sugar wax dripping from a spatula

How Painful is Waxing?

Soft sugar wax dripping from a spatula

In this article, we explain why waxing hair removal hurts and compare its pain level to other beauty treatments. We also show a short video of a fairly painless underarm sugar waxing.

Why waxing hurts

Pulling multiple strands of hair from the hair follicle should trigger the nerve endings causing an instant shock of pain.

The amount of pain will depend on; your personal threshold (of course some people are more sensitive to pain), how the person doing the waxing is doing it, and the type of wax being used. Usually, the pain should subside in a matter of seconds. 

Regardless, when waxing is done by a professional, you should never feel any burning or excruciating pain. Furthermore, compared to other types of wax, sugar wax is known to be the least painful.

Waxing pain chart

Compared to other areas of the body, Brazilian waxing is the most painful because pubic hair is thicker than hair in other areas of the body. Hence, more force is required to remove the thick hair.

I usually advise new clients to begin with under-arms waxing and/or bikini waxing before proceeding to Brazilian waxing.

The good news is, as long as you don’t shave in-between waxes, the pain lessens greatly after 2-3 waxing events.

This chart compares pain levels for different beauty treatments including waxing.

Waxing pain chart
Source

Fairly painless underarms sugar waxing

Compared to other types of wax; sugar wax is the least painful when done properly. In this video, you will see how I do sugar waxing. I am using sugar paste to wax the underarms but the process is very similar for all body parts.

Vivian Nyaga, a mobile waxing professional with Viv's in-Houz spa in Nairobi

Is it time to switch from waxing to sugar waxing? Or you are done with shaving and want to start sugar waxing?

Go to our booking page and conveniently schedule your at-home appointment.

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Last Updated on December 23, 2019