Honey and sugar hair-removal wax, often referred to as body sugaring, is a safe and inexpensive way to remove body hair. An ecologically friendly hair remover that can be made in your own kitchen, body sugaring won't expose your skin to harmful petroleum-based hair-removal products or clutter up the landfill with disposable plastic razors. Body sugaring will remove hair for six to eight weeks, and the hair that grows in will be less coarse than the original hair, notes Health Services at Columbia University.
Cut a piece of cotton fabric or an old, clean sheet into strips 1 to 1 1/4 inches wide. Set the strips aside while you prepare the sugar and honey solution.
Place 1 cup granulated white sugar and 1/4 cup honey in a enamel or glass saucepan. Cut a fresh lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the mixture. Stir well.
Place the saucepan on medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Alternatively, place the mixture in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for two to three minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat, and allow it to cool to room temperature.
Wash your skin on the area to be shaved, and pat it dry with a soft towel. Use a Popsicle stick or a plastic spatula to spread a thin, even coating of the sugar and honey mixture over the area in the direction of hair growth.
Smooth a strip of cotton fabric over the solution, then rub the fabric with your fingers. Repeat two to three times, rubbing in the direction of hair growth.
Allow the mixture to cool and harden. Hold the surrounding skin taut with one hand, then pull the strip quickly in the opposite direction of hair growth. Repeat as needed.
Store any remaining sugar and honey mixture in a clean, airtight container. Rewarm the solution for use by placing the container in hot water.
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Writer Bio
M.H. Dyer began her writing career as a staff writer at a community newspaper and is now a full-time commercial writer. She writes about a variety of topics, with a focus on sustainable, pesticide- and herbicide-free gardening. She is an Oregon State University Master Gardener and Master Naturalist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction writing.