Sugaring in Portland: How to Get the Smoothest Skin with Sugaring

Sugaring is hands down my favorite hair removal method, which is why I set out to create the best studio for sugaring in Portland, Oregon.

Here's why I'm so in love with sugaring!

You’ve probably tried a lot of hair removal methods, and I’m willing to bet that most of them have come up short in one way or another. After all, shaving is a giant hassle, especially if your hair grows faster than dandelions in springtime and you feel stubbly within a day or even hours of shaving.

Waxing can seem like a good option, but it freaking HURTS and I’ve heard lots of horror stories about waxing sessions gone wrong. There are always hair removal products that you apply topically and wipe off, but the safety and efficacy of these products can be questionable, and we can easily wind up hairy again just a day or two later.

What’s a girl to do?

I was SO frustrated with the constant treadmill of shaving and waxing, and then the clouds parted and I discovered the amazingness of sugaring.

What is sugaring?

Sugaring is an ancient hair removal method involving an all-natural mixture of sugar, water, and lemon that is applied to the skin and “flicked” off in the direction of the hair growth, leaving the skin perfectly smooth and hairless.

My staff, my clients, and I love this method because it’s all-natural, safer than waxing, less painful than waxing (though not always painLESS, not gonna lie), and over time, can lead to permanently hairless skin. Whaaaaat?

It’s true! Sugaring is able to remove shorter hairs than waxing can. This means we’re able to catch those buggers earlier in the growth phase and strip the follicle of its root sheath. Over time, the entire root sheath will die and the hair will stop growing back.

Other Cool Sugaring Facts

Since the paste is flicked off in the direction of hair growth, there’s less potential for hair breakage and ingrowns than with waxing, which means you’re going to get even smoother skin that lasts longer!

Sugaring paste doesn’t adhere to your skin like wax does, so this method won’t yank on your delicate skin as well as your hairs. This is a big reason why sugaring hurts less than waxing!

Because the sugaring paste only contains sugar, water, and lemon, the paste is far less irritating than wax and can be removed with water instead of harsh chemicals.

Sugaring gently exfoliates your skin by removing dead skin cells. You will not BELIEVE how smooth you’ll feel.

Are you intrigued yet? I thought so!

If I’ve successfully piqued your interest, here’s how to get the most out of sugaring so you can get the smoothest, most beautifully hairless skin!

How to Prepare for Your First Sugaring Appointment

Prepping for your first appointment is pretty simple, but there are a few things you should know to make sure things go as smoothly (no pun intended) as possible.

First, make sure to avoid shaving and waxing for at least two weeks before your appointment, or your hair will be too short for the sugaring paste to grab onto and we’ll have to reschedule. Womp womp.

To get the smoothest skin possible, gently exfoliate your skin 3 days before your appointment to give any dead skin cells the heave-ho before you come in. (But don’t exfoliate after that.) That will make the process even more effective.

That’s it! You’re all set for your first appointment.

Does it hurt?

This is one of the most common questions we get about sugaring. And the answer is...it depends.

Your experience will likely depend heavily on your personal pain tolerance and skin sensitivity.

Some of our clients find sugaring pretty painless (especially if they’ve been waxing for a while), while others find it fairly painful. We are still pulling your hair out from the root, which is often uncomfortable, but since the paste does not adhere to your skin, there will be no unnecessary yanking on your skin.

Many clients take an over-the-counter pain reliever about 30 minutes before their appointment and swear by it, so that’s also something you could try. Also, consider wearing loose, breathable clothing so you’ll be nice and comfy on your way home.

If you have other questions about sugaring, don’t be shy! Shoot us an email or give us a call, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.

What to Do After Your Sugaring Appointment

How do you stay as smooth, hairless, and comfortable as possible after your appointment?

Now, you may experience some irritation after getting sugared, especially if you have sensitive skin or if this is your first or second time. This is totally normal and doesn't last long. To soothe irritation, a cold compress is a great idea, as are OTC painkillers. I also recommend that you avoid irritating the area further, which means you should avoid swimming, tanning, getting sweaty at the gym, or creating friction in that area. (This includes sexy times, if you got your genital area sugared. So set your appointment for a few days BEFORE that hot date!)

The risk of getting ingrown hairs after sugaring is lower than with any other method, but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk even further.

First, don’t shave, tweeze, or otherwise remove any stray hairs for now. (Sugaring’s pretty darn thorough, but we occasionally miss a few!)

A few days after your appointment, you can start dry brushing daily to minimize ingrowns and keep your skin soft. This is also great for your circulation!

Continue to exfoliate 2-3 times per week to keep dead skin cells at bay until your next appointment. And that’s really all you have to do! All things considered, sugaring is a pretty low-maintenance hair removal method, which is one of the many things I love about it.

After your first appointment, you can expect results to last 3-4 weeks. If you keep it up, you’ll find you can go longer and longer without appointments because your hair growth will slow and eventually stop. And then, you’ll have reached hairless heaven!

If you’re ready to get started with sugaring in Portland, check out our menu of services and pick the package that’s right for you. I can’t wait to see you and help you get the smoothest skin ever!