News on depilatories from CR

[Sir_Winston54]

A while back, there was a thread on shaving vs. depilatories vs. waxing, but I'm too lazy and tired to look it up.

However, the June 2005 Consumer Reports has a short article on home depilatories and waxing products...

In depilatories, their testers ranked (in order):
Sally Hansen Spa Gel Hair Remover for Body
Veet Bladeless Razor Kit
Sally Hansen Lotion Hair Remover
Nair Lotion
Nair No Touch Mousse
Aussie Nad's Hair Removal Creme
as "very good choices." They don't mention my preference, Magic Creme or Powder.

Home waxing kits, they rank:
Nair Roll-On Sugaring Wax
Sally Handsen Spa Wax Hair Removal Kit
Aussie Nad's Hair Removal Gel
Veet Ready-to-Use Gel Wax
as "very good choices."

Just an FYI and update for those interested

Edited to fix the typo no one noticed

 

[catalina_francisco]

LOL, still prefer the electric plucking devices....I just wish I had bought the teensy weensy one at the Kama Sutra Fair last year as it would be perfect for those hard to get at delicate places. My new machine makes me fear I will lose something near and dear to me one of these days and that would be a tragedy.

Catalina

 

[laurel-marie]

Thanks for the info.
I just use razors .
I have tried Magic, but the results I get arent worth the effort...maybe i need to leave it on longer.

 

[babiesmiles]

I always go to have professional wax, because once I did it by myself I seriously burnt and the few times I use razor (if not on very limitated areas ) I seem just going out a cutting play session ( without the other player to enjoy with ..lol )

Ps I'm allergic to depilatory creams !

 

[Neomagalie]

.............

 

[Bandit58]

I shave every couple of days but am seriously thinking of going for a brazillian wax. Though what's putting me off is that when I asked the girl how long the hair had to be she said 7-10 days growth, which means I will be itching for about a week - plus I get my eyebrows done and that's very painful. I like a bit of pain but I'm wincing at the thought!!

 

[catalina_francisco]

I was wondering if you do the lips too with the plucking device and what type you are using. Every time I get close to the folds, my skin gets caught between the rotors and the plastic and not only I hurts in a very unpleasant manner, it also creates weird interruptions.

I use a Braun but the newer version is designed differently and doesn't seem as user friendly as the old one on those delicate places. The folds are definately the hardest if only because it is difficult when trying to hold the skin taut and pluck with the machine in the other hand, and trying to see what you are doing...just doesn't work well all over but I am persevering because it is the way I have been doing it for years and prefer the feel to anything else. I have less allergic reactions as well. LOL, of course he has offered to help out by doing it, but somehow that thought does not appeal and fills me with thoughts of losing everything....he does attack with hand held tweezers at times though and that is enough to have me begging him to stop....just makes me squirm thinking about it!!


Catalina

 

[h_i_s]

The testers used them WHERE?!?

i have to wonder which areas of the bodies the testers for this consumer report used the products listed.

Many of the depilatories on that list that i have tested, can not even begin to handle the removal of coarse hair types such as that which is found under the arms and/or in the pubic regions. Of the waxes, i've never used the gel type, but i have used the sugar based waxes and they are also not sufficiant in removing coarse texured hair.

Even if they used the products only on the face and legs, with depilatories there still exists a wide margin of failure for the many who have chemically sensative skin. The waxes of course present their own potentials of side effects due to ripping of skin, or self inflicted burns due to lack of knowledge & experience in using them, no matter where they are applied.

i'm a big fan of consumer reports, yet i have to wonder what level of accuracey this report could possibly hold true to for the many here who simply wish to remove hair from the 'more delicate regions'.

Off Topic ( .. sort of )
i am tossing all of my razors (which i use for the pubic region, legs & underarms) and my tube of Nair Sensative Formula (which i use for the upper lip & brows -- no mustache here, but i like this area free of fuzz which makeup tends to make more noticable) ... into the trash. i quit. i refuse to suffer with the unsightly red bumps and raw skin due to razor brun itchies.

Master just recently purchased the GiGi Professional Wax Warmer for me (cheaper models range anywhere from about $40 .. wax and other supplies not included). i've used GiGi brand wax (other professional brands out there are sufficant too, i just prefer this brand, personally) professionally on my clientel in the salon for over 10 years & it is the best product i have found for removing pubic hair.

For my personal at home use ... i purchased GiGi's special thicker/stickier formula for thick/coarse hair types. i'm not wasting my time with the regualar strenth because even in waxing brow hair many times reapplications are needed to remove ALL of the hairs. Reapplying causes MORE irritation to the skin, and the potential for more redness and/or swelling afterwards. (i tried the sugar waxes which do not require heating, they are not thick/sticky enough to handle pubic hair removal).

Right now i am suffering (for a good cause ) with the 'regrowth itching' as i must wait a few days for the hair to be at least a 16th of an inch long for effective removal to take place. It will be well worth the itching this time around. No more razor burn/itch and no more inconvenience of having to shave every other day. In comparison to shaving as a method of removal, waxing does not leave a blunt edge on the end of the hair which pokes back through the surface of the skin as it grows back, and therefore does not cause regrowth itchies. i can't wait to use my GiGi wax.

 

[Bandit58]

sinnocent1 how often does one need to wax?? I have hair that seems to grow quite fast and there's a lot of it - shaving seems easier and cheaper but if waxing will lessen the hair and slow the growth then it might be worth it.......

 

[h_i_s]

sinnocent1 how often does one need to wax?? I have hair that seems to grow quite fast and there's a lot of it - shaving seems easier and cheaper but if waxing will lessen the hair and slow the growth then it might be worth it.......

On average (varies from one person to the next of course) .. hair grows in at about half an inch every four weeks. The reason waxed or tweezed hair regrowth does not appear as quickly as with shaving and/or depilatories: Waxing removes even that section of the hair beneath the skin, which other methods are not capable of removing (lazer removal can too .. but way too much $$$ to be deemed as a practical method for most). Doing it at home is well worth it if proper care is taken. Even waxing can become inconvenient $$-wise i suppose. i'm willing to wax because:

1. i know how.
2. As a licensed cosmetologist i'm entitled to wholesale prices for supplies & therefore don't have to pay BIG-$$ for those nor the services of having another do it for me. (hmm.. i COULD write an instructional thingy for those who wish to try --- especially if i ad a disclaimer for those who fail to follow instructions and rip of a pink bit or two as a result -- ROFL)
3. Ripping pubics out by any method IS painful, and shaving every other day and then suffering with itchies .... in my opinion is an even BIGGER pain (in the ass -- not to be confused with the 'good' type pains in the ass).

On average, when i have waxed in the past (haven't used the mothed since last summer) i have to do it at least every 3-4 weeks, which certainly BEATS shaving every other day. i'll include an update soon on that note. In the past the wax i used was not as good as what i am waiting to use right now. This one is not a sugar based wax and is top notch as it is a professional strength/brand.

i'll include an update in regard to how often this one will allow me to go between touch-ups.

 

[Bandit58]

Thanks so much Master likes me hairless except on my head I've gotten used to shaving in the shower but even with a mach 3 razor I get stubble the very next day I only get itching if I leave it longer than about 3 days, and I used to get red bumps but that has lessened over time (I've been shaving completely for 18 months now)

 

[Lorihw]

I've been using antibacterial soap and a loofah to shave, and the change from shaving cream to the soap has lessened the red bumps a lot. I try to shave daily because if I don't it bothers me, but if I have to I can wait until the next day. I also just purchased the new vibrating razor (hmmm... other interesting uses for that I am sure) that can be used in the shower. It does seem to get a closer shave.

 

[h_i_s]

I've been using antibacterial soap and a loofah to shave, and the change from shaving cream to the soap has lessened the red bumps a lot.

i do exfoliate prior to shaving any area on my body. It certainly helps alot. i have tried soap (and conditioner too, and shampoos, aloe vera gel at one time, also). Conditioner worked best for me, however:

i don't normally have any issues with my shaving resulting in those red bumps (which indicate ingrown hairs and/or infected follicles in most cases). my issue occurs the day after shaving, when regrowth is just starting to occur. The slightest bit of stubble causes my jeans to rub against the area, and lift the hair that is starting to grow back in. The effect is not only itchy and irritating, but painful (like a tiny pinch). Once this starts happening .... THEN the area can become covered in red bumps ... due to irritation caused by the friction of the fabric. At one point, i blamed it on the lacey shortie type panties i liked to wear. i ditched the lace panties and replaced them all with satiny smooth shorties. The switch from one type of panties to another didn't solve a thing. More recently, my Master had purchased a few pairs of very low rise type jeans for me, which we decided look best worn 'sans panties' (Neither of us like the look of panties sticking out past the waist of the jeans ... so..). i figured this might be the answer toward solving the issue, yet, it was not.

I try to shave daily because if I don't it bothers me, but if I have to I can wait until the next day. I also just purchased the new vibrating razor (hmmm... other interesting uses for that I am sure) that can be used in the shower. It does seem to get a closer shave.

i have tried to resolve the issue regarding irritation caused by stubble by shaving daily. my problem with this as a solution is, i must shave against the grain of the natural direction of hair growth to remove the stubble because the hairs are too short to remove by the gentler method of shaving in the same direction. Shaving against the grain, for many (myself included), will result in further irritation to the skin (and it hurts too, because the razor actually PULLS the stubbles). i've tried every direction for shaving, including diagonal.

my point in wanting to wax the area is that this method of hair removal will eliminate the appearance of stubble for up to 3 or 4 weeks for most people. i'd rather deal with the irritation every few weeks or so, rather than every other day.

i'd try the vibrating razor, but this method will not illiminate the stubble irritation either.

i could try the method of the plucking device which Catalina has suggested. However, i find that ripping out every hair one at a time, in comparison to yanking out bunches in one swipe (as occurs with waxing) to be a bit more tortureous of a method than i am willing to endure. i know, because, one time last summer, i was able to accomplish turning the entire area into a stubble free zone with nothing more than my tweezers to get me there. It was quite time consuming, painful, & the most frustrating experience i have had yet in my attempts at removing all of the hairs in that area.

 

[Kajira Callista]

Use baby oil or cold cream when you shave, no stubbly sharp stuff after that. For the itch thing use powder...applied carefully to the area you know will irritate you. Pantyliners also help, and yes, the dreaded cotton panties work also. Just a few things a person with way way sensitive skin has learned through the years.

I use veet for sensitive skin regularly now. No irritation, the hairs grow in softer, and never any bumps.

 

[catalina_francisco]

Use baby oil or cold cream when you shave, no stubbly sharp stuff after that. For the itch thing use powder...applied carefully to the area you know will irritate you. Pantyliners also help, and yes, the dreaded cotton panties work also. Just a few things a person with way way sensitive skin has learned through the years.

I use veet for sensitive skin regularly now. No irritation, the hairs grow in softer, and never any bumps.

Seems I am gaining more allergies...baby oil has become one of them along with most lubricants and something in all pantyliners etc., (though normal everyday I am not permitted panties anyway though when I did I developed an allergy to many of the polyester cottons they used on seams so had red lines of lumps where the seams went )...I suspect for the liners etc., it is an allergy to the bleach or such in the material they use. Have also tried Veet but it also creates rashes. I am hoping this pattern does not get worse or I am going to be itching and breaking out the rest of my life. Soaps of any kind are also no longer a part of my life except for using to deodorise drawers etc. Is frustrating to the extreme!!

Catalina

 

[h_i_s]

WAXING: A countdown account of time until regrowth/stubble.

On average, when i have waxed in the past (haven't used the mothed since last summer) i have to do it at least every 3-4 weeks, which certainly BEATS shaving every other day. i'll include an update soon on that note. In the past the wax i used was not as good as what i am waiting to use right now. This one is not a sugar based wax and is top notch as it is a professional strength/brand.

i'll include an update in regard to how often this one will allow me to go between touch-ups.

The countdown has begun. -- As of Sunday ( May 22nd ).

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 4

The entire area has been waxed .... and still remains smooth today.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THURSDAY:
With the hair having grown to about a quarter of an inch, i actually started the waxing on the Thursday. This method, was not an easy accomplishment (although far less annoying than the one time experience i had with tweezing). The attempt with the first strip of hair being removed, was only capable of removing half of the hairs intended. The second strip applied to that same area, removed half of those hairs which still remained. i got the rest of those remaining ....... with ....... .... t-w-e-e-z-e-r-s. Grrrrrr..... Very annoyed at that point, with a friggin stiff neck to boot ...... i decided the hairs were too short, ( thick/coarse hairs normally require more length for the wax to adhere to firmly enough for their removal to be successful ). i waited a couple more days before trying again.

FRIDAY:
... Held off for the day to allow the hair to gorw a bit longer.

SATURDAY:
i jumped back in to try again. The hair was now long enough for removal. i was able to successfully remove the hair from half of the area (the top section of the mons ... about half way down). i didn't do it all at once. i had to take breaks to relieve the strain of my aching neck, as well as, see past the tears (i never claimed it wasn't gonna hurt like hell ... ).

Side note: Even with ten years experience in hair removal by hot wax method as a cosmetologist ... repeat applications were needed for every section of hair removed. Even while done correctly, some follicles actually bled (both the pubic hairs as well as their white bulbish roots are thick enough to cause that to happen). Even while done correctly, some slight bruising did occur (difficult to hold the skin taunt in this very plump, raised & fatty area ... ). And .... a few hairs in each section were just too thick, deeply rooted, and stubborn ... and required removal with tweezers. *A few* is a number i can handle. The whole thing was very painful.

SUNDAY:
i decided to set my mind toward finishing the job. i finally got the entire mons area as smooth as a babies ass. i tried removing a section of hair from an area further downward (about half way down, just outside the area between the clit and anus). Bad idea. The skin in that area is FAR to pliant ... far to stretchy ... and impossible to hold taunt (and for myself, the hair in that area grows from side to side/horizontal direction of growth). Also, i could not see as well as i'd have liked to and therefore decided against it. The whole point of removing the hair by this method was to avoid stubble irritation of the mons. For that reason, satisfied in having accomplished this, i grabbed a razor and shaved all of the hairs remaining below my clit. A fair compromise, i'd say.

CONs:
1) i will have to go through the entire process again in a few weeks or so.

PROs:
1) It may be less time consuming, as well as less painful.
2) Many times after waxing this area (as i found out the last time i waxed there, last summer), the individual hairs may grow in with a finer density circumfrence-wise.
3) Sometimes, some of the follicles might become damaged due to yanking the hairs out forcefully, and the hair may grow back finer in some areas (meaning density-wise .. per square inch of the area involved).
4) i don't have to deal with the removal, nor the irritation of daily stubble.
5) i will only have to deal with touch ups ... every 3 weeks or so.

Updates will follow to offer others feedback, as far as when actual regrowth may occur ... for *me.

*Everyone's body is different. While some may experience regrowth sooner or later than i, ... this might provide a rough estimate for others by example. Bonus: If it helps anyone else who might be considering having this area waxed professionally, or more specifically ... doing it themselves at home ... and they wish to know the details such as pain involved, length required etc ect ect .... AWESOME. If not, it will at least help me to keep track of WHEN i actually last waxed (and yes, i have a calendar, and two journals --one in my dresser drawer, and another in my installed programs .... but this was/is more fun. )

 

[Killishandra]

I'm wondering, can dilapitories be used on the pussy lips? Is that even safe?

Also, a question for Catalina... In regards to the electric plucking devices, how well do they work? I'm interested in one of those, but I'm wondering if you have to go over areas several times to catch everything, or worse yet, go back over manually with tweezers. That seems like it would be quite a bother (especially for legs,) but perhaps less of a bother than shaving.

I shave almost every day, and lucky for me my skin is less sensitive than most redheads. Horay for some of those "brunette" genes I got from my mom.

 

[Neomagalie]

.............

 

[serijules]

This is what I use, and I swear by it. If I take the time to use it daily, I stay smooth with little effort

Body Bare Personal Shaver Review

 

[catalina_francisco]

Also, a question for Catalina... In regards to the electric plucking devices, how well do they work? I'm interested in one of those, but I'm wondering if you have to go over areas several times to catch everything, or worse yet, go back over manually with tweezers. That seems like it would be quite a bother (especially for legs,) but perhaps less of a bother than shaving.

I have found it to be the best method of all I have tried including waxing which also gave me allergies. It is time consuming and occasionally I have done it over 2 days if pushed for time, but once done there needn't be anything left and it is soft, smooth and lasts 3-4 weeks minimum for me. I think the problem I am having with the new machine is as you say, having to go over the same area several times because unlike the previous one's design which had the rotors side by side in rows, this one has in the same space 2-3 widely spaced apart. I don't find I have ever caught skin, though the thought has made me extremely careful. I reality, the tweezer type rotors do not really open wide enough to get anything meaty between them but if they catch a hair too high up (usually caused when scared of the unlikely event of catching skin or hair is too long), it fails to pluck the hair and pulls the skin in trying (but not actually catching the skin).

Main thing to remember is doing it slow and patiently, stretching the skin flat and taut as possible, using a mirror if possible for added assistance, and rechecking once you think all is gone. LOL, I have on occasion missed something and he has used it as a reason to torture me with manual tweezers which sends me into squirm mode...he now uses the threat to check and pluck when he wants to see me sweat and beg. Just the sight of him with tweezers in hand and that wicked glint in his eyes turns me into a quivering mess.

Catalina

 

[h_i_s]

I was wondering too how safe it was to use cream on lips. I did in the past and did not have any reaction.

Everyone's body/skin reacts differently. If it works for you, i say go for it. i'd be very careful NOT to accidentally apply it to the very sensative area found within those delicate folds of skin.

 

[h_i_s]

This is what I use, and I swear by it. If I take the time to use it daily, I stay smooth with little effort

Body Bare Personal Shaver Review

i hopped on the link and checked it out. This shaving device sounds like a great solution. i'll keep it in mind should i decide the waxing is not worth the pain, time and effort. Thanks!!

 

[h_i_s]

I know that for me the electric plucking device works really well for my armpits and I do use it for the bikini and mons area and most of my lips. I just don’t use it for too close to the folds because it gets caught in the rotors and it is just so painful and I always seem to miss spots. So I only do that small almost care area with my razor or pluck some. It’s been a really good purchase.

I don’t use it for my legs which strangely hurt more than any other area.

I was wondering too how safe it was to use cream on lips. I did in the past and did not have any reaction.

Just the thought of skin from any area getting 'caught' ... kills my interest in regard to this method of hair removal. Besides, i HATE the pain involved. Pubics hurt like a bitch when being yanked out ... i can't stand the torture of having one hair at a time plucked out vs. a bunch each time. Once i get started i just want it done ASAP.

Good example of how people all process pain differently. i waxed my legs right after finishing my mons .... didn't flinch even once while doing my legs. My legs were a breeze but i cussed up a storm under my breath with every strip i yanked while doing my mons.

i envy anyone who can do their armpits. i can't. my skin is too sensative there. Even waxing causes redness, and BIG TIME burning as a result of irritation. Funny thing is, it's not so much the skin, it's the follicles themselves that burn like hell afterwards ....... for at least two days.

 

[Killishandra]

Main thing to remember is doing it slow and patiently, stretching the skin flat and taut as possible, using a mirror if possible for added assistance, and rechecking once you think all is gone. LOL, I have on occasion missed something and he has used it as a reason to torture me with manual tweezers which sends me into squirm mode...he now uses the threat to check and pluck when he wants to see me sweat and beg. Just the sight of him with tweezers in hand and that wicked glint in his eyes turns me into a quivering mess.

Catalina

Yeah, I forgot to mention earlier... I feel your pain.

One thing I have learned after the first week with Marquis is that He is the equivalent of Satan with tweezers. Or worse, a safety pin! Let's just say, ingrown hairs are a pet peeve of His, and squeals of alarm/pain are given a raised eyebrow... Followed by my (or C's) head pushed back down on the bed. I've never before let a lover anywhere near my private parts with these instruments of torture!

LOL, I remember one incident in particular, C had a stubborn ingrown and He takes her into the bathroom (where there is better light) and she's squealing in pain and I'm pacing in nervous circles outside the bathroom door until He gave me a stern look and closed it on me. *sigh*

Just in case anyone was wondering why I am eager to find a method other than shaving!

 

[h_i_s]

Catalina & Killishandra ...

Just reading of the 'help' you've had to endure ... i am certain it was a wise choice on my part not to act on the thought i had at one point, ... of asking my Master to lend me a hand. i am a big baby in this area. Whether tweezing, shaving or waxing ... i'd much rather bear the burden of inflicting such pains ... myself. And i do feel for 'C' & you, Killishandra. Having to DIG for ingrowns hurts like a bitch.