Hair down THERE??

[Susan]

Never judge people if you aren't in their shoes....
Thanks to my eastern ancestors (probably) if I wouldn't remove most of my body hair I could work as a circus attraction.
This may be hard to understand for people who are (more) hairless themselves. I am a grown up woman, but I am also embarrassed if everybody at the pool is staring
People are judging very easily. I read this "but you are grown up women" thing often - and then hear the comments on women who don't shave their legs, armpits, and bikini line. I even got comments because I don't shave my arms.

[Crankin]

I guess I never realized that so many people do the full Brazilian. I don't like the look of hair sticking out of the bikini line and that is the only reason I have used various methods of hair removal. It doesn't seem like hair bothers my cycling, but the removal does irritate me enough that I can't wear cycling shorts or any other types of clothing that are tight for at least a day after I wax.
I am pretty hairy, everywhere, and thankful that I am blonde in most of the places, so when it grows back, it's not so noticeable.

[PamNY]

well... who's "people"?
there are about a gazillion women on this board, a lot of us have at some point had some problems with hair and bike riding, so the chances are pretty enormous that a thread asking if anyone shaves off everything would get answers from the people who do do exactly that. While the ones who can't be bothered are busy biking and writing about other things...

This. Threads like this tell you nothing about an overall population; they do tell you something about people who replied on the thread.

And -- surprise! -- it's likely people who do hair removal are going to reply to a question about hair removal.

[Karma007]

I'm a Brazillian girl myself, for most of the year. Not a huge fan of the look, but the comfort makes it worth while.

[emily_in_nc]

Is anyone besides be just a little freaked out at the extent people are going to with this hair removal stuff?

Yes.

I have very low pain tolerance, so I just keep the bikini line shaved for wearing swim suits. I am lucky, though, not to be nearly as hairy as I know some women are, so I am able to stay low-maintenance, thank goodness!

[zoompastmykids]

OK. Wow. I had no idea this topic would garner such response. Actually I thought a few would say "Nope, never done that." and it'd be over.

But now, after many days, I've logged back in and read my post and answers and the kids thought they'd have to resuscitate me when they walked in and I was ROTF LMBO. I had tears in my eyes, holding my breath, my face was red, silent screams of laughter formed my mouth into a grimace.

".... I'm sure there's a joke about sugaring one's nethers."

"... unless you've given birth I wouldn't try it."

"... Men's black chins and women's hoohaas have that in common."

"I haven't made caramel in so long I'd be a little afraid to try it. I don't even think I have a candy thermometer any more."

I've enjoyed quite a laugh. Sorry to have agitated a thread for Chicken Little. But I was really curious. I can't even remember now the 'moment' that spurred me to think that shaving it all was the right thing.

But you'll all be happy to know it's been almost two weeks now and I'm hairless and quite happy. No pain anymore, no discomfort and all the re-growth is soft. I have black hair and it grows quickly so this works for me. If I'd known this would be this easy I'd have done it ages ago. But my legs after every shave feel like a babies but. So I'm lucky that way I guess. Once my skin gets use to it it seems natural to do it.

Thanks for the posts. It was great to get the information.

[Miranda]

OP... glad to hear you got your situation worked out.

Just couple products to add to the thread...

One thing nice about this is that it's translucent... thus you can see what you are shaving...
http://www.bikinizone.com/anti-bumps-shave-gel.shtml

Great for after shaving... but it does sting initially on contact since it contains the drug lidocaine... well it does me anyway... but drastically improves the bumps situation imo/e...
http://www.bikinizone.com/medicated-...have-gel.shtml

[Tokie]

I have to use "Tend Skin" or "PFB Vanish" after waxing to help prevent ingrown hairs. My dermatologist recommended the PFB Vanish and using an antibacterial soap in my chamois areas to help prevent saddle sores. I have friends who use clippers instead. I was being cheap and shaving, but got more irritation/pimple-y breakouts. I think a really new/sharp blade is important if you are waxing. tokie

[andtckrtoo]

everyday. If I didn't shave my legs everyday I wouldn't be able to sleep between the sheets at night. Stubble drives me crazy.

I shave my legs daily. I shave that area daily as well, too, but not totally - I have a strip of hair there. I'm another who cannot stand the feel of stubble. :P

[emily_in_nc]

I'm waiting for the Diva Cup to make an entrance

It just did.

[OakLeaf]

I'm waiting for the Diva Cup to make an entrance

Okay, hair in the Diva Cup is maybe even too much for TE.

[jessmarimba]

We need the little ear-covering icon right about now...

lalalalala can't hear you.....

[hulagirl]

Ahh but the Mooncup UK is SO much better than the Diva.

I'll just add a big thumbs up for Hoo Haa Ride Glide. That stuff is awesome. Tingly and special in the southern parts.

[bunny_ninja]

omg! hair in the diva cup!!!

FWIW - I use a 'bikini trimmer' - keep everything very short. easy and none of the shaving issues. If I am going on a really long ride - I slather it up with ointment

and omg - I tried wearing underwear so I could wear the same shorts on my 25mi to work and 25mi back home... woh! I cannot believe people tolerate that.

[redeyedtreefr0g]

K I'm gonna pretend I did not just read the last few posts, and jump in about my brand new epilator.

IT"S AMAZING!!!!

I've never epilated before, but I've been interested ever since I read about them. (My Keeper/Mooncup was such an awesome discovery, surely an epilator would be similarly wonderful) Previously, all I've ever done for hair removal was shave. I didn't know there WERE other options for the longest time. My sister tried Nair once on her legs when it came out- horrible chemical burns. I eventually learned to tweeze my eyebrows. Once tried to tweeze bikini line- after an hour I had a neck cramp and it looked like I hadn't done anything at all so I gave that up in a hurry- plus it hurt a lot.

Still, I knew I wanted to try an epilator, so my husband finally bought me one. Philips Satinelle 6401- a simple grey/white machine, has a very long cord and must be plugged in to work.

I did my legs first from ankle to knee. I took a shower beforehand like recommended. Above my ankle turned out to be the most sensitive area, and also has the highest concentration of hairs. Like tiny little bees stinging me- but as soon as I lift up the epilator, it's instant relief, so I just went slowly as was fine. My legs didn't turn red or get painful bumps. They didn't feel completely smooth either, but they LOOKED fantastic, so I'm happy.

After going back to work (I epilated at about noonish) I changed out of my skinny jeans to find red legs that were slightly painful to the touch like razor burn. Sleeping fixed most of that, and by noon the next day all was well.

During my shower on leg-epilating day, I also shaved underarms and pubic area. After a few days, I have just finished doing those areas! I did NOT shower before using the epilator this time. While it may make things easier on your skin by opening up pores, I also feel that the hot water weakens the hair and makes it easier to break it off rather than pull it out.

Underarms were interesting. Because of sweat glands, it was difficult to move the epilator smoothly without it sticking to me. I've since read that baby or talcum powder would help that, but I simply removed the efficiancy cap with it's wide flat area and let the rotating of the disks sort of gently "pull" the epilator along smoothly. Again, I went slowly, but I think my ankles hurt worse than this. Maybe I just knew what to expect. Some of the lower pores bled a teeny bit. The vibration of the epilator itself I think helped with pain a little bit too.

After underarms (which did not hurt at all once I was done), I went to the pubic area. My goal was to do all the visible hair- so the entire triangle down to about the start of the labia crease. I found the edges to be no problem, although each side of the triangle up toward the hip bled a lot. The hairs are a LOT longer than they would seem, with most of the length under the skin, apparently. I was surprised. The center top of the triangle was most sensitive, I think, but near the edge of the labia was the most difficult. The hair there is very fine and hard to see, but packed in close, and that skin is softer. It was easier to do the left side of myself than the right, for some reason.

After I was all done, I realized it had been about an hour and a half, and my neck was sore from looking down for that long. I hopped in the shower. The water stung my underarms, and then of course when I washed that stung the beejeesus out of them, but I wanted to be sure things were clean since I'd just put a whole bunch of tiny open wounds in myself, right? Pubic area didn't care about anything.

Now I'm sitting here, and underarms sort of sting still. It had gotten bad enough that I went and put cocoa butter on them, but now it seems to be okay. Pubic area is wonderfully silent as far as irritation complaints go. I've got on silky smooth boyshorts just in case.


I'm SO happy with this little machine!!