Okay. I like to be neat and trim.
Hubby likes me to be neat and trim.

But I'm slavic in heritage. Slavic women are blessed (or cursed) with muchly hair. And it ain't the fine type. It's rough!

I've tried epilady-ing - but there's only so far towards your yoni that you can use that before it gets... scary. Especially if you're not a size 2 and capable of bending yourself into a pretzel shape to get to the area in question. When I use it, it's good for leaving the skin very very smooth, BUT the aftermath is the occasional ingrown hair in uncomfortable places.

I've tried shaving - but that doesn't seem to leave me as smooth as I'd like. There's stubble left - and that can cause friction rash on hubby.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Hi Songchick. I am also blessed (yuck) with a vast amount of coarse, curly hair.

I hate the constant upkeep from shaving and I love it (as does M) when I am soft and smooth. So I wax. I have everything from the waist down removed (I have a fuzzy bum as well)

The first few times, I won't lie, it hurts (but not nearly as much as the epilady - that thing is brutal!) As time goes on fewer and fewer hairs grow back as the follicles weaken. Also, those that do grow back are softer and weaker and it becomes less painful.

Sometimes I do use the body bare in between waxes if I can't make it over there, or we are tight $$ at that time. To keep up the smoothness I need to go every four to six weeks.

I was last waxed just before Valentines Day and while the yoni could use another session, I barely have any hair growing back on my legs at all (I have been waxing those a lot longer than the other parts) - and I was somebody who needed to shave every other day to keep my legs smooth.

I would recommend the brazilian wax where they don't use the cloth to remove it, although if the one with the cloth is the only one you can find that does work as well.

I like this method because not only do I not have to shave every day, but I know in years to come I probably won't have to even bother waxing. I have a friend who is a few years older than I and from Brazil, and has been doing this since she was a teen. She told me hardly any hair grows naturally there anymore or on her legs.

I look forward to this day!

I have always had a secret fear that I would be stranded on a desert island with no razor and then become a hairy beast!!!!! At least with waxing if that ever happens I don't have to worry

Hope this helps!

Specific wax product recommendations?

(Also, the Epilady I use is a later model, and while it doesn't hurt like the original one, it's just a little... frightening and intense.)

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Songchick:
Specific wax product recommendations?[QUOTE]

Yes...a professional waxer! Holy moly, I can't imagine doing it myself all the way. No way. Just go pay some nice lady to rip it off you. It's a bit weird the first time but you get over it. And the second time doesn't hurt as much as the first, etc.

I made the mistake of getting a home waxing kit once to keep the bikini sides under control (not the sensitive area). Big mistake. The home wax is crap, you can't get a good enough grip on it, it's impossible to clean up, and it hurt like a mo-fo to do it to myself. I now swear by my gal Angie (who I just visited this afternoon).

Waxing is the only way to go for me. I'm not super hairy, and am of fair hair naturally. But I have tried countless shavers, razors, shave creams, techniques but *always* end up with red bumps and ingrowns. I don't have those problems with waxing...so waxing it is.

Shaving: If you're going to, use a multi-blade razor. I have a Mach3 I use for my legs, worlds of difference over disposables. I've tried zillions of shave creams... none work as good as cheap, $.99 conditioner. We sell Coochy Creme in the Freddy and Eddy shop, Eddy swears by it, and it works great... but conditioner works good, too. I especially like the thick conditioner I get for after I dye my hair... I have so little on my head that I don't use the whole tube, and a little goes a long way. Shave with the direction of your hair to help prevent ingrown hairs.

Another shaving option: the Personal Shaver... it really does keep you just-shaved smooth without the mess, and I found I got less ingrown hairs. My only issue with it: it works best when your hair is just stubble, and I didn't use it often enough to catch it at the right length (it's also a slow process). But a good one if you aren't up for...

Waxing: My choice these days... I've even found a cheap place across the street from Freddy and Eddy (the shop) that's $25 for a Brazilian! My friend that got me hooked on this (who lives too far away to take care of my nether regions these days) explains it like this... first time, you get 90% of the hair (ouch!). The next 4 times, you get 25% of the hair... but that 5th time, you have MUCH less hair, maybe 10%? And after you get 10% 10 times, you go down even more... and so on and so on.

She also explained the science behind ingrown hairs. They happen because our hair gets trapped under dead or dry skin. Her solution: exfoliate the area, and keep it moisturized. She sells Bikini Saver (which I am hooked on) which is an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial moisturizer... basically, moisturizes the area and keeps the ingrown hairs that do happen from getting too pissed off. Good stuff, though I still forget to use it often enough.

Hope this helps?

Jenn

quote:

Originally posted by michie:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Songchick:
Specific wax product recommendations?[QUOTE]

Yes...a professional waxer! Holy moly, I can't imagine doing it myself all the way. No way. Just go pay some nice lady to rip it off you. It's a bit weird the first time but you get over it. And the second time doesn't hurt as much as the first, etc.

I made the mistake of getting a home waxing kit once to keep the bikini sides under control (not the sensitive area). Big mistake. The home wax is crap, you can't get a good enough grip on it, it's impossible to clean up, and it hurt like a mo-fo to do it to myself. I now swear by my gal Angie (who I just visited this afternoon).

Waxing is the only way to go for me. I'm not super hairy, and am of fair hair naturally. But I have tried countless shavers, razors, shave creams, techniques but *always* end up with red bumps and ingrowns. I don't have those problems with waxing...so waxing it is.

I agree!! Especially the first time, pay to have it done!!! You have to have an incredibly strong constitution to be able to rip it off yourself. I have been able to do it on my legs...but nowhere else and even that was very difficult.

We did buy the whole shebang, warmer, etc., for M to do it to me. He has occasionally done it, but it is much easier and faster to go to a professional.

If you're going to just shave, I would recommend using conditioner, especially AFTER shaving as a moisturizer for at least 3 days. It prevents the stubble from itching.

Uusally, I only have a bikini wax (not as much taken off as a Brazilian) and then I just keep the rest trimmed with clippers, with a #2 guard.

I still end up with ingrowns every now and then, so exfoliating about once a week is definately recommended.

BTW, I'm a cosmetologist and actually know about this stuff!

Thank you so much for the feedback.

Right now I alternate between shaving and using the epilady Discrette. It pulls the hairs out by the roots like wax does, but with tweezer-like action.

When I use the Discrette, I don't end up with quite as much rough stubble when it grows back. But you have to contort like a pretzel to get it all, and while I have no problem with the bikini EDGE areas, the sections that go right to the folds are a little more... difficult. You really have to bend, and you have to hold everything in place just right...

Waxing sounds like it might be an option, but I can't imagine paying someone else to do it for me. I mean... I have a hard time paying to get my hair cut. Not to mention trying to find a place in the suburbs of Metro-MyCity that I'd trust to wax that area.

I don't think I'd have a problem doing it to myself if I knew what product to try. Every time I've tried a wax before, it's been like putting glue on your legs... and it sticking to the skin instead of the hair. It's never worked for me - hence the purchase of the epilady. And since I DO already pull out large quantities of hair by the roots, I think it's likely that waxing wouldn't cause any more pain than that. And pulling the hair out of my underarms has always hurt WAY worse than the bikini area.

I just want the stubble to be gone forever. It hurts hubby and reduces our sexual frequency.

Songchick, I once used a product called "Surgi-Wax Brazilian, for Private Parts." It did do the trick, but like others on here I didn't have the stomach for it. It has an oil you put on your skin before the wax, so that the wax only sticks to the hair.

I'm not of the fine hair type either, but have found that the Body Bare does a great job for me. Janet's exfoliating suggestion is such a good one if you get ingrowns. It's really helped me out anyway. Good luck!

I got some of the coochy shaving cream from our local toy store and did the most thorough shaving I've ever done before.

When I'd asked hubby before if I should take more off than normal, he'd say, "Oh no. You don't need to do that." But last night, I took off everything on the lips, leaving only a small patch in front. Just enough to hide that I've shaved from - oh, say, my mom, should I go clothes shopping with her.

I showed him what I'd done and asked if he liked. Apparently, the extra shave is "Really fucking hot!" And led to some really hot fucking.

So I want to keep this now. Looks like I'm gonna get the bodybare, tho, cuz the next morning, porcupine stubble again. If I want to keep this look, I'm going to need to shave EVERY DAY! GRRRRRRR.

quote:

If I want to keep this look, I'm going to need to shave EVERY DAY! GRRRRRRR.

Me too!! And I don't have time, patience, or energy for that, which alwys leads me back to the waxing.

Well I just made a significant investment in shaving equipment - the Brazillian package includes the Body Bare, the Feminine, and the Ladyfaire - as well as a maintenance kit. I also got the Meida for the legs.

Hope these people know what they're about. 'Twasn't cheap!

YAY! It arrived today. UNFORTUNATELY, ya have to wait 24 hours for the Body Bare to charge.

AND... I'm an impatient girl.

So now I get to lay a warning down for y'all.

I also bought the Meida. It's for shaving your legs. So while I waited for the Body Bare to charge I thought to myself, "Well... The Meida should be capable of being used - so long as I'm careful. It has the foil. It should be fine." Right?

Wrong.

I was able to shave off some of the stubble. It seemed to work fairly nicely. I thought, "Yay! When the BB needs recharging, I can always use this if I need to."

That's when I noticed...

The little pinpoints of blood rising to the surface. LOTS of little pinpoints of blood.

Now, it took a bit of blotting to get it to stop bleeding. And it's weird because I didn't feel it cut me at ALL - didn't feel anything bad at all - until after I was done, pulled my thong back up and started walking around. Then, it just felt all weird.

I feel better now, but... this is not something I will ever repeat.

So as a warning to y'all. Don't. Use. The Meida. for anything other than it's intended use.

This friendly neighborhood warning brought to you by Songchick - the girl with the still scratchy kitty who's anxiously awaiting the charging of her Body Bare.

quote:

Originally posted by Songchick:
This friendly neighborhood warning brought to you by Songchick - the girl with the still scratchy kitty who's anxiously awaiting the charging of her Body Bare.

And so is your husband.

Well, I tried it today, and I really like how it works.

But this is just the first day. I'll let you know how it goes as we move on.