BellaSugar

Threading, Sugaring, and Waxing: Health Risks of Hair Removal

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:01:00 PDT

Women go through all kinds of hoops when it comes to beauty, especially in the quest for smooth hairless skin. From waxing to sugaring, threading, and beyond, check out the health risks involved when it comes to common hair removal techniques.

Shaving - Probably the most common way to remove hair since it's fast, cheap, and easy to do yourself. With shaving, there is a risk for nicks, ingrown hairs, and the dreaded razor burn. If you forget to change out the blades, dull or rusty metal may cause irritation or infection. Shaving can also cause folliculitis, an infection in the hair follicle usually caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus (staph) or a fungus.

Waxing - A layer of wax is applied to your skin, and a strip of fabric is placed on top. Once the wax is dry, it adheres to the hairs; pulling the strips off of the skin pulls the hairs from the root. Depending on the location of your body, waxing can be extremely painful; it hurts to have your hair pulled from the root, and the wax also adheres to your skin, taking skin cells with it as it's removed. Waxing can cause irritation and inflammation, especially if you have a reaction to the chemicals in the wax, and, if the wax used is too hot, there's also a risk of burning the skin. If your skin is not held taut when pulling the wax strips off, bruising may occur. Some people also suffer from postwax breakouts or scarring if they have sensitive skin. Once the hairs begin to grow back, you may find painful raised bumps (ingrown hairs), especially under your arms or your bikini area since the hairs tend to be coarse and curly. Waxing should be avoided if you are using Retin-A, Accutane, or antibiotics. These medications make the skin thin, which means more than hair will come off during a waxing service. If you are using Renova or alphy hydroxy, check with your aesthetician before scheduling an appointment.

Read on to hear about sugaring, depilatories, threading, and more.

How to Take the Pain Out of Waxing

Allure — Thu, 12 May 2011 13:30:00 PDT

We are proud to present this story from Allure:

Perhaps the worst thing about coming out of winter hibernation is the realization that a '70s-era embrace of body hair is not, in fact, sweeping the nation. That's not to say, though, that there is no way to make the delicate reacquaintance with your waxer more bearable. Here, tricks that actually help take the sting out of waxing. See the pain-relieving tips when you keep reading.

Get Through These Taxing Times With Bliss Spa's "Wax" Relief

Brittney Stephens — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:00:39 PDT

Doing your taxes can definitely make you want to rip your hair out, so Bliss Spa is offering some "wax" relief to those of us looking to de-fuzz come tax time. During the week of April 15-22, Bliss spas nationwide are offering 15 percent off all waxing services, as well as select hair removal products, like their Ingrown Eliminating Pads ($38) and Poetic Waxing Kit ($45). We think Bliss's waxing is as close to painless as possible and will leave you feeling smooth, sexy, and ready to spend - ahem, save - that tax return.

What Do You Think of Men Who Wax?

Allure — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:19:34 PST

We're excited to present this article from Allure!

I can't say I was surprised to see Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino get his eyebrows waxed last week on Jersey Shore. There he was at the barber shop, getting a wax that wasn't just about removing the strays between his brows; he was getting a full-on, arch-defining brow wax.

Personally, I couldn't deal with dating a man who waxed his eyebrows-too high-maintenance. And, at least according to the results of a new Allure poll, I'm not alone. Though we don't have specific stats on eyebrow waxing, 38 percent of women in the poll said they either don't care or don't like it when a man grooms his pubic hair. And on the subject of back hair? An overwhelming 66 percent of women said to leave it be.

What do you think? Are you fine with a guy's fur? Or do you demand some male grooming?

Forcing Your Toddler to Wax Her Eyebrows Is a Jerk Move

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:19:44 PST

Toddlers & Tiaras, what hath ye wrought, seriously? In this week's episode, a mother took her tiny daughter to the salon to get her eyebrows waxed. Why this even occurred to anyone as a feasible thing is unclear, but it's especially bad because, as the mother herself explains, "She had a bad [waxing] experience . . . the wax was way too hot and it ripped off her skin, so she's been kind of terrified ever since." We're pretty terrified, too. Here's the footage:

Bikini Line Tips: What To Do Between Waxes

Allure — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:00:05 PDT

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Allure!

For a number of reasons, okay, namely three-bumps, ingrown hairs, and near-immediate stubble-we tend to prefer waxing the bikini area to shaving it. But sometimes, you're between waxings and you need to turn to a razor for a quick fix. A friend of ours recently did so and is having some unfortunate side effects, namely three-bumps, ingrown hairs, and near-immediate stubble-that look far worse than a few stray hairs. She should have tried these tips; to see them, just keep reading.

Students Can Get Pampered For Less at Bliss Spas Now

BellaSugar — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 07:00:00 PDT

If you have a valid student ID, and the new school year has you in need of a little beauty bliss, you're in luck. Now through the end of October, Bliss spas are giving students 20 percent off any service they offer, from facials to the well-beloved Poetic Waxing.You just have to sign up at the Bliss site, and then you can conveniently book your appointment online. If you're not currently enrolled, it almost makes you want to register for some college classes, doesn't it?

Source

How to: Sugaring Hair Removal at Home

BellaTV — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 09:00:00 PDT

You know about shaving and waxing, but do you know about sugaring? BellaSugarTV lets you in on the secret to sugaring at home. Check out our video for more tips on this hair removal process that is less painful and all natural.

See 10 Silly Beauty Signs

BellaSugar — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:00:16 PDT

I had so much fun perusing Flickr for unintentionally wacky beauty salon signs last time, I decided to look for more. Whether it's a waxing establishment with an oddly-worded offer or a grocery store aisle marker with a humorous assortment of goods, these beauty-related signs got a little lost in translation.

Source: Flickr User House Of Sims

Sugaring Is a Sweet Alternative to Waxing

BellaSugar — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:30:20 PDT

Bikini waxes are fine, but nobody loves too-hot wax, post-service skin irritation, or quick regrowth. So why not look into sugaring for hair removal?

I was surprised to find at my first service just how different the sugaring treatment is from traditional waxing. The room-temperature sugar mixture is actually applied directly onto the skin and then flicked off with a quick movement of the hand. That means no wasteful strips of fabric, tongue depressors that run the risk of being double-dipped, and no scalding-hot wax on tender skin.

Eco-friendly and sanitary bonuses aside, let's get to the point: how much does it hurt? I have to say it was far less painful than waxing, probably because the hair is pulled out in the direction of growth, not against it. At this point I was already hooked, and when those pesky bumps that had become the norm in my waxing routine didn't show up the next day, I was sold.

The price tag for salon sugaring is higher than waxing, but given the advantages, would you try it?