http://www.care2.com/greenliving/ancient-egyptian-body-sugaring.html
Ancient Egyptian Art of Body Sugaring
By Annie B. Bond
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.
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33 comments
add your comment »Haven't tried this yet - I'm very bad at cooking and I've never been able to figure out waxing - so I'm waiting to get a candy thermometer. But is it safe to give youself a Brazillian wax with this recipe?
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i really wanted to like this as it was natural and i figured it'd be a time saver( and secretly hoped eventually with the "fewer hairs " i'd be hairless ; i'm not very hairy) but it leaves hairs and and while on my legs when i went over it it got them (mostly ) when i tried it on my armpits going over didn't catch the left behind hairs also the roots of the hairs that had been removed bled a little bit as someone who's used to shaving and never really waxed i can say this just isn't worth it i can see paying the money to have hair lasered off but not taking the time and effort to do this
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Hi I offer sugaring to my clients as I prefer this to waxing because of the naturalness of it. (okay that's probably not a word but you know what I mean!) You can get as good a result with sugaring as with waxing if not better, and you don't have to use fabric strips, I do all of mine by hand. Simply spread the paste on your leg then darg it down and flick the paste back up and it will come off easily. Make sure you have thoroughly cleaned the area first, idealy with something like tea tree oil spray as this will remove any grease, then use cornstarch or teatree powder to get rid of any moisture and your good to go. Doing it by hand does take practice and if you get in a mess you can always use the strips to get your self sorted, b ut give it a go as it's even more economical that way. Have fun.
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I've been sugared and waxed a bunch of times professionally before and wanted to clarify a couple things.
1) Do you have to use the cloth strips or can one use gloves and grab a blob of the sugaring mix like they do when you go pay for it?
2) Can one use evaporated cane (turbinado) sugar instead of the regular stuff and get the same consistency?
3) Can one do this without a candy thermometer if too cheap to buy one or can a meat thermometer be used? (I hate to buy things that I don't need when trying to scrimp and save $$)
Have a great day!
PS - yes - you should definitely sugar your underarms. Why not? And any other hair you don't want. I do NOT recommend eyebrows unless you are dang good at getting a couple hairs at a time with a blob of sugar. :)
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The article preceding the recipe said to get the mixture to the softball candy stage ; but in the recipe it said the temperature I was to let it get to was in the hardball candy stage ,Please help!? I've bought the thermometer but now i'm confused.
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the writing before the recipe says to let it get to the softball candy stage but in the recipe it said the temperature to let it get to was the in the hardball candy stage , i've bought the thermometer ; but now i'm confused ?
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Is it a good idea to sugar the underarms?
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I feel waxing is still way better method of hair removal, waxing get all the hair as sugaring leaves some...
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Okay so I bought a candy thermometer and it took me one try, following the instructions above to a tee, and it was a success. I used a cut up cotton pillowcase and some cornstarch to wick away moisture from my leg, it was amazing!
Definitely buy the thermometer(I bought mine at Target)
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I have tried this recipe, and a variation of this recipe about 8 times. The first time it was too sticky, and then 7 times after that I wasn't sure if I cooked it too long, or if I didn't cook it enough.(I used low heat, and it cooked for about 20 min. until bubbling brown, I also used 1 cup sugar, 1 1/2 cup sugar, and cornsyrup for different variations)I am going to Target to look for a candy thermometer today to try again, but I was wondering is there a specific time limit, or anything I should be looking for to signify the mixture is ready?
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