shave or wax???

karen89

hi, just looking for a bit of advise and input from all you ladies out there, when it comes to pubic hair do you shave, wax or do none of these? i have always done just a general tidy up by shaving but because of back problems this is a bit difficult and was thinking of waxing but dont know what to look for and am a bit embaressed to phone a salon to book, any advice would be appreciated - i dont know what is "the popular" choice!

karen89

strange, people are reading this but nobody is posting - now i am wondering if everyone is as embaressed by this topic as i am:o

Gordon Freeman

Well, from a male perspective, wax, every time. Shaving is naff especially when it begins to grow back, stubble there is just not right! It's expensive though, 50-70 euro a time. My partner used to make me pay for it as she reckoned I got the most benifit!!!!

karen89

sounds like your partner is a smart lady:D but seriously how much is enough to get rid of and with bikini wax/hollywood wax/californian wax how are you suppose to decide how much is enough and does it not still grow back stubbly?

bonnie_cash

Not too sure what the "popular" method is but i def wax. At the start i used to shave but waxing is def much better. Also i bought a bikini line trimmer and it is very good. cheap too, think it was €20 or €25 in Sam Macauleys. Usually would use that first and then in a day or 2 i wax. Always use veet, there is a spray on one or a cream, i find both of them quite good..

Bit of a prude about going to salon myself, preferr to keep it in house!!

Smashhits

I waxed for years, I never minded it. Had various different prices and waxes. Recently I had laser treatment and it's great. don't have to do anything anymore!! It's up to yourself. Waxing is very clean and lasts longer than shaving, plus the regrowth is not stubbly.

karen89

i think the laser might be out of my price range, but, i never even thought of waxing at home, so tell me - how bad is it?

Neyite

karen89 wrote: »

but seriously how much is enough to get rid of and with bikini wax/hollywood wax/californian wax how are you suppose to decide how much is enough and does it not still grow back stubbly?

Well,I would recommend waxing. There is no "right" one or popular one to choose, its what you feel comfortable with is all that matters. Prices have come down substantially with waxing now about 35 euro. It grows back finer and softer, which is the major plus, as stubble is horrible, you avoid all that with waxing.

Why not start off with a bikini wax to begin with? if you like it, then you can gradually go as bare as you dare with subsequent waxes.
A bikini wax follows your underwear line, the calfornian is a skimpier version of that, brazillian takes off everything except a strip at the front, (but undercarriage hair is removed) and the hollywood is all off. Repeat waxes are easier as the roots are shallower or something.

Choose a salon that has a good reputation for specialist waxing, and if possible using the Lycon wax. Dont go to a salon that uses strip waxing - it hurts! and dont go the week before your period- your skin is more sensitive then. pop a couple of neurofen 30 mins beforehand, and you'll be grand.

Smashhits

I've only ever waxed my legs at home. I always go to a salon for the bikini area. It's easier.

OakeyDokey

Wax for myself personally. Looks better and feels better.

evilmonkee

I have tried both, Waxing from a salon (all sorts of ways) and shaving at home.

I don't like waxing, it does give a lovely smooth finish, I didn't find it painful and regrowth is softer (although you do still get some stubble while its growing back) BUT you just have to let the hair grow too long for my likings before it can be waxed again.

I also suffer with ingrown hairs (from waxing / shaving / no reason at all ), so now I have a bikini trimmer which keeps most of it short and I shave the bikini line.

Lia_lia

I shave. Once your skin gets used to it and you use the right products it's painless and doesn't get "stubbly". Waxing is a waste of money in my opinion!

ElleEm

I shave too.

I tried home waxing once and it was so painful and awkward.

I use conditioner instead of shaving foam and it leaves me all soft and lovely

ElleEm

karen89 wrote: »

sounds like your partner is a smart lady:D but seriously how much is enough to get rid of and with bikini wax/hollywood wax/californian wax how are you suppose to decide how much is enough and does it not still grow back stubbly?

What do you feel comfortable with? Would you like a tidy up or would you prefer nothing at all there?

Google it, there are a few pics to describe each type of wax. Some are actual photos so I don't think it's appropriate to link them here.

http://www.google.ie/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1280&bih=666&tbm=isch&tbnid=75OOLNfggIw30M:&imgrefurl=http://www.austinbrazilianwaxing.com/Services.php&docid=xo3ZBP49Ra-lGM&imgurl=http://www.austinbrazilianwaxing.com/images/bikini-wax-types.png&w=382&h=403&ei=jdCTT4nBCsazhAf-r_mABA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1022&vpy=136&dur=7970&hovh=231&hovw=219&tx=153&ty=123&sig=113811491444676301480&page=1&tbnh=144&tbnw=136&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0,i:72

karen89

karen89 wrote: »

i never even thought of waxing at home, so tell me - how bad is it?

How bad is waxing at home??

Not bad at all! I'm not going to lie, the first few times are very painful, but it isn't a lasting pain, just like pulling off a plaster. After that you get a lot less sensitive to it.

The downside to waxing though is that there's a waiting-for-it-to-grow-back stage. If any special occasion falls during that period, I do give it an oul' shave, but I find shaving to be more hassle in the long run because the regrowth after shaving irritates my skin a bit, which I don't get at all after waxing.

I wax my upper legs and get a brazilian. I have to disagree with lia that it's a waste of money, I think it's some of the best money I spend. But that's obviously down to the individual. I have waxed my lower leg at home and it's fine but I'm back to shaving with baby oil now.

Neyite's post is excellent with the info on different types etc and as she said, try and get somewhere that does lycon or "hot wax".

cynder

I shave also, i shave my lower legs but i never ever shave my upper legs. I never shave my upper legs as they are not hairy they ony have fine white hairs that are not noticeable unless you have your eyes right up against them.

I veet the bikini line/area do my own styles sometimes hollywood, sometimes brazilian and sometimes just the extended bikini. I also shave my arms and under arms. My arms get very brown and the fine white hairs can be noticable against the dark skin, my legs never get a dark tan. shaving my arms is also out of habit, Ive done it since my teens and have grown accustomed to them being hairless.

Ive waxed my legs, arms and underarms before at home and 2 weeks later i get growth also anther down side to waxing is that you have to let the hair grow long before you can get rid of it.

dearg lady

bonnie_cash wrote: »

Not too sure what the "popular" method is but i def wax. At the start i used to shave but waxing is def much better. Also i bought a bikini line trimmer and it is very good. cheap too, think it was €20 or €25 in Sam Macauleys. Usually would use that first and then in a day or 2 i wax. Always use veet, there is a spray on one or a cream, i find both of them quite good..

Bit of a prude about going to salon myself, preferr to keep it in house!!

A spray on or cream? I don't think you're describing waxing, I think that's a hair removal cream, works differently. Maybe I'm misunderstanding though!

For some reason, I have strong hair or something, waxing hurts me really really badly, so I'm goin back to Veet hair removal cream. It works pretty well, but needs to be done much more often than waxing. I do like how neat and tidy a wax looks, but frankly, I cannot deal with the pain. It's been recommended to me to try a specialised waxing salon, which I will do at some point, too broke at the moment
hair removal creams/shaving/home waxing are all cheaper than salon waxing, if that's a factor for you OP.

cynder

my 6 year old son was wathcing the tv with me and an ad came on for NO NO. he went on the computer and looked it up on google and found the website and called me in to have a look at it... and if you look at the bottom right of this page there is an ad for no no...

My 5 year old son calls doughnuts no no's...

Prefer to shave, tried the ol' "hot wax" business and was still in agony

saa

Oftt I wouldn't put veet down there. Works well on the legs but my skin is far too sensitive.

dearg lady

saa wrote: »

Oftt I wouldn't put veet down there. Works well on the legs but my skin is far too sensitive.

My skin is crazy sensitive but Veet is actually ok for me. I just have to be really careful not to leave it on too long. I did try a pharmacy own brand hair removal cream and came up in a rash all over, morto!! Antihistamine calmed it, phew!

karen89

em, dont know about veet "down there" either, would it not end up in places it shouldn't be in

dearg lady

karen89 wrote: »

em, dont know about veet "down there" either, would it not end up in places it shouldn't be in

well there's one's specifically for bikini line, plenty of people use it. It's really about if you're sensitive to the ingredients or not. It's pretty easy to keep it in the right place.

karen89

ok, mind made up, i think! going to try the veet tonight, will get back and let you know how i get on :eek:

dearg lady

karen89 wrote: »

ok, mind made up, i think! going to try the veet tonight, will get back and let you know how i get on :eek:

A good idea is probly to do a patch test with a small amount just by your bikini line first, leave it for 24 hours, and see if there is any reaction.
And if you're worried about it ending up places it shouldn't, maybe start with just the very outer edges to tidy things up and see how ya go.

I know I'm really negative about waxing, but thats just personal experience, plenty of people think it's fine!

Neyite

Be aware that veet and its ilk can give a chemical burn, so you have to only leave it on for the correct time stated and be extremely careful about rinsing extremely throughly in ever little nook and cranny, if there is any residue, anywhere, it will cause an ouchie. And thats not a place you need ouchies!

Tigger99

I've gotten waxed a few times but unfortunately the hair is. so strong and pulls so much follicle/skin with it that I end up with bruising, ingrown hairs and blood spots under my skin. I've tried every type of waxing inc lycon, but its all as bad. The pain is horrendous, but id put up with it cos i love the smoothness, but the other side affects are just too bad to keep doing it.

So its shaving for me. I really wish waxing was an option for me.

saa

Okay talking about veet this might be in my mind but I used the blue pump bottle veet and it seemed to work way better than the pink tube.

Kaldea

Hiya! I've had experience now with all 3, shaving, waxing and laser! I hated shaving because the regrowth was so damn itchy and uncomfortable! did it twice and said that was enough. Moved onto waxing in when I was in 2nd year of college, yeah it can be sore but only for a moment and the results last for weeks so I was happy with that. But then my beautician left and when I went to go to another it was dreadful so I started laser last sept. Its the most painful thing I've ever experienced but coming to the end of it now it was worth it. (I'm only doing the bikini line im not getting rid of everything ) I'd recommend that cause once its done its done for the most part.

jaffacakesyum

Waxing is painful but worth it and if you go to a good beauty therapist it can be relatively quick. The first time will be the worst, I find subsequent visits to be less painful, perhaps because you know what to expect.

It's expensive so I don't get it done all the time but I never shave in between, only trim. I can't stand stubbly regrowth and I've fairly sensitive skin so I'd get itchy, so I never shave.

Wompa1

Was reading this and wondered. This whole laser craze going on. Is anybody else worried that they haven't been using it on those skin areas for very long. What if in 30 or 40 years you're left all red and raw down there from the years of skin falling off. I know it's got to be pretty deep and all, but how certain are they that it only impact deep and will never be visible.

Kaldea

Wompa1 wrote: »

Was reading this and wondered. This whole laser craze going on. Is anybody else worried that they haven't been using it on those skin areas for very long. What if in 30 or 40 years you're left all red and raw down there from the years of skin falling off. I know it's got to be pretty deep and all, but how certain are they that it only impact deep and will never be visible.

I guess there is no guarantee that that won't happen, I mean has it been around for over 40 years? All I know is that my aunt got it done about 15 years ago and has never needed to put a razor near herself since and her skin looks good. When I get it done my skin looks very burned and sore like a rash for about an hour but that's meant to happen. I have no regrets doing it anyways, but I guess its like sunbeds and sunbathing in high tempatures without factor on, there's always a risk to your skin.

Snoopy1

Hair cream remover. I cant afford to get it waxed all the time.

dearg lady

Kaldea wrote: »

I guess there is no guarantee that that won't happen, I mean has it been around for over 40 years? All I know is that my aunt got it done about 15 years ago and has never needed to put a razor near herself since and her skin looks good. When I get it done my skin looks very burned and sore like a rash for about an hour but that's meant to happen. I have no regrets doing it anyways, but I guess its like sunbeds and sunbathing in high tempatures without factor on, there's always a risk to your skin.

oh wow, I didn't know that happened with laser, for some reason it never occurred to me that it would damage the skin!
I'd say it is dead handy though, I might consider it if I didn't have fair hair, apparently it doesn't work on fair hair.

jackdock88

can't stand the pain of waxing. shaving is easier but more hassle!

smash

Wompa1 wrote: »

What if in 30 or 40 years you're left all red and raw down there from the years of skin falling off.

How on earth could you possibly come to this conclusion?

Loopie

Bit the bullet last year and got into waxing - aside from the initial nekkidness, it's alright, got over it and now I wouldn't go back to shaving/creams. The only thing I hate is the ingrown hairs, sometimes I've ended up with proper spots but the benefits definitely outweigh the pain. Plus the beautician I go to is a dote, who just chats away about her mother in law the whole time, so that makes it easier too!

fatfacee

Shaving is the way forward for me.

My friend plucks..Ouch!

Wompa1

smash wrote: »

How on earth could you possibly come to this conclusion?

It's not really a conclusion, just said what if. I had the thought when an ex of mine was talking about getting the laser treatment that it hasn't been out very long, how much research has gone into it. It's got to kill cells deep down to get to the roots of the hair but how many layers get affected.

dearg lady

fatfacee wrote: »

My friend plucks..Ouch!

Does that not take her FOREVER?!!

hdowney

Loopie wrote: »

Bit the bullet last year and got into waxing - aside from the initial nekkidness, it's alright, got over it and now I wouldn't go back to shaving/creams. The only thing I hate is the ingrown hairs, sometimes I've ended up with proper spots but the benefits definitely outweigh the pain. Plus the beautician I go to is a dote, who just chats away about her mother in law the whole time, so that makes it easier too!

i need to do this, but i do have the nekkid fear. perhaps if i DON'T go to a local salon, but one a bit further afield, where i am much less likely to know there person doing the job (damn you small town) i might feel a little less weirded out.

fatfacee wrote: »

Shaving is the way forward for me.

My friend plucks..Ouch!

dearg lady wrote: »

Does that not take her FOREVER?!!

OWWWWWWW and as above ^

Maple

After the horror of my last visit, I believe I may have found the best wax lady in all of Dublin. I went in for a brazilian last night and barely flinched during the entire process.

Very happy.

smash

Wompa1 wrote: »

It's not really a conclusion, just said what if. I had the thought when an ex of mine was talking about getting the laser treatment that it hasn't been out very long, how much research has gone into it. It's got to kill cells deep down to get to the roots of the hair but how many layers get affected.

Laser surgery for tattoo removal has been around for years. It's stronger and penetrates deep and you don't see people walking around with bits falling off them. Skin rejuvenates so quick that a short pulse of light won't cause lasting damage. It's also worth noting that the laser is only attracted to dark pigment and that's why it hits ink/hair and not really the skin (unless you're black, and even then it will rejuvenate). That's also the reason it doesn't work on fair hair.

Cgoodie

Waxing all the way for me. Just the thought of shaving down there makes me feel itchy!

The first few times are painful but once you get it done regularly it's not so bad. I don't go to a local salon, I go to one in town who do it half price on a Mon and Tues and its really quick only about 20 mins in total for a brazilian.

I've had some really bad experiences but once you get a good waxer it makes it much easier.

& the nakedness/embarrassment gets easier each time!

Loopie

QUOTE i need to do this, but i do have the nekkid fear. perhaps if i DON'T go to a local salon, but one a bit further afield, where i am much less likely to know there person doing the job (damn you small town) i might feel a little less weirded out


I swear that the embarassment goes pretty much straight away. Remember that girl has seen so many bits, probably in that day alone that you're just another number. Sure I've seen the girl I go to in the gym a few times - she's on the treadmill, I'm on the x-trainer and i don't be thinking she's seen my va-jay and I'd be faily sure she's not thinking to herself "oh I know what she looks like under those trackies". Don't let this put you off anymore and if it's something you want to do, go for it. You won't regret it, I promise!!!:)

Tigger99

Maple wrote: »

After the horror of my last visit, I believe I may have found the best wax lady in all of Dublin. I went in for a brazilian last night and barely flinched during the entire process.

Very happy.

Do you mind me asking where you went?

I'm the eternal optimist that I'll find a good waxer that won't give me all the horrible side affects!

Tom Cruise

Use imac gurlz

newbee22

Prefer waxing as well, bought a voucher for a brazilian recently on one of the deals websites, did not feel one bit of pain! Will defo be returning to that salon next time I need it done!