If you have sensitive skin, get ingrown hairs easily, or you’re booking your first Brazilian, sugaring is usually the gentler choice. For coarse hair on bigger areas like the legs or back, a good low-temperature hard wax works beautifully. Both take hair out at the root and keep skin smooth for weeks, but they treat your skin differently on the way.
We do both in our waxing room in Bedford, NH, and we decide with you, one area at a time.
What is sugaring?
Sugaring paste is made of sugar, lemon and water, and that’s all. We apply it close to body temperature, spread it against the direction of hair growth, then flick it off in the direction the hair grows.
The paste holds onto the hair and not the living skin around it, so there’s less pulling and less redness afterwards. And because the hair comes out the way it grows, fewer hairs snap off at the surface. Snapped hairs are one of the main reasons ingrown hairs happen.
What is waxing?
There are two kinds of wax, and it’s worth knowing which one you’re getting.
- Strip wax (also called soft wax) goes on thin, gets covered with a cloth strip and is pulled off. It sticks to your skin as well as the hair, which is why it can leave you red and tender.
- Hard wax goes on warm, sets around the hair as it cools, and lifts off without a strip. It grips the hair more than the skin, so it’s a lot kinder.
We don’t use strip wax. When wax is the better fit, we use a low-temperature hard wax.
Sugaring vs. waxing at a glance
| Sugaring | Hard wax | |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | Sugar, lemon and water | Resin-based wax |
| Temperature | Close to body temperature | Warm, low-temperature |
| Removed | In the direction of hair growth | Against the direction of hair growth |
| Best for | Face, underarms, bikini, Brazilian, sensitive skin | Legs, arms, back, chest, coarser hair |
| Hair length needed | Slightly shorter is fine | About ¼ inch |
| Results last | 3–5 weeks | 3–5 weeks |
Which one hurts less?
Sugaring, for most people. The paste isn’t hot, it doesn’t grab the skin, and the hair comes out in the direction it grows. Neither should feel harsh with someone experienced, though. We work in small sections and press down firmly right after each pull, and that calms the sting almost right away.
You’ll usually notice it most on your first visit. If you come in regularly, hair grows back finer and thinner, and each appointment tends to feel easier than the one before.
Which is better for sensitive skin?
We reach for sugaring first for sensitive skin, faces, underarms and the bikini area. There are only three ingredients, the temperature is gentle, and there’s less rubbing on the skin.
Please hold off on booking either one if you’ve used Accutane in the last six months, put retinol or strong acids on the area this week, have a sunburn, or have open or irritated skin. We’d rather move your appointment than risk your skin.
How long do results last?
About three to five weeks for both, depending on the area and your hair cycle. Hair grows in phases, so a few hairs will always be at a different stage from the rest. Coming in every four to six weeks keeps you on track, and over time the regrowth comes in finer and slower.
How we choose for you
- Face, brows, lip and chin: sugaring or hard wax, whichever your skin likes better.
- Underarms and bikini line: usually sugaring.
- Brazilian: usually sugaring, especially if it’s your first time.
- Legs, arms, back and chest: usually hard wax, since it covers big areas quickly.
Not sure which you want? Tell us when you book. We’ll look at your skin and hair in the room and recommend whichever will feel best.
Sugaring and waxing in Bedford, NH
Our waxing room is private, nobody rushes you, and every client gets fresh paste and a new applicator. Face services start at $15, body services at $25, and a Brazilian is $70. We welcome clients from Bedford, Goffstown, Manchester and nearby towns.
You can see the full menu and book on our sugaring and waxing in Bedford, NH page.