Summer is still a few months away but it's a bit warm and sunny enough to show some skin! If you are like most men and women out there, you grow unwanted hair and probably wish you could just have hair on your head alone.
Scientists have developed many products that promise to get rid of your unwanted hair and leave your skin "baby bottom soft", but how many of these products actually live up to their fact sheet? If you're tired of using the good old razor everyday why not choose a different method. After seeing what laser hair removal surgery did to a man who had a little bit too much melanin in his skin I decided that laser hair removal was just not for me. I discovered two hair removal recipes that were used by the ancient Egyptians and Indians. Both these recipes have been said to reduce the growth rate of hair or diminish the regrowth of hair all together.
Ancient Egyptians are known for the pride they take in their beauty, so I will definitely be doing future articles on these remarkable people. Ok, so you must be dying to find out the permanent hair removal recipes so here goes:
Sugar Wax Recipe
Ingredients
Things you will need
Scientists have developed many products that promise to get rid of your unwanted hair and leave your skin "baby bottom soft", but how many of these products actually live up to their fact sheet? If you're tired of using the good old razor everyday why not choose a different method. After seeing what laser hair removal surgery did to a man who had a little bit too much melanin in his skin I decided that laser hair removal was just not for me. I discovered two hair removal recipes that were used by the ancient Egyptians and Indians. Both these recipes have been said to reduce the growth rate of hair or diminish the regrowth of hair all together.
Ancient Egyptians are known for the pride they take in their beauty, so I will definitely be doing future articles on these remarkable people. Ok, so you must be dying to find out the permanent hair removal recipes so here goes:
Sugar Wax Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar (white or brown will do)
- ¼ cup lemon juice (or white vinegar)
- ¼ cup water
Things you will need
- heavy sauce pan
- metal spoon
- candy thermometer
Preparation
In a heavy sauce pan over low heat combine all the ingredients. Keep an eye on the mixture and stir when needed. When the mixture starts to bubble you should stir more frequently and check the consistency and the colour of the mixture. You're looking for a taffy colour as well as a taffy consistency, this is called the hardy ball stage. It is called the hard ball stage because you can roll it easily into a ball at this stage. This stage is reached at 250 degrees F. If you do not have a candy thermometer you can drop a bit of the hot sugar wax into a bowl of cold water using a spoon then using your fingers roll into a ball. If you are able to roll the mixture into a ball easily then you should remove from heat. Pour sugar wax into an empty glass jar (mason jar, jam jar etc) which has been tempered by hot water. The reason for tempering the glass jar is to prevent it from cracking when the hot sugar wax is poured in it.
Using Sugar Wax
Apply warm sugar wax to your just cleaned dry skin using a Popsicle stick in the direction of hair growth and pat down a firm strip of cloth ( you can make this from an old tee-shirt). Allow the wax and cloth to set and rip the strip of cloth like you would a bandage - in the direction of hair growth.
Ensure that you have a lot of Popsicle sticks so that you never double dip. You can use a dull knife that will not cut you.
In a heavy sauce pan over low heat combine all the ingredients. Keep an eye on the mixture and stir when needed. When the mixture starts to bubble you should stir more frequently and check the consistency and the colour of the mixture. You're looking for a taffy colour as well as a taffy consistency, this is called the hardy ball stage. It is called the hard ball stage because you can roll it easily into a ball at this stage. This stage is reached at 250 degrees F. If you do not have a candy thermometer you can drop a bit of the hot sugar wax into a bowl of cold water using a spoon then using your fingers roll into a ball. If you are able to roll the mixture into a ball easily then you should remove from heat. Pour sugar wax into an empty glass jar (mason jar, jam jar etc) which has been tempered by hot water. The reason for tempering the glass jar is to prevent it from cracking when the hot sugar wax is poured in it.
Using Sugar Wax
Apply warm sugar wax to your just cleaned dry skin using a Popsicle stick in the direction of hair growth and pat down a firm strip of cloth ( you can make this from an old tee-shirt). Allow the wax and cloth to set and rip the strip of cloth like you would a bandage - in the direction of hair growth.
Ensure that you have a lot of Popsicle sticks so that you never double dip. You can use a dull knife that will not cut you.
While sugar waxing may take a much longer to have permanent results, another ancient Egyptian recipe works in less time. Here's the recipe:
Turmeric Paste
Ingredients
Things you will need
Turmeric Paste
Ingredients
- ½ cup turmeric powder (not the one for cooking as it will leave an orange tinge that will last for almost a week)
- milk
Things you will need
- bowl
- spoon for measuring and stirring
Preparation
Add the turmeric powder to the bowl and add just enough milk to the turmeric powder so that it forms a thick paste. It would be best if you add the milk one teaspoon or tablespoon at a time to prevent adding too much milk to the mixture.
Using Turmeric Paste
Apply paste to clean skin three times a week. Remove turmeric paste when it is dry, you can use baby oil to help in the removal of the dried paste. The paste may still leave a slight yellow tinge, so try scrubbing your skin with a soft dry brush or a damp rag in circular motion to remove most of the residue.
All this work will pay off in good time, imagine, one day you will have hairless skin in the areas you want it gone the most! No more tweezing or shaving EXCEPT - it is not recommended that you use the turmeric paste in your pubic region. If you still want to try it - be EXTRA careful.
Add the turmeric powder to the bowl and add just enough milk to the turmeric powder so that it forms a thick paste. It would be best if you add the milk one teaspoon or tablespoon at a time to prevent adding too much milk to the mixture.
Using Turmeric Paste
Apply paste to clean skin three times a week. Remove turmeric paste when it is dry, you can use baby oil to help in the removal of the dried paste. The paste may still leave a slight yellow tinge, so try scrubbing your skin with a soft dry brush or a damp rag in circular motion to remove most of the residue.
All this work will pay off in good time, imagine, one day you will have hairless skin in the areas you want it gone the most! No more tweezing or shaving EXCEPT - it is not recommended that you use the turmeric paste in your pubic region. If you still want to try it - be EXTRA careful.
Why is this considered going green?
What are your thoughts on these alternatives?
Image 1 from: The New Ecologist
Image 2 from: Green Lashes and Fashion
Image 3 from: Rejuvenation Day and Med Spa
Image 4 from: Lady Care Health
Image 5 from: London Evening Standard
- You will no longer need disposable razors.
- The cloths used in sugar waxing are reusable since the wax is easy to wash out.
- If you use the dull knife instead of the Popsicle sticks you will not be contributing to deforestation.
- You will no longer need to buy cans of shaving gel or shaving cream which will eventually end up in landfills.
- The swimsuits worn by all the models are made from recycled material by Eco-Panda. Need I continue?
What are your thoughts on these alternatives?
Image 1 from: The New Ecologist
Image 2 from: Green Lashes and Fashion
Image 3 from: Rejuvenation Day and Med Spa
Image 4 from: Lady Care Health
Image 5 from: London Evening Standard