DIY sugaring

Coming back to finally post on this...

Found this site pinned before I even started this blog, and this is the first thing I tried.
     http://tipnut.com/body-sugaring/

I am currently 6 1/2 months pregnant with my first little miracle, and already having some trouble shaving the legs. I don't really feel comfortable letting DH at my legs with a razor, and right now our schedule is not such as to be conducive to keeping up with it often enough to keep them semi-smooth. Furthermore, here in Kansas, it is sticky and hot all summer long and just letting them go isn't much of an option either. So I decided to give this a try.

First off, I can say the price is right, for the cost of 2 cups of sugar and a lemon I got enough wax to do my legs up at least half a dozen times to below the knees. I usually only shave once or twice a week. I don't stay perfectly smooth on that timeline, but it's a good balance for me of smooth enough vs. the time, energy, and money spent on staying that way. I took a couple tees that had been destined to become shop rags, and cut them into strips instead, so materials on hand. Also I used a jar I already had to store my wax in the fridge between uses.

What I love about this: it is all ingredients that I am very willing to put in my body, so absolutely no question as to whether it's safe to put on my body. I always worry about how many chemicals are being soaked up when I use Nair or other commercially sold chemicals to remove the hair from my body, and with PCOS I worry a lot about removing hair.

What I like about this: It's relatively easy and common sense to use. Again, the price is right, and it does work good leaving my legs nice and smooth.

The downsides: It does hurt, not a lot, but it does. C'mon though, you are pulling hair out of your legs by the section. You have to let the hair get a little longer between times, which doesn't bother me one bit, but may deter you.

My experience and feedback:
     I found it much easier to have someone else doing the yanking, and I honestly don't think that was all due to my difficulty reaching and bending.
     I will be playing with an idea I had for how to make the wax with a timer instead of a candy thermometer, and if that works I will share it with you.
     I will probably continue to do this after Little bit is born, if that tells you anything about how much I like it in spite of the pain factor.
     I suppose it is feasible to plan on waxing more often and just knowing that there'll always be fuzz that is too short for the wax to grab. If you do that, you'll have to realize you'll be going back and waxing for that fuzz when the stuff you are waxing now is just fuzz that is too short to grab. Also skin irritation seems like it would be an issue with that, due to more bare skin getting slathered and yanked at each waxing.
     In reading through the comments below her recipe and instructions, I noted a disagreement about whether wax should be applied with the growth and yanked against it or vice versa. I played with trying both ways, and like applying against the direction of grown and pulling with it. It hurt a little less and made sense that more of the hairs would maintain their root when pulled.

Introducing Magdelaina

My name is Magdelaina. Well, not really, but that's all you need to know. I like to knit, sew, quilt, and pretty much do all of that Suzie-homemaker stuff. I think that we are too reliant on stores and manufactured chemicals. We have become a society of convenience first, and we do not think of the long-term effects of things. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a hard core hippie, or activist. I don't want to debate current events in great depth. I'm not going to move onto a commune or be disconnecting from the grid anytime soon. I do however think if we can find little ways to be a little gentler with our planet, and small things we can change which minimize the toxins we expose ourselves to, that would be awesome.

This will be an interesting experiment, or more accurately many experiments. I have come to really enjoy the ideas and links on pinterest, as well as all over the internet. I find that sometimes it's hard to get real world feedback on things. I will try different things out; recipes, crafts, diy beauty products, sewing, and household. I will offer feedback on different things I read on PCOS, as that is something near and dear to my heart. After my baby is born (hopefully not until November), I will share thoughts on things I research and try in regards to caring for and raising her. I will do my best to reference and source anything I discuss.

I am just a nobody, just like everyone else. I don't have any special degrees or expertise in anything. What I say is simply my opinion, so feel free to read my thoughts, research on your own and come to your own conclusions. Please don't quote me as an argument for or against anything. I'm only human. I will do my best to be open and honest about my experiences, whether it's trying a specific recipe for hair removal, or following a pattern to make a baby sling (both things I intend to be trying out soon). Some of my experiments may require a lot of time (like someday I will totally cut out gluten from my diet for a while and reintroduce it). I will not try anything that seems stupid or pointless to me (I will not try any fad diets or crazy exercise programs), but I do want to get to the point where I am dehydrating and canning/making a pantry full of snacks and food for Little bit, using only fresh real ingredients. I joke about the zombie apocalypse, but mostly because it's easy to joke about when I feel that whatever happens someday will be just as devastating. I don't think the world is going to end anytime soon, but I do think it's possible at any time. I do think it's important to preserve as many of the traditional methods as we can because someday we (or our children, or their children) may not be able to go to the store and get whatever we need. We're also in a funky period where I don't believe the versions of things we can buy at the store are good for us, or worth the money required. There is no value, it's become about quantity and convenience.

Hope you enjoy if you decide to join me on my journey...