Sugaring vs Waxing: I Tried Both (And Tapped Hair Removal Experts) to Find Out What’s Better for Smooth Skin (2025)

If you're tired of constantly dragging a razor across your bikini line, underarms, and legs every few days, it might be time to consider a longer-lasting solution. Spending an extra 10 minutes in the shower just to end up with stubble and painful ingrown hairs the next day? I’ll pass.

Other than laser hair removal, sugaring and waxing are two of the most effective options for smoother skin that lasts, especially in your more sensitive areas. Personally, I haven’t taken a razor anywhere near my bikini line in more than five years, and after monthly waxes and testing nearly every hair removal method on the market (long before I was a beauty editor, might I add), I have some thoughts.

I also tapped experts Arieanna Smith, founder of The Wax Lounge NYC, and Courtney Claghorn, founder of SUGARED + BRONZED, to help break down both options. Whether you’re debating which method hurts less or lasts longer, here’s everything you need to know about sugaring vs. waxing—from how each service works to what to expect when the hair grows back.

And because Cosmo's beauty team always has opinions, we're also weighing in with our honest experiences with both after years of testing. Keep reading for everything you need to know about sugaring vs. waxing.

Waxing is a popular method of hair removal that involves applying warm wax to the skin, letting it grip the hairs, and then quickly pulling it off to remove them straight from the root. "Most waxes are made with ingredients like paraffin, beeswax, resin, and various oils—these help the wax stick to the hair, not the skin," says Smith.

Since waxing yanks the hair out from the root, regrowth comes in slower, finer, and sparser over time. Waxing can be done pretty much anywhere—legs, bikini line, underarms, brows—and the results usually last around four to six weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows.

“Sugaring is a natural, gentle method of hair removal that uses a simple paste made from sugar, lemon juice, and water,” explains Claghorn. “Sugar is the main component, and it gently binds to the root of the hair and dead skin cells without sticking to live skin, which makes the removal process less irritating.”

The sugar paste is applied against the direction of hair growth and then flicked off in the direction of growth—a technique that’s less abrasive and helps prevent ingrown hairs. Unlike waxing, sugaring doesn’t tug at the skin itself, so it's often a better option for those with sensitive skin or anyone prone to redness and bumps.

Both are great options for staying smooth for about a month, but before you book an appointment, consider the following factors.

Hair thickness

For finer hair, sugaring is a great option since it's gentler, but for thicker hair, waxing will be better since the removal is stronger and able to pick up every strand, whereas sugaring might miss some. For both services, your hair should be at least the length of a grain of rice.

"If your hair is too long (over 1/2 inch), sugaring can be slightly more uncomfortable," says Claghorn. As for waxing, don’t be afraid to grow your hair out a bit longer. "Honestly, the longer the hair, the better in my opinion,” says Smith.

Pain level

It honestly depends on your personal pain tolerance, but I’d say there are two totally different types of sensations during waxing and sugaring appointments. I’ve been waxed more times than I can count (probably 50+), so I’m pretty used to that quick, stinging rip of a wax strip that's over after three seconds.

When I tried sugaring for the first time, I felt the sugar grip each hair and pull it out. My skin didn’t hurt, but the sensation of the hairs being removed was sharp and continuous. I knew it was working by pulling from the root, because I could clearly feel it.

Skin sensitivity

"Sugar paste is applied at room temperature—so there’s no risk of burns," says Claghorn. Whereas waxing, they use well, hot wax. More than once, I’ve found that the actual application of the wax hurt more than the rip itself.

"Sugaring hurts less but feels uncomfortable; you feel the sugar grab every little hair, and it's just an awkward sensation versus the standard quick burn of peeling off a wax strip," says beauty editor Beth Gillette. "But it's so much gentler on skin. After a sugaring appointment, my skin doesn’t feel hot or inflamed, and any redness I have goes away within about 30 minutes."

Appointment length

For a Brazilian appointment, sugaring typically takes less than 10 minutes total, since the removal process is more continuous. The technician uses the same ball of sugar paste across multiple areas, molding and flicking it repeatedly, which eliminates the need to constantly reapply the product.

A wax appointment, on the other hand, usually takes closer to 15 minutes from start to finish, as the waxer needs to pause and reapply each strip to different sections. Waxing also often requires going over the same spot a couple of times to catch every hair, while sugaring tends to remove everything in one pass. So, although sugaring can feel more intense, it’s usually quicker overall.

Body area

Since sugaring is both gentler in technique and formula, it’s often better suited for more sensitive or intimate areas. For larger spots like the arms or legs, it really comes down to preference—would you rather go through one quick (and slightly stingy) wax strip, or feel the hair removed more gradually with sugaring?

And for precise areas like the eyebrows, waxing is going to be best since it can be shaped and pulled off at a smaller scale.

Price

The price is around the same, "A Brazilian wax usually runs between $75–$80, depending on the location and the waxer's experience," says Smith. As for sugaring, "SUGARED and BRONZED's Brazilian is $69 à la carte." says Claghorn.

Aftercare

For both services, take a cool shower, wear loose clothing, and avoid working out or sunbathing for the following 24 hours.

Use an antibacterial soap and apply an oil or serum of your choice daily (find some of our faves down below). You can start exfoliating five days post-treatment, about twice a week, to keep your skin smooth and prevent ingrown hairs.

Regrowth

"Most clients start to notice regrowth around three to four weeks after sugaring, but it differs person to person and largely depends on your natural hair growth cycle," says Claghorn. As for waxing, "Hair usually grows back in about four to six weeks, but the more consistently you wax, the slower and finer it’ll grow over time," says Smith.

"I notice waxing lasts a bit longer," says Gillette. "A Brazilian wax will keep me hair free for about three weeks, and I'm not ready for another one for five to six weeks, but I'd need to sugar once a month." In my experience, I can go about a month before needing to book another appointment, whether sugaring or waxing.

It truly depends on your own skin and hair type. If you have sensitive skin or finer hair, sugaring is a gentler and natural option that’s less likely to leave you red or irritated. But if your hair is thicker, waxing might be a better pick. Over time, both methods can lead to slower and finer regrowth—and whichever one you stick with consistently will ultimately become more tolerable.

• Arieanna Smith is the founder of The Wax Lounge NYC, a Fur Professional, and a licensed NYS Wax Specialist who specializes in full body and Brazilian waxing.
• Courtney Claghorn is the founder of SUGARED + BRONZED, which has more than 30 locations nationwide.

Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about all the biggest trends and buzziest product launches. For this story, she tapped hair removal experts Arienna Smith and Courtney Claghorn for all their tips and insights about waxing and sugaring. She also has been getting waxed for years, so she knows a thing or two about the pain level and aftercare of professional hair removal.