This $25 Sugaring Kit Makes At-Home Hair Removal Surprisingly Easy

DIY waxing sounds scary, but this paste makes it simple.

Editors’ Picks are the Fashionista team’s true (#notspon) fashion and beauty obsessions, handpicked by professionals who see it all. Any beauty product you see here has been vetted and tested by the editor recommending it.

There I was, hastily hobbling to my bathroom, with one arm (painfully) glued to itself. How did I get there? My first attempt at sugaring (or waxing off my body hair with a gooey, sugar-based concoction) was a definite fail. But after another try, I managed to master the technique, and now DIY, at-home sugaring has officially become my first choice for hair removal.

First, some background on this particular hair removal method. Sugaring involves a simple “paste” made of sugar, lemon juice and water — that’s it. (It’s possible to make your own version from scratch at home, but I opted for the ready-made version by Sugaring NYC.) The method has been used for centuries… as in, it dates back to ancient Egypt. Proponents of the practice claim that it’s less painful than waxing, since it’s less sticky and purportedly doesn’t pull on skin as much, but in practice, it’s a pretty similar process.

The kit comes with a jar of the sugaring paste, gloves, applicator cards and instructions. A crucial part of sugaring is powdering the skin to keep it dry; baby powder is recommended, but I use Lush’s dusting powder, which I already had on hand. I’ve visited one of Sugaring NYC’s locations to experience a professional’s method, but have nonetheless found it helpful to get some tips by watching a bunch of YouTube videos to prepare. 

After a few seven-second runs in the microwave, the paste warms up ever so slightly to something more flexible than a rock. I like to pull mine out using a popsicle stick or one of the cards included; this process ensures the paste goes on smoothly and is easy to rip off (pain notwithstanding). The cards included in the kit help are helpful for lifting the wax in order to get a pro-like swift hair-removing flick.

Back to my failed first sugaring attempt: My mistake was starting where my hair was thickest and where it would hurt most to remove, my underarms. This made me hesitate when pulling it and start sweating… which basically made the wax not work. But one pro of sugaring paste is that it can be dissolved entirely using water, so it’s pretty simple to de-stick yourself if needed. 

At 12 ounces, the included tub of sugar paste in this kit will probably go a long way — I’m guessing I’ll get a few months’ use out of it. The sugaring process feels more familiar and goes more quickly with each use, and I particularly love it for my legs, because it doesn’t leave me with in-grown hairs, which I tend to get from shaving. 

Sugaring NYC Hair Removal Kit, $25, available here

Please note: This product was gifted. Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. In no way do either affect our editorial decision-making.

Never miss the latest fashion industry news. Sign up for the Fashionista daily newsletter.

Source: Fashionista.com