after finishing the medication as antibiotics can thin the skin and cause lifting. Feel free to call or message me any concerns and this will be discussed at your appointment. For clients under 18, a parent will need to give permission before you can be sugared.
What exactly is the ‘Sugar’?
Sugaring is performed with a sugar paste that is all natural, only water, sugar and the juice from a lemon, it is so safe, natural and tasty, you can actually spread it on toast and eat it! The best part is that it is water soluble. You won't leave with a sticky residue that doesn't come off for days like with your traditional waxes. Hair as short as 1/16 of an inch can often be removed, eliminating the need to wait a long time for regrowth between treatments. This process is a great exfoliator for dry skin. Sugar paste does not stick to the skin, which makes this hair removal alternative less painful and less irritating. And the product is a great choice for the environmentally conscientious as well.
Wonderful Benefits of Sugar
* Sugar is applied at body temperature so your skin will not burn.
* Sugar does not stick to live skin cells. It removes hair and dead skin cells only, as mentioned earlier, with little or no discomfort to the skin.
* Sugar is more sanitary. Bacteria will not breed in sugar – sugar has been used to pack and treat wounds for thousands of years – so it is an excellent product for eliminating any fear of cross contamination.
* Sugar stays pliable. It supports the hair shaft gently and completely, removing it cleanly with less breakage than with Waxing.
* Since Sugar is so simple, it can easily be cleaned up with water leaving no residue behind, unlike traditional waxing.
*Over time regular hair removal with Sugaring will result in hair growing back slower and finer...and LESS of it!!!
Tips for your Sugaring Appointment:
Skin should ideally be clean and clear of lotions, moisturizers, perfumes, deodorants and hair should be about 1/16-1/8" minimum, or the length of a grain of rice. Longer hair will be trimmed at your appointment, if necessary. If you've been shaving, you need a minimum of 7-14 days of growth to be sugared. It is okay to workout before your Sugaring appointment. It is not recommended to work out afterwards. Allow, though, at least 12-24 hours to pass after Sugaring because the exfoliation and hair removal opens your hair follicles, which allows sweat and dirt to enter that can irritate the skin. It's very important to avoid bacteria during this time. Antibacterial wipes are made available to you at the appointment to use afterwards. Also it is generally recommended to wait 24 hours before exposing your skin to suntanning after Sugar hair removal. If you are sun burned, Body Sugaring that area is not recommended due to skin sensitivity. If you currently are on or have just finished a round of antibiotics, it is not recommended to be sugared as it thins the skin and can result in lifting of the skin.
Appointment Information:
As far as appointments, I work mornings, early afternoon and evenings as well as Saturdays.I have longer hours during the summer. We are closed Sunday and Monday. I am off on Wednesdays except for during a holiday week. I confirm all appointments. Please contact me as soon as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule. This allows me to offer that time to someone else as I normally keep a cancellation list and do my best to accommodate everyone. A no show, no cancel will not be re-booked at my discretion. Please note that I book out up 3-6 weeks according to the time of year. To make an appointment, its fastest to text me at (706)294-8341.You can also leave a voicemail or contact me through my web email.
Cancellation Policy:
I ask for a minimum 4 HOUR notice for cancellations and a fee applies for cancellations, late rescheduling and No Show appointments. It is $25 and must be paid before another appointment will be rebooked. Please remember that I book every 1/2 hour. I work back to back when I am at a work and cannot answer phone calls or texts when working. If you need to cancel, I need sufficient time to offer that appointment time to someone else. If you arrive late, there is a 10 minute grace period. Appointments arriving late must be started no later than 10 minutes after in order to finish on time and stay on schedule. A pattern of late arrivals, cancellations and no shows will also only be rebooked at my discretion.
A Note about Sugaring:
Sugaring is a personal service performed with a gloved hand. Sanitation it important as well. I use natural organic products that are safe for the skin, practice sanitation and make available antibacterial wipes to each client. Sugar is simply a paste that is applied to the skin with a gloved hand and is removed with a flicking motion. There are no strips involved in true sugaring hair removal. Your sugarist should be certified and licensed and you should be able to find positive online reviews that will give you confidence in making an appointment. I exclusively sugar. I don't offer waxing at all and I perform on average 1500-2000 services a year. I also build relationships with my clients. It's not a revolving door type of business and it isn't about the money for me. Women that are bothered by excess body hair is something I know all about as I have pcos as do many women today. Don't let fear or cost keep you from doing something for yourself that can improve your life and boost your confidence.
Services:
What service are you requesting? The brazilian is the most popular and is everything off from front to back. I include the tummy trail at no charge. You can opt to leave a shape such as a strip or triangle. Not sure about the full brazilian or its the first time? You can choose a bikini which is everything that would show outside a bikini or an extended bikini which is a further in large triangle that take the sides and top in further than a traditional bikini. I always work inward so you can change your mind as we go in either direction as to leaving more or taking more off. This service takes about 30 minutes for new clients so its very important to be on time and preferably early. A note about positions: you will never be placed in any demeaning positions. You lie comfortably on a padded massage table just like your own bed for your services. Most bikini/brazilians can be done in 15-20 mintuesr and add ons such as lip, brow and underarm can usually be fit in without issue as long as you are on time. The backside? Yes you can get just the backside done which is the buttocks, perineum area and any hair that would be on the upper thigh and right below the buttock if that is what you desire. My job is to give you the service you want, so if its not on the menu, just ask and if time permits we can possibly add it.
FAQs
Does it hurt?
Yes and No. It feels like a band aid being pulled off in some instances. Most people are pleasantly surprised and will remark that it doesn't hurt, doesn't hurt much, or doesn't hurt nearly as much as waxing does. The reason for this is because the sugar paste is only removing the hair and dead skin cells and that's what you want. No need to pull off live skin and have that unnecessary added pain. I have had a client actually fall asleep while having his back sugared! Everyone has different levels of pain tolerance but the reason I love sugaring is because of the pain factor: there is much less of it! For first time clients, you are welcome to take a pain reliever before your service such as tylenol, advil or aleve. However, drinking an alcoholic beverage is not advised as it is a vasodilator and can make the pain more intense than normal. Most people are more sensitive the week leading up to their period, so its best to avoid scheduling right before your cycle is due. You can still come on your period, with tampon use, it's not a big deal to most waxers. Key to remember: the first time is the worst. It never hurts as bad as the first time and gets easier with each session. When your service is complete, you will find that you are not in pain and don't have residual pain that often is the case with traditional waxing.
How long does it last?
The very first time you are sugared your hair will grow back faster than subsequent times. Everyone's hair also grows at varied rates. It slowly starts to fill back in and is therefore sparse and softer so you do not feel it coming back in like you would with shaved hair. My hair grows back in 2-3 weeks. Some clients can go 5 weeks before seeing regrowth. Generally the sugaring will last anywhere from 3-6 weeks. Once you begin sugaring though, you will find the hair comes back less, finer and eventually slower so that in some cases, hair removal can lead to permanency. It is important to note that if you have been shaving, it takes approximately three sugaring sessions to remove all the previously shaved hair and for that to be replaced with the thinner, finer, weaker hair that results from sugaring. You can have some hair come on through and feel stubbly, but this is the hair that was shaved and is making its way through the growth cycle. You will be able to feel and see the difference between your previously shaved hair and the newly sugared hair.
What do I have to do to maintain?
Use an exfoliant like an exfoliating glove when you shower and just bathe as normal. No hard scrubbing is necessary. A facial wash that contains salicylic acid or AHA's is helpful. The exfoliation is important in caring for your skin. You have removed a hair that will now come back weaker and it is trying to push through the skin. Dead skin cells will trap the hair and cause an ingrown or bump. You can exfoliate the area directly with salts such as dead sea or epsom salts. Make a scrub and apply it to the area or soak a wash cloth in the salt and water and apply to the area for about five minutes and rinse. A salt bath weekly is great for detoxification and caring for your skin, too. If you are having an issue, contact me so that we can get it under control. We can find a solution for you. The second key to caring for your skin is to hydrate it with moisturizer remembering anything safe for the face is safe for the bikini area. Coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer, as is jojoba and argan oils. Get sugared every 4 to 6 weeks. This helps your hair thin out, come out easier and is less painful than waiting. As you become experienced in sugaring, your body will adjust and you can make adjustments to your schedule. I often suggest moving up or down based on what I observe with your growth patterns over time.
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Are there any side effects I should be concerned about?
Yes and No. Anyone can have a histamine reaction to hair removal whether by sugaring, waxing or shaving. It can be a flat red spot over each hair follicle that fades in a few hours to welts that resemble mosquito bites. This is a reaction in your nervous system and not an allergic reaction. At home, you can take an antihistamine such as Benadryl or anti-inflammatory such as Tylenol as recommended by your physician. These side effects, if they occur, will usually subside in a day or two. A similar reaction can occur that is an inflammatory immune system response that resembles whiteheads. This can be treated with antibacterial wash and acne products although it is important to note that there is a such thing as sterile pus and these whiteheads are not infection but your own body's reaction and attempt at healing itself with an increase in white blood cells that present as whiteheads and this will subside on its own. It is sometimes seen in a first time sugar or wax and doesn't occur with frequent sugaring. A patch test is recommended prior to your first sugaring. Other reactions that can occur after sugaring are the result of aftercare. It is very important to avoid bacteria and friction. NO exercise, NO swimming pools or hot tubs, and NO lake water. Please contact me as soon as possible if you have any issues so I can help you get it under control.
Do I need to cancel if I start my period?
No you do not have to cancel. Sugarists are trained to move the tampon string around during a service. Some clients use the Diva Cup. It is really a personal preference and I leave it up to the comfort level of each client. If you need to reschedule, I will do my best to get you in within the next two weeks. If you want to still come, feel free. It is really not big deal to your sugar practitioner.
Are tattoos or piercings a problem?
Not at all. Tattoos if in the area being sugared actually benefit from the exfoliating process as it brightens them up. Piercings are so common these days, they are not a big deal. You can choose to remove it. The occasional belly piercing may need to be removed but chances are that it can be worked around.
Tips for special occasions and trip planning
Occasions arise such as weddings, honeymoon trips, vacations and if possible should be included in your planning. If you have been shaving, it is best to have three sessions prior to your event to get the best results possible, i.e., smooth skin. If not, two sessions are better than one. If you are last minute with planning, try to schedule at least a week out and we can aim for a quick retouch 24-48 hours before your event. I will be happy to assist you with scheduling your sessions to give you the optimal results. Keep in mind, March through September are very busy times and sometimes it is harder to get an appointment so please let me know as soon as you can and I will do my best to accommodate you and your needs.