To Thread, Sugar, Or Wax? That Is The Question
Beauty Counter is breaking for warmer pastures again this weekend, heading to Puerto Rico for a girls' weekend in the guise of a bachelorette party. There will be no inappropriate headwear or unexpected cameos from curiously oiled-down "policemen," but there will be plenty of beach time. Slipping into a bathing suit for the first time this season is inevitable, which prompts a host of questions-to start with, one-piece or two? If the latter, should we opt for high-waisted bottoms, or something a little skimpier and tan line-friendly? The bigger quandary on my traveling companions' minds seems to be how to go about choosing the best depilatory method to ensure silky smooth, hairless skin that's ready for sun exposure. To properly appease them-and those of you who are likely struggling with similar issues this time of year-we've consulted Shobha Tummala, founder and CEO of Shobha, where Manhattanites-in-the-know flock for all of their threading, sugaring, and waxing needs. Here, Tummala breaks down each method and provides some tips for post-treatment care so redness and irritation don't monopolize your (and everyone else's) attention pool-side.
STRING SECTION
"Threading is when a piece of thread acts like a mini-lasso that twists and pulls hairs, lifting them from the skin by the root," Tummala explains of the ancient hair removal art.
Pros:
It's all-natural and there's minimal contact with the skin, which makes it great for people with sensitive skin and those on skin-thinning medications (like Accutane or Retin-A), as well as those recovering from plastic surgery (you can generally get threaded about three to four weeks after surgery, whereas with waxing you may have to wait about six months).
Since threading doesn't pull on the skin, there is less trauma, resulting in less redness and irritation after the treatment.
Threading is able to target individual hairs, allowing it to provide a very precise motion for smaller areas, like brows.
Threading can remove fine hairs (i.e., peach fuzz) as well as short hairs, so you don't have to wait as long between treatments like you do with waxing.
Hair is removed from the root, so you are usually hair-free for about one to two weeks before you see any re-growth.
It's a good bet for all skin and hair types.
Cons:
The threading technique can be tricky to do on your own.
Threading, although growing in popularity, can be hard to find in some areas.
Since threading can only target a single hair or a row of hairs at once, it is not practical for removing hair on larger body parts.
The Pain Factor:
"Threading has a unique sensation as the thread glides over the skin," Tummala says. "In terms of pain, it is comparable to that of tweezing, which is typically very minimal."
THE SWEET SPOT
"Sugaring is the forefather of modern-day waxing," according to Tummala. "It originated in the warm climates of ancient Mesopotamia and Arabia, where women looked for a home remedy to remove unwanted hair to help them stay cooler."
Pros:
Sugaring is a natural alternative to waxing (Shobha Sugaring Gel, for example, is made of only sugar, lemon juice, water, and glycerin). Natural ingredients mean natural reactions, which for most means no reaction at all.
While sugaring sticks to the hair like wax, it sticks less to the skin during the removal process, so that the hair still comes out from the root but with less pulling on the skin.
Sugaring gel is water-soluble, making clean-up super simple-all you need is some warm water to remove any residue!
Hair is removed from the root, so you are usually hair-free for about one to two weeks before you see any re-growth.
Sugaring allows you to remove hair in large areas of the body quickly.
Great for those with sensitive skin.
Cons:
For effective results, hair needs to be long enough to lay flat on the skin (between 1/4″ and 1″ in length).
For women with very stubborn/strong hairs, sometimes sugaring will not work.
If you've been a longtime shaver, you may need to wax the area a few times before you can convert to sugaring.
The Pain Factor:
"Many find sugaring to be noticeably less painful than waxing," Tummala points out. "Since sugaring gel is less sticky, there is less pulling on the skin, resulting in less redness and irritation after the removal. In fact, many guys opt for back and chest sugaring over waxing because of its minimal feeling of discomfort."
STICKY SITUATION
"Waxing is the most commonly known of the three treatment types we offer," Tummala says. "In general, after wax is applied to the area, it adheres to both the hair and the skin, removing the hair from the root."
Pros:
Waxing removes hair from the root, so you are usually hair-free for about one to two weeks before you
Waxing allows you to remove hair in large areas of the body quickly.
Good for people with stubborn/strongly rooted hairs.
see any re-growth.
Cons:
Some women may have allergies to various ingredients in wax (e.g., resins, beeswax, artificial fragrances, or colorings).
Waxing cannot be performed on women taking skin-thinning medications or for the first six months on an area with scar tissue.
Waxing can remove the top layers of skin with the hair.
For effective results, hair needs to be long enough to lay flat on the skin (between 1/4″ and 1″ in length).
The Pain Factor:
"Since wax is the stickiest method, it tends to hurt the most," Tummala divulges. "However, the pain is usually temporary-think: removing a Band-Aid-and if done correctly, it can be minimized."
Afterthoughts
In order to avoid irritation, Tummala recommends first and foremost letting your skin get properly desensitized post-treatment. "Forty-eight hours of rest is best after a hair removal appointment," she says. Otherwise, her prescription is simple: "Be kind to your skin, avoid harsh products that may cause adverse reactions, and refrain from using skincare products that contain acids (alpha-hydroxy, glycolic, salicylic, etc.) for the first two days." UV protection is also key, as are cold compresses and hydrocortisone cream to help reduce inflammation. Tummala is also adamant about gentle, daily exfoliants-like her Shobha Exfoliating Cloth-a machine-washable loofah alternative made from 100 percent natural plant fibers that is helpful in removing dead skin cells and preventing ingrown hairs from forming.
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