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Loading...Ancient Egyptian Art of Body Sugaring
- Annie B. Bond
- August 22, 2009
- 9:02 am
- 154 comments
Body sugaring is a method for removing body hair that is a cheap, homemade alternative to waxing (or shaving). The theory behind body sugaring is that the hair is removed by the root, and when it grows back there will be less of it, and it will be softer and not stubbly as it is if a razor had been used.
Body sugaring is done by making a paste of sugar, water, and lemon juice that has been heated to the softball candy stage.
After you have let the paste cool enough so that it won’t burn, you spread it on your skin, cover it with cotton strips of cloth, and then rip the cloth off like one does a bandage. Most find sugaring less painful than waxing.
Due to many requests from readers for this recipe, I have looked hard for what I have finally found and give you here, what I think is the best formula:
INGREDIENTS
2 cups sugar
¼ cup lemon juice
¼ cup water
Equipment: Candy thermometer
Combine the ingredients in a heavy saucepan, and heat on low using a candy thermometer. Watch the mixture very carefully so that it doesn’t boil over. Heat the mixture to 250 F on the candy thermometer; this is the hardball candy stage.
Remove from the heat and let cool enough to pour into a jar without breaking or melting the jar. (Note that this jar will be reheated in the future. Make sure it is safe for whatever form of reheating you plan to do—in the microwave, or in a pan of water.
Rip clean cotton fabric in 1-inch strips. Make sure the cotton isn’t too coarsely woven.
This next step is very critical: Let the mixture cool enough so that it won’t burn your skin. The first time I did this I didn’t let the blend cool enough and I burned myself! Test the mixture on the palm of your hand, knowing that is much tougher than the sensitive skin under your arms.
Using a dull knife or Popsicle stick, spread the cooled sugar onto your skin. Cover with the cloth strips, let set for a few minutes, and then rip off quickly as you would a bandage.
In the future you can reheat the mixture to a warm and not hot temperature (see above), and reuse. Note that reheating will thicken the paste.
Read more: Beauty, Health, Skin Care, natural hair removal, shaving, waxing
By Annie B. Bond
Annie B. Bond
Annie is a renowned expert in non-toxic and green living. Named one of the top 20 environmental leaders by Body and Soul Magazine, Annie has authored four books, including "Home Enlightenment" (Rodale Press, 2005) and "Better Basics for the Home" (Three Rivers Press, 1999).
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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
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154 comments
+ add your ownHi,
I did try sugaring while visiting Middle East and love it.I use to make it ,but for me it was not very easy and paste would stick to the skin very easy.I found this Sugaring Paste and absolutely love it.100% Natural and very easy to use:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300647530851?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
Here is the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQiEyBlwvGI&list=LLSuNHukcAMeso5GnoKY8aJw&index=1&feature=plpp_video
Great
I have been Sugared on and off since the age of 8 by my auntie who is trained to teach body sugaring and has been doing so for the past 20 years in the UK.
I am now trained in body sugaring and set up in Greece and I'm used to working in high and low temperatures.
I make my paste using the same ingredients above and have never used a thermometer I know it is cooked by
1. The colour Amber/brown
2. By holding a table spoon of the mixture under cold water the paste should harden yet can still be moulded.
This takes about 25mins of simmering.
leave the paste to cool, I leave mine overnight,
before applying the paste it may need heating very slightly to just over room temp.
I Sugar by hand and this takes alot of practice but can be done without training.
my aunt trained me to apply the paste allways with the hair growth and pull the opposite way, Yet after doing more research I have found many trained professionals do it the opposite way.
I found neither way to be wrong and apply the paste in the opposite direction of hair growth when working with shorter hairs,
sugaring takes quite alot of practicing and if not flicked / ripped the correct way can cause the hair to break or can cause abbrassions to the skin. Also hygene is important as infection can be caused. However do not let this put you off just do your research and practice, Once achieved sugaring can be one of the most effective natural forms off hair removal.
I have been Sugared on and off since the age of 8 by my auntie who is trained to teach body sugaring and has been doing so for the past 20 years in the UK.
I am now trained in body sugaring and set up in Greece and I'm used to working in high and low temperatures.
I make my paste using the same ingredients above and have never used a thermometer I know it is cooked by
1. The colour Amber/brown
2. By holding a table spoon of the mixture under cold water the paste should harden yet can still be moulded.
This takes about 25mins of simmering.
leave the paste to cool, I leave mine overnight,
before applying the paste it may need heating very slightly to just over room temp.
I Sugar by hand and this takes alot of practice but can be done without training.
my aunt trained me to apply the paste allways with the hair growth and pull the opposite way, Yet after doing more research I have found many trained professionals do it the opposite way.
I found neither way to be wrong and apply the paste in the opposite direction of hair growth when working with shorter hairs,
sugaring takes quite alot of practicing and if not flicked / ripped the correct way can cause the hair to break or can cause abbrassions to the skin. Also hygene is important as infection can be caused. However do not let this put you off just do your research and practice, Once achieved sugaring can be one of the most effective, natural forms off hair removal.
I have been Sugared on and off since the age of 8 by my auntie who is trained to teach body sugaring and has been doing so for the past 20 years in the UK.
I am now trained in body sugaring and set up in Greece and I'm used to working in high and low temperatures.
I make my paste using the same ingredients above and have never used a thermometer I know it is cooked by
1. The colour Amber/brown
2. By holding a table spoon of the mixture under cold water the paste should harden yet can still be moulded.
This takes about 25mins of simmering.
leave the paste to cool, I leave mine overnight,
before applying the paste it may need heating very slightly to just over room temp.
I Sugar by hand and this takes alot of practice but can be done without training.
my aunt trained me to apply the paste allways with the hair growth and pull the opposite way, Yet after doing more research I have found many trained professionals do it the opposite way.
I found neither way to be wrong and apply the paste in the opposite direction of hair growth when working with shorter hairs,
sugaring takes quite alot of practicing and if not flicked / ripped the correct way can cause the hair to break or can cause abbrassions to the skin. Also hygene is important as infection can be caused. However do not let this put you off just do your research and practice, Once achieved sugaring can be one of the most effective, natural forms off hair removal.
I have been Sugared on and off since the age of 8 by my auntie who is trained to teach body sugaring and has been doing so for the past 20 years in the UK.
I am now trained in body sugaring and set up in Greece and I'm used to working in high and low temperatures.
I make my paste using the same ingredients above and have never used a thermometer I know it is cooked by
1. The colour Amber/brown
2. By holding a table spoon of the mixture under cold water the paste should harden yet can still be moulded.
This takes about 25mins of simmering.
leave the paste to cool, I leave mine overnight,
before applying the paste it may need heating very slightly to just over room temp.
I Sugar by hand and this takes alot of practice but can be done without training.
my aunt trained me to apply the paste allways with the hair growth and pull the opposite way, Yet after doing more research I have found many trained professionals do it the opposite way.
I found neither way to be wrong and apply the paste in the opposite direction of hair growth when working with shorter hairs,
sugaring takes quite alot of practicing and if not flicked / ripped the correct way can cause the hair to break or can cause abbrassions to the skin. Also hygene is important as infection can be caused. However do not let this put you off just do your research and practice, Once achieved sugaring can be one of the most effective, natural forms off hair removal.
This is really economical and impressive,I do like the information and thanks.Definitely try out this one.
chicago personal trainer
To Herna. I think sugaring is very safe but the age would depend on when they can take the pain. I think the upper lip is one of the most painful areas to wax and I can't imagine a 5 year old taking it well. Even my 10 year old would have problems. There are chemicals but do you really want chemicals on a 5 year old. I'd think about why you want to do it. Is it causing problems for your child or is it just that you see it and it bothers you. I don't think most 5 year olds think about these things unless maybe they're being teased about it at school. I'd think the longer they can be blissfully ignorant about the stupid tortures we women go through to meet standards of beauty, the better.
Hi thanks for the above, I will try it a go fingers crossed! I also wanted to know whats the minimum age one can start sugaring, and is there a `child friendly' method of superflous hair removal? ps my daughter is only 5 and has visible upper lip hair.
I used to have trouble with a lot of sugaring recipes, it's good that you included the temperatures here.
I was convinced that I wasn't heating the mixture enough - turns out, I was heating it too far (to soft crack stage, about 280F) which it seems makes it into a big sticky mess that can really only be used with cloth strips. I thought cooking it at a higher temp would make it harder but...apparently not. :S
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