Flow it, show it, long as God can grow it, my hair!

No, this isn’t blog about musicals (though I could totally nerd out and write one), this is about body hair. Everyone’s got at the very least a little bit of it. Some of us have got quite a lot of it (I’m middle eastern, so yeah…).

Contrary to what you see in most films (porn or other), most men and women are hairy. But, considering the number of calls I get regarding hair removal, it’s obvious that some would rather not be. Here’s my take and info on the topic though first a small disclaimer:

I don’t like hairlessness. It weirds me out a little bit and I just don’t find it attractive. That’s just me. That said, I almost always shave my legs and other areas depending on my mood…

ANYWAYS, I should mention that I’ve tried almost all the hair removal methods available – I’ve bleached, plucked, waxed, shaved, lasered, threaded, and even tried electrolysis (though not all on the same areas of my body).

My personal recommendations:

1. Laser Hair Removal – if you have the money and you know you’re never going to want to see those hairs again, do it. It’s worth it. The hair will grow back eventually – it’s not permanent, despite what they tell you (it lasts anywhere from a year up to four years), but probably not as much as it was before and possibly a lot thinner.

This takes commitment though, since it takes a few treatments, depending on the thickness and color of the hair for it to be completely removed. This also accounts for the insane cost (think at least a couple hundred).  Between treatments, you are not allowed to pluck (or wax) – you can shave the hair but no plucking! For those of us addicted to our tweezers, this is a tough restriction but the results are definitely worth it.

1. Wax – The cost is steep to have it done professionally, I know. And trust me, you don’t want to go somewhere it’s super cheap – the consequences can be upsetting, as I’ve got horror stories from friends that range from yeast infections to burns. There are some flexible folk that have an incredible tolerance for pain and can wax at home, thereby curbing the cost a little bit.

Tip for at home waxing: Use a water soluble wax the first few times you do it. Trust me. If you make an error, if it hurts too much and you want to give up before it’s all removed – you can just wash this stuff off. If you get the professional wax, which does work a little bit better, you’re committed to it on contact. It’s almost impossible removing that stuff anyway other than the usual quick pull.  For the water soluble stuff, I personally like the Nair Wax or Nads*

*Nads claims it can be used without heating the wax. This is an almost lie. I’m sure it’s possible to use it without heating it up a little but heating it makes it a lot easier to spread over the unwanted hairs (though test the wax first once it’s out of the microwave, to make sure it’s not so hot that it’s going to burn). And the nice thing about this stuff (compared to the Nair) is that you can reuse the wax covered strips over and over again – so you don’t need any extra strips (though they are handy for larger areas).

1. Shaving -  I really enjoy shaving, I admit that it’s weird to say that but I do. I like that it gives me the option of being hairy one day and not the next. If done properly, you can remove all the hair without any irritation – here are some basic tips

*If you’re shaving your pubic area and the hair is very long, trim it first. It will keep the razor from getting dull and it makes the whole process a lot easier.

*Use a disposable razor (and have extras on hand). Why disposable? Because the second it gets dull, you should dump it – dull razors cause irritation and waste time (since you have to go over the same areas over and over again). I would recommend the ones with the moisturizing strips and have at least two blades (for a closer shave).

*Contrary to some info that was passed on in beauty magazines, for a close shave, go against direction of hair growth. They say going with the grain will prevent bumps and irritation – but I’ve got another cure for that, so for the closest possible shave – go AGAINST the direction of hair growth. Trust me.

*Prep work – the things that work out best, are the ones that were prepared for, which is true in respect to shaving. Using Baby Oil on the hair before getting into the shower helps moisturize the hair and skin, making it a lot easier to shave. I would recommend applying it about 5 minutes before going into the shower or when you want to shave.

*Use conditioner instead of shaving cream. Seems strange but a pornstar friend told me to try it and I don’t think I’ll ever go back. Apply the conditioner to the hair and let it sit for about a minute or a little longer, depending on thickness of hair. Then proceed to shave against the grain. And if you’re leaving some hair behind, the conditioner makes it a lot softer, which has its benefits…

*IMPORTANT – to avoid irritation, exfoliate with a loofah and moisturizing body wash post shave. I’m serious – it’s really important to remove dead skin otherwise it will lead to clogged pores and those nasty red bumps.

After all of that, if you know you’re skin is super sensitive and you’re still worried about the red bumps, you can invest in a post shave lotion – which are available in most pharmacies. Avoid the ones with alcohol, because that stuff will STING.

If you’re wondering why not bleaching or electrolysis, here are my reasons:

1. Bleaching – really, what’s the point? Blonde hair is still hair. This is a fine option for facial hair, and that’s only if you’re isn’t long or super thick but it’s not the best option for the rest of the body.
2. Electrolysis – Again, an okay option for facial hair and a few strays here and there. This is a LONG process, as each hair is removed one by one. And each hair needs to be zapped at least 2-3 times and it’s a costly procedure.

So there are my recommendations, I hope they’re useful. Before I quit this, one final admission - I love plucking hairs. It’s a sick little addiction, but for larger areas, the tweezers just aren’t going to cut it.

Forever hairy,

V.

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