By Teri Greene Montgomery Advertiser

Article from 2003:
Body sugaring offers gentle
alternative for hair removal

Step 1. Certified electrologist Sherry Giermanski, who's also certified in the Alexandria Body Sugaring technique, preps client Vicky Grove's legs with powder before beginning the hair removal process. -- Photos by Julie Bennett Advertiser

The banner outside Sherry Giermanski's East Boulevard office has attracted more than a few curious inquiries from passers-by. After all, what could "body sugaring" possibly be?

"They think it's something exotic," said certified electrologist Giermanski, who's been in the electrolysis business for 20 years. But more and more folks are becoming familiar with the process. Now, Giermanski and her business partner, Ellen Dutton (a registered nurse as well as an electrologist), have a growing list of clients who come in for body sugaring, one of the latest hair removal trends.

A sticky situation

The Alexandria method, the type of body sugaring in which both Giermanski and Dutton are certified, uses a thick, warm, super-sticky concoction of sugar, water and lemon.

Getting down to work, Giermanski, working on the legs of longtime client and body sugaring devotee Vicky Grove, stuck a few gloved fingers into a pot of the mixture, collected a generous amount of and smoothed it onto a section of Grove's right leg, which had already been cleaned and then primed with a bit of powder.

Grove said she keeps coming back for sugaring, which can keep the treated area hairless anywhere from three to six weeks. Giermanski said it's best when clients come back after at least six weeks, for optimal hair growth.

Step 2. Giermanski reaches in with gloved fingers to collect a generous amount of Alexandria Body Sugaring formula, a sugar-water-lemon concoction. The substance is kept warm in a small crock-pot-like device.

Giermanski said one important difference between sugaring and other popular methods such as waxing is that the substance is spread against the direction of hair growth, then flicked away in the direction the hair grows. She said removing hair in this direction results in less hair breakage as well as a less painful experience, with fewer cases of inflamed skin. Also, the sugar mixture is kept at a pleasantly warm, not hot, temperature, she said.

Another plus Giermanski sees sugar having over wax is the avoidance of "cross-contamination," which she said can occur when a waxing technician repeatedly "double-dips" a stick.

Once Giermanski has started with a fresh blob of the sugar paste, she uses the same portion again and again on a client (and since the process is relatively gentle, she's able to go over the same area more than once, if needed). When the first portion of sugar is exhausted, she disposes of the used sugar and the glove she was wearing. She then puts on a fresh glove and collects another amount. Hence, no "double-dipping" and, she said, less risk of health hazards.

A smooth finish

Flick-flick-flick. The leg beneath is smooth, and the gooey used substance shows the evidence -- removed hair in several stages of growth, as well as a good bit of dead skin cells.

"It's also an excellent exfoliant," Giermanski said.

Step 3. Giermanski smoothes the substance onto Grove's lower leg. Unlike waxing, the sugaring formula is spread against the direction of hair growth, and it is kept at a mildly warm temperature.

Grove admitted the procedure wasn't completely painless -- after all, those were her hairs being yanked out here -- but she said she finds the procedure more comfortable than the waxing treatments she's also tried.

Surprisingly, even after the sugary substance has been on the legs, there is very little sticky residue. Finishing up, she sprayed an astringent onto Grove's legs for complete clean-up.

While legs are a popular sugaring area, Giermanski said female clients come in for work on underarms and forearms, too. And an all-time favorite body sugaring process is the Brazilian, a very thorough hair removal process on the bikini area.

Guys are also part of body sugaring's growing fan base -- she has about five to six men in every week, mostly to get rid of pesky back hair.

One of the best perks of the product? Its all-natural base, Giermanski said.

"It's all natural -- you can even eat it," she said, proving her comment by nibbling a fresh bit of the concoction off a stick. "It sticks to your teeth a lot, but you can actually eat it."

Step 4. To remove hair, Giermanski gently flicks the substance back. Again unlike waxing, it's tugged in the direction of the hair growth, which she says results in a less painful experience. The used substance shows removed hair in several stages of growth and dead skin cells; it's also considered an exfoliant.

Services offered at the office of certified electrologists Sherry Giermanski and Ellen Dutton, R.N., include back, chest, shoulders, neck, upper arms, lower arms, underarms, hands, toes/feet, bikini (including Brazilian), upper legs, lower legs and eyebrows.

Fees are based on 30-minute intervals: $35 for 30 minutes and under; $60 for 1 hour; $80 for 1 1/2 hours; $110 for 2 hours; and a negotiated fee for services longer than two hours. "Brazilian" hair removal is $60. (Flate Rate)

For more information, contact Sherry, Ellen, or Carloine @unwantedhairsolutions.com or call 334-215-8035.