todaySugaring, also known as Persian waxing
Sugaring: do it yourself
Traditional sugaring is the oldest most natural forms of hair removal originates from the ancient Egyptians and even today the removal of body hair is amongst Moslem women as a fulfillment of religious requirements for cleanliness and purity. Although it is a bit tedious, it is effective and clean up is easy as the paste is water-soluble. It's hypoallergenic and ideal for sensitive skin. Sugar hair removal is a 100% natural, safe and gentle hair removal procedure
This method of hair removal is very popular in Arab countries. A mixture of sugar, lemon juice, and water is heated to forms a syrup. The syrup is formed into a ball, flattened onto the skin, then quickly striped away. The hair is removed at the root.
An article previously published in Nudest 2002/3 briefly mentioned the use of sugar for the ritual depilation of a bride-to-be in Tunesia. The method resembles waxing, but no wax is used but sugar. In Tunisian the word for wax is ‘sokker’: sugar. So in Tunesia they don’t wax, but they ‘sugar’. Sugar is dissolved in water with lemon juice and boiled down to a syrupy liquid. Then the syrup is applied onto the part of the body that you want depilated and after that the substance is pulled off with one stroke, removing the hairs at the same time. The result is a super smooth skin!
Sugaring hair removal is an alternative for anyone whose skin reacts to wax with redness or bumps. Because the person applying the mixture rolls the mixture in the hands first, it can never scald the way hot wax can.
Although it is a bit tedious, it is effective and clean up is easy as the paste is water-soluble. It's hypoallergenic and ideal for sensitive skin. Skin irritation is reduced because the sugar paste adheres only to the hair, not the skin. The method removes hair from below the surface of the skin because the sugar wraps around the hairs and pulls them out by the roots. Therefore, there's no stubble and regrowth is slow.
Our recipe
The amount of 'wax' in our recipe will do for two to three sessions. Have ready an old saucepan and an old spoon to prepare the syrup. The ingredients are 10 rounded tablespoons sugar, half a lemon squeezed, taking care not to include the pips, and 1 tablespoon water. Mix them all together in the saucepan and stir until the substance is smooth without lumps or irregularities.
Stir and heat the substance over the lowest heat. Be sure not to change the temperature, so do not raise or lower the heat.
After a while the sugar will become transparant and air bubbles will appear. That’s good! Soon the substance will colour into a golden brown and it will smell like caramel. Air bubbles will keep surfacing. Leave to bubble for a while (not too long, about 10 minutes or the substance might burn on) until little air bubbles appear on the surface. Remove the pan from the burner and leave the substance to cool a little. Try a little between forefinger and thumb, but be careful, as it may still be hot. It looks and feels like syrup. Leave to cool a little longer, the mixture will thicken and will be easy to handle. Stir the 'wax' with the spoon now and then, to see if it has set.
In practice
Scoop a little 'wax' from the saucepan with your fingers or a spoon. Actually, our 'wax' is just caramel, and with a bit of saliva it can be made more pliable, and it will not harden too fast. When the substance does not stick to your fingers it is perfect, if it does stick too much water has been used and it cannot be used to remove hair. Try some on your hands: spread it, wait about ten seconds, then pull it off with one stroke. Then try it on your legs in the same way. Be sure to pull off the 'wax' in the opposite direction in which the hairs grow. In this way you can depilate your entire body, including the genitals.
For satisfactory results the hairs should be short. When the hairs are too long you will need heaps and heaps of the substance and one saucepan will not do! Pull the skin that you are going to treat tight, spread the 'wax' onto it (use small amounts to begin with) and remove it in one stroke. Once you get the hang of it you can alternate short stroke and long strokes, small areas and larger areas at a time. When the 'wax' cools down it will harden and it will be difficult to handle. Add a bit of saliva or return it to the heat and you will work miracles. Remove it from the heat when you can pick up the syrup with your fingers.
In the beginning it may hurt, but you get used to it. I have been depilating myself in this way for years. My Dutch boyfriend has done it for about a year now and he really has got the hang of it. The hairs are removed root and all and you will be free from stubbles for weeks.
A hot shower to top it off
Once all the skin you want has been depilated, you will feel sticky all over and a bit of stray wax that you can not remove with your hands will still stick. This should not be a problem: a hot shower will work miracles. The minute the water touches the sugar, it will melt and wash away. Or else a hot towel will do the job.
The result? Smooth as the Ancient Egyptians......
