What method(s), if any, have you used to remove unwanted body hair? What have your experiences been with different methods?
Note: This is not a post about whether or not you prefer body hair vs. hairless, for yourself or others. We can do that thread separately, but the subject tends to get super heated, and I'd rather keep this focused on methods. While some details about your preferences for yourself will inevitably make it into posts about personal experiences, please keep it non-judgmental.
Hair removal methods
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moonbynight
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VirgoGirl
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Re: Hair removal methods
Mostly i have been shaving...legs and other parts 
Facial hair i have tried hair removal creams but my skin is very sensitive and i get bad reactions to the ingredients abd that counts for waxing as well. I have been going regularly for threading on my face and it works wonders. Yeah it hurts a little but its worth it.
Facial hair i have tried hair removal creams but my skin is very sensitive and i get bad reactions to the ingredients abd that counts for waxing as well. I have been going regularly for threading on my face and it works wonders. Yeah it hurts a little but its worth it.
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moonbynight
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Re: Hair removal methods
Part 1: The early days:
As most people do, I started off shaving. Not really a whole lot to say about that. I never got the hang of shaving my pubic area, and had moles in my armpits that made them difficult, so I didn't bother, just did the legs. I shaved daily or every other day most of the time, because otherwise stubble bothered me too much. Either that, or I'd neglect it for a while and just wear pants.
In my early 20s, I tried a home sugaring kit (amusingly named Nads) once on my legs, but it was far too painful. Perhaps I didn't give it enough of a chance - I know the first time is generally the worst, and it takes time to get the hang of it.
I never tried professional waxing or anything, partially because of the pain, partially because I'm a cheapskate.
Part 2: Epilating:
In 2016, I got an epilator. Epilators are machines with a bunch of little tweezers that yank out the hairs from the root. I have a Braun Epil something or other. Can't remember which model.
I tried it on my face at first, and that was ok, but couldn't tolerate it on my legs.
After reading a bunch about it - how it gets easier and more tolerable with time - I had a few drinks and went for it. It was still awful, but that made me not care enough that I could manage a few passes on each leg, and it truly did get easier even with the second pass. None of the subsequent times were as bad as the first time - it could get a little bad if I neglected it for a while and everything grew back, but even just knowing for sure that it does get better made it easier to tolerate.
Again, I never managed the pubic area or pits, since they're so much more sensitive.
I epilated more or less routinely from 2016 to 2022. I had to replace the head when I dropped it and it stopped working properly, but that was about $25 on Amazon.
They say you can go a month between epilating sessions, and to gradually extend the time between sessions so more of the hair is on the same growth cycle to accomplish that. I don't know if my hair grows fast, or I just had a lot of hairs breaking off instead of pulling out, but going for more than about a week never worked out for me.
I also tended to get ingrown hairs and red spots with epilating, more than with shaving. And the process is also pretty time consuming - I'd say an hour to do a decent job of both legs. Between the noise and having to pay a lot of attention to what I'm doing, I couldn't really watch TV or anything at the same time - it takes a lot of focus to track down each little hair and not miss stuff (which is kind of oddly zenlike and satisfying, TBH).
All that aside, I did still prefer it over daily shaving. It wasn't as frequent, and the regrowth is generally finer, and less stubbly and annoying. I didn't notice any permanent reduction in hair growth in the years of doing it, but it does mean there is less regrowth at any given time.
Shaving and epilating is actually not a bad combo, though. Shave, wait about two days, then epilate. Then shave occasionally to maintain results until you have enough regrowth for another epilating session. Since there is less hair, you don't have 1yj
My guide to getting started with epilating:
1. Shave the area to be epilated.
2. The next day, use the epilator. It probably won't feel like much - it takes time for the hair to get long enough for tweezers to catch. But you'll probably catch a hair here and there, and it'll help give you an idea of the sensation, as well as how it will be once you're doing maintenance.
3. The next day, premedicate with something. Tylenol/paracetamol is probably the best option. NSAIDs like Advil may increase bleeding/redness/bruising. Alcohol may also increase bleeding, but can be helpful for getting over the mental hurdle of starting. Don't mix tylenol and alcohol. (You're unlikely to bleed more than a tiny little bit here and there unless you have a bleeding disorder or something).
4. After whatever you've taken has had a chance to kick in, go for it with the epilator. Try to do at least two passes on each leg - the second should be easier to manage, both because there will be less remaining hair, and because you're more used to it.
5. The next day, do it again, premedicating again if you feel you need to, but this time should be much more manageable. This time, try to keep going until you're reasonably satisfied with the results. You probably won't be dolphin smooth, but pretty good at least.
6. After that, give it a rest for at least several days to a week.
7. After a week, repeat the process. You should be able to get reasonable results with just one session this time, as long as you don't wait too long between sessions.
8. Experiment to find a routine that works for you. Some people can go a month between sessions. Others decide they'd rather do a quick pass to touch things up a few times a week, and rarely or never do a big session.
9. You can shave if you feel the need between sessions, but keep in mind that you'll need about 2 day's worth of regrowth for the epilator to be able to grab the hair.
(To be continued...)
As most people do, I started off shaving. Not really a whole lot to say about that. I never got the hang of shaving my pubic area, and had moles in my armpits that made them difficult, so I didn't bother, just did the legs. I shaved daily or every other day most of the time, because otherwise stubble bothered me too much. Either that, or I'd neglect it for a while and just wear pants.
In my early 20s, I tried a home sugaring kit (amusingly named Nads) once on my legs, but it was far too painful. Perhaps I didn't give it enough of a chance - I know the first time is generally the worst, and it takes time to get the hang of it.
I never tried professional waxing or anything, partially because of the pain, partially because I'm a cheapskate.
Part 2: Epilating:
In 2016, I got an epilator. Epilators are machines with a bunch of little tweezers that yank out the hairs from the root. I have a Braun Epil something or other. Can't remember which model.
I tried it on my face at first, and that was ok, but couldn't tolerate it on my legs.
After reading a bunch about it - how it gets easier and more tolerable with time - I had a few drinks and went for it. It was still awful, but that made me not care enough that I could manage a few passes on each leg, and it truly did get easier even with the second pass. None of the subsequent times were as bad as the first time - it could get a little bad if I neglected it for a while and everything grew back, but even just knowing for sure that it does get better made it easier to tolerate.
Again, I never managed the pubic area or pits, since they're so much more sensitive.
I epilated more or less routinely from 2016 to 2022. I had to replace the head when I dropped it and it stopped working properly, but that was about $25 on Amazon.
They say you can go a month between epilating sessions, and to gradually extend the time between sessions so more of the hair is on the same growth cycle to accomplish that. I don't know if my hair grows fast, or I just had a lot of hairs breaking off instead of pulling out, but going for more than about a week never worked out for me.
I also tended to get ingrown hairs and red spots with epilating, more than with shaving. And the process is also pretty time consuming - I'd say an hour to do a decent job of both legs. Between the noise and having to pay a lot of attention to what I'm doing, I couldn't really watch TV or anything at the same time - it takes a lot of focus to track down each little hair and not miss stuff (which is kind of oddly zenlike and satisfying, TBH).
All that aside, I did still prefer it over daily shaving. It wasn't as frequent, and the regrowth is generally finer, and less stubbly and annoying. I didn't notice any permanent reduction in hair growth in the years of doing it, but it does mean there is less regrowth at any given time.
Shaving and epilating is actually not a bad combo, though. Shave, wait about two days, then epilate. Then shave occasionally to maintain results until you have enough regrowth for another epilating session. Since there is less hair, you don't have 1yj
My guide to getting started with epilating:
1. Shave the area to be epilated.
2. The next day, use the epilator. It probably won't feel like much - it takes time for the hair to get long enough for tweezers to catch. But you'll probably catch a hair here and there, and it'll help give you an idea of the sensation, as well as how it will be once you're doing maintenance.
3. The next day, premedicate with something. Tylenol/paracetamol is probably the best option. NSAIDs like Advil may increase bleeding/redness/bruising. Alcohol may also increase bleeding, but can be helpful for getting over the mental hurdle of starting. Don't mix tylenol and alcohol. (You're unlikely to bleed more than a tiny little bit here and there unless you have a bleeding disorder or something).
4. After whatever you've taken has had a chance to kick in, go for it with the epilator. Try to do at least two passes on each leg - the second should be easier to manage, both because there will be less remaining hair, and because you're more used to it.
5. The next day, do it again, premedicating again if you feel you need to, but this time should be much more manageable. This time, try to keep going until you're reasonably satisfied with the results. You probably won't be dolphin smooth, but pretty good at least.
6. After that, give it a rest for at least several days to a week.
7. After a week, repeat the process. You should be able to get reasonable results with just one session this time, as long as you don't wait too long between sessions.
8. Experiment to find a routine that works for you. Some people can go a month between sessions. Others decide they'd rather do a quick pass to touch things up a few times a week, and rarely or never do a big session.
9. You can shave if you feel the need between sessions, but keep in mind that you'll need about 2 day's worth of regrowth for the epilator to be able to grab the hair.
(To be continued...)
Re: Hair removal methods
I shave my legs maybe once every 6 weeks (presumably I would do it more frequently if I was seeing someone) and use cream on my lady bits when the hair gets long enough to be annoying. Both leave my skin burned/irritated and by the time it has recovered I'm stubbly. I do pluck my chin hair which was painful at first but almost addictive after a while lol, but I'd still pay for a permanent option if one worked. I did electrolysis on my chin for a few months to no avail, that was painful and pricey.
I've done professional waxing a couple of times but not worth the money - I get such awful red bumps that last well past the time everything is stubbly again
I can cope with all the pain but somehow not the epilator idea, that just seems excruciating! I do like the idea of getting drunk for it though!
I've done professional waxing a couple of times but not worth the money - I get such awful red bumps that last well past the time everything is stubbly again
I can cope with all the pain but somehow not the epilator idea, that just seems excruciating! I do like the idea of getting drunk for it though!
Re: Hair removal methods
Mostly just shaving for me: (under arms, legs, Down There)
In the past I had sessions for sugaring (Down There only) with someone who worked at the salon where I get my hair cut, but she moved away and I haven’t found anyone else who uses that method. I never had waxing sessions prior to that so I don’t know how they compare, pain-wise. Sugaring wasn’t painless, but I found taking Tylenol prior to a session was helpful.
In the past I had sessions for sugaring (Down There only) with someone who worked at the salon where I get my hair cut, but she moved away and I haven’t found anyone else who uses that method. I never had waxing sessions prior to that so I don’t know how they compare, pain-wise. Sugaring wasn’t painless, but I found taking Tylenol prior to a session was helpful.