Talk about staying power...

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Honestly? I hate shaving.

Lathering limbs, shaving, rinsing. Repeat. Not to mention all the times when you dry yourself off post-shower and realize you’ve missed multiple spots… UGH!

And THEN, your hair grows back in a few days, but coarser than before…

So, I started to wax. Now I know the common fear surrounding waxing is -- well, it hurts. But beauty is pain – right, people? And you can wax as much or as little as you want, and depending on your hair type, you might notice that it grows back less frequently. Not to mention your skin feels as soft as a newborn baby’s.

But quarantine happened and, like most, my day-to-day routines were suddenly altered, so let me be honest with y’all -- it’s been a minute since I waxed. So when the opportunity arose to try a new at-home kit, I eagerly jumped right on it. (Editor’s note -- she literally did this.) This is not your traditional waxing kit, but rather a sugaring kit – Sugaring LA’s Sugaring Kit

Sugaring, it’s said, dates back to ancient Egypt, when body hair was deemed unclean -- “hair-free” bodies were thought to be more beautiful and youthful. A mix of sugar (or honey) along with water and lemon was applied to the skin and, once cooled and stripped, revealed what can only be assumed was a smooth, newly exfoliated body.

I’m not necessarily looking to become more “beautiful” -- only slightly less hairy.

If you’ve waxed at home, you might be familiar with what to expect, but I’ll go into detail for those who are new to this world. There is a plastic container (no bigger than a pint of soup), 5 biodegradable wooden applicator sticks, 5 reusable cotton strips (yes I said reusable) and a circular-shaped pamphlet. The pamphlet includes instructions along with mini illustrations (think Ikea but better because there are words). Not only is there a step-by-step how-to on sugaring, but you’ll also learn what to do before and after your wax, how to store your kit, how to clean up, and -- I have to shout out that Sugaring LA is vegan, gluten-free, non-toxic, organic and sustainable.

Now I am going to be honest -- I really did not read much of that pamphlet -- I just winged it, and it worked great!! So here’s a quick rundown if you, too, don’t follow directions:

• I did not prep too much beforehand, aside from starting with a good amount of hair growth, and finding a comfortable position to sit in. I would suggest making sure the area you want to wax is clean (no lotions) and, if you are someone who self-tans, be prepared to reapply as the sugaring process also serves to exfoliate.
• The “wax” -- made of organic sugar, lemon and water -- is heated up (easiest in the microwave for 10-15 seconds) to a little bit warmer than room temperature.
• Use the wooden applicator sticks to dip into the sugar paste and apply to the desired wax area (I did my legs) against your natural hair growth. PRO TIP: the thinner the wax layer you apply, the better the result!
• Once your sugar wax is on, lay a cloth strip on top of the paste and rub the strip three times against the direction of your hair growth. I should add that my hair type is naturally straight, thick and dark. And because my leg hair is on the longer side, the process seems easier. With each strip pull I could clearly see the hair and its root (super satisfying).
• Now pull QUICKLY in the natural direction of hair growth (the opposite way you applied the paste) to witness the magic at hand.
• Once you are all finished, you can spritz on the accompanying Sunshine Skin Toner and apply Smooth Operator Lotion, which are named precisely for what they do and feel like. No stinging or burning!

Sounds easy, right? That’s because IT IS.

A few side notes: You may want more than just 5 cotton strips if you plan on waxing multiple areas on your body at once. Both sides of the strips can be used, but the sugar wax, once applied, ends up getting sticky (including your hands). But unlike traditional wax, sugar wax is really easy to clean. Like the cotton strips, you can also reuse the wooden applicator sticks rinse in warm water and reuse the wooden applicator sticks.

Personally, I find traditional waxing a bit more painful a process and harsher than sugaring. The sugar paste also smelled better (!) and I cannot get over how easy it was to clean off surfaces, my clothes, my skin, and tools. AND, since you don’t need to warm the paste by plugging into an outlet, it’s a true on-the-go friend.

So would I do it again? Yes. Cue “Sugar, Sugar” by The Archies.

P.S. It’s been 5 days since I sugared, and my skin is still soft and hair-free! 😊