There are so many Black girl shaving options available today. It used to be that hair removal options marketed to women had a one-size-fits-all mindset. But not anymore. However, the sheer number of choices we have is complicated by the fact that not all of these techniques respond equally well to textured hair. Because of afro hair’s curls and density, many hair removal options available to us can cause skin irritation, hyperpigmentation and uneven hair removal.
Some hair removal options skimp on quality
New beauty technology innovations often consider Black women’s needs an afterthought. One of the hair removal techniques that can create disastrous after-effects is lasering. As most salons offering lasering do not invest in machines calibrated for darker skin tones, they can cause hyperpigmentation. As a result, Black women turn to other hair removal techniques that incur less risk.
In spite of this, I know many women who share similar horror stories including hair removal cream products like Nair. The memory of the horrific smell of chemicals filling up my bathroom from my teens has never left me. Cream hair removal solutions usually include chemicals like alkali calcium or potassium thioglycolate which dissolves the hair, allowing you to wipe it away with a flannel. But it is a bad choice for those with sensitive skin. The cream can also cause skin burns if it’s left on too long.
While shaving your hair offers a quick hair removal experience for a low cost, it can lead to micro-cuts. These can sting, burn and even lead to skin infections. It doesn’t remove the bulb of each hair either. This means the hair grows back fairly quickly and shaving may be required every day to keep the skin smooth. This is a poor choice for those with coarse long hair too. Ingrown hairs are more likely to occur with shaving than with epilation methods which pull out the hair.
If resorting to wax strips from your local beauty store, however, the wrong type of wax can lead to uneven hair removal or skin irritation. Some women find waxing too painful and they can rip the skin if you use the wrong technique. Methods like tweezing also pull the root out but it is only time-effective for small patches of hair length like the eyebrows.
While sugaring stands leagues above the others
After years of trying different natural hair removal techniques, I have found sugaring stands leagues above the others.
My skin is very sensitive and I once resigned myself to viewing skin irritation after hair removal as normal. But sugaring has changed my perspective on what an easy experience hair removal can be. Sugaring is made from 100% natural ingredients – a simple heated mixture of sugar, water and lemon juice.
It’s the only form of epilation that leaves the skin in better condition post-wax. This is because sugar is great at removing dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. It removes the root of your hair which weakens regrowth over time. Because the raw materials in sugaring make it affordable, this means it’s a more cost-effective way of reducing hair growth over time.
It’s a win for your skin
Sugar itself is also hypoallergenic and there is no risk of skin developing hyperpigmentation after waxing. This is something that Black women and women of colour are prone to developing if the skin becomes traumatised. Additionally, sugaring helps to lessen the appearance of Keratosis Pilaris (chicken skin). This is because it doesn’t traumatise the hair follicles like waxing strips often do.
Sugaring is applied against the direction of hair growth and pulled in the direction of growth. This greatly diminishes any likelihood of creating stubborn and painful ingrown hairs. Sugaring can be done using a ball of the sugar mix. Or it can be applied using a tongue depressor or cloth/paper. I have also found sugaring is less likely to cause burning because it doesn’t include resin like other waxing solutions.
Where can I get it done?
There are many options for women to start sugaring. It’s easy to do at home but it’s convenient to have an accredited professional take over, just once a month, while you relax.
The Brown Sugar Fairy is a sugaring company that was founded by Deandra. Deandra lives a holistic lifestyle and sugaring is one way she gets to express that. Based in Kilburn, North West London, Deandra is an accredited aesthetician with social pages filled with inviting images of her sugaring process. There aren’t many places that put Black girls first. But this is one to watch out for.
The Brown Sugar Fairy boasts a comfortable atmosphere and a confident client base. The new Black girl hair removal mantra should give sugaring a chance. It’s kinder to your hair and skin, and it takes the stress out of hair removal so you can focus on other aspects of your self-care routine. So if you’ve had enough of other techniques, try sugaring today.
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Written by Chanté-Marie Young
Illustrated by Francesca Mariama
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