How to make sugar gel at home

In a previous article, I described the process known as “sweating,” which uses a sugar-based gel or paste to trap hairs and pull them out by the roots as a means of hair removal. This is similar to waxing, but even better: you can make the sugary concoction at home for pennies and easily apply it yourself without the embarrassment of someone else doing it for you (especially in those private places!); does not stick to the skin, so pulling is less painful; And it’s sugar-based, so cleanup is quick and easy.

Advantages of sugaring

However, sugar is not perfect; it can take time to master the technique used to quickly and effectively remove large amounts of hair. (The way I see it, though, if you’re still shaving, you’re spending a batch of time involved in waxing right there). Once the technique is mastered, especially with the use of the gel, you can remove large swaths of hair quickly with almost no mess, no heating, no cloth strips, no cleanup, and very little pain. Like I said before, making your own sugar paste or gel is simple and very, very cheap, and it uses all natural ingredients. The result of the recipe below can be used as a solid gel at room temperature or as a heated liquid paste that can be blended with fabric in the traditional wax format if preferred.

make your own sugar gel

This is what you will need:

1C white sugar

1/8 teaspoon (2 TBs) lemon juice or concentrate

1/8 teaspoon (2 TB) of water

(That’s cups and tablespoons in case you’re not sure.)

Combine all three ingredients in a shallow saucepan with a heavy bottom, to ensure even cooking. Stir the sugar until it is completely moistened by the wet ingredients, then turn the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil. Stir constantly to make sure the sugar doesn’t burn at this point.

Once it has come to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer. Lots of small bubbles should appear, almost completely obscuring the mixture below. Stir occasionally and cook for approximately 20 to 25 minutes. What you’re really looking for is a color change: the mixture will darken to a light amber after 10-15 minutes, and to an even darker amber after 20-25. (Some people also say it will also smell like lemon once it’s done.)

It may overcook, so once it’s nice and dark, remove it from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes. It will freeze quickly, so don’t wait too long before pouring it into an airtight container and placing it in the fridge to chill. Once it has completely cooled, place it to come to room temperature for use.

And that is! If done correctly, it will be a bit sticky and soft enough to grab a piece from the bowl and roll into a ball. Very little should stick to your hands. This is actually half of the typical recipe you’ll find online; I find it beneficial to start small as it can take some practice to get the consistency right. If you end up having to throw away your first first try or two, that’s less wasted ingredients. To make a larger quantity, simply double each ingredient. Good luck sugaring!