OT (sorta): The Leg Shaving Thread

[Kimmyt]

So I was a bit bored and browsing through the threads on Bicycling.com forums and came across one of the (I'm sure) infinite 'why do male cyclists shave their legs' threads.

The thing has always confused me a bit, but I've always just considered it a quirk of the sport. Most of the replies agreed with my ideas on it, but then a few of the posts went on to the female side of things.

Saying how female racers didn't have as much of an emphasis on shaving legs, since most of us do it anyway. (I don't race, so am not sure what the female racing world is like, and I'm unsure that any guy would know what it's like either)

From there the conversation degenerated a bit, into how lazy and gross it is for women not to shave their legs.

I have to say, at this point was when the steam started rolling out of my ears (ala cartoon character, red face and all!). Because, honestly, this has always been a pet peeve of mine.

It's not that I don't shave my legs at all. I do, especially if I'm going to be wearing a dress at a formal event, or if I'm going to the beach or if I'm expecting to get laid or something. But it's by no means a regular thing. Perhaps once every week or two, and I've gone months without doing it. I explain it to people by saying that I've got light colored hair (while it isn't dark, it's certainly not invisible)... but really, I just don't find that having a bit of fuzz or stubble bothers me. Perhaps it's something of my mindset about the whole thing. When you spend alot of time outside, it's just more of a hassle to shave sometimes than just let it grow naturally.

Am I the only one that gets incredibly angry over males who insist that women should be smooth as a baby's butt? We're not made that way, so why should we present ourselves that way? I always say to The Boy, when he makes a comment about shaving, that if he shaves his back then I'll shave my legs. Usually I'll shave my legs anyway, but he has gotten the point and doesn't hassle me about it. Besides, if he *****es about it too much I'll just withhold.

'Don't look a gift horse in the mouth' they do say...

Anyway, just wanted to see if I was by myself in this thinking here, or if there are other folks out there like me!

[Nanci]

BF and I have similar views on this subject- if we both won the lottery today, we'd be getting laser hair removal of everything tomorrow. Well, actually he has some key areas that are just clipped short so as to not look like a freak- but there is no Ron Jeremy-ness going on anywhere!!!

Guys with shaved legs are HOT!! It makes their legs so much nicer to look at. And who likes stinky long armpit hair. Clip it! Back hair- shave it! Arm hair- shave it!! Down _there_- clip it into submission!!

Good, now I've probably offended everyone...

Nanci

[Bad JuJu]

Oh, man, don't get me started. I hear ya, sister! I'm kind of a fair-weather leg shaver; that is, I do it pretty regularly in the summer, but just kind of off and on in the winter months. The chief, my so, is ok with that, too.

But mainly it just pi**es me off when people complain about women with unshaven legs (even women complain about it sometimes). I mean, where do they get off? It's my freakin' body, and as long as I keep it clean and healthy and I'm not spreading disease, whose business is it of anybody else's whether I shave it or not?

And here's another thing about women shaving: it supports the image of women as persistently infantile. If that sounds a little extreme, hear me out: when we're little girls, our legs (and underarms) are hairless (except for the fine, almost invisible childhood fuzz), so if men want us to have hairless legs when we're grown up, doesn't that suggest that they want us to remain childish and therefore governable by them?

I can hear the shrieks of protest already, so let me hurriedly admit that I know that our culture values smooth skin, and nice smooth legs are appealing to many of us--I like them too. But that should be MY choice, or possibly a choice agreed to between me and my significant other, not someone else's. In fact, that's what feminism is all about: choices. And if you think you're not a feminist, think about whether you'd like someone else making these kinds of decisions for you: if you're OK with that, you're not a feminist; but if you're NOT OK with that, whether you want to own up to it or not, you're a feminist, sister.

OK, rant over. :o You may now return to your originally scheduled thread.

[KSH]

Am I the only one that gets incredibly angry over males who insist that women should be smooth as a baby's butt? We're not made that way, so why should we present ourselves that way? I always say to The Boy, when he makes a comment about shaving, that if he shaves his back then I'll shave my legs. Usually I'll shave my legs anyway, but he has gotten the point and doesn't hassle me about it. Besides, if he *****es about it too much I'll just withhold.


Well, I shave my legs for me. Honestly, when it starts to grow out, it gets itchy and annoying.

I only shave like every other day... and sometimes only twice a week.... but I try to keep it up for me.

Otherwise, I think we can all agree that a very high standard is set for women by men... for us to be attractive to them. I think in the end though, it's up to us to decide how much we care and what we want to do to make ourselves attractive.

I think we need to keep in mind too that this is a cultural thing. Women in Europe are not scored if they don't shave their underarms, etc.

[DebW]

I'm with Kimmy on this one. I see no earthly purpose in shaving, so I don't. It's just a cultural/esthetic thing. I respond to my own esthetic sense (or lack thereof), not to everyone else's. So yes, I do get steamed by people who expect all women to follow the same standards of appearance rather than treating us each as a valuable individual.

[JoyfulGirl]

I don't really get angry. I just figure it's very few peoples business.

I tend to prefer to not have much body hair or not deal with other's body hair. On the other I've gone for 6 months or so without shaving before. I'll go swimming with legs as furry as a grizzlies.

As far as with people I've dated.. It's gone both ways. I've had guys kick up a fuss and ask me to shave. And that's all right, they can ask me for a favour and sometimes I'll oblige. And I've had a guy who begged me not to shave for many of the reasons laid forth in posts here. It's unnatural, it's infantalizing, it's contrary to feminist goals, that's ok too. It was kind of sweet even. But I still don't have to listen to anyone else.

There's nothing I do and nothing I am that it should matter to anyone else how I manage the finer details of my personal body care. Nothing even borderline like working in a formal profesional environment where you could start arguing appearance matters to clients even, nadda, zilch. Don't have any friends who are going to change how they value my friendship based on whether I shave or not. I wouldn't date anyone who thought they had the final say in any personal choice of mine.

Guess I just don't care enough to get angry. My cats taught me the fine art of ignoring someone into oblivion. As far as what other people do.. Guess I don't really care usually.

Oh wait! I confess, leg hair poking through nylons does distress me for some reason. Very odd looking to me. not quite right.

[Nanci]

Yeah, I shave for _me_. Hair grossses me out. I like smooth skin. As for the infantile thing- I had a girlfriend who shaved it all "down there." I told her I thought that would make a person look like a little girl. But after months and months and years and years of taking off more and more, and then cute little designs were in fashion, which at first appealed to my artistic side, but then became tedious- I decided, who cares, it's all going! What a relief!!

Nanci

[pikato]

I used to shave obsessively, my primary reason was that I didn't want Kirk dragging his hands across stubble. Especially since he obsessively hates back hair & trims his chest hair. But one day I said "Don't touch my legs they are freaking hairy!" and he rubbed them & goes "Unless your hair is as long as my leg hair, I really don't care":cool: Mind you, I think we were about 17 when this convo happened(we are 24 & 25, now)

So now, I can damn near guarantee that my legs will not be shaved during winter months & during during summer months I shave around once every two weeks or so, depending on what I'm doing. I am much more obsessive about my underarm hair, though, it seems to grow faster & darker than my legs, so I do those once every few days.

As for my 'woman parts'(Kirk calls them this & I find that hilarious!) I generally leave a small patch in the front & shave the rest. Haven't been brave enough to try waxing.

[mimitabby]

I haven't shaved my legs since i was 13 years old (I'm 54 now) and I have less hair now than i did then; i am not a hairy person. I don't own a rasor.
If you looked REALLY hard at the backs of my calves you could find a dozen dark hairs on each leg. Not worth dealing with.

I think women that don't shave shouldn't have to. If a guy dared to tell me what to do about shaving I'd dump him.
Same goes the other way too. If hubby wants to grow a beard, that's his perogative.

Fortunately for me, he's not hairy either (our 25 year old son still doesn't have enough hairs to shave regularly)
So hair is not an issue with us.

But I agree with the gals that are implying there might be link between hairlessness (shaving) and appearing infantile to please a guy!! yuck!

[Grog]

Thanks to reading a girly mag article on hair removal techniques when I was about 10 yo, I've never shaved. Oh, wait, maybe once or twice, when I was about 15. I must say that from the start I had light hair and after reading the article I was scared to death that it would grow dark and strong if I started shaving it.

When I was about 16 I made it a habit of having it waxed. I was always working so I had some money and I sort of though of that as paying the phone bill. Thanks to the light hair, though, I never had to have it done more than once a month or so. Nowadays I just zip the hair off with cold wax bands, which are much less efficient than the warm wax, and leave a few hair down there. They're quite soft, and my partner will make fun of me if I comment about them.

A few years back I decided to get electrolysis for my underarm. After an absurd amount of money, I now have only a few visible hair there and don't bother to schedule regular appointments. It was probably cheaper than having monthly waxing appointments for the rest of my life, but I'd rather not make the calculation. Bikini zone gets waxed and whatever is left in the front - I would never go brazilian, really not attractive to me - gets trimmed because it really bothers me less to have short than long hair down there for both sex and cycling. The long hair ends up irritating my lips...

Laser doesn't currently work with my sort of hair (very pale).

End of confession.

Sooooooooooooooooo, I am a pretty hard-minded feminist on all issues, but this is one issue about which I have pretty much resigned with regards to myself. I've grown up to think of relatively hairless legs as pleasant to the touch and to the eye. However, I claim the right for all women to refuse the slavery of hair removal.

I also suggest women don't even bother spending time on bike forums like Bicycling's and bikeforum because many conversations there get as juvenile as you can imagine, and we shouldn't allow ourselves to become cynical about the other gender as a group. For both-genders conversations on cycling, I attend a smaller forum, in French, where the discussions are enlightening. It probably helps that these people also often cycle together, they know each other face-to-face and don't tend to say things online that they wouldn't say in real life...

[MomOnBike]

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

It happened again today. I got junk mail for MY business that was addressed to DH.

HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY BUSINESS!!! except get out of the way when things aren't going well.

Sexist SOBs.

Thank you. I needed to vent.

BTW, I shave my legs, but mostly out of habit. When I was young & skinny & wore skin-tight jeans, leg hair annoyed me. I just keep shaving now out of inertia. Razors touch nothing above my knees, though, I'm clumsy. :eek:

[bcipam]

Oh the joys of being Japanese and American Indian - no leg hair!!!!! None. My legs are really smooth (as are my arms and underarms) but unfortunately due to my advance age (55) I'm starting to get sprouts on my chin - what's up with that????:eek:

[li10up]

To me this goes right along with makeup...if the world was devoid of men how many women would still wear makeup? How many would still shave? I admit that I do both but I do it begrudgingly.

[Nanci]

Can we talk about men shaving now? :-)

I'd still shave if I was the last person on earth. Plus, I'd get to run around naked a lot more!!

[RoadRaven]

Well, before I began racing I would have told you I shaved only in the summer when I worked (we have 6 weeks off over summer and I don't/didn't shave then)

...

but... now I shave my legs to my shorts line every Friday night - and its winter - why? because of the Saturday race.

I do not shave the bikini line although I have in the past but I simply don't have time to do it, and my hair grows quickly so it would have to every day and what is the point anyway when my partner has no prefernce either way.

My armpits stay gloriously hairy until it is warm enough to be back in singlets. I hate shaving my armpits but with such dark hair it just doesn't look right. I did try bleaching my pits at the start of last summer... but it just looked weird. :cool:

[RoadRaven]

Can we talk about men shaving now? :-)

Ummm.... we must have been posting at the same time...

Have three top riders in this house - and none of them shave their legs...

My 17 year old doesn't really need to as his legs are virtually hairless, but my 15 1/2 year old is up for "hairiest legs in the club" and proud of it. And my partner's training partners's wife has offered to wax my partner's legs often.

So sorry Nanci... you won't get the gratification you desire in my house... :p

[JoyfulGirl]

Re: makeup and shaving and all that if men weren't around... I'm up in the boonies by myself pretty much for about 3 weeks.. Still shaving and wearing makeup. I really do it for me most of the time. I actually saw another human yesterday face to face when I went to the store... But to go to the store I scrubbed off all my makeup because sweat+makeup=bad combo. Came back, took a shower, put up my hair, put on makeup, put on some jewelry to eat dinner by myself and drink wine out on the porch and watch the sun go down. In some strange way it pleases me to know that I look nice. I don't need someone else to admire me. And it's -really- nice to crawl into a big ol' bed with clean sheets right after shaving and have smooth legs wallow around in fluffy blankets all by myself and not have to worry about kicking anyone or being a blanket hog. Sometimes it's also nice to have grizzly legs once it grows out though. I swear my leg hair's thick enough to actually insulate me.

"I do it for the joy it brings
because I'm a joyful girl"

;) Now that everyone knows I'm vain, selfish, and self indulgent I'm going to go hide.

[pikato]

As for make-up, I can tell you what goes on my face right now:
Powder, Mascara, lip gloss. That's it & that's only for work.

My dad always had this saying "A Little Powder, a little paint, makes a girl something she ain't" and I think that stuck with me. I'm quite a dissappointment to my cousins who all spend a minimum of 1 hour putting their makeup on.

[mimitabby]

wow, I guess i'm more of an oddball than i thought.
God gave me this face, i am not going to waste my time
painting it up. I don't have time!!!! I don't care!!!!
:D :D :D :D

[Grog]

Can we talk about men shaving now? :-)


Last weekend, went hiking with a couple of friends, both triathlete, one of them - male - big-time Ironman competitor, but not competing this year for work reasons. My partner is also a big-time triathlete (olympic distance though) and cyclist. Also not competing this year.

We meet the other couple at the trail and sit down to have lunch together. First thing this other guy says to my partner: "I see you're not shavin' either!"

I thought it was the funniest thing.

At the beginning of this season my partner wore his leg warmers for the longest time (even when weather was in the 20C) because he hadn't shaved his legs. Now he's started wearing just shorts but won't shave his legs because he doesn't think he's fit enough yet. (Afraid to look like a poseur.)

The symbolic charge of shaved legs is quite complicated for women, but it may even be more complicated for men!!

[li10up]

Re: makeup and shaving and all that if men weren't around... I'm up in the boonies by myself pretty much for about 3 weeks.. Still shaving and wearing makeup. I really do it for me most of the time. I actually saw another human yesterday face to face when I went to the store... But to go to the store I scrubbed off all my makeup because sweat+makeup=bad combo. Came back, took a shower, put up my hair, put on makeup, put on some jewelry to eat dinner by myself and drink wine out on the porch and watch the sun go down. In some strange way it pleases me to know that I look nice. I don't need someone else to admire me. And it's -really- nice to crawl into a big ol' bed with clean sheets right after shaving and have smooth legs wallow around in fluffy blankets all by myself and not have to worry about kicking anyone or being a blanket hog. Sometimes it's also nice to have grizzly legs once it grows out though. I swear my leg hair's thick enough to actually insulate me.

"I do it for the joy it brings
because I'm a joyful girl"

;) Now that everyone knows I'm vain, selfish, and self indulgent I'm going to go hide.
Hey, that's cool. To each his/her own. I just think that "most" of the time we do it for the men in our lives or because society says that's what we "should" do. Now that the sun spots are showing from not wearing sunscreen or makeup earlier in life I find myself wanting to cover them with foundation. But if at home alone on the weekends it would be NO makeup for me. I'd just cover the mirrors! :D

[RoadRaven]

I'm quite a dissappointment to my cousins who all spend a minimum of 1 hour putting their makeup on.


Are you seriously serious?
I have never taken that long - not even in my meticulous mask-wearing teenage years!!!

:eek:

[pikato]

Are you seriously serious?
I have never taken that long - not even in my meticulous mask-wearing teenage years!!!

:eek:


Yep, completely serious. I've watched them do it, and I still can't figure why it takes that long! But I swear my one cousin has a brush, wand, sponge, applicator for damn near every product there is!

[mimitabby]

Yep, completely serious. I've watched them do it, and I still can't figure why it takes that long! But I swear my one cousin has a brush, wand, sponge, applicator for damn near every product there is!
That might be part of why i swung so far in the opposite direction.
My stepmother used to take 1 hour minimum spraying teasing and applying make up before every family function. and WE were ALWAY late. It was so embarrassing to troup up the church aisles in the middle of my cousin's ceremony. But stepmother looked great! (barf)

[fixedgeargirl]

I'm quite a dissappointment to my cousins who all spend a minimum of 1 hour putting their makeup on.

When my male cousin got married his soon-to-be wife took a full TWO hours :eek: to get ready. Every.single.day. We're talking Dallas big-hair, six layers of paint. They were living in another state, but got married in his small home town. They were staying at a motel and had to get a suite so she could have her own bathroom in order to execute her morning ritual :rolleyes: . Now they have two kids. I don't know how much time she's *shaved* off of the routine, but her look is much, much simpler now.

[susiej]

I wear makeup less and less often each year because I think my face looks fine without it, and heavy or badly applied makeup looks worse and worse the older the wearer is. Because I don't wear it so often, my makeup application skills grow weaker every year.

I shave only because of societal expectations. 1/week in the winter, 2/week in the summer, only up to the knees. If I wear a bathing suit, I'll do the bikini area, but my thigh hair is pretty light, and, really, at my age, no one looks at them any more.

The facial wax and bleach (and electrolysis for the next big birthday) is because I don't think I look good with a goatee. Stupid genetics. :P

[GreenLady]

Doesn't waxing hurt? I can manage pulling a hair or two with tweezers, but a whole strip of hair?? How do people tolerate it?

[rocknrollgirl]

No make-up
Care free hair
down in the dirt, mt biking, camping, paddling

Shave every day....I will skip if I am backpacking, but if I am on a paddle trip, still shave.

Can't stand the way stubble feels....:p

[Kimmyt]

The symbolic charge of shaved legs is quite complicated for women, but it may even be more complicated for men!!

That was definitely the idea I was getting from reading this other thread!



I shave only because of societal expectations.

And that's the part that frustrates me the most about the whole situation.

I have to say, of it all, I agree the most with the shaving of armpits thing. Mostly because I have worked as a lifeguard, and having to stick my hands under slimey wet-deoderized furry armpits all day was rather gross. But I really do admire those who don't shave. More as a 'Damn, you go girl' type of thing. One of the coolest things I ever saw: at an area I climb at regularly, once ran across an older couple, maybe 60-70, graying hair on them both and as brown from being out on the rock all day, locals to the area. Her hair was undyed gray as was his hair/long beard. Her pits were long and gray too. They, as a couple, were just so natural, and beautiful. I really admired them, you know, for being who they were. It didn't hurt that they were the cutest little couple ever, obviously having spent so much time together and on the rock that they didn't even need to communicate as they set up their descent.

It was definitely one of those 'damn' moments and I realized I wanted to be that woman when I got older.

[Lise]

I love having smooth legs. They finally make razors I can use and hardly ever cut myself. I went years without shaving my legs for some notion I had of feminism. Then I remembered how much *I* like smooth legs, and I haven't gone back. I think I'm a pretty stinky sweater, too, and it's worse when I have hair. So I shave my armpits.

I shave off the little hairs that would poke out of my bathing suit, but otherwise leave things alone "down there". Keep in mind that I see lots and lots of "woman parts" in my job as a midwife. I don't think mine are all that great looking, and a little hair blurring things is not a bad idea! Plus I hate the itchiness of hair growing back in, and I'm prone to folliculitis (infections in the follicles). If I had some guy ask me to wax or something, I'd try it out of curiousity.

This reminds me of something a lesbian folk-singer once said, "In the '70s we were living separate from men and shaving our heads so we wouldn't look like the idealized woman...but then we realized that we liked our girlfriends to have hair, too!" :p

Do whatever you like, what brings you and your partner pleasure. There are much bigger problems in the world!

(I'm a big fan of makeup. I'm pale and it makes me look much more lively. When I lived in Jamaica for two months, I didn't wear a lick of makeup ever. Too hot, too sweaty, too dirty, just silly)

[susiej]

It happened again today. I got junk mail for MY business that was addressed to DH.

HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY BUSINESS!!! except get out of the way when things aren't going well.

I was going to reply that I got e-mail spam addressed to my husband at my domain when he went to a web site that lets you apply to multiple mortgage companies with just one form submission. :mad: I could have killed him. The address on the DNS record was the address of the property being remortgaged.

BUT.

Today we got snail spam from the cable company addressed to G---- B------, OWNER, SUSIEJ, INC. which isn't even a real company! My webhost used SusieJ Inc for the business name when I first registered the domain, but I had it changed years ago because there is no business of that name. (Friends did the registration -- who knows why they added a company name.) So, the freaking cable company is trolling years-old DNS registration records for .coms and matching addresses to their customer database.

The lengths marketers go to find someone dumb enough to respond to their direct marketing efforts -- matching by addresses, phone numbers, last names -- if they can shuffle the pieces together to get a new combination that might be an "individual" who can/will respond ... I also get mail for my mother, nearly 20 years after she re-married.

[RoadRaven]

I love having smooth legs. They finally make razors I can use and hardly ever cut myself. I went years without shaving my legs for some notion I had of feminism. Then I remembered how much *I* like smooth legs, and I haven't gone back.

This was the ideal of the whole feminism movement - for women to be able to choose what they wanted... that women do something - like shaving your legs Lise - because they like it, not cause they feel they have to!

The feminism of the 60s/70s had that whole anti-male thing going

Post-modernist feminism says that we choose what we want - if we want to make-up our faces, shave our legs/pits, we should - but it should be our choice - not societal pressure.

If we want to choose to study, to work or to stay at home to raise our babies... then we should be able to choose any of those as a valid option and feel no guilt or recrimination from others in our communities.

I am def a post-modernist feminist. I like to dress pretty, I like to look like a slob, sometimes I do my hair nice, other times I dont use a brush for several days. I wear makeup to work, sometimes (takes me ten minutes though).

I bite people who tell me I should or shouldn't do something cause I am a girl!

[Bad JuJu]

Right on, RoadRaven--it's all about having choices and being able to make our own choices.

[JoyfulGirl]

Uhm.. After reading the comments about how freaking long people take to get ready. I felt the need to clarify.

it takes me 5-10 minutes to do my makeup. Maybe 15 if I'm going to the symphony or something I really want to be dolled up for.
3-10 minutes to do my hair normally. 15-20 if I need to dry it or I'm whipping out the curling iron and being fancy schmancy.
My average shower is under 10 minutes.

If I don't have access to a bathroom with running hot and cold water it probably means I'm in the woods somewhere or out on the water and there's no way my lazy sorry self is packing makeup or razors or anything not necessary to keep me warm and my belly filled and safe.. I'll scrub, scrape and brush myself off when I get home.

still trying to imagine 2 hours a day to get ready. I'm not that imaginative.

[Steph_in_TX]

[QUOTE=Nanci]Can we talk about men shaving now? :-) QUOTE]


Since you asked...dh had been toying with the idea of shaving his legs for some time. I told him I didn't care what he did. He finally did it about four months ago. I'm sold!! There's nothing better than two pairs of smooth legs in the sheets. ;)

[Gray Gato]

To me this goes right along with makeup...if the world was devoid of men how many women would still wear makeup? How many would still shave? I admit that I do both but I do it begrudgingly.

Makeup.... I'm 46 years old and I have never worn it. I wonder if I'm the only one? Husband could care less, when he met me I didn't wear it so obviously he didn't care if I did after marriage.

[mimitabby]

Makeup.... I'm 46 years old and I have never worn it. I wonder if I'm the only one? Husband could care less, when he met me I didn't wear it so obviously he didn't care if I did after marriage.
no, you're not the only one. I tried in highschool and it smeared on my glasses and ran when i cried... now i'm 54 and the closest to makeup i ever wear
is chapstick.
:)

[Shimpie]

I absolutely HATE shaving. Hate it! Hate it! Hate it!

But I still like having hairless legs. (The lotion and sunblock apply just a bit easier without hair. Also, bikinis and leg hair don't mix.) I've gone whole winters without shaving, which was easier to do when I lived in northern CA as opposed to where I live now in southern CA.

My leg hair doesn't shave cleanly on a daily basis. When I did shave, I needed to do it every other day. But then, I hated the stubble. I found I got a better shave if a soaked in a bath and then shaved. However, the tub would end up having a soap scum ring decorated with little bitty hairs. Ewww!

Now I WAX and I'm never going back. I deal with my leg hair and girly parts for only 45 minutes every 5-6 weeks. I wax from my ankles up to knees. The hairs on my thighs are very fine, so I don't bother dealing with it. I also get a brazilian with a little upside down triangle in in the front. The pre-pubescent look isn't appealing to me. No more trouble with razor burn, nicks, bumps, cuts, and in my case fewer ingrown hairs. I don't need to think about public hair sneaking out from under my swim suit.

The fiance doesn't mind whether or not I have leg hair. He's seen winters when my leg hair might have been denser than his own hair.:eek: What he notices is that I no longer take 30 minute showers to shave. What I've noticed with brazialians is...well...more oral sex.:D

Oh, for those who think waxing looks increadibly painful, there are numbing creams that are a blessing for first timers.

[makbike]

Gray Gato you are not alone. As a kid my mom "encouraged" me to wear makeup to cover the large birthmark that covers half of my forehead and my left eye. She was concerned that my peers would be mean and cruel to me if they saw it. For many years I got up early just apply the makeup, it took forever to put on, three layers, powder etc. If I did not take my time it looked awful. I remember coming home (4th or 5th grade) one day and announcing I was no longer going to put that "nasty" stuff on my face, I hated it. Again, my mom encouraged me to continue to apply it but in a very mature way I told her if my friends were my friends they would accept me regardless if I had a birthmark or not. I tossed all the makeup stuff in the trash and promised myself I would never wear it or anything like it as long as I lived. I've held true to my promise and I find that most people who know me rarely even notice my birthmark. Every now and then I'll have a student or small child ask about it. To the small kids I tell them it is where the angel kissed me when I was born, to the older kids I simply explain what it really is and they seem okay with it.

As far as the shaving goes, I shave for me for I can't stand the feeling of "nubs" vs. pant legs so I shave every day while I shower. It, again, is a personal choice one not dictated by anyone else, simpy by my own likes and dislikes.

[residentgeek]

Put me down in the "no makeup, no shaving" crowd.

I don't shave because there's no point. I have a little 2 inch band of weird little dark hairs under my socks, and the rest of my legs are nothing but peach fuzz. I do have underarm hair, but since I'm always wearing shirts that cover it, I don't bother caring about it. I will occasionally trim pubic hair when it gets insanely long and starts getting in the way, but I'm not one for the shaved look (too much itching!). When I go swimming, I'm most comfortable in a bathing suit with swim trunks, so I don't ever worry about bikini lines. I honestly can't remember the last time I actually shaved anything. My partner shaves, and it doesn't bother me. It's her body.

As for makeup, I always felt like it was more of a burden on time than a help to appearance, so I avoided it. My mom would spend forever getting ready to go anywhere. "Okay, give me a minute to put my face on." I just thought it was silly, because I thought she looked fine without the makeup. Some friends in middle school got me all gussied up one night, but as soon as they were done I took it all off because it just didn't feel right.

I do wear hair gel now, though, because my hair is short, but it's long enough that if I don't gel it at least a little, I'll just end up with a big ol' afro-looking thing that looks like I didn't even try to comb it. But that's about all I sacrifice for appearances at this point.

[Kimmyt]

Residentgeek your avatar cracks me up! Every time I see it I just about laugh out loud! Thanks for making me smile!

[Duck on Wheels]

[QUOTE=Nanci]Can we talk about men shaving now? :-) QUOTE]


Since you asked...dh had been toying with the idea of shaving his legs for some time. I told him I didn't care what he did. He finally did it about four months ago. I'm sold!! There's nothing better than two pairs of smooth legs in the sheets. ;)

I actually prefer softly fuzzy to prickly "5 o'clock shadow" on legs, chin, arms ... wherever. Think teddy bear. I mean, I ask you, how cuddly would that be without fuzz? Don't know if I'd even recognize my dh without the full beard.

[DrBee]

My hubby is pretty furry - and I like it! Like Duck said - a teddy bear without hair - nah. To each his/her own, though. I shave - don't know why. I just do. Not everyday, but more often than not. I tried shaving elsewhere when I was younger - no go. That did not work for me.

And as far as makeup and getting ready in the AM goes, I haven't worn makeup for probably 15-20 years. I did wear some when I got married and for the Mardi Gras balls I've attended, but that's it. From alarm going off to walking out the door to work (if no ride or running), it takes me about 30 minutes in the AM. Short hair that barely needs a brush run through it and no makeup makes for a quick prep in the morning.

[margo49]

Wow!
I *never* shaved my legs (which were very hairy). Just thought "Oh.So that"s my body" and carried on regardless. Later I added a feminist ideological tirade to it but always felt superior to my ideological sisters who had up till recently been shavers.

Then in 2003 when Le Tour was riding into Paris I thought "I know how I can celebrate My Life and surviving to see another Tour (ride into Paris)...I'll shave my legs!"
Asked DD (then 14) how and she gave me some Blueberry flavoured foam (I had bought a nice coloured razor on the way home).
Then I watched Eurosport with tears streaming down my face as usual.
Elder DS (then 16) said " About time!", younger DS (then 11) said "What on earth happened to your legs?" and the DSO didn't notice till DD pointedly said "Didn't you notice Mummy's nice legs?"

Now I am hooked on it. Tho' I am not prepared to do it with anything other than a razor. Do it every other day (heard that on a Tour commentary in the same Tour - some viewer asked and David Duffield explained in his inimitable fashion that they "did it every other day")

Under arms I don't do either. Did as a teen then stopped as a Real Feminist . Re-started when I had breast cancer - Thought I was strange enough person and wanted the Dr's to feel more at ease with me. But got a lot of rashes (i guess micro abrasions on an immuno-supressed system) so stopped . Thinking about starting (trying) again this summer
Well, that's all folks
Great fun thread

[colby]

Interesting topic, with so many different replies!

Personally, I don't really shave a lot. What I do shave is to avoid being stinky or feeling dirty. Leg hair doesn't bother me (I don't have a whole lot of it), but if I grow too much armpit hair or "down there" hair, I feel dirty (and I know I get sweaty stinky pits when I don't have hair, let alone when I do!).

As for the makeup, I don't really do that either... just not that into it, and haven't ever been. Honestly, the last time I wore makeup was on my wedding day, and that was 7 years ago. :p To put it in perspective, I think that was the last time I wore a dress, too. ;) I work in a casual environment (software company), and even when I go to trade shows and other events, makeup just doesn't occur to me (and thankfully khakis are acceptable!).

For me, I like to feel clean, that's what makes me feel good about me. I can really respect the comments from all of you makeup wearers and waxers and super shavers (and all of you who don't do those things), the consistent theme here is that we're doing it for us (and sometimes our significant others, because after all, they make us feel good about us, too).

It's too bad there's no "real" equivalent to this forum... it's nice to chat with such a diverse group of women who still find things in common.

[maillotpois]

DH shaves more often than I do (he's a cyclist also).

When he first shaved, about five years ago, it was a bit weird, like "Who's that woman in bed with us - oh wait - it's you." Now I am totally used to it. And it makes his legs look REALLY nice!! :D

[margo49]

Oh yeah, make up
Was just telling a young woman at work yesterday. Never touched the stuff but once.Aged 17 I got a "special present" from a holiday job - 6 lipsticks and nail polishes and G-d knows what the rest was. Waited till I was alone and put on some nail polish. First reaction -" Can't breathe! My nails are suffocating!" Second reaction - "How do you get it *off*!" (Later I heard about "acetone" and "remover". Same story with the lipstick - except it washed off easily.
Use moisturisers all over everywhere but that is it.
Btw work's very smart,very sexy, x-th dan black belt consultant Food Tehnologist (yes, *him* again) says you should never put oils on your skin but chew lecithin. I do both now as I like the girly smells of body moisurisers and the shine you get

[triflor]

From way too much camping experience I discovered the emmense benefits of shaving the armpits. The hair holds sweat smells, and hides those pesky ticks. Plus I *personally* dislike the look of armpit hair. Legs, if it starts to feel weird I shave it, which oddly also feels weird b/c its too smooth. Rarely above the knees. Bikini line yes b/c of being in the pool so often. Sometimes more down there b/c I know my man prefers it that way... ;) But all around its less than weekly... in the winter pushing three week intervals.

Guys with shaved legs do look good. I say cyclists, both men and women, work hard for their muscles, show them off! Hair covers up all that definition.

[dachshund]

I suggest that we open the discussion to
blades vs. electric.

I'm happy to report that after reading this thread, after feminism and everything else, that now we can do exactly what we want with all this hair.

Regarding makeup, I don't do it personally. But you really haven't lived until you've watched a bunch of women apply their makeup on the train in the morning. Those who take a train in to work every day know what I'm talkin' about. :) How on earth do people think this is an appropriate thing to do in front of 50-100 people... I've never understood this. Present company excused, of course.

And, hairy legs? Not since the college days. I have light enough skin to blind people. Add to that, thick, dark hair... nuh-uh, not goin' out of the house like that!

[margo49]

[QUOTE=dachshund]I suggest that we open the discussion to
blades vs. electric.

QUOTE]

What?! We're discussing shearing ?!
(One for the kiwi's and aussies at last?!?)

[Grog]

I'm happy to report that after reading this thread, after feminism and everything else, that now we can do exactly what we want with all this hair.

I'm sorry to be such a sociologist, but I don't think we can say that we are doing "exactly what we want". When there will be women with hairy legs and armpits featured in magazines and television on a regular basis (not just a one-time thing like when Julia Roberts flashed a hairy armpit at an Oscar ceremony or something like that), I'll tend to think that there is really a choice. At the moment, there is still pretty strong social opposition to hairy legs for women (and elite men cyclist), coming much more from other women (or other elite men cyclists), by the way...

[Nanci]

Well, I never thought of armpit hair as a hiding place for ticks, but I'm for sure not growing it out now!!!

I always wondered if electric razors for women worked, but I like the Venus razor so much, it's hard to imagine anything improving on that. And I love my Citrus Sun Tea flavor shaving gel, too.

Nanci

[dachshund]

At the moment, there is still pretty strong social opposition to hairy legs for women.

Hmmm... Good point!

[Tater]

I am not one for makeup! I have tried it, but was too lazy too take it off at night and woke up with racoon eyes! :eek: 'nuff for me. Now it is just moisturizer w/ sunblock and chapstick.

As for shaving, I like smooth, bare legs in the summer, so I shave pretty regularly. I will let it go in the winter until it starts to bug me when I wear tights.

[DrBee]

Venus is tops in my book, too. Never found anything better.

[Dianyla]

I love these types of discussions. :)

Personally, I shave because my leg hair is really coarse and frankly it can be painful on my skin when it rubs against clothing. I had my pits & brazilian lasered a few years ago and I am so happy. I used to get horrible ingrowns and irritation. All that's left on my pits are some light downy hairs that I'll occasionally trim. For down there, I chose to leave a little "landing strip" when I had the lasering done. Occasionally I'll trim/shave all of it off, but I'm pretty lax about it now. I'm just glad that the underwear-escaping thicket in the front and the buttcrack hairs are gone for good. :eek:

Here's a highly entertaining article about hair removal that may interest readers of this thread:
http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Content?oid=24138&category=34029

[DrBee]

How much would lasering cost, if you don't mind my asking?

[Dianyla]

How much would lasering cost, if you don't mind my asking?
It really depends where you get it done, and what specials, etc. It's all very negotiable. That being said, you need at least 4-5 treatments (spaced a few months apart depending on body area) and each treatment is going to run anywhere from $100-300 depending on the body parts involved. Some shops insist on full payment upfront, others let you pay as you go. I was able to get a twofer pits+pubes deal and had each session for $200, paying as I went.

I do recommend that you stick to the lasering centers that are either exclusively laser services, or laser mixed with dermatology/spa services rather than the local tanning joint/salon that happens to have a laser.

[dachshund]

I bought a Panasonic shaver, which was "highly recommended." I think it's a boy's shaver, or "unisex." If I go really slow, it gets almost everything. If I get impatient, I have to do multiple passes. Is the Venus like this?

[Lise]

I use a Schick Quattro, and almost never nick myself. The only time I used an electric razor is when my mom gave me one for my 14th birthday (let the sociologists go to town with that one). I think it worked by YANKING THE HAIR OUT! Seriously. It hurt. I also tried "epilady", which absolutely works by yanking the hair out.

I like the Venus; I'd say it's a toss up between that and the Quattro for not cutting myself, which is my top priority. Has anyone tried the vibrating razor, I think it's a Venus...that sounds suggestive, but really, the thing has a battery and it vibrates. Seems pointless to me, but if it bought me one extra day without stubble and kept me from cutting myself, I'd buy it!

PS, when I was sleeping with women, they were never the kind who shaved their legs--I wonder how wierd that would feel, especially if it were a guy? Isn't life funny?!

[Duck on Wheels]

Well, I never thought of armpit hair as a hiding place for ticks, but I'm for sure not growing it out now!!!

I always wondered if electric razors for women worked, but I like the Venus razor so much, it's hard to imagine anything improving on that. And I love my Citrus Sun Tea flavor shaving gel, too.

Nanci

Funny. I've only ever got ticks on my head, but I never thought of shaving my hair off to discourage them.

[RoadRaven]

The only ticks I have had encounters with are ones on cattle and on dogs. In my experience, it isn't hair they go for... I have found them in short and long hair on animals, as well as relatively bald patches (like tummies.

The places the ticks I have found seem to have most success in are in places that it is difficult for the animals to reach... briskets, bellies, front and back leg "pits"...

I don't tend to get my armpits near ticks in this country... so no biggie for me. Move down under... no snakes, no scorpians, no stone fish, only three poisonous spiders..... and no armpit-lustful ticks!!!

;)

[jeannierides]

My SO and I camp, so ticks abound... those teeny tiny seed ticks are the worst... they could *live* on you for days and not be seen! :eek: We are very careful to check every little place they could hide!
As for shaving, he shaved his legs a couple of times, but I think generally thinks it's a lot of trouble... I shave my legs/armpits and trim around the girly bits (mainly because it feels nice to be smooth), but I have to be careful, because stubble can feel like you're sitting on a pin cushion, and make for a very uncomfortable ride...
I always wore makeup - as soon as my parents would let me, I was spending my money on all kinds of *stuff*! It was not unusual for me to spend a couple of hours *getting ready* (for what, I'm not sure!):rolleyes: ! I was even pretty high in one of the multi-level beauty companies - driving a free car & all of it! In the last 5 years or so, I've been doing less and less. It seems the more fit I become - and comfortable with myself - the less I want to cover up! :p

[triflor]

The only ticks I have had encounters with are ones on cattle and on dogs. In my experience, it isn't hair they go for... I have found them in short and long hair on animals, as well as relatively bald patches (like tummies.

The places the ticks I have found seem to have most success in are in places that it is difficult for the animals to reach... briskets, bellies, front and back leg "pits"...

I don't tend to get my armpits near ticks in this country... so no biggie for me. Move down under... no snakes, no scorpians, no stone fish, only three poisonous spiders..... and no armpit-lustful ticks!!!

;)



i have been told repeatedly that ticks like warm and dark places on the body, thus armpits. but unless you're doing some serious camp time its not too likely

[DirtDiva]

All I want to know is this: how is it that after thirteen years of trying I still manage to miss more knee hairs than I manage to shave off? :p

[RoadRaven]

LOL Kiwi... as always... you cut to the most important, philosophical question

Damn good question and it happens to me (after 27 years of shaving my legs too!!!!) and I don't have the answer...

Luuuurve the avatar, btw... most excellent!

[crazycanuck]

I know this may sound a bit odd..but do you shave your legs in the winter??

What's the point???

I need to get another razor...

c

[Shimpie]

EWWWWWW! TICKS!:eek: I pull a few off of me almost once a week in high tick season. Considering I see them all the time due to work (I fdo alot of bushwhacking), doesn't mean I get used to them. I've only had one actually dig in.

One year, my coworkers and I had a competition to see who could accumulate the most ticks. If we found a tick crawling on our body we could collect it and pin it to our cubicle walls in clear tape. Whoever collected the most ticks won a Sibley birding guide. It wasn't a contest I wanted to win. Kinda morbid huh? Biologists are just weird that way.

[kelownagirl]

I know this may sound a bit odd..but do you shave your legs in the winter??

What's the point???

I need to get another razor...

c


Not me, well maybe at Christmas.

[Nanci]

I have to shave my legs in the winter- I kept my tan all year last year! Ah, Florida...But, I only manage once or twice a week- usually Friday night, so I have hairless legs for the weekend rides.

[DirtDiva]

LOL Kiwi... as always... you cut to the most important, philosophical question

Damn good question and it happens to me (after 27 years of shaving my legs too!!!!) and I don't have the answer...

Luuuurve the avatar, btw... most excellent!

So there's no hope for my hairy knees then? :rolleyes: :p The avatar photo was taken at the start of last week's Beastway race. I'm the blurry one in the foreground. :)

[Geonz]

I'm sorry to be such a sociologist, but I don't think we can say that we are doing "exactly what we want". When there will be women with hairy legs and armpits featured in magazines and television on a regular basis (not just a one-time thing like when Julia Roberts flashed a hairy armpit at an Oscar ceremony or something like that), I'll tend to think that there is really a choice. At the moment, there is still pretty strong social opposition to hairy legs for women (and elite men cyclist), coming much more from other women (or other elite men cyclists), by the way...

There will always be a "social opposition" factor - most people are looking for rules to follow. However, we do have a fair amount of choice as to which folks we follow. I work at a school and so I have to figure on the social reality that people make judgements based on appearances, period. If I were to dress in Mennonite garb they would make certain assumptions; there are lots of other subtle assumptions people make, sometimes conscious and sometimes not. One of the agendas of many of the instructors is to get students to examine the assumptions they make and the forces that steer them towards how they prepare their appearance.

I don't wear makeup because I don't want to (I have to spend that time loooking for my keys, and I figure I've saved MESSES of dollars, I figure it *can't* be good for the body, not to mention animal cruelty issues) - but I did wear some when I taught in a school ssytem where it would have been, simply, confusing - teachers just dressed more like church than school there and it would have sent the message that I didn't care for myself at several levels.

At the college level (where I am now), individuality is more expected, though I still confuse people because they can't categorize me. I like that :-)

Shaving? Same issues. I like smoothness and it communicates "mainstream" ... but I'm lazy. Eventually people figure out I'm the "absent-minded professor" type in female manifestation and help me when something's hanging out that shouldn't be, and to put on the right appearance for conferences and what have you. I figure that's like dressing for any other cultural ceremony, even if it's not religious.

[CycleChic06]

I am a leg shaver, I admit I like my legs to be smooth, but occasionaly I get lazy, esp. in the winter, I shave maybe once every two weeks. This used to bug my ex-bf. But whenever he would make a comment about it I would just point out his long nose hair that had always grossed me out but I chose not to say anything about...

I mean, for every hair the guy lost on his head, he got another growing out his nose...at least we as women don't have to worry about that.

[Beth-Ro]

Hello, my name is Beth-ro, and I am a shaver.

I shave my legs from the hair on my little piggies all the way up to my bikini line each and every day of my life. I have done so since the age of 14. Ditto the under arm area. I have my eyebrows waxed every 5 weeks when I get my hair cut. And now that I am over 40, I also have my upper lip waxed.

By the way, what is up with the fine hair on my face suddenly becoming dark, hard, and weird? Hormones can bite me. :rolleyes:

As for the shaving, it takes less time in the shower each morning for me to shave then it would for me to figure out why I do it. I spend about 5 minutes in the shower and get all that leg acreage plus pits groomed while my hair conditioner does its magic. Then I rinse and ta-da...smooth for another day.

So, yes, I am an unashamed shaver. The bonus is that my smooth legs are often the only thing I have in common with the peleton. :D

[KnottedYet]

Yeah, why is it I can have facial hair, wrinkles, gray head hair, AND still get zits? Hormones DO bite.

I shave as needed. Including (these days) parts of my poor beleagured face.

El Cheapo Bic razors, 12 for $1.39 at Bartell's.

Gotta keep some things trimmed, as noted earlier in the thread, both for riding and for... other activities. Plain ol' little scissors work fine.

[farrellcollie]

I stopped shaving when I came out in the early 80's (although I never wore rainbow suspenders - they always hit my breasts wrong)- I started shaving my legs again every few weeks after a rollerblading incident which took the skin off a large portion of my leg - the hair made the wound itchy and painful to clean - it would get stuck. I actually thought that was why men shaved.

[triflor]

hahaha... I just remembered something... my brother is a cyclist, and the first time he shaved his legs he got more cuts then I've probably ever managed.

Question: regarding the elastics on bike shorts, with unshaven legs don't the elastics rip the hair a bit? obviously depends on type of elastic, but just a thought

[I TRI]

I like the feeling of smooth skin, but I'm also lazy, so I compromised and shave once a week on Fridays. I go out clubbing every Friday night so I like feeling clean and close-shaven. I also wear makeup on Friday nights, and not any other time.

If money wasn't an issue I'd go the laser route on my legs, bikini and underarms. I like the result of brazilian waxes but the pain really is horrible (the numbing creams never worked for me), and for someone trying to watch budget it's just another $50 a month to spend. My SO doesn't care either way so it's all up to me, but I like not feeling any pressure from him.

I dated a cyclist once who shaved his legs and I thought it was odd!! Personally, I like a clean shaven face on my man.

Nicola

[Kitsune06]

I can take or leave shaving...

I usually end up doing it when I have significantly noticeable stubble (oh, once every two or so weeks?) or when I think it might be noticed...
My armpits get it almost every day, though, because pits 'n pubes get relatively dark hair... though I leave my outer labia (for biking comfort) and a stripe down the center (the pubescent look doesn't thrill me)

My s/o waxes (everything! gone!) and shaves pits 'n legs whenever she thinks they'll be noticed or when she has time. I beg for that stripe, but... eh, it's her fur.

Makeup... ugh. I only use it when zits strike in a visible way... and only a little dab of coverup. after that, just chapstick for me, thanks. =):cool:

[KnottedYet]

Hah ha! I was just (like 30 minutes ago) in a conversation with my dear straight friend who has known me for 20 years, through thick and thin, about lipstick lesbi@ns vs. chapstick lesbi@ns. Now me, I don't fit either category. Like most categories, they are too limiting. But we had a great time and got a bit hysterical trying to categorize EVERYONE we knew and creating new categories out of thin air.

Not that we haven't all done that... but it was fun!

(it all started because I was looking my-tee-fine for an old lady and had a jolly flirt with a chickie at REI, where we bought waaaaay too much gu and Clif and Honey stingers for the tri we're doing)

Edit: BTW, happy Pride everyone!

[crazycanuck]

Are we the only three women on this board that don't do makeup??? The amt of $$$$$ women spend on cosmetics is frightening....It doesn't really hide the zits....

I must shave me leggies tonight...

Kitsune & knotted..you ladies bring funkiness to this board...THanks!!!

c

[Bad JuJu]

Are we the only three women on this board that don't do makeup???

Nope--here's another vote for no makeup! I did wear mascara for a year or so in my late 20s, but then I regained my sanity. It's just not me, and my skin freaks out when I put anything the slightest bit unusual on it anyway, so I'm better off with just cleanser and moisturizer.

On the other hand, a friend gave me a cool little Burt's Bees tinted lip gloss that I've become addicted to--it's mint-flavored--yum!

[im4smiley]

I also do not wear makeup! Never could get the hang of it, really didn't try to learn, but I do shave at least once a week, less in the winter. Hey how do you put the quote in like Bad Julu did?

[crazycanuck]

Hey,

Go to the top left of your screen where it says User CP, click on that & it'll show you edit options on the left again-choose edit signature i believe...

c

[margo49]

No make up 4 me too (see my previous post on page 4 for the Whole Story)
(I am assuming that moisturiser on the face and bod are counted as health and not as cosmetic)

[Grog]

Are we the only three women on this board that don't do makeup??? The amt of $$$$$ women spend on cosmetics is frightening....It doesn't really hide the zits....


I don't either.

The most I'll do, once in a while, will be a very thin layer of extremely light foundation, which has some sun protection in it. That will be a few times a month, that's it.

And I am fond of nice lip balms and glosses.

I worked on TV for two years and I was amazed by the amount of makeup our makeup artist would put on my face. It took me about 2 days to get it all off!! I know women that wear all that every day, that's something I really can't understand..........

[mimitabby]

Are we the only three women on this board that don't do makeup??? The amt of $$$$$ women spend on cosmetics is frightening....It doesn't really hide the zits....

I must shave me leggies tonight...

Kitsune & knotted..you ladies bring funkiness to this board...THanks!!!

c
no, no, there's me too; a straight old lady who thinks it's a waste of time and money too.
I haven't shaved MY legs since before YOU were born :D
mimi

[Bad JuJu]

ROFL, mimitabby! Old ladies unite--we have nothing to lose but our powder-puffs!:D

[mimitabby]

ROFL, mimitabby! Old ladies unite--we have nothing to lose but our powder-puffs!:D
Hey BadJuJu
has there been an old lady thread on here yet? I am curious as to how many of us are over 50 or... even older.

[Geonz]

As previously noted, I don't either - and I've been wondering why people think I'm younger than I am. Every wrinkle & bag shows in all its glory...

I Don't think shorts elastic would pull hair any more than headband elastic would.

[DrBee]

Are we the only three women on this board that don't do makeup???
c

No makeup for me either! See CC - you're not the only one :) While in Knoxville this weekend, I was sitting around talking to a bunch of women and they all swore that I had to be at the most 30 :D I'm 37 fast approaching 38.

[li10up]

I wasn't allowed make-up as a teen...which was fine by me...being a "tomboy" and all. I sure hated that word as a kid. Just because a girl is athletic doesn't make her a boy! Anywhooo...When I was 42 I had a guy that I work with, he's in another dept., tell me he thought I was like 23! You should have seen the look on his face...made me feel pretty good too. But over the last two years I've had the brown sun patches show up on my face. I should have at least worn some sun screen...so you younger ladies beware. My DH used to get so mad 'cause people used to assume I was his daughter (he is 12 yrs older than me though). Sigh, that doesn't happen any more though. :(

[Lenusik]

Sorry, but I do shave my legs practically every night. I just feel better if I do, and it is way more pleasant to rub lotion on my legs when they are shaved. I also shave down there quite a bit and not only because it looks and feels better. I believe that it is better in terms of hygene. Being so active, wearing short there is too much sweat there which I do not want to accumulate on my hair.

And YES to make up. I don't wear much but I certainly enjoy using good quality products. No make up durin exercise and very low on weekends.

[Brandy]

I'm a shaver as well. I'm bare down there (yes...totally) and I shave my pits and legs as well. The most that I will go is about four days, and that's pushing it.

As for make-up, it's usually just a tiny bit of eyeshadow, mascara and lipgloss. DH hates it when I wear face make-up.


I should tell dh to take up cycling as an excuse to shave his legs. He already shaves his chest (claims that his bulletproof vest is too hot with a hairy chest) and his arms...though he has no excuse for that one other than not liking hair there.

[Nanci]

I agree- you should get your DH to shave his legs. Hairless men ARE bette!!

Nanci

[Kitsune06]

Kitsune & knotted..you ladies bring funkiness to this board...Thanks!!!



LOL *bows* just doin' my job! :D



The ladies on this forum make me feel like a little kid yet, so I'm doing my very best to 'keep up' ;)

[Lise]

...being a "tomboy" and all. I sure hated that word as a kid. :(
About a year ago, my then 5 year old nephew told my sister, "Aunt Lise is a tomboy." "huh", she replied, "Why do you say that?" His explanation? "Because she likes yucky stuff, like I do." Yucky stuff being that squishy goop kids play with, and interesting bugs, and who knows what else he was thinking of!

NOT because I ride a bike or run or anything athletic! Funny.

[hibiscus09]

I do not want my hubby shaving his legs! :eek: He has really sexy legs, has olive skin, dark hair and yes there is hair on his legs. He's sexy! ;)

As for the laser hair removal -- I'm signing up this fall. Yippee! I'm going to get my legs (from the knee down) done, my underarms and my bikini line. I have honey brown/blonde hair but the hair in the above listed areas grows out black and if I shave in the morning, I've got stubble by afternoon. I shave every day and sometimes the leggies twice a day. I don't have to shave the legs from the knees up -- the hair is blonde, soft and barely noticeable.

I don't wear makeup to cycle, but I do wear makeup to be out and about -- but not much. I hate heavy makeup on my skin. It takes me about 2 minutes to apply my makeup, so it's not much of time-consumer.

[denda]

Yes to make-up. Yes to shaving legs. I do both for me! It makes me feel better about myself.