How to Make Wax with Sugar

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This article was co-written by Diana Yerkes. Diana Yerkes is the chief esthetician of Rescue Spa NYC. She majored in cosmetology at Aveda Institute and International Dermal Institute. Diana is a member of the ASCP community, certified in the Wellness for Cancer and Look Good Feel Better programs.

There are 8 references cited in this article that you can see at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 124,221 times.

Going to the salon for hair removal can be very expensive! In fact, you can wax at home with sugar-based wax with just 3 basic ingredients. All you need is white granulated sugar, lemon juice and water. Wax waxing is less painful than using traditional hot wax, so it’s a good choice for people with sensitive skin.

Table of Contents

Ingredient

1 cup (200g) white granulated sugar
1/8 cup (30ml) lemon juice
1/8 cup (30ml) warm water

Make hair removal wax

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Place a medium-sized pot on the stove. Although this recipe only makes a little sugar wax (enough to remove hair on 2 legs), it is still recommended to use a medium or large pot. The mixture will boil vigorously when heated and may spill out if you only use a small pot.

Put white granulated sugar, lemon juice and warm water in a pot. First, measure white granulated sugar into the pot. Next, add lemon juice and warm water. Finally, stir the ingredients. ^{[1] X Research Source}

You can use either white granulated sugar or brown sugar. Powdered sugar will not work.

Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Turn on the stove to high heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Stir the mixture often. Always keep an eye on it as the mixture will boil vigorously when heated. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Be careful not to burn the mixture. If this happens, the mixture will solidify as it cools and become unusable.

Turn the stove to medium heat. When the mixture starts to bubble and boil vigorously, turn the stove to medium heat. Continue stirring the mixture. The sugar will dissolve into a liquid at this point. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

If the mixture continues to boil vigorously over medium heat, turn the heat to low.

Remove the pot from the heat when the mixture turns golden brown. Continue stirring while the mixture is still simmering. When the mixture thickens and turns a deep yellow, turn off the heat and remove the pot from the heat.

The consistency of the mixture will be like syrup. The mixture needs to be heated further if it has a honey-like consistency.

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Pour the mixture into a bowl or jar and let it cool for about 30 minutes. Unlike traditional hot waxes, you shouldn’t use sugar wax while it’s hot. Pour the mixture into a bowl or jar and let it cool for about 30 minutes. If the heat of the mixture makes you uncomfortable, you should wait a few more minutes for the mixture to cool down before continuing. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Use hair removal wax

Use your fingers to pick up some wax. The wax is still warm but cool enough to the touch, so you can use your fingers the whole process. Take some wax and use the palm of your hand to form a ball. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

You can use a butter knife or ice cream stick instead of your hands, if you prefer.

Apply wax to a small skin pad. You can use your fingers or an ice cream stick to apply the wax against the direction of hair growth. Apply evenly until you have a wax layer about 0.6cm thick. Let’s treat small areas of skin with an area of a few centimeters. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Estimate to divide the amount of wax so that it is enough to treat both legs

Breathe deeply and pull! Use your fingers to hold the wax firmly and pull against the direction of hair growth. Act as quickly as you would peel off a self-adhesive bandage. This step will be a bit painful! ^{[7] X Research Sources}

You can also use your fingers to roll or peel off the wax, but this will be more painful. You’d better act fast.
If you’d like, you can place several pieces of paper on top of the wax, smooth it out, and pull the paper out instead of just pulling the wax.

Continue to wax small areas of skin until finished. You can use a piece of wax 3-4 times, if you like. Or, you apply a new layer of wax to each area of skin. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Pour excess wax into a container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate. If you have leftover wax, pour it all into a container, such as a Tupperware plastic container. Place the container of the mixture in the refrigerator and use within 4-5 weeks. Heat the mixture before use.

Prepare your skin before waxing

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Wash skin with soap and water. Use warm water to help open the pores and relieve the pain of waxing. Cleaning the skin also reduces the risk of infection, which, although rare, should still be exercised with caution. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Opening the pores also reduces the risk of ingrown hairs.

Exfoliate 2 days before waxing. Use a brush or nylon gloves to apply to the skin in a circular motion. ^{[10] X Research Source} Exfoliating will help wax stick better, as sugar wax can remove dead cells along with hair. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Moisten skin in the evening before waxing. Water will help keep the skin and hair follicles healthier. ^{[12] X Research Source} However, you should not wet your skin on the day of waxing because the skin needs to be dry and clean at the time of waxing. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Skin care after hair removal

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Moisten skin with natural oils, body butters or serums. You can moisturize immediately after waxing, as long as you don’t stop the harsh chemicals. Providing water to the skin will help smooth the skin and prevent ingrown hairs. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Use Dead Sea salt to relieve itching. You should not touch your skin too much after waxing, you can soak in sea salt to reduce inflammation and itching. Dissolve ½ teaspoon (2.75g) of Dead Sea salt in 60ml of water. Dip a washcloth in salt water and place it on the irritated area for 15 minutes. Then rinse with clean water. ^{[15] X Research Source}

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Exfoliate to prevent ingrown hairs. Wait 2 days after waxing, start exfoliating every 2-3 days. Use a gentle hair removal serum but don’t scrub hard as the sugar wax has removed the top layer of skin! ^{[16] X Research Source}

For sensitive areas, try using coffee or sugar scrubs instead of a brush. ^{[17] X Research Source}

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Do not use products that can irritate the skin. Your skin is still sensitive 24 hours after waxing, so body oils, creams, and makeup should be avoided (if you’re waxing on your face). Also, avoid exposure to UV light and heat sources (such as saunas, steam baths). ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Avoid using deodorant if you are waxing underarms.

Things you need

Medium or large pot
Spoon
Clean bowl or jar
Ice cream sticks (optional)
Several pieces of paper (optional)