Salon Worthy Hair Removal At-Home: Sugaring, Threading & Dermaplaning

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Hi Loves! I was on Home & Family this week talking all about salon worthy hair removal but done in the comfort of your own home. I’ve tried quite a bit in my time but these 3 methods are definitely on the top of my list and I’ll break it all down for you.

Here’s my segment explaining each method and below I have my reasons for why I love each one.

SUGARING:

What is Sugaring?

Sugaring is not only all natural but it’s way cheaper than waxing. You literally need ingredients most of us already have in the kitchen. It’s also better to use than wax because it’s free of skin-irritating chemicals and toxic scents. Unlike regular wax, you let the sugar paste cool before applying, so there’s zero chance of getting burned. Sugar wax won’t stick to live skin cells, so it doesn’t rip off a layer of skin when you pull. It’s something I would feel comfortable doing on my daughter when we come to that discussion!

How Do you make it?

You’ll need 4 things:

-2 cups of sugar

-1/4 cup lemon juice

-2 tbsp water

-1 dash of salt (optional but I use)

1) Mix all the ingredients together in a stove safe pot

2) Apply on medium-high heat (important to watch it from this point on)

3) Let mixture come to a boil then start stirring. You will see it bubble at this point which you want

4) Once the mixture turns light amber/yellow (takes me about 5 min) immediately take it off the heat and transfer to a mason jar or ceramic bowl (I like to pour and store in a mason jar so add while the mason jar is submerged in ice so the glass doesn’t break from the heat of the hot wax)

5) Let the mixture completely cool before using. Since this is a lot you can separate a batch for immediate use and store the other in the fridge for up to 6 months and reheat for every use. Heat in increments of 10 seconds when re-heating

6) You want the wax to be almost like caramel taffy. If it is too thick, add some water and reheat in microwave in 10 second increments. Don’t worry if you don’t get it right the first time! It took me about 2 times before I got it down!! It’s worth it, I promise. And it’s household items we’re working with so a little elbow grease may be required but not too much money!

Tips:

-Making sugar wax is super easy once you get the hang of it but you can go from brown to burnt in 2 seconds so instead of eyeballing it use a candy thermometer to keep track of your heat

– Be flexible don’t expect perfection the first time it’s easy enough to make so just like anything it takes practice

-Apply baby powder to areas you’re waxing to help absorb excess moisture

– You want to pull the sugar off the burner as soon as it turns a light honey color because it will continue browning as it sits

Techniques:

Once the wax has cooled, scoop it out of the container and apply with a butter knife, popsicle stick or your hands. You’ll want to apply a ¼ inch layer of wax in the opposite direction of the hair growth that means against the grain. Yes, it’s opposite of wax. You will pull in the same direction as your hair growth. Gently press it onto your skin. If it’s still warm, let it cool for a second so that when you pull at a corner, it comes up in one long strip. Then get a good hold on it and pull! You can roll the wax between your hands and re-use it on different sections of skin until it’s no longer sticky.

THREADING:

What is threading?

Threading is an ancient method of hair removal that started in Asia. It’s very similar to tweezing in that it removes only small areas of hair, and it removes the entire hair follicle. Threading is typically used on facial hair only, especially the eyebrows. I love it because it offers great precision with the shape of your brows. Plus it exfoliates your skin at the same time as it removes hair so it’s a double win! Also, unlike waxing, threading doesn’t pull at the elasticity of your skin which can take a toll over time, especially around the sensitive eye area. Threading your brows and upper lip is also way faster than plucking. Plus, if you learn how to do it yourself (I have 2 videos up on my own Youtube channel on this) you will be saving so much time and money!

Tips:

-start with clean skin

-If you are sensitive or scared numb the area with either Baby Orajel (it really works and it’s a hack I found after becoming mom) or some ice for a few minutes

-Once done threading apply some aloe Vera gel to really help soothe the skin of redness or any irritation (my fave is the $1.99 tube from GNC).

-keep it to your face only. Because so precise it would take forever to do any other parts of your body!

-make sure you use 100% cotton sewing thread

-go slow when starting out it takes time! But the practice is so worth it!

Technique:

Check out my detailed Youtube videos on this:

 

DERMAPLANING:

What is Dermaplaning?

It’s a physical exfoliation procedure that started in a professional setting with a sterile surgical scalpel to gently remove the top layer of dead skin along with peach fuzz. It’s also said to help with deeper product penetration which is why many aestheticians do it before they do facials.

Why is it so popular?

-Because it gets rid of pesky peach fuzz which leads to really glowing skin especially when applying makeup. It helps prime the face nicely for foundation.

-It removes soft facial hair that can trap dirt and oil

-It can reduces appearance of acne scars and helps diminish fine lines

Tips:

-You can use at home razors sold off Amazon or at your local beauty store. Dermaflash is a popular at-home system as well that will run you about $200
-If you use the at-home razors replace them often so the blade is nice and sharp. Also start by applying a small amount of face oil – jojoba, or something like that, to really help the razor glide along the face
-Quick downward feather strokes work best in the direction of hair growth
-When done treat – moisturize and add any serums you like but also exfoliate gently the next few weeks so you prevent any ingrown hairs

Technique:

-Wet your blade with warm water. Then start with downward strokes – start shaving with the hair growth.

-Move the blade slowly over your face – down the cheeks, jawline, forehead

-Rinse the blade frequently because you’ll see the dead skin cells and peach fuzz on it.

-Once you’re done you can go over your face again, this time against the hair growth. Because you’ve already gone downwards and removed most of the hair, going upwards now will be more comfortable and provide a greater exfoliation.

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Hope you beauties found these techniques helpful! Let me know if you try any of them out and if you have any questions at all don’t hesitate to reach out. Hair removal is not always fun to deal with or talk about so if you can do it on your own effectively, on your own time, why not?! And I’m here to help, seriously!

xo,

Ami

Ami Desai

Creative Producer & Owner at Ami Desai
Ami Desai is a creative producer, host, makeup artist, and lifestyle expert. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from UC Berkley and a Masters Degree in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University. She shares everyday tips on hair care, makeup, and fashion on her Instagram, YouTube, and AmiDesai.com.

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