What is the best hair removal method | And a review of body sugaring

I recently decided to upgrade my hair removal method, after years of shaving and having to keep on top of it every couple of days, I decided to look into body sugaring, waxing and also laser hair removal.   But I remember from my limited past experience of waxing that it can be painful and a little embarrassing.  However I am braver now and I want to feel fabulous and make life a bit easier.  My enquiries led me to decide on the body sugaring / sugar wax hair removal method.

I had a chat with Lucie who runs her own salon from her home in Maidenhead - L&A Evolution to understand more about body sugaring.  This method is based on an ancient technique that also nourishes the skin and leaves it feeling soft and smooth, like a natural exfoliation.  It is less painful than waxing and is therefore particularly suitable for more sensitive areas.

Body sugaring at L&A Evolution in Maidenhead

I have two summer holidays booked this year and I will want to stay hair free without worrying about taking my razor and I want to enjoy wearing my bikini.  We have booked five nights in the South of France and then two weeks back in Kalkan in Turkey.  I love wearing a bikini and I am already planning a few new ones.  So it made sense to start the hair removal early as the more body sugaring you do the less often you need to do as the hair gets thinner and less dense.

I decided to get started in March, with six weeks between my appointments, spread out nicely before my holidays.  I've had two appointments so far and I agreed to write about my experience with L&A Evolution to give you a better understanding of this method of hair removal.

L&A Evolution in Maidenhead

Lucie of L&A Evolution has a beautiful large salon on the outskirts of Maidenhead in Berkshire.  Parking is right outside.  Lucie advised me not to shave for ideally three weeks before my appointment - not easy but being winter still it didn't matter too much.  Although I did have to not look at my legs when I went to Nirvana Spa!

Lucie was so welcoming and extremely patient and explained the sugaring method to me really clearly so I understood the process. 

This is a natural method of hair removal and I liked the fact that the sugar paste would also exfoliate my skin - and it really did - my skin felt so soft afterwards.  It can be a bit painful but unlike waxing this doesn't last.  So with waxing you can feel an after-sting and the skin can be red, with sugaring you can feel the immediate discomfort when the paste is removed along with the hair but then any pain has gone.  And the pain isn't too bad, or I didn't think it was anyway!  The method is quick and clean so there is no residue left behind at all.  Lucie advised me to wear loose clothing but on my first visit I forgot and put skinny jeans back on but I didn't feel uncomfortable at all.

We started with lower legs to check that I was okay with the method, then upper legs, Lucie explained that sometimes there are areas that feel more uncomfortable than others and I did experience this but nothing too dreadful. 

Then it was onto bikini - there are different options and I wanted a Brazilian rather than just bikini line - so basically just leaving a narrow strip.  Yes this is very intimate to have done but Lucie is experienced and totally professional.  I decided that she's seen it all before and if I want to feel good and have less maintenance then I needed to get it done professionally! 

​You can read up about the different types of bikini hair removal easily online - from a simple trim so that nothing can be seen when wearing a bikini to full removal known as the Hollywood.  If you've never had it done for fear of embarrassment, don't be worried, go for it!  You have to try it once.  Lucie totally put me at my ease and we chatted away the whole time.

The reason sugaring is less painful than waxing is because hair is removed in the direction of the hair growth and not against it.  This is especially useful for the bikini area!  

Finally we did underarms which I thought would be the most painful but as it is a small area it is so quick that I didn't really have time to feel much discomfort.

Lucie from L&A Evolution in Maidenhead

I would say the first sugaring removal lasted two full weeks with no real growth I could notice, of course everyone varies but for a first time I was very pleased with this.  I did however shave again too close to my next appointment so I didn't have enough growth for my lower legs to be done - my fault!  But again I'm two weeks post sugaring and have not needed to shave yet.  I have written in my diary no shaving in the 2 1/2 weeks prior to my next appointment!  And Lucie will know so no point in pretending you didn't!  She knows her body hair!!

My underarms had a small reaction and my skin felt a bit bumpy afterwards but this isn't uncommon and soon disappears.  But it is another reason why a few appointments before a holiday or special occasion are a good idea.  It takes a few times for your skin to get used to it.  I didn't notice any reactions on my legs or bikini area.

I'd heard it said that once you try sugaring you won't go back to wax or any other hair removal method and I think so far I'd have to agree.  My skin feels soft and nourished and I remain hair free for two plus weeks and the regrowth is so much softer, you don't seem to get the coarseness of regrowth that you get with shaving.  Which particularly for the bikini area feels much more comfortable!

You can see a full price list on Lucie's website L&A Evolution here but prices start at £20 for half legs and £28 for full legs then £35 for a Hollywood or Brazilian bikini.  Lucie is offering 10% off your first treatment if you mention Fifty & Fab when you book.

Lucie from L&A Evolution in Maidenhead

Why choose body sugaring for hair removal ...

• It is 100% natural.
• The paste does not stick to the skin so it is suitable for sensitive skin.
• It removes hair in the direction of growth thus avoiding problems like ingrown hairs.
• The paste is water soluble so you leave your appointment feeling clean and fresh.
• Sugaring is a safe and effective method of hair removal suitable for all skin types and both male and female.​

So I suppose it is as always down to personal preference.  Shaving means I have to keep on top of it every other day and I don't like the harsher regrowth, especially the bikini area!  Waxing is too uncomfortable for me.  So I am going to continue with body sugaring and see how it suits me for my holidays this year, but so far so good.

I will also be discussing laser hair removal on another blog post in a few weeks time.  I have started a course for the *never discussed because it is embarrassing* joy of facial . hair that seems to suddenly arrive during menopause.

What hair removal method do you prefer?  I'd love to hear your feedback.

Love from
Michelle xx

​

Disclaimer: Lucie kindly gifted me my first body sugaring hair removal and I offered to write a review of my experience, the opinions and words are entirely my own.  All subsequent treatments are paid for by myself.

I link up with:

Mutton Style
#muttonstylemonday
​
Is This Mutton
#WowOnWednesday 

Mummabstylish
#Chic&Stylish

Pin for later?