I Got A Sugar Wax & The Results Had Me Shook
Honest opinion about me: I'm pretty noncommittal when it comes to my body hair. I often switch back and forth between shaving, waxing and trimming -- not the best idea. Although shaving has always been the easiest and most convenient method for me, I grew tired of ending up with itchy ingrown hairs, the constant upkeep and not having the ability to get all my nooks and crannies.
Yearning to throw my razors away forever, I decided to give a Brazilian wax a try. I found the process to be painful, yet tolerable and I loved the immediate results of having smooth, sexy skin. However, after my third or fourth appointment, I started to realize that my vulva would always end up breaking out about 5-7 days post-wax, leaving me little time to luxuriate in my beautiful baldness.
Frustrated with my stubborn allergic reactions to traditional and hard wax, a friend of mine suggested I try sugar waxing as a natural alternative. Sugar waxing (also known as sugaring) is a hair removal treatment that has been practiced for centuries throughout the Middle East, Northern Africa and Greece. The wax is a gel-like blend that consists of sugar, lemon juice and water. When applied to the skin, the mixture penetrates the pores, where it adheres to the hair and pulls them out from the follicle. Unlike traditional waxes, sugar wax doesn't contain any of the chemical additives that can sometimes cause skin irritation.
Now, I'd always been interesting in sugar waxing and was really intrigued about trying this all-natural method. In true millennial fashion, I'd been on a lowkey quest to incorporate more natural and organic ingredients in my diet and skincare, so a sugar wax seemed like a sweet deal to me.
After scoring a $26 Groupon to a nearby salon, I excitedly made my appointment. According to their website, their sugaring removal paste is safe for all skin conditions, improves the tone and texture of skin, causes minimal discomfort or irritation and helps to significantly decrease ingrown hairs. And according to my research, most people found sugaring to be less painful than waxing due to the temperature of the wax (traditional wax tends to be hot and sugar wax is body temperature) and the fact that sugaring is all natural and doesn't stick to the skin.
On the day of my appointment, I arrived at the salon right on time, eager to live out my days (at least for the next two weeks) bare and blissful. I was ready to walk in hairy and walk out heavenly. I found the salon very cute, hippy and their welcoming vibe helped to put me at ease. At least for a little while.
Soon after, I met my esthetician and she walked me back the room. After inquiring about my waxing history and asking if my hair was long enough (they recommend your hair to be at least the length of a grain of rice and let's just say I exceeded the qualifications), she left the room for me to get undressed. Laying on the bed with my dress folded at my waist, legs in butterfly style, I nervously waited for her to begin. Once she returned, she quickly cleaned my area, sprinkled me with talcum powder and prepared to start waxing. I braced myself as she molded the warm paste onto the top of my vagina, spreading it against the direction of hair growth. This part was surprisingly uncomfortable as the sticky wax pulled at my hair in a way I didn't expect.
Nothing could have prepared me for what came next.
The first rip made my entire body jump. It was a pain that I never knew existed! Imagine having a band aid superglued to your skin and instead of snatching it off all at once, you have to aggressively tug it off, bit by agonizing bit. My esthetician was basically playing a violent game of tug of war with my hair follicles. I felt like running out of there.
There is a huge difference between sugar wax and hard wax that I was completely unaware of.
With hard wax, the esthetician applies a layer of hot wax to your skin, allows it to cool for a bit and then rips it off in one single swipe. You're basically one and done before moving to the next application. With sugar wax, the esthetician rakes a thick layer of paste onto your skin, yanks it back with a very strong flick of the wrist, only to immediately rake it along the area one or two more times before moving on to the next spot. It's like the gift that keeps on giving.
As much as I wanted to tough it out, I just couldn't mentally wrap my mind around what was happening to my body. I was expecting some discomfort, not torture. The internet lied to me. I have three tattoos, and this was still the worst topical ache I'd ever experienced. It was pure hell.
With every pull, I left a piece of my soul leave my body. The sting quickly became too much to bear and in a shaky voice I told her that I didn't think I could handle it. As she continued to wax me a few more times, I officially made up my mind – sugaring was not my ministry.
Soon as I vocalized my suffering, my eyes starting watering and I felt a lump in my throat. The esthetician remained calm and reassured me that I was going to make it through. "It always hurts the first time," she said gently. "You got this."
Unfortunately, her pep talk didn't work. Two rips later I was nearly full-on crying, with tears racing down the sides of my face. I cried like I got dumped by my 8th grade boyfriend. I was hurt and embarrassed. I looked down at my half-waxed, half-furry skin.
My vagina looked about as pitiful as I felt.
The esthetician finally paused to give me a quick moment to gather myself. Feeling foolish, I quickly wiped away my tears, anxiously laughing and apologizing about my behavior. I must look so crazy, I thought to myself.
Within seconds, she was back at it like nothing ever happened. I continued to cringe and flinch all over the table and the esthetician tried to fill the empty room with conversation. As I tried to hold my end of the convo, I wondered to myself, how could people subject themselves to such torment on a repeated basis? I silently swore off sugaring forever.
She then instructed me to hug my knees to my chest, so she could wax my bum, which was very humbling. She told me that my hair was reacting well to the wax and I was just happy that something was reacting positively.
Within twenty minutes, I was done and I think that we were both glad that the experience was over. She sprayed an aloe vera mixture that soothed my achy undercarriage and I bent down to make sure I was still all in one piece. Everything looked smooth and hairless and I breathed a sigh of relief. I survived.
All in all, I have to say that I am very satisfied with the finished result and the service was quick and efficient. I am over one week in and I still feel like a new woman. I'm happy to report that I haven't had any irritation nor one ingrown hair, which is almost unheard of for me! Now the question is, would I get it done again? Maybe, maybe not. Part of me still shivers at the thought of any wax coming close to my nether regions and part of me wants to return if only to reclaim my dignity.
But for now, I will enjoy being bald and bougie.
Featured image by Getty Images
Jamie Harrison (@JayNHarrison) is a freelance writer whose work has been featured on Ebony, Huffington Post and Black Enterprise. She frequently writes about health and wellness, professional development and social issues.
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ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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You've Never Seen Luke James In A Role Quite Like This
Over the years, we've watched Luke James play countless characters we'd deem sex symbols, movie stars, and even his complicated character in Lena Waithe's The Chi. For the first time in his career, the New Orleans-born actor has taken on a role where his signature good looks take a backseat as he transforms into Edmund in Them: The Scare—a mentally deranged character in the second installment of the horror anthology series that you won't be able to take your eyes off.
Trust us, Edmund will literally make you do a double take.
xoNecole sat down with Luke James to talk about his latest series and all the complexity surrounding it—from the challenges taking on this out-of-the-box role to the show's depiction of the perplexing history of the relationship between Black Americans and police. When describing the opportunity to bring Edmund's character to life, Luke was overjoyed to show the audience yet another level of his masterful acting talents.
"It was like bathing in the sun," he said. "I was like, thank you! Another opportunity for me to be great—for me to expand my territory. I'm just elated to be a part of it and to see myself in a different light, something I didn't think I could do." He continued, "There are parts of you that says, 'Go for it because this is what you do.' But then also that's why it's a challenge because you're like, 'um, I don't know if I'm as free as I need to be to be able to do this.' Little Marvin just created such a safe space for me to be able to do this, and I'm grateful for everything I've been able to do to lead to this."
Courtesy
Them: The Scare, like the first season, shines a light on the plight of Black Americans in the United States. This time, the story is taking place in the 1990s, at the height of the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. While the series presents many underlying themes, one that stands out is Black people and the complicated relationship with the police. "For the audience, I think it sets the tone for the era that we're in and the amount of chaos that's in the air in Los Angeles and around the country from this heinous incident. And I say it just sets the tone of the anxiety and anxiousness that everybody is feeling in their own households."
James has been a longtime advocate against police brutality himself. He has even featured Elijah McClain, the 23-year-old Colorado man who died after being forcibly detained by officers, as his Instagram avatar for the past five years. So, as you can imagine, this script was close to his heart. "Elijah was a soft-loving oddball. Different than anyone but loving and a musical genius. He was just open and wanted to be loved and seen."
Getty Images
Luke continued, "His life was taken from him. I resonate with his spirit and his words...through all the struggle and the pain he still found it in him to say, 'I love you and I forgive you.' And that's who we are as people—to our own detriment sometimes. He's someone I don't want people to forget. I have yet to remove his face from my world because I have yet to let go of his voice, let go of that being [because] there's so many people we have lost in our history that so often get forgotten."
He concluded, "I think that's the importance of such artwork that moves us to think and talk about it. Yes, it's entertaining. We get to come together and be spooked together. But then we come together and we think, 'Damn, Edmund needed someone to talk to. Edmund needed help... a lot [of] things could have been different. Edmund could have been saved.'
Check out the full interview below.
Luke James Talks Ditching Sex Symbol Status For "Them: The Scare", Elijah McClain, & Morewww.youtube.com
Featured image by Getty Images