Back hair: most guys have it, few want it. More men are trying sugar waxing, and plenty of them start with their back. If you're wondering whether sugar waxing in Chilliwack is for you, here's how it works at my studio, what I sugar for men, and how to get ready.
Why more guys are choosing sugar waxing
Sugar waxing, or sugaring, removes hair with a paste made from three ingredients: sugar, lemon and water. There are no resins in it. I apply it at body temperature and remove the hair in the direction it grows.
Men's hair is often thicker and coarser, and that's where the method helps. The paste sticks to the hair, not your skin, so most of my clients find it far gentler than traditional waxing. Everyone's pain tolerance is different, and the first visit is the one you'll notice most.
What the guys who come to me tend to like about it:
- Three ingredients. Sugar, lemon and water, and nothing else.
- Body temperature. The paste isn't heated the way wax is.
- It grips the hair. It sticks to the hair, not your skin.
- Easy clean-up. Any paste left behind rinses off with warm water.
- It lasts. The hair comes out from the root, so most people stay smooth for 3 to 4 weeks.
What I sugar for men
Chest, back, arms, legs, stomach and buttocks. I do any service for men that I do for women, except Brazilians.
Men's back and men's chest each have their own page. Those two, along with arms and buttocks, are in my online booking menu. For legs, stomach, shoulders or the back of the neck, call me and I'll set up the right amount of time.
A back is booked for 35 minutes and a chest for 45. If you want both, the visit builder on my prices page adds up the time and the total before you book.
“My back has never been so smooth.”
Scotty T., Google review
How sugaring treats thicker hair and skin
Ingrown hairs and bumps are the usual complaint after shaving a back or a chest. Sugar paste removes hair in the direction it grows, which means fewer ingrown hairs and less breakage. Gentle exfoliation between visits helps keep hairs from getting trapped as they grow back, and I carry Bush Balm's exfoliating scrub and ingrown hair oil if you'd like something made for it.
Sugaring removes hair from the root, so most people stay smooth for 3 to 4 weeks. Keep a regular schedule and it grows back finer and slower over time.
If you train, plan around it. No workouts for 24 hours afterwards, and no pool or hot tub. Book the appointment for a rest day and you won't notice.
“Had a great experience getting my back sugared by Nicole. Beyond professional, knows her stuff, no irritation issues after the services…”
Phil, Google review
Do you offer male Brazilian sugaring?
No. I don't offer Brazilians for men. It's the one service on my menu that's for women only.
Everything else is open to you: chest, back, arms, legs, stomach and buttocks, plus the hairline and the back of the neck. If you're not sure what to book, call me and tell me what you'd like done.
How to prepare, and how to care for your skin afterwards
Before your appointment
- Don't shave or trim it short for 10 to 14 days. The hair needs to be about the length of a grain of rice, roughly 1/8 inch.
- Exfoliate lightly a day or two before.
- Shower before you come, and skip the lotion, oil and deodorant on the area.
- Go easy on caffeine and alcohol beforehand. Oddly, they can make your skin more sensitive.
- Wear a loose shirt.
- On Accutane, or using retinol? Tell me ahead of time so we can adjust as needed.
The first 24 hours
- No gym.
- No pool and no hot tub.
- Keep the loose shirt on.
After that, exfoliate gently between visits and rebook for 3 to 4 weeks out. The full list is on my aftercare page.
Sugaring compared with shaving, waxing and laser
- Shaving cuts the hair at the surface, so it's back within days. A back is also hard to reach on your own.
- Traditional waxing removes hair from the root too. The wax is resin-based, it's heated, and it's pulled against the direction the hair grows.
- Sugaring uses sugar, lemon and water at body temperature, and removes hair in the direction it grows.
- Laser and IPL are light treatments aimed at reducing how much hair grows back, done as a series of sessions. I offer IPL, which isn't a laser. Here's how the two differ.
I go through all of them in my guide to the different ways to remove hair.
If you'd rather not keep coming back
I now offer IPL for men's backs, chests and stomachs, sold as a single session or a series. It's a different tool with a different goal, and I'll tell you honestly whether it's a fit for your skin and hair.
What guys ask before a first appointment
Is it awkward?
Not here. It's a professional appointment like any other, and I'm easy to talk to. I explain each step before I do it, and you can ask me to stop at any point.
Does sugaring hurt more for men?
Everyone's pain tolerance is different. Most clients find sugaring far gentler than traditional waxing, because the paste sticks to the hair, not your skin. The first visit is the one you'll notice most.
How often should I come back?
Most people rebook every 3 to 4 weeks. Staying on a regular rhythm is what makes hair grow back finer and slower.
“She came through for me last minute for a body building competition and now I’m a regular. Thanks Nicole!”
Jared S., Google review
The studio is in Sardis, Chilliwack, and I work by appointment only. You'll get the address and directions with your booking confirmation. Clients come from Sardis, Vedder, Promontory, Yarrow, Greendale and Rosedale, and some drive in from Hope and Agassiz. Everything for men is on one page: sugar waxing for men in Chilliwack.