I am asked what the benefits are so often that I figure now that the subject requires its own page in lieu of trying to be answered in the FAQ's section of the site. |
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Granted, this is THE SECOND most asked question I have received on the subject of sugaring (1st? Does it hurt)? I will give you many comparisons, mostly because of the fact that the comparisons have to do with how we have been taught in the U. S. as acceptable methods of hair removal.
I will show you examples that may be hard for some of you to see.
Be warned. No. Seriously, this is crazy. Watch the bold in the text, y'all.
Hot Waxing/Epilation/Laser/Depilatory creams/Threading/Shaving/Plucking/ Electrolysis/Medication
According to WebMD, (one of the most trusted go-to sites for information, right?), the following are our only options for hair removal.
Hair Removal Options
Many people have unwanted hair. It is common on the upper lip, chin, cheeks, back, legs, fingers, feet, and toes. It can have many causes, including genetics, certain medications such as steroids, higher levels of certain hormones, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. There are several ways to remove unwanted hair. With most methods, at least some of the hair will eventually grow back.
ShavingShaving is best for the leg, arm, and facial hair. It can cause ingrown hairs, however, especially in the pubic region. **Insert FDA's Report on Shaving** Shaving Shaving hair only when it is wet, and shaving in the direction in which the hairs lie can help lessen skin irritation and cuts. It is important to use a clean razor with a sharp blade. Contrary to popular belief, shaving does not change the texture, color, or growth rate of hair. Razors and electric shavers are under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. |
Plucking
Plucking or tweezing can be painful, but it may be a good option if you only have a few hairs you want to remove. Times when you might want to pluck include when you are reshaping your eyebrows or pulling out a few stray hairs that appear on your face. You should not use this hair removal method for large areas, however. It can cause ingrown hairs or scarring.Depilatory CreamsHair removal creams, also known as depilatory creams, are available without a prescription. They are not all the same, so, you should be sure to read the label. For instance, you should not use a hair removal cream made for pubic hairs to remove hair on your face.
The chemicals in these products dissolve the hair shaft. Using a cream improperly -- for instance, leaving it on too long -- can burn your skin. If you have a history of allergic reactions, you should first test a little bit of the cream on a small area on your arm to make sure you do not have a bad reaction to it. Be sure to follow the directions on the cream.
**Insert FDA's Report on Depilatories** Available in gel, cream, lotion, aerosol, and roll-on forms, depilatories are highly alkaline (or, in some cases, acidic) formulations that affect the protein structure of the hair, causing it to dissolve into a jellylike mass that the user can easily wipe from the skin. Consumers should carefully follow instructions and heed all warnings on the product label. For example, manufacturers typically recommend conducting a preliminary skin test for allergic reaction and irritation. Depilatories should not be used for eyebrows, around eyes, or on inflamed or broken skin. FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors has received reports of burns, blisters, stinging, itchy rashes, and skin peeling associated with depilatories and other types of cosmetic hair removers. (Yea. . . exactly, you see how much is in bold) |
Hot WaxingYou can do this at home or you can have it done by a professional in a salon.Hot waxing can be messy and painful and may leave some hairs behind because they can break off. Infection is one side effect to watch out for. If the wax is too hot, you may get a burn. You should not use this method if you also use certain types of prescription acne creams (such as Retin-A) or take isotretinoin. If you do, the wax will pull your skin off. Many women use this hair removal method on the bikini area and to remove hair on the upper lip. **Insert FDA's Report on Hot Waxing** Labeling of waxes may caution that these products should not be used by people with diabetes and circulatory problems. Waxes should not be used over varicose veins, moles, or warts. Waxes also shouldn't be used on eyelashes, the nose, ears, or on nipples, genital areas, or on irritated, chapped, or sunburned skin. As with chemical depilatories, it can be a good idea to do a preliminary test on a small area for allergic reaction or irritation. (Yup) |
Threading is a traditional Indian method of hair removal that some salons offer. The professionals who do threading use strings they twist in a pattern and use to extract unwanted hair.
(No bold here.)
Laser Hair RemovalThis is one of the longest-lasting methods, but it generally requires four or more treatments 4-6 weeks apart. It can only be effective on dark hair. The laser beam or a light pulse works to destroy the hair bulb. The treatment can be expensive and sometimes painful, but it can be used on many parts of the body where unwanted hair appears. Be sure you select a doctor or technician who is highly trained and knowledgeable.**Insert FDA's Report on Laser Hair Removal** In this method, a laser destroys hair follicles with heat. Sometimes it is recommended that a topical anesthetic product is used before a laser hair removal procedure, to minimize pain. In these cases, FDA recommends that consumers discuss with a medical professional the circumstances under which the cream should be used and whether the use is appropriate. Those who decide to use a skin-numbing product should follow the directions of a health care provider and consider using a product that contains the lowest amount of anesthetic drugs possible. FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research has received reports of serious and life-threatening side effects after use of large amounts of skin-numbing products for laser hair removal. p">Side effects of laser hair removal can include blistering, discoloration after treatment, swelling, redness, and scarring. Sunlight should be avoided during healing after the procedure. |
ElectrolysisElectrolysis is done by a professional who places a tiny needle with an electric current into the hair follicle. There are two primary hair removal methods with electrolysis: galvanic and thermolytic.Galvanic hair removal chemically destroys the hair follicle. Thermolytic removal uses heat to destroy the follicle. In either case, be sure to find a professional who is highly trained and knowledgeable. You can get electrolysis on any part of the body. **Insert FDA's Report on Electrolysis** Medical electrolysis devices destroy hair growth with a shortwave radio frequency after a thin probe is placed in the hair follicle. Risks from these methods include infection from an unsterile needle and scarring from improper technique. Electrolysis is considered a permanent hair removal method since it destroys the hair follicle. It requires a series of appointments over a period of time. |
Medications and Unwanted Hair
If none of these hair removal methods help, you may want to ask your doctor's advice.
Spironolactone is a pill that may slow or reduce hair growth in areas that you do not want hair. It will not get rid of the hair on your scalp and may actually stimulate growth there.
There is a prescription cream called Vaniqa that is approved by the FDA for slowing facial hair growth in women. This cream slows growth, but it will not remove the hair. You apply it to the area twice a day. Once you stop using the cream, the hair will regrow.
Source: WebMD
SOURCES:
American Academy of Dermatology: "Laser hair removal.”
American Academy of Dermatology: "Treating excess body hair could remedy a hairy situation.”
FDA: "Removing Hair Safely.”
Reviewed by Debra Jaliman, MD on July 21, 2014
They left out a few that the FDA has approved on their list (I mean, hey, if we are going to do this, then let us be complete.)
Found: The above mentioned in WebMD's resources, FDA: "Removing Hair Safely."
Here are the missing (from WebMd's list) FDA approved hair removal methods:
Epilators: Needle and Tweezers
Needle epilators introduce a fine wire close to the hair shaft, under the skin, and into the hair follicle. An electric current travels down the wire and destroys the hair root at the bottom of the follicle, and the loosened hair is removed with tweezers.
Tweezer epilators also use electric current to remove hair. The tweezers grasp the hair close to the skin, and energy is applied at the tip of the tweezer. There is no body of significant information establishing the effectiveness of the tweezer epilator to permanently remove hair.
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SUGARING!
In addition, it is listed but so very briefly on the FDA's list, I could not believe it! (I mean, literally, my jaw dropped!) This is all FDA says about sugaring: |
30+ reasons to look at sugaring more seriously.
When I was a teenager and I was going through puberty, I was taught that the only logical way to remove my now growing leg hair was to shave. I hated it from the very beginning.
From the nicks, cuts, irritated skin, dry skin, ingrown hairs, stubble, and the fact I had to shave EVERY SINGLE DAY, I hated shaving my whole life. In my twenties, I learned about waxing. "You mean you spread hot as heck wax on my skin and then rip the hairs out?" Okay, honestly, I have been waxed three times in my whole life and only once have had a bikini wax. I was never brave enough to go full Brazilian (until now...). I am 39 now (well, almost), have had 3 wonderful sons, two marriages and just learned in the past year and a half that there is a much better alternative. PopSugar, HuffPost Women, and many other journalists have been getting to know sugaring as well. Just over the past five years, the popularity of this all-natural hair removal alternative has grown. It was not introduced into the United States until the 80's, but it has been around for MANY MANY years, dating all the way back to when Cleopatra ruled Egypt.
Studies show that sugaring leads to permanency over time sometimes 3 years, sometimes up to 10 depending on the person and adhering to sugaring only. From my calculations (sticking to your calculations) sugaring will cost:
Sugaring $8.00 per session ($20 jar 8 oz ÷ 2.5 sessions) 17.3 sessions per year = $138.40 per year - (Less than 7 jars per year)
*no warming or heating, no raw skin, far less painful, easy warm water cleanup, no strips, chemical-free, all natural, ancient method, applicator provided for your choice finger method or applicator method
(along with cornstarch and pure aloe).
*Waxing - Their model on dailyworth.com (closest method equivalent): $65 per session at 13 sessions per year = $845 per year
Gas to the salon, don't forget to tip your practitioner, painful, red and/or raw skin, heated, some have chemicals, not easily cleaned up, strips, gas home)
The first year, we can safely say 17 times sugaring session per year, though because the hairs grow back thinner, finer and sparser that number will diminish over time.
2nd year we can say an average of 13 times per year.
3rd? 10.
4th year: down to about 6 or 7 times per year (average person).
You (dailymotion.com) are calculating ten years and twenty, however, within about 5-7 years, most sugarers should experience permanency as long as they have been sugaring during the anagen stage of hair growth (1/8"). (See diagram below).
By year ten, the average of times per ten years for sugaring would be about 62 (17+13+10+7+5+4+3+2+1 = 62)
Total spent over ten-year span for sugaring equals $496 (62 x $8 sessions).
From the nicks, cuts, irritated skin, dry skin, ingrown hairs, stubble, and the fact I had to shave EVERY SINGLE DAY, I hated shaving my whole life. In my twenties, I learned about waxing. "You mean you spread hot as heck wax on my skin and then rip the hairs out?" Okay, honestly, I have been waxed three times in my whole life and only once have had a bikini wax. I was never brave enough to go full Brazilian (until now...). I am 39 now (well, almost), have had 3 wonderful sons, two marriages and just learned in the past year and a half that there is a much better alternative. PopSugar, HuffPost Women, and many other journalists have been getting to know sugaring as well. Just over the past five years, the popularity of this all-natural hair removal alternative has grown. It was not introduced into the United States until the 80's, but it has been around for MANY MANY years, dating all the way back to when Cleopatra ruled Egypt.
Let’s think about cost for a moment, shall we?
Please refer to DailyWorth's post entitled Can Expensive Beauty Treatments Save You in the Long Run?
Cost of hair removal within One, Five and Ten years...
Cost over one year:
Shaving: $264
Waxing: $845 (session every 4 weeks or 13 times per year)
Laser: $3,240 (for 6 treatments)
Cost over one year:
Shaving: $264
Waxing: $845 (session every 4 weeks or 13 times per year)
Laser: $3,240 (for 6 treatments)
~What about sugaring? $138.40
Lest we forget that there IS an all-natural, gentle alternative and it's been around far longer than any of these methods of hair removal. I make organic sugaring and it costs about $20 per jar. Each jar will provide 2-3 treatments (Legs and underarms as per your model). Treatments are every two to three weeks, lessening throughout time because follicle walls collapse and hairs grow back thinner, finer and sparser.Studies show that sugaring leads to permanency over time sometimes 3 years, sometimes up to 10 depending on the person and adhering to sugaring only. From my calculations (sticking to your calculations) sugaring will cost:
Sugaring $8.00 per session ($20 jar 8 oz ÷ 2.5 sessions) 17.3 sessions per year = $138.40 per year - (Less than 7 jars per year)
*no warming or heating, no raw skin, far less painful, easy warm water cleanup, no strips, chemical-free, all natural, ancient method, applicator provided for your choice finger method or applicator method
*Waxing - Their model on dailyworth.com (closest method equivalent): $65 per session at 13 sessions per year = $845 per year
Gas to the salon, don't forget to tip your practitioner, painful, red and/or raw skin, heated, some have chemicals, not easily cleaned up, strips, gas home)
The first year, we can safely say 17 times sugaring session per year, though because the hairs grow back thinner, finer and sparser that number will diminish over time.
2nd year we can say an average of 13 times per year.
3rd? 10.
4th year: down to about 6 or 7 times per year (average person).
You (dailymotion.com) are calculating ten years and twenty, however, within about 5-7 years, most sugarers should experience permanency as long as they have been sugaring during the anagen stage of hair growth (1/8"). (See diagram below).
By year ten, the average of times per ten years for sugaring would be about 62 (17+13+10+7+5+4+3+2+1 = 62)
Total spent over ten-year span for sugaring equals $496 (62 x $8 sessions).
