Hair removal isn’t just for women anymore. Men everywhere are taking their “manscaping” seriously. The chances are that most men have dabbled in body hair removal at some point in their lives. If that sounds like you, don’t be ashamed! Surveys show that men now manscape on a regular basis, saying it makes them feel cleaner, sleeker and brings out their muscles. However, many men still feel confused when choosing a method of removal that best fits their desires.

Throughout this blog, we will go over various methods of hair removal for men. Additionally, we will show you the pros and cons for each to help you make an executive decision on what is best for you.

Hair Removal Method 1: Sugaring

Are you looking to take a more natural approach to your hair removal methods? Sugaring is a beauty ritual that is beneficial for both genders. Sugaring is more gentle on the skin than other alternatives such as waxing. Don’t get me wrong; we aren’t saying that there will be no pain involved. However, both the ingredients and process used have proven to create a better experience for the client.

So, what exactly is sugaring? And why is it the right hair removal method for men? As mentioned, sugaring is an all natural hair method that is 100% eco-friendly. Sugaring only requires a technician and a special paste made from sugar, lemon juice, and water. The technician will smooth the paste in the opposite direction of the hair growth. After letting it sit for a few seconds, the paste becomes harder. Lastly, the technician will pull the mixture off in the direction of the natural hair growth. Therefore, removing hair with less discomfort and breakage. It can be used on all skin types and gives superior end results.

Furthermore, sugaring tends to last longer than other methods used in hair removal for men. Skin is left feeling soft and hair-free for up to 4 weeks, depending on your hair regrowth. What else could you ask for? The only real con – we don’t suggest you try this at home. It’s important to have the right consistency and use the proper methods. If you are looking for an at-home method, this may not be for you.

Tips & Tricks:

• Heavy body butter, lotions, oils, and deodorant are not recommended to be used 24 hours before treatment.
• For optimal results, you have at least two weeks of hair growth.

Hair Removal Method 2: Waxing

When we think of waxing, we think of the saying “no pain, no gain.” However, waxing can be a method of hair removal for men that eliminates the need for shaving. Additionally, it is a great way to get into those hard to reach places. Shaving is a time-consuming task that many men are beginning to ditch for alternative methods such as waxing or sugaring. Waxing also provides the option to do so from home, rather quickly. This means you can rid yourself of pesky hairs from your own bathroom.

Although the pain of waxing is fleeting, it goes by quickly, and some even begin to get used to the feeling. One of the biggest deterrents for waxing is the dreaded allergic reaction. You are leaving your skin with red bumps, itchiness and even potential blisters from a waxing session gone wrong. If you have sensitive skin, please refrain from waxing. As with most hair removal for men, we suggest leaving it to the professionals.

Tips & Tricks:

• Apply wax to skin that is clean, dry and free of body products such as lotions.
• The day before you wax – exfoliate with a scrub or body brush to remove all dead skin cells that have built up.
• Remove hair with one swift movement, and never peel away slowly. This is for your benefit, trust us!
• Skin feeling red and sore? Gently press a cold cloth on the affected area in order to try and cool the skin.

Hair Removal Method 3: Depilatory Creams

Depilatory creams, also known as hair removal creams, have been used for many years. You may know brands such as Nair or Veet. They are easy to use, home products that you purchase at local retailers — the most significant benefit of these products: quick & easy to use. Directly apply to your skin, leave for a few minutes and rinse away unwanted hair. The hair is weakened at the root by the chemicals and fall away quickly. Again, this is not for men with sensitive skin.

The main issue with hair removal creams: the results are not long lasting. Most likely, your hair will be growing back within a week of the treatment. Moreover, this method tends to be spotty, and aftercare is crucial.

Tips & Tricks:

• To check for sensitivity, do a patch test on the inside of your arm.
• Always follow instructions properly.
• Rinse your skin afterward thoroughly with cool, clean water.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing for up to 24 hours, and avoid any activity that will leave you overly hot and sweaty.

Hair Removal Method 4: Shaving

You are all probably pretty familiar with this method. It proves to be the simplest, cheapest hair removal method of all. All you need is yourself, a razor and a decent shaving cream. Having a steady hand also helps! Many men choose this method as it doesn’t require much skill. Once you learn to shave one part of your body, you can easily apply the technique to others.

Other than a few nicks and cuts, the downfalls of shaving are: quick & itchy regrowth and more ingrown hairs developing. With shaving, you only slice the strands at the surface of the skin. Therefore, you will probably be seeing stubble within a few days. Am I right, men?

Tips & Tricks:

• Never attempt to reach those hard to reach places by yourself, it never works out well.
• Shave while you’re in the shower – the steam plumps hairs making them softer and easier to cut.
• To minimize risks of ingrown hairs, exfoliate the skin with a body scrub twice a week.

If you are interested in taking a step towards a more natural manscaping routine – come visit us today at Sugar Savvy. We are here to help!

It’s finally spring! It’s the time of year where there are so many outdoor activities to look forward to. As we navigate spring and head into the summer months, there’s a natural tendency to switch to lighter clothing. Summer clothes don’t cover us as much as our winter jackets and scarfs did. This likely means that there will be more skin on display. It’s time to seriously think about how we care for our smooth skin. There’s a list of things to consider when it comes to improving skin smoothness and softness. In this post, we’ll provide tips on how you can kick off the warmer months with really smooth skin!

Consider Body Sugaring for Smooth Skin

Let’s start with body sugaring (wink, wink, it’s one of the services we offer). The procedure is widely considered as a less painful alternative to waxing. To put it simply, sugaring is a method of hair removal that is done using a chemical free, warmed paste. It’s derived from natural ingredients, comprising lemon, sugar, and water. What makes body sugaring so great is that it’s safe to use on all parts of the body. To learn more, read our pre and post-care recommendations.

Another benefit of sugaring for hair removal, is that it’s less painful than waxing. It puts far less strain on the skin, so there’s no risk of burning during the treatment. That means you won’t have any scars or marks, just smooth skin! Cleanup is also much easier than traditional waxing procedures.

Exfoliate Often

This is a very common technique which you can use to remove dead skin cells. It will help to keep your skin looking smooth and fresh. There are many ways to exfoliate, from scrubs, to sponges, to creams. There’s no one size fits all approach to exfoliating, so you can give either of the listed methods a try. Although, we highly recommend products with naturally derived ingredients that suit your skin type. The main aim of exfoliating isn’t just for aesthetics, it’s also done to keep acne and breakouts in check. When done properly, exfoliation helps remove excess dirt and oils from the skin pores which can lead to annoying breakouts.

Be careful not to overdo this one though, as over exfoliating can lead to dryness and cause irritation when done too aggressively. A good rule of thumb is to avoid cleansers which are oil based. Otherwise you may contribute to clogged pores which defeats the purpose of exfoliating in the first place.  

Freshen Up Your Diet

You know the saying by Linden Tyler, “invest in your skin, it’s going to represent you for a very long time.” We couldn’t agree more! The foods we put directly into our bodies have a bigger impact on our skin than we might think. There can’t be the expectation to have healthy glowing smooth skin without thinking about the things that actually make up our diet. Foods heavy in trans-fats and oils may be responsible for leaving your skin with a duller, rougher look. On the other hand, regular doses of fruits and vegetables, which are mostly rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, and healthy fats contribute to a healthier inside and outside appearance. Don’t just take our word for it, read this nicely summarized article for a list of foods that will do wonders for your skin.

Drink Lots of Water

Drinking water should be an important part of any healthy skin routine. For starters, drinking an adequate amount of water daily helps balance moisture and keeps your skin looking hydrated. Water also provides other benefits which aren’t so obvious in the short-term. If you can look at the big picture, water becomes an essential component of skin care.  

It’s important to note that drinking water isn’t the be all and end all, but rather one part of a set of routines which will improve skin health and smoothness. For example, say you just drank lots of water and didn’t improve your diet or exfoliate often. The solo act of just drinking water wouldn’t single handedly improve your outcomes for healthier skin.  

Tying it All Together

Just to give you an idea of how important the skin is, it’s the body’s largest organ. When you look at it from this perspective, it becomes apparent just how crucial it is to keep your skin healthy. What’s the best way to do this? One suggestion is to develop a routine. Routines encourage consistency which in turn deliver results. The routine you choose to go for doesn’t have to be complicated but it will require some effort on your part.

For example, you can decide to start by exfoliating in the morning, drinking lots of water throughout the day, eating Omega-3 and vitamin C rich foods for breakfast and lunch (eggs, salmon, salads) and If you’d like to switch things up a bit you could try exfoliating in the evening before bed to round up your routine. Again, note that you wouldn’t need to exfoliate every single morning or every single evening of each day (depending on your skin sensitivity).

How about sugaring? How often is it recommended? It’ll typically depend on what part(s) of your body you want done, but we recommend you do this in monthly intervals (i.e. every four weeks). And there you have it, a fairly simple and easy to follow routine to get you going on your journey to smooth skin.

To Conclude

There’s a lengthy list of resources online detailing ways to get smoother and healthier skin. We’ve summarized the most common themes into a digestible format to help you kickoff spring and continue the summer season with renewed skin! Remember that repetition is what makes a habit to stick. Start with a regimen that you can handle, then as you get comfortable, switch things up a bit and experiment with your frequency

Finally, be sure to keep up to date with our blog for more tips, recommendations, monthly specials and to learn more about our other services.