For the past few years, I oscillated between shaving my underarms and letting them grow naturally. Shaved or unshaved, I used various natural deodorants.
However, in recent months, my underarms suddenly became very sensitive. I tried shaving and foregoing deodorant. Little red bumps appeared. I tried not shaving and using a natural deodorant. Little red bumps again appeared. I decided to leave my underarms alone. No shaving and no deodorants. While the little red bumps went away, I was left with smelly, hairy, pits.
Unhappy with these results, I did some research and came across underarm sugaring. I decided to give it a go.
What Is Sugaring?
Sugaring is often compared to waxing as they’re both used to lift hair from the follicle. For sugaring, a paste is made from lemon, sugar, and water. The paste is then rolled into a ball and applied to the skin in the opposite direction of hair growth. Sugaring isn’t just for your pits–it can be done almost anywhere you’d like to remove hair.
Sugaring vs. Waxing
Ingredients:
-Sugaring: Uses lemon, sugar, and water (that’s it!)
-Waxing: Typically uses resins. Often the other ingredients are beeswax, dyes, and various chemicals.
Technique:
*There are two ways sugaring is used for hair removal: paste and gel. This article discusses the process of the paste hair removal as this was the technique I personally had done. With the paste method, 1/16 of an inch is needed (about two to five days of hair growth after shaving).
-Sugaring:
- Adheres only to the hair and dead skin cells
- Can be applied over missed hairs without risk of irritating the already-sugared skin
- Applied lukewarm
-Waxing:
- Adheres to the hair, dead skin cells, and live skin cells
- A recently waxed area may be too sensitive to be immediately re-waxed to pick up missed hairs
- Applied hot
My Experience with Sugaring
Before Going
I was really nervous. What if it made the red bumps come back with a vengeance? What if it was ridiculously painful?
During
I keep giggling. I’d never had my underarms waxed, so I wasn’t used to the sensation of having someone working in that area.
Was it painful?
Generally not too bad. I’d equate the pain with tweezing your eyebrows.
After
The area was a bit tender and slightly red for about an hour. After that, there was NO irritation and NO red bumps.
Lasting Impression
It’s been just over a week since having the sugaring process done and my underarms are still pretty darn smooth.
-Would I do it again?
Absolutely!
-How often do I need to do it?
Sugaring is initially meant to be done every 3-5 weeks.
-What does sugaring cost?
The cost of sugaring depends on the city and what type of salon or spa is performing the sugaring. Sugaring may be more expensive than waxing as it is a less common procedure (you’ll also need to factor in 15-20% tip). Sugaring can be performed at home with a sugaring kit, which may cost between $10 and $40. It’s also possible to make your own sugaring paste from inexpensive ingredients, but it can be difficult to get the right consistency, so it may take some trial and error.
-Are there any long-term benefits to sugaring your underarms?
It’s possible that repeated sugarings may damage the hair follicles (which would be a good thing if you’re not a fan of underarm hair) and ultimately deter regrowth.
I was really happy with my sugaring experience. I’m stoked I found this incredible alternative to waxing/shaving. I love that it’s made from vegan, biodegradable ingredients, and it’s safe for sensitive skin!
Have you tried underarm sugaring? What was your experience like?
Also by Bella: Why Something Called “Jackass Bitters” May Be The Best Thing For Cold & Flu
Related: How to Get Your Best Shave Ever
DIY Tropical Skin Ritual (Javanese Lulur)
Get more like this—Subscribe to our daily inspirational newsletter for exclusive content!
__
Photo: Bekir Dönmez on Unsplash, Lauren Mancke on Unsplash, Brooke Cagle on Unsplash
