Sugar wax works best if you’re removing hair that’s at least 1⁄4 in (0. 64 cm) long—about the length of a grain of rice. Don’t skip the lemon juice in this mixture—it helps keep the wax spreadable. [3] X Research source Remove any leftover wax residue with oil. Then, clear away the oil with liquid dish soap. [4] X Expert Source Melissa JannesLicensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator Expert Interview. 30 August 2019.

The lemon juice in this mixture may also help lighten your skin.

This works because papaya contains a compound called papain, which helps break down hair. [8] X Research source In India, turmeric is also traditionally used for hair removal. [9] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source However, you’ll likely need to repeat the treatment every other day for at least 2 weeks to start seeing results. [10] X Research source

You can use this on any type of skin—it’s gentle enough that it shouldn’t cause irritation.

You can also add about 1 tbsp (21 g) of white sugar if you’d like to make the paste stickier—this might help remove more hair when you wipe the mixture off after it dries. [13] X Research source

When you peel off the dried paste, a little hair should come along with it. If you repeat this 2-3 times a week, you should start to notice the hair in that area looking thinner—although you won’t get the same dramatic results as you would from shaving or waxing. [15] X Research source This mask is fine for most skin types, but keep in mind that it might aggravate acne or irritate sensitive skin.

This might irritate acne-prone or sensitive skin, but otherwise, this is gentle enough to use every day.

This can be drying to your skin, so be sure to moisturize every day throughout this process. [18] X Research source Don’t use a pumice stone on sensitive skin, like on your face, bikini area, underarms, or thighs. You can use any type of pumice stone, but try to find one with smaller holes, since that’s likely more effective.

If you prefer, you can use organic soap instead of shaving gel or cream. However, soap may dry out your skin, so be sure to moisturize afterward. Keep in mind that the results from shaving will usually only last from 1-3 days.

Always keep your tweezers steady and pull the hair in a quick, clean motion. This way, you can remove the hair root without breaking the hair. [22] X Expert Source Melissa JannesLicensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator Expert Interview. 30 August 2019. Tweezing is a little painful, but most people get accustomed to it after a while. Since you’re removing the hair at the root, the results are longer-lasting than shaving. However, be careful when you’re choosing which hairs to tweeze, because some hair may not grow back at all. Tweezing can leave your skin a little red and inflamed, but it should go away in a few hours.