Q&A for How to Make Hair Removal Wax at Home

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  • Question
    Is it better to wax at home or go to a salon?
    Karina Villalta
    Certified Esthetician
    Karina Villalta is a certified Esthetician and Owner of Oh Sweet and Sugar and Shears, a skincare and hair removal service located in Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. With over eight years of experience, Karina specializes in eyebrow shaping, a hair removal technique called sugaring, and organic facials. Karina started her career and was trained at Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bar. Since opening her own business, Karina ensures her clients are educated about their skin and helps them implement personalized skincare routines.
    Certified Esthetician
    Expert Answer
    If you don't mind spending the money, it's always going to be better to have a trained professional do something like this. Your skin will look pristine and they'll make sure there aren't any stray hairs.
  • Question
    Is traditional wax better than sugar wax?
    Karina Villalta
    Certified Esthetician
    Karina Villalta is a certified Esthetician and Owner of Oh Sweet and Sugar and Shears, a skincare and hair removal service located in Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. With over eight years of experience, Karina specializes in eyebrow shaping, a hair removal technique called sugaring, and organic facials. Karina started her career and was trained at Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bar. Since opening her own business, Karina ensures her clients are educated about their skin and helps them implement personalized skincare routines.
    Certified Esthetician
    Expert Answer
    A lot of people seem to think so and I think I'm inclined to agree. Sugar wax has no added chemicals or resin, and it doesn't require nearly as much heat as traditional wax does.
  • Question
    How do you make sugar wax?
    Karina Villalta
    Certified Esthetician
    Karina Villalta is a certified Esthetician and Owner of Oh Sweet and Sugar and Shears, a skincare and hair removal service located in Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. With over eight years of experience, Karina specializes in eyebrow shaping, a hair removal technique called sugaring, and organic facials. Karina started her career and was trained at Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bar. Since opening her own business, Karina ensures her clients are educated about their skin and helps them implement personalized skincare routines.
    Certified Esthetician
    Expert Answer
    Sugar, lemon juice, and water. Those are the only ingredients you need to make a sugar wax.
  • Question
    Will it leave my skin red? I don't want anyone to know I waxed my upper lip.
    Community Answer
    Waxing may leave your skin red and it depends upon your waxing method. To recover the redness of your skin after waxing, apply some coconut oil or moisturizing cream. You can roll some ice cubes in a cotton cloth and gently press on the skin where its needed. Waxing can be done at evening or night so that it is cool and your skin recovers faster than doing during the day.
  • Question
    Can I use vinegar instead of lemon juice?
    Community Answer
    Lemon juice is best suited for waxing than vinegar. Lemon juice gives your skin a refreshing feel.
  • Question
    What if I do not have lemon juice?
    Community Answer
    You could use any other kind of citric fruit juice. For instance, orange juice. But lemon juice is still the best.
  • Question
    What if you need the mixture to be thicker?
    Community Answer
    If you require a thicker mixture, you may double the quantities of sugar and honey during the preparation.
  • Question
    What can we use instead of fabric strips?
    Community Answer
    Coffee filters. They will do just fine, cut them in whatever shape you like and apply them.
  • Question
    Does it hurt as much as it always seems to in movies (a lot!) when the wax is pulled off?
    Community Answer
    Depends on where you are waxing. The more hair being waxed, the more it hurts. Larger areas like legs can be pretty painful. However, minor waxes such as your upper lip barely sting. Generally the more you get waxed, the less painful it gets.
  • Question
    What measurements do I use if I want to make a smaller batch?
    Community Answer
    Halve the measurement - so it would be a 1/4 cup of lemon juice, 1/2 a cup of honey and 1/2 a cup of sugar.
  • Question
    Can I use freshly squeezed lemon for the lemon juice?
    Community Answer
    Sure, that's fine.
  • Question
    Can I use natural honey instead of honey?
    Community Answer
    Yes. In fact, that would be better.
  • Question
    Do I have to use fabric strips?
    Community Answer
    You can use other fabrics or materials, like paper towels, but they will not stay very intact during the process. Fabric strips are the best to use.
  • Question
    Are the fabric strips reusable? Do I need to sew them if they are reusable?
    Community Answer
    The fabric strips are reusable until the sticky wax is present on it. Once the sticky wax is less on the fabric, i.e, more hair on the fabric, you may discard it and can use a new one. Sewing fabric is optional since, sewing provides a grip for easy waxing. If you don't want to sew the fabric, you can cut the strip a few inches extra long, say 2 to 3 inches and fold the edges and pin it with a safety pin.
  • Question
    I tried this, but the mixture never really cooled. It just ended up being room-temperature and gooey. Did I do something wrong?
    Community Answer
    Keep heating the mixture at high temperature in the beginning, and reduce to medium-low heat once golden color is attained. However, be careful to remove the mixture from the hob when it is golden color and a little sticky, rather than allowing it to go red. Once it solidifies, wrap it in sling wrap and aluminum foil and save in the freezer. Every time you use, heat it at low temperature on the oven, so that it melts slightly.
  • Question
    Would it hurt if I used to shave and now I have thick hair, and I want to wax?
    Community Answer
    The thicker the hair the more it hurts. But once you've waxed the zone a few times the hair gets thinner very quickly, and it hurts a lot less.
  • Question
    Can I use only honey instead of sugar?
    Community Answer
    No, using honey alone will not remove hair.
  • Question
    Can I use a Q-Tip also to apply the wax?
    Community Answer
    For tiny areas, sure. For larger areas, you would be better off using the spatula or tongue depressor.
  • Question
    I did everything it said on here to do but my mix is extra runny.
    Community Answer
    Maybe let it cool a little longer next time or let the sugar caramelize longer.
  • Question
    Can I use brown sugar for this?
    Community Answer
    Yes, though you will likely need to reduce the honey and lemon to compensate for the added water content of brown sugar. It really is just better to use refined sugar.
  • Question
    How can I wax my nose hairs with this?
    Community Answer
    It is probably not such a good idea to put the mixture in your nose. The lemon juice could burn your nose, and the liquid could cause trouble breathing. It might be better to just trim any hairs that protrude (or tweeze them, but that might be painful), but it would be best to go to a professional for that one.
  • Question
    Does using honey lead to the growth of white hairs?
    Community Answer
    Honey does not cause white hairs. However, the lemon juice has a bleaching property that will cause future hair growth to be lighter in color.
  • Question
    Would the hair ever grow back if I wax?
    Community Answer
    The hair will grow back, but much shorter. The more you do it, the less hair grows, until eventually there is no more hair growing back.
  • Question
    What else can I use instead of lemon juice if I don't have a lemon juice?
    Community Answer
    Vinegar can be used as a substitute. However, lemon juice is preferred because it gives your skin a refreshed feel.
  • Question
    Do I have to melt the sugar or is there another way?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Otherwise, it won't be able to mix with the other ingredients.
  • Question
    What if it turned red already? Can I still fix it?
    Community Answer
    Yes, definitely! Redness is a sign of swelling, so if you want to you can hold some ice to the area.
  • Question
    My wax is not sticky enough to remove the hairs. Should I cook it more?
    Community Answer
    You may have undercooked it. Try to reheat it or make a new batch. Just keep an eye on the consistency and at the color of the wax.
  • Question
    Could I use syrup instead of honey for the wax?
    Community Answer
    You could, but it wouldn't be as effective or beneficial to your skin.
  • Question
    Can I use hard honey instead of liquid honey?
    Community Answer
    You cannot use hard honey because it takes longer to melt and will fully burn the sugar.
  • Question
    Do I need strips for the wax?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it is recommended.
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