There are a good amount of sugaring gels that you can purchase to remove hair at home. These need the same amount of hair length like waxing (1/4") and the gel also goes on like wax, applied with hair growth and removed in the opposite direction. But because sugaring gel is made of natural ingredients and not resins, it doesn't stick to skin as much and therefore it's less painful than waxing.
However, sugaring paste has even more advantages. But pre-made sugaring paste is hard to find. So either you need to make your own or find a salon or spa that offers sugaring using this technique.
Then I came across a complete kit from Sugar Me Smooth, and was really excited, because it contains pre-made sugaring paste. The upside to the paste is hair as short as 1/16 of an inch can successfully be removed. It also takes out hair in the direction of hair growth, which takes down the pain factor even more when done correctly. The downside, it takes more skill using hands in a flicking motion instead of strips to take out the hair.
My assistant Nicole tested Sugar Me Smooth out on her arm and a client's back. She also had her friend, a hair removal novice, try it out. Read all about it in her review.
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Thanks to cheap disposable razors and lack of experience, I had my share of razor rash almost everywhere I shaved as a teenager at some point. Believe me, it was not a pretty sight and stung as bad as it looked. And as long as I don't cut corners, I'm burn free. While most of us don't get irritation on our legs, the bikini lines are known to fight back often.
There are ways you can prevent it (read tips), but that doesn't help for the here and now when your bikini line is in the same color family as your apple red swimsuit. Here's what to do for a speedy rash recovery so you won't feel embarrassed to remove your cover up.
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Photo Angelo Cavalli / Getty Images
An Aveda Concept Salon was the first salon I ever worked at and it made a very big impression on me because they're all about education. Needless to say, I was very excited for my waxing appointment at the Aveda Spa Lakes Spa in DoubleTree Fallsview Resort & Spa by Hilton Niagara Falls.
I was very impressed the back of their menu brochure gives tips on how to prepare for waxing, like exfoliating and skipping on moisturizers and deodorant. Where they list prices and describe their waxing services the brochure also states "Make sure to let us know if you are using doctor prescribed skincare products or taking any medications, so we can check for contra-indications." This should be on all salon and spa menus that offer waxing, but it's actually quite rare unless the facility primarily focuses on waxing and skincare.
I was, however, surprised when I wasn't asked to fill out any form, skincare or otherwise, when I arrived for my appointment. This is a good as an extra precaution along with listing it in the brochure to see what people are using on their skin and/or if they're taking any medications that would make waxing unsafe.
The technician introduced herself and was very professional and friendly. She cleansed my skin and I asked about the Aveda Plant Wax, something I've never tried before. Well, I wasn't going to get to experience it this time either because she explained that she found the Aveda waxes a little harsh. And because she had never worked on me before she was going to use a more gentle, non-Aveda wax.
She did remove the hair from my lip horizontally, instead of the way it grows, vertically. When waxing you're supposed to apply wax in the direction of hair growth and remove in the opposite direction. Because the nose is in the way and it's just easier we tend to break the rules for the lip and this is how we're taught at school, so I can't say she's to blame. The service was quick and it hardly hurt. The wax residue was removed and she gave me some post-wax tips like letting the calming oil she applied to be soaked into my skin and put on sun block if I planned being outside for awhile.
I was hardly pink and my skin felt baby soft, so I initially thought it was one of the better lip waxes of my life. But a few days later almost all of the hair was back, which means it broke instead of being totally removed. It might have been a combination of removing it horizontally and using a very gentle wax. Good thing my facial hair isn't really dark. At least it wasn't over-priced, the service was only $12 CAD which is quite a bargain for a Hotel Spa.
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Yes, you can use coupons and look for sales and specials to buy your favorite razor brand to save a couple bucks. But there are really easy things you can do to keep your beloved razor sharper much longer than it does now and save a lot of money. Not to mention razor burn from dulling blades. Some claim that with these tips they can make a razor last six months, up to one year.
