I can’t say that I have particularly thick eyebrows.  Sadly, my eyebrows are more of the sparse variety that kind of stop and disappear about halfway across my face.  

It may seem counterintuitive, but it kind of matters that they be well-groomed.

But with the current quarantine (lockdown), it’s impossible to get to a salon of any kind, much less threading, or that microblading I’m thinking about trying out.

Fortunately, I found several recipes for DIY homemade wax.  It seems the most common recipes are a combination of honey and/or sugar.

I wasn’t wild about the prospect of accidentally burning my face with a scalding honey sugar mix.  I know I’m just clumsy like that.

In general, I am not a big fan of ripping hairs out of the roots by any method. 

Supposedly, the sugar wax method is a lot less painful.  We shall see.

So to say that I approached this adventure with a little…trepidation…is an understatement.

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In my investigations, I found these 3 recipes for DIY homemade wax recipes. The third is really a slight variation of the 2nd.

Honey Wax Recipe

1 cup white granulated sugar

1/4 cup honey

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Sugar Wax Recipe

2 cups white granulated sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup water

Sugar Wax Recipe Version 2 

2 cups granulated sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon salt

The 2nd sugar wax recipe, which I found on helloglow is different in that the sugar wax you end up with is so thick that you can literally apply it and remove it with your fingers. 

This one is my favorite of the 3, and I have shown you the steps below.

Optional Ingredients:

There are a few additions to the recipes above that I saw floating around including things like chocolate, or strawberries.

An easy way to add a little aromatherapy—add a few drops of essential oil as the wax cools.

If you have sensitive skin, I have seen vinegar or apple cider vinegar as a substitute for the lemon juice.

Benefits of Using Homemade Wax

These recipes are great for a number of reasons.

For one, it is very likely that you have these ingredients in your kitchen already.  How convenient is that?

Because these recipes are so effective and easy, you can save loads of cash if you frequent waxing salons. 

You can make enough to last for a while, reheat, and wax again. Be sure to store it in a microwaveable container!

You don’t have to worry about chemicals you can’t pronounce or strange additives, because these recipes are natural and non-toxic. 

These wax recipes are good for shorter, softer hair like you would usually find on your eyebrows, top lip, etc.

You only need water to remove any extra wax! Or if you prefer, you can always use a little vitamin E oil or aloe vera.

What’s also great about honey is that it has anti-inflammatory effects and antioxidants. 

Pre-wax Recommendations

1. Cleanse your skin with a gentle cleanser so that the wax will adhere to the hairs only.
2. Exfoliate your skin gently to remove any dead skin cells around the hair shaft.  This allows pores to open and the wax to penetrate the hair shaft more effectively.
3. Definitely don’t wax skin that is already inflamed, sunburned, etc.  Because you’re just setting yourself up for more pain and a potential infection.
4. Also, if you’ve been using products for skin bleaching, acids, peels, or topical retinol within the past 2 weeks, it’s probably not a good idea for you wax right now.  
5. Bottom line:  If you have any doubt, discuss it with your dermatologist or your regular doctor.  It’s much better to avoid a mishap than to have to correct one.

How To Make Your Wax

1. Place a small saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add all your ingredients and make sure it’s mixed well.
3. Keep an eye on things, because there’s a small window between when the wax is good and when it’s overdone.
4. As soon as it starts to simmer, lower the heat!
5. As soon as it turns a light golden brown, remove it from the heat. Don’t be tempted to keep it much longer because the wax will go from a lovely golden brown to burned in no time.
6. Let the wax cool a little bit.  Test it on your wrist to make sure it’s not too hot.
7. Store in a microwave-safe container. These containers make an awesome reusable, even if kind of weird for homemade wax storage, option.

Troubleshooting Your Homemade Wax

It may take a few tries to get this right.  I find it useful to only make half a batch the first time in case I completely screw it up.

If your wax turns out too hard, you may be overcooking it, or you may need to add more lemon juice.

If it’s too soft, you likely need to cook it a minute or two longer.

Applying Your Wax

1. You can use a wooden stick, plastic knife, or just your fingers.
2. Apply the wax and let it cool a bit further.
3. You may be able to rip it off with your fingers or use wax removal strips. I love these, which are from Parissa. They work really well!

Post Wax Recommendations

1. Remove any remaining wax with a little bit of warm water, or if you prefer, coconut oil.
2. You can use something like aloe or vitamin E oil to soothe your skin and help reduce the chance of any inflammation that may occur after waxing. I always keep some vitamin E oil handy for after waxing.

Homemade Wax-Final Thoughts

My adventure with homemade wax was surprisingly smooth.

I like that I could whip up a batch in less than 10 minutes, all with products I already had in the pantry. And I have plenty left over for later!

I did notice that the sugar wax was a lot less painful than regular wax, and it was just as effective.

I also did not get any skin stuck to the sugar wax, which can happen with the conventional wax and cause more irritation.

I managed not to scorch my face, and I have fabulous groomed eyebrows! I definitely will be using this again.

What’s your preferred method of removing unwanted hair? Have you tried sugar waxing? Tell me about it in the comments.

Don’t Forget To Share The Love!

Be sure to pin this to your boards on Beauty or DIY to share with your friends!

Supplies to Get the Perfect Brows

Shop these items to perfect your brows after waxing! And if you’re not ready to make your own wax just yet, there are some more easy options for home waxing, too!

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