Extremely personal question! Beware!

[DressageAB]

Hi there,
My name is Audrey, I'm new here. I am going to school in Boston, and while I am here my bike is, unfortunately, safe at home (New Hampshire). HOwever, I do have my shorts and shoes, and take awesome spin classes up to 4 or 5 times a week and am loving it!~

Now heres the embarrassing part....
If I wanted to, ahem, "clean up down there," would that like, not be a good thing? I just don't know if I should leave everything "longer" for protection when I'm doing my classes? I wouldnt want to get any irritation...

Does anyone have any tips/suggestions?
Thanks in advance everyone!!!! :)

Audrey

[Blueberry]

I don't think very many things qualify as too personal to post here judging from what I've seen in other posts ;) This topic has actually been discussed quite a bit on the board - if you search under saddle sores, you will find many, many threads. Suffice it to say, there are some who believe in leaving it alone, some who shave (some or all) and some who wax (some or all). Whatever you do, make sure you give you body time to adjust (i.e. don't wax and then head to a spin class an hour later).

Good luck and let us know what works best for you! :o

[Grog]

I suggest using the keyword "brazilian" to search the board. All the threads that will come up as research results are highly relevant to your question!

I personally won't even consider going all the way as far as waxing goes. I get a traditional bikini waxing that leaves the area where the thigh connects with the pelvis clean and trim the rest. Never had a single problem, although I must add that I've never shaved down there, just waxed, so the hair is not very strong and not prone to ingrowth.

Good luck!

[DressageAB]

Sorry! I didn't realize the topic has been brought up :p
I will search the boards :)
Thanks you guys!

[KSH]

I will sometimes shave extra around the buttocks area (near the crack, but not in it)... and when the hair starts to grow out... it gets ingrown, etc... from riding.

So, I don't shave that anymore.

I just keep the front area shaved and I trim the rest of it very short with scissors!

How was that for explicit?

[BikeMomma]

Hey Dressage!

I've found that a NEW men's razor and men's shaving cream or even hair conditioner to shave with works the best for keeping irritation to a minimum. For some reason, the men's products seem to work better in that regard.

By the way, I love love love your avatar and handle name. I love horses and I love dressage. Beautiful sport. ;)

Seems like you've got lots of help with your answer. I agree a search will give you even more info. :)

-BikeMomma

[DressageAB]

BikeMomma,
Thanks for the tip on controlling irritation!

The avatar is of me and my horse this past summer- he's my "boy!" and I miss him like crazy when I am at school! I agree with you, dressage is a beautiful form of riding :)

[CorsairMac]

welcome to the board Dressage. I can't think of a question that would be too personal - if you can't ask it here, where can you ask! :)

If you get a chance, there's a thread under open titled "getting to know you". Gives you a chance to learn more about us than our mothers know, and tell us something more about you!

and Love the avatar!

[Michelemarrano]

Hi!! I used to ride American Saddlebred Horses and have an immense respect for the discipline of dressage. Most of my equestrian contemporaries (mid 40's) that showed Five-Gaited horses back in the 70's and early 80's, if still riding have switched to dressage. I switch to cycling.

Now...back to the question.....being half-Jewish and half-Sicilian...thick, dark hair is EVERYWHERE on my body. Waxing will not have lasting results---I use the old Wahl horseclippers to stay clipped and then a Venus razor for closer results. I have to be really careful with the trouser-crease area of my bum as to not nick it lest it result in a saddle sore from the bike.

Hope this helps.