My Experinces With Laser Hair Removal + Tips

They bad thing about having strong and fast-growing hair is having strong and fast-growing hair everywhere. I have been getting is lasered off in the past couple of years. It was a bit different than what I expected, yet I'm really satisfied.

I got my armpits and the bikini line done. The pain is similar to someone snapping an elastic band against your skin.

Body image disclaimer:

I'm not saying everyone has to go and remove all body hair. If you prefer to keep body hair, that's fine. If you prefer to remove (some of) your body hair, that's fine too. This post is intended to provide some useful tips for those considering laser hair removal.

So, did it work?

Yes, but. I was expecting the hair to be completely gone after a couple of sessions, but that didn't happen. After four sessions of bikini lasering there is a bit of fine hair left, but it doesn't come grow out stubbly and doesn't show much. Also, NO INGROWNS. I had to write that in capitals because that is the best part. Also the skin on my underarms used to be permanently bumpy, now it's smooth like a baby's.

Already after the first session the remaining hair was much easier to shave off and I stopped getting irritated skin and those bumpy follicles, so it was totally worth it. 

Of course I could also invest in a couple sessions more, but it seems to be a Zeno's arrow thing. The laser zaps only the hair which are in a specific stage of their life cycle, which is probably like one-third to half of the hair at any given time. Interestingly one beautician told me that women who have always shaved have hair that is more in sync, while those who have waxed / epilated have hair all over the place when it comes to the growth cycle.

Also the hair tends to grow back a bit, one or two sessions each year are necessary for maintenance -- I'm not sure if I'll be doing that because I'm cheap.

Another tip: one beautician told me that lasering the upper lip is usually not worth the money as the hair is comparatively fine and hard to zap.

How to get the best out of your laser hair removal:

First, check exactly what kind of laser the studio has, as they are not equally effective. The studio website usually mentions the laser type, you can google that. You'll need less session with a strong laser than a weak one. On this note, IPL is no real laser and it's not even permanent.

You need to stop waxing or depilating and only shave for at least three months in advance. Cream hair removal should be avoided a couple of weeks before laser.

If you'll be getting any sun at all, invest in a good SPF50 cream, and keep the area covered. 

 You need to plan your appointments around days when you won't be a) sweating, b) going out in the sun, c) taking antibiotics d) swimming / sauna. All these things can cause your skin to either get discoloured or inflamed.

If you're getting your underarms done, remember that you can't use deodorant that day. Baby powder can help keep things fresh.

Don't pick on the scabs that form after the hair removal session.

When (not) to get laser hair removal:

You need to pick a period where you won't be on the beach as the sun can cause a lot of damage to freshly lasered skin. Apparently if you travel to somewhere tropical, not even clothes and sunscreen can protect lasered skin.

You also need top wait a couple of weeks after using depilatory creams, fake tan, or getting a real tan.

Wait till your tan has completely faded, the paler your skin the better the laser will work. The best time is late autumn or winter, as you don't have to worry about sun damage. The exception here are the armpits, they can be lasered even in the summer because you don't walk around with your arms lifted up.

If you are a woman and plan to have kids any time soon, wait till you are done unless you have money to burn. Pregnancy hormones often causes the hair to grow back.

You can't do laser hair removal if you are taking antibiotics, as they make the skin very susceptible to damage. If you do fall sick and have to pop some, you need to postphone your next session by at least 2 weeks.

Medications such as certain antibiotics, iron supplements, St John's Wort or sleeping pills can make you susceptible to a phytotoxic reaction. If you have been taking any, you need to wait before  your laser appointment.

Here is an exhaustive list of the contraindications, including skin issues, birth control and medicaments.

Groupon makes lasering affordable:

Around spring Groupon usually has deals on laser hair removal. Around here it came down to ca 20€ per session (doesn't matter which body part). Do you get what you pay for with Groupon? One of the studios I went to was really amazing with a really modern laser machine, they were on Groupon because they just opened and were looking to attract customers. The other one wasn't that great, they didn't give me all the information about contraindications and after-care (thankfully I had researched online), also their laser was a tad weaker. The place where I lasered my underarms was much weaker, so even after 8 sessions there is a bit of hair left.

It makes sense to buy at least 4 sessions on Groupon, that is the minimum it takes to clean up an area.

Apparently the laser patent will be expiring really soon, which should make lasering much more affordable.

 So, you can let me know if you have any questions. Or maybe you've had a laser hair removal and would like to share your experiences? Comment below!

Photo credit: Stas Kules

Why You Should Switch To Safety Razors

The old-fashioned safety razor is one of those things that took me literally years to get the courage to try out, just like the menstrual cup. I was afraid it would be cumbersome and expensive, that I would cut my legs and fingers, and somehow it seemed too masculine for me. I'm also really squeamish around razor blades -- maybe due to all the weird movie scenes or due to my father strongly admonishing me to never the blades as a child.
I finally took the plunge. I'm surprised I didn't try it sooner. I so wasn't expecting to like it, but I'm a convert.
Shaving with a safety razor leaves the skin really smooth! I don't think I have ever had such as close shave before -- my skin was smooth to the touch on the second day (which never happens with regular disposable razor, my hair grow really really fast). On the third day my legs were prickly to the touch but still looked smooth. I didn't get razor burn and I didn't even nick myself. Why haven't I switched sooner? Also, I didn't nick myself even once.

What makes safety razors better than disposables?

Safety razors are old-style razors which you can unscrew and then switch out the blades. They shave much more closely and the single blade means they irritate the skin less. Two reasons that make these blades kinder to the skin are: the blades can be easily cleaned during and after every shave;  and are so cheap so you can switch them out every 5 shaves or so even if you are broke.  Generally they cause much less little razor burn and ingrown hair. You can use a safety razor for all body parts -- legs, bikini line, armpits -- I've done it all.
Shaving with a safety razor is customisable. Depending on how thick your hair is and how sensitive your skin is, you can combine the right blade sharpness with the right amount of razor aggressiveness, which will give you the smoothest shave with the least irritation.
Finally, safety razors are much more environmentally friendly than disposable razors. You don't throw away the entire razor, only the blade (and metal is usually recycled here).

What do you need to get started?

Not much. I found a basic safety razor model in the Müller which had decent reviews on Amazon -- the Wilkinson Sword Classic. The nice thing about this model is that the metal in the handle makes it heavier and easier to use. Also it has a guard -- this means that if it is lying on the counter than the blade does not touch the counter. It set me back around 8€. I have heard that the blades that come with it are not the best ones, so when I need new ones I'll be trying out different brands.
A basic inexpensive model is what you should start with, though if you can lay your hands on a vintage disposable razor you're lucky! Although there are a couple of scenarios where you need to research before buying -- like if you have very sensitive skin. Or if you have problems handling small stuff you might want to look for something with a longer handle.

You don't need any fancy stuff to shave with a safety razor -- though if you want to you can go check out the interesting products shaving geeks buy or diy. I just spent too much time down that fascinating rabbit hole, even though I only use olive oil soap.
Just like for shaving with disposable razors, you need to shower before shaving so to soften the hair. I like to use hair conditioner, oil, oil-based soap or shower gel to provide slip while shaving (make sure they are free from sulphates and synthetic perfumes, as both can irritate the skin). Some people prefer to make foam with a soap and a shaving brush, but the only advantage of this is that you can clearly see which parts you have already shaved. To shave, you need to hold the razor at a 30°-ish angle against your skin (sounds complicated, but you'll learn fast). Move the blade steadily over the skin in the direction of the hair growth and then against it. Don't apply any pressure! The weight of the razor should be doing all the work. Once again -- angles, and no pressure. Rinse the razor under running water or in a bowl. At the end dry it with a towel. Moisturise your legs with a perfume-free product.

Any downsides to safety razors?

Not really. Switching the blades is easy, the whole set-up is cheap and easily available. The only time I will still be using a disposable razor is while travelling, because they are lighter.

Any fans of disposable razors out there? What do you use and recommend? I remember that it was one of you who first brought safety razors to my attention.

What To Do About Fine Hair On Cheeks And Jaw

    Have you ever wondered what to do about the fine hair on the sides of your face? On some women it is very fine and invisible, in this case please skip this post and do something better with your time, like looking up messy buns on Pinterest. However, if the hair on your cheeks, jaw area, forehead and chin annoys you, read on. This peach fuzz can be a bother when applying makeup: the hair makes it harder to blend the product in and powders settle on the down. The hair in those areas is often an issue for women with dark hair and strong hair growth patterns.
    I remember reading on a blog that shaving the down on the face makes the skin look a bit more glowy and less matte. The blogger was a woman in her 50s or older, and she felt that removing facial hair rejuvenated her face optically (if anyone remembers that post, do post the link in the comments. I couldn't find it).
    Even though nobody talks much about it, a lot of women remove the hair from those areas. Japanese women keep their face completely hair-free. Other cultures ignore the facial fuzz completely. My point being: you don't need to feel weird about shaving your cheeks, and you needn't feel weird about accepting your fuzz as it is. If the hair in those areas has never bothered you, don't start obsessing about this. However if you have been wanting to get rid of the hair, here are some tips that might be useful:

* Vellus hair vs Terminal hair:

  You have probably noticed that the fine down on your face is different from the thicker hair on the upper lips and eyebrows. This peach fuss is called Vellus hair, and it is much shorter and finer than Terminal hair (eyebrows, upper lip hair after puberty).

* Access the situation

    You will need two mirrors to take a good look at the sides of your face. You might discover moles with "witch hairs" that you have never seen before. Access the hair situation on your jawline, the chin, and even the tops of your cheeks.

* Shaving

    Use a normal razor and shave really gently in the direction of the hair growth. The razor should be new, and you should use very little pressure (the razor does the work, not you!). Any kind of razor is fine, though I prefer the ones with the thin moisturising strip because they glide better. If you like you can get one of the smaller razor means for the bikini area. You can also use a small electrical shaver meant for the face, these have the advantage of not scraping the face. But it's really fine to use the same razor that you'd use for your legs. Don  shave over blemishes or wounds, and disinfect the razor with alcohol if you are very prone to breakouts.
   Shaving in the direction of the hair means you kind of thin the hair out and don't shave it all off, which gives a more natural look (and means less upkeep). Remember that the razor also takes off the dead skin cells, so don't exfoliate the areas before or after shaving.
  Shaving doesn't make the hair grow faster, that is just a myth. Also, the Vellus hair should not grow back stubbly like Terminal hair would, because it is thin and fine. If your cheek and jaw hair is coarse and thick and you are a woman, you might have a hormone imbalance and should talk to a doctor.

* Waxing

   If your skin is not too sensitive, this might be a great solution for you as it is very quick and easy. But if your skin is delicate or prone to irritations, I'd suggest one of the other hair removal methods instead. You need small wax strips means especially for the face, and you can cut the strips to fit the areas that you want to work on. You can dust your face with talk (or any other powder), that makes the wax strips stick less to the skin. Remember to cleanse the face afterwards, to remove any wax residue.

* Epilation wand

   This is a gentler alternative to waxing, since you're not pulling the skin, just the hair. The wands are really cheap, but a bit more time taking than shaving. But then you need to do it once or twice a fortnight. An alternative to the classic epi wand are models that look like slingshots -- I have seen them on Asian sites like BuyInCoins but never tried one -- have you?

* Threading

   This is the preferred method in several parts of southeast Asia. It's easier than it sounds, there are plenty of videos on Youtube that explain it. It doesn't irritate the skin, and is pretty thorough. It's free, and surprisingly effective.

   Vellus hair is a bad candidate for laser, since it is very fine and not much pigment. I'm also not a fan of hair removal creams: you can give yourself a chemical burn, the chemicals are not kind to the skin, and the hair grows back just as fast as after shaving. Tweezing can be time-consuming for larger areas.


    Have I missed any other methods of dealing with facial fuzz? What is your preferred method? Or do you prefer to leave your down in peace? Do share.

photo credit: Bazule via photopin cc

Why I´m Not A Fan Of IPL Hair Removal + Review Of Philips Lumea

   A while back I got the Philips Lumea Precision Hair Removal System to test for a couple of weeks, and I wanted to share my impressions with you.

   IPL means Intense Pulsed Light, a temporary hair removal technique that previously used to be done only in salons. The light destroys the hair follicle, and it takes a couple of weeks for it to regrow, depending on your hair type. IPL works best on someone with dark hair and a light skin tone, so if you have blond hair or dark skin this method is not for you.

   The Philips Lumea itself is well-designed and egronomic; it fits well in the hand, is light and easy to use. It looks a bit light a weapon from Star Trek. It is cordless, and the battery lasts a really long time -- I didn´t have to charge it the whole time I had it. The bulb is built-in and nor replaceable, and is meant to last 5 years.
   To use the Philips Lumea you first need to shave the area really well. You set the IPL intenstity between one and four. You then place the tip of the Lumea flat on the skin, and when the light glows you press the trigger. There is a bright flash, sometimes there is a slight smell of burned hair. I usually covered the head of the Lumea with the other hand because I found the flashes tiring for my eyes.Then you move on to the next patch of skin. The pain depends upon the setting. On 4 (the highest) it feels a bit as if someone just snapped a rubber band against the skin. On lower setting you feel almost nothing.
    You can repeat the sitting every two weeks, never more often otherwise you risk burning the skin. According to the manual you should not use the Lumea on the face.
   It usually takes around 6 sittings to be more or less hair-free, and then another couple of weeks till the hair starts regrowing again. It all depends upon your hair type. With fair skin and dark hair I am the perfect candidate for IPL; however my strong growth means that that I wasn't completely hair-free after 6 sittings, and the hair that was gone was growing back after around 4 weeks. During the time that the hair was gone, the effect was really nice.

   Now, though the tool is easy to use, I had my issues with it. First, it takes a very long time to do a larger area like a leg. You need to wait a bit after every flash till the tool "reloads" and is ready for the next shot. So basically only the bikini area and the armpits are small enough to make this method efficient. Secondly, I was always missing patches of hair. It is not always easy to remember which bit of skin you have already covered and which not, especially on a larger curved area like the legs. Only after a couple of weeks when the hair stopped regrowing in some placed and not others did I notice that I wan´t covering the whole area thoroughly.
   Another thing is that to use the IPL you need to shave. My preferred method of hair removal is epilating, which I do every one to two weeks, so shaving almost every day for a couple of weeks while I used the ILP was rather very annoying.
    Another issue is the sun: you have two wait at least 2 weeks after sun exposure to use the IPL. This would mean that I would not ebe able to use the IPL all summer long, and would probably epilate instead. Then in the autumn it would take a couple of weeks till the epilated hair grew back and could be IPLd, and IPL treatments for two months till I was hair free; and then I could squeeze out a couple of months use for the IPL till the summer came.
    Finally, the Öko Test recently issued a warning against home-use IPL tools, stating that using them over skin discolourations and birthmarks could potentially cause cancer. The IPL manual also warns against using them on birthmarks of any kind, which makes it useless for those with lots of body freckles.
  
   Though the Philips Lumea itself is a great little tool (apart from the fact that the built-in lamp makes it a prime example of planned obsolescence), the IPL method gets a thumbs down from me. It doesn't fit with my needs and lifestyle. I find epilating to be more time-efficient and safer, and for long-term results I feel that a good laser treatment would be a better investement. However I would recommend an IPL machine if your hair doesn´t grow very aggressively and you don´t have many birthmarks. Another very strong argument for IPL hair removal is no risk of ingrown hair.

   Do you use or have you tried the IPL hair removal method, and if yes does it work for you?

The Many Methods Of Removing Upper Lip hair

   In this post I will deal with the many ways of getting rid of the lady 'stache. Just a note: I believe that body hair it is every woman's personal decision, and whether you choose to keep it or remove it is totally up to you.
  Upper lip hair is terminal hair, which means it is coarser and darker than the hair on the cheeks. At the same time the skin above the upper lip can often be sensitive, which makes removing the hair difficult. Let's look at the options:

Shaving

   Yes, you can totally shave upper lip hair, and no, it won't grow back thicker (that's just an illusion as the regrowing hair has a blunt thick end and not a tapered one). This method works well for those with a fine pain threshold. The downside is that you have to shave everyday or every two days if you want to avoid prickliness, and it is easy to get razor burn if you aren't careful.
   The best thing to use are those tiny razors that are meant for the bikini line. You also need something to lubricate, try aloe vera gel, a gel cleanser or a cream or a gentle soap. The razor needs to be sharp (new). Shave in all directions, and remember that the razor should do the work and not you. That means: use very light pressure, otherwise you'll be irritating the skin. Remember that shaving is a kind of exfoliation (the top layer of dead skin cells get scraped off), so don't use any scrubs on the area, keep it moisturised and use sunscreen.

Waxing

  I don't really recommend waxing the upper lip. It pulls the skin and can cause irritation. Also, you have to wait for the hair to grow out otherwise the wax cannot grip it.

Tweezing

   Easy, effective, and gentle on the skin. You definitely need good tweezers (check here), magnifying mirror and good light. Don't underestimate the importance of either of these three! The only downside is that it can be a bit time taking. The upside is that you can take your time if you have a very sensitive skin or a high pain threshold.

Epilating wand

   I have written about this Asian beauty tool here. It pulls the hair out with the roots just like like tweezing but grabs more hair at a time, so it's faster but also more painful. It is easy on the skin, in fact several readers told me in their mails that it is the only thing their sensitive skin tolerates when it comes to hair removal. If it hurts, you can start out with tweezing and switch to the epi wand after a couple of weeks when your nerves stop reacting so strongly.

Threading

   The pros and cons are the same as that of the epi wand, but it might take a bit of practice to learn the technique. You need thread, light and a magnifying mirror. It is not as hard as it sounds. Here is a nice video tutorial:

Bleaching

    This works if you 'stache is not too heavy. It is great for skin that cannot tolerate any of the above methods. However I would not use it unless really necessary: the bleach can be harsh on the skin over time.

Hair removal creams

    Quick and painless. One negative thing is that the hair regrow blunt and prickly so the procedure has to repeated pretty often. Hair removal creams can cause irritation and is rough on the skin, not to mention the toxicity of many hair removal creams, so I don't recommend this method.

IPL and laser

  You should never use your IPL machine on any part of your face. IPL can be done by professionals, but as it is as painful and almost as expensive as laser but the results are only for a few months, I'd say go for laser instead. Also, IPL is dangerous to use on moles and freckles.
   Laser treatments depend on the type of laser used, so find out exactly what your clinic of choice uses and research it.


     Do remember that the upper lip is a part that can age badly if treated wrong: discolouration, sagging and lines can develop here; so do be gentle to the area.


   What is your favourite way of removing upper lip hair?

Yes, You Can Use Men's Razors

   An irritating beauty myth that I keep on seeing in women's magazines is never to use mens razors for shaving as they are "sharper and more dangerous" because a man's hair is thicker than woman's.

   This piece of "advice" is wrong on so many levels. Firstly, while female leg hair may be finer, the hair on the bikini line is usually as thick as a dude's facial hair (sorry for the visual this sentence gave you).
   Secondly, sharper blades are actually safer than duller ones. When kids are taught to properly handle knifes, the knifes should always be sharp rather than dull -- dull knifes mean you need to use more pressure to cut and there is a higher risk that the knife may slip. Sharp razor blades allow you to use a lighter touch and thus there is less risk of cutting yourself or getting razor burn.

   Secondly, I'm not even sure that men's razors are sharper. However I do know that women's razors are usually overpriced. As a teen I saved up money and bought a pretty pricey razor with a high-tech looking handle and a wiggly head, designed "especially for a woman's curves". I have also used small colourful ones that were apparently designed for the bikini zone. Guess what -- they don't give better results than regular disposable razors. They are just prettier, curvier and the ads probably cost more to make.
   Since years I have been using cheap disposable razors -- I just make sure they have double blades and that moisturising strip. If you have very sensitive skin or a tendency towards ingrowns, I have heard really good things about Gillette Mach 3. The one for men. The key to getting a good shave is  providing a good slip with a lubricant -- never shave without one! I use a gentle soap or a conditioner for this purpose.
   If you need extra tips, my post about doing your bikini line has some nice ones. And while we are on the topic of hair removal -- I know that IPL devices for home use have been very popular recently, but German ministry of health has issued warnings against them as they can raise the risk of skin cancer when improperly used. Fortunately, you can always epilate or try the magic wand. Also, you can choose to not remove your hair at all -- always remember that it's totally up to you which hair you want to keep or remove. Because.

    If you shave, which kind of razors work well for you? Do you prefer to use razors meant for women, or do you like the ones meant for guys?

How To Prevent Ingrown Hair When Epilating

Here is a question about ingrown hair I got in my inbox:

" I have been using the epilator for 3 years now, but i keep getting ingrown hair, the little thin hairs coil up and settle into a bump and I HATE IT, I changed my epilator to one for sensitive skin and still no use, I exfoliate and moisturize all the time :(
I hate shaving and waxing takes a lot of time that I can't afford; please can you give me some advise?"

    Hey, thanks for writing in! First of all, it's great that you tried switching your epilator. I used to have an ancient epilator that I bought as a teen, and when I recently switched to a new one I had way less ingrown hair.

     From my experience and research, there are a couple of things you can do to minimise ingrown hair: epilate correctly, moisturise the skin, exfoliate, try something anti-bacterial, and chemical exfoliation.

Use the epilator correctly

     If you're not epilating the right way, the hair follicle gets pulled into an unnatural position, causing the new hair to grow in the wrong direction. A lot of us epilate in horrible little jerky movements, learned from the first days of epilating when everything hurt like hell. The correct way to do it is hold it at a right angle to the skin and drag it in a slow, steady movement.

Exfoliate

    I really recommend a DIY coffee scrub, it's one of the most effective body scrubs out there. Just take used coffee grounds, mix with a moisturioser and scrub. The coffee grounds exfoliate way more thoroughly than many scrubs on the market.

Moisturise intensively

     Keeping the skin soft is key. But it's also pretty important to stick to simple, natural stuff. Nothing with mineral oil, as that blocks the pores. Plant-based oils are the best, as well as plant-based butters. I love a mix of jojoba, wheatgerm and olive oil, with a dash of essential oil.

Topical treatments

     I've heard many good things about using something anti-bacterial before epilating. I have too few experience with this kind of stuff to recommend anything, but you could ask at a pharmacy.
    Also, many people have success with products like ingrow go. So I checked the ingredients of a couple of products for ingrown hair, and it's usually the same pattern: there is something antibacterial (like isopropyl alcohol or witch hazel), some kind of moisturiser (like aloe vera, glycerin or Propylene glycol) and some kind of hydroxy acid (chemical exfoliators that loosen the bonds of the top layer of the skin).
     The interesting thing here are the hydroxy acids: it totally makes sense that they minimise ingrown hair. If you want to try something DIY, the aspirin mask is a great beta hydroxy acid while pineapple and papaya contain alpha hydroxy acids.
     Wait, I got a brainwave: why not try urea? Urea is a great moisturiser, it works like an acid peel and it's anti-bacterial! Here I have written a bit about Urea. You can buy products that contain it (it seems to be in fashion right now), or just buy it separately and mix into your preferred moisturiser. You know what, I'll play along. Spring is coming soon (I hope) and when it gets warmer I'll be epilating often while using urea regularly. I'll be blogging about the results!

    On another note, have you tried sugaring? I haven't tried it myself but it's supposed to be be way easier and faster than waxing.




     I hope this gave you some ideas of things you can try out. And now over to you, my lovely readers. Are you struggling with ingrown hair? Has anyone discovered a trick to prevent ingrown hair? I'd love to know!

The Epilating vs Shaving Experiment Fail

     So last week I shaved one leg and epilated the other, just for you guys. Haven't you always wanted to know which is better for the skin: shaving or epilating your legs? So because this is a smart, sensible beauty blog, I decided to run a scientific experiment to test this out.
     I have been epilating my legs since years, occasionally using a razor when I am in a rush. I noticed that after epilating my skin would be lightly irritated (every hair follicle would look like a red spot). After shaving the skin stayed smooth and, well, skin-coloured. Was epilating too harsh on the skin, I wondered? Should I switch to shaving?
    So I decided to shave one leg and epilate the other for a couple of weeks and see how they compare. The skin on the shaved leg looked way better than that of the epilated leg on the first day. On the second day I debated shaving or skipping alternate days. As I am lazy busy, the second option won. After a couple of days I noticed that the shaved leg wasn't looking so perfect anymore: scraping the skin with a blade even every other day meant tiny irritations and microscopic nicks. The epilated leg had a week to two to recover between sessions, so the skin smoothed out.
     And then I skipped a day of shaving. later at night, in the bed, my husband let out a yowl of pain. He had accidentally rubbed his leg against mine (the shaved one). "What's that prickly stuff on your leg?!?" he wanted to know. That was it, epilating won the contest, hands down.
    So I'm sticking to epilating, ladies, At least I won't injure anyone if I skip a session. Also, I solemly swear to apply something calming like Weleda Skin Food on my skin afterwards, and always epilate the evening before.

    Do you shave, epilate or maybe wax? Or did you get a permanent hair removal? Have you every "stubbled" someone with an unshaven limb? Do spill.
   

Tips for using an epilator on different body parts

A list of tips and tricks to help you epilate each part of your body. Pain-o-meter included.

Once you've braved the basics and became an epilator whiz, you might be wondering about what else you can epilate. It's easy and mess-free, and the results are long-lasting, what's not to like ? Ah yes, the pain of the first few sessions.

Here are my tips for using the epilator on every body part, from top to bottom:

Top:

   Any part of your face is best left to tweezers, threading or the Epilation Wand.


Armpits: 

   The first few times is very very very painful, but the slow regrowth time makes this really worthwhile. After some months of epilating the armpits hurt less than legs, actually they stop hurting at all.

The best position for armpit epilation: Stand in front of a mirror, and lean your elbow against it. Place your thumb on your shoulder, and stretch the armpit skin with your fingers. Epilate with the other hand. Your reflection will help you with spots you can't see very well.
You might need to make passes in different directions, since the armpit hair grows in all directions.

   Don't apply any kind of deodorant for several hours afterwards, and don't use soap. You could epilate before bedtime, or apply deodorant before epilating. I really seriously recommend switching to a gentle deodorant free from alcohol, aluminium and perfume.


Arms:

  This area is not very painful and the skin is naturally taut. Just watch that elbow crease !


Bikini area:

   Ouch ouch ouch. If you attempt this, you're braver than me. You'll probably need to do just a tiny part at a time. And watch out for loose skin, stretch, stretch and stretch it. You might want to use just the roller attachment (or whatever head is least likely to grab skin).


Legs: 

   It's a big area to cover, so you might be tempted to go fast. Don't this will only cause the hair to break. Be careful with the area behind the knee: hold the skin very taut and stretch the leg.
   Also, take a good look at the back of your leg, we tend to do the front better, but it's the back that is more on display !


Toes: 

   For anyone dreading Hobbit feet, a few passes on the toe knuckles once a month is all you need.


***  I'm not saying that you need to epilate each and every of these areas. Keeping or removing body hair is a personal decision. Whatever you decide, rock it ! ***

Did I miss anything ? Care to share your epilating tips ?

Photo by Nerijus Rimkus    

How To Epilate Correctly For Smoothness & Long-Lasting Results

 

Many of us get stuck with the nervous and jerky epilating techniques from our beginning days full of shaking hands and apprehension. I was having issues with my epilator breaking the hair instead of pulling it up, and less-than-smooth skin after epilating. I was on the verge of buying a new one (epilator, not skin) when I realised that the problem was me: I was still using quick, jerky passes instead of slow smooth movements.

Whether the epilator breaks the hair off at skin surface or pulls them out by the root depends greatly upon your epilating technique. Hair that is just broken, not plucked, re-grows the next day just like it would if it were shaved.


Here are tips to epilate right, and get the smoothest skin and longest-lasting results possible:

• Exfoliate before epilating, but not right before. Try a couple of hours or one day earlier. If you do exfoliate right before epilating, keep it dry (see below).

• Don't shower right before since that makes the hair softer and more prone to breaking.

• Drag the epilator slowly along your skin. From ankle to knee it should be a span of 15 seconds. If you go faster the hair will break and it will cause ingrowns. And you'll have to repeat the area more times.

• Hold the skin taut !

• Don't press the epilator down. Touch it lightly on your skin, it will work better.

• Keep the epilator perpendicular to your skin, not at an angle.

• Moisturise after epilation ! Use a gentle ie. fragrance-free and alcohol-free product. I recommend Aloe-vera, or Jojoba oil with a drop of lavender (to soothe the skin).

What are your tips on getting a smooth epilation ? 

Your First Time... With The Epilator. The Almost Pain-Free Method

 

The first time with an epilator is the hardest. This is the only time you'll be shaving all of the hair of the area at once (next time only some of the hair will have grown back), and your skin nerves are not yet used to it.

Epilating is probably the least time-consuming and practical form of hair removal, so it's worth taking the effort and time to get over the initial learning curve. Here are some tricks to make that first time doable:


First time epilating for the chicken:

For those scared and with a low pain threshold, this brilliant technique is from Mark Twain (no, no the Mark Twain, besides she's a female).

• Do not attempt this just before or on the first days of your period. That's the time when the skin holds water and it's more painful.
• Take a long, hot bath, if this helps you to relax the skin. For me, the opposite is true: epilation hurts more after a bath.
• Start with your legs, they are usually the easiest to do.
• Shave.
• Be prepared to have hair all over the place, so do it in the bathtub or spread a towel.
• Use an ice-pack to numb the skin. Dust legs with talc (or better: cornstarch).
• Use the Epilator on just shaved skin. Yes, there will be hardly any results, but there won't be any pain either, and your muscles will relax; it's important to get into the habit of relaxing while epilating, this reduces the pain greatly.
• Maintain flat, taut surfaces by straightening the legs and stretching your skin. Otherwise it might pinch !
• Repeat next day (except, of course, no shaving). Heck, repeat later same day. You will achieve the results gradually while staying within your comfort zone as far as the pain goes. Do it every day until you feel in control, then gradually reduce the time interval between epilations to up to a month.
• When you begin feeling pain on one leg, switch to the other. Somehow that reduces the pain.
• Use long, quick strokes until you are comfortable.
• Holding the device so that it rotates in the direction of the hair growth makes the process much more gentle on you and more time consuming.
• If you feel like giving up at any point, remember the 2nd epilation will be nothing like the first; the 3rd will be a breeze.

  Brilliant ! Yes, this does take more time, but you won't get traumatised and discouraged by a hard first time. If you're not chicken, I'd still suggest epilating stubble (2-3 days after shaving) rather than long hair (which is way more painful).

FAQ:

What ? Blood ?
Yes, you might see some blood drops. That's quite normal the first or second time, and after that it usually doesn't happen any more.

My legs are all red and irritated !
That will go away after some hours or a day. After you've got used to epilating, you skin won't get irritated anymore.

Can I use soap, spray tan or real tan ?
After the first time, don't use any of these for at least 24 hours.

It snagged my skin !
I told you to hold it taut.


   After you've gotten used to epilating, it's time to change your technique ! Often the painful and clumsy epilating at the beginning forms bad epilating habits. My next post will deal with how to epilate for that smooth effect, and deal with ingrown hair.

Photo by tear.drop.    

Epilation 101 For Those Scared To Try

 

Why it's worth a try, regrowth and ingrown hair, pain and body parts, and other epilator FAQs

Why should I try epilating ?

    You won't be a slave of daily shaving, and you never ever have sandpaper legs. Epilating is greener than shaving or depilatory creams, and much cheaper in the long run. It's less messy than waxing, and I suspect it's more throughout (I never did get the hang of waxing).


What are the main downsides of epilating ?

   The pain and irritation in the beginning. Also, you might develop ingrown hair if you're not careful.


Does it hurt ?

    It's mostly just the first time, since that's the only time you'll be epilating all the hairs of the area at once. Hair regrows gradually, so the next time you'll be epilating the one-third that grows back by that time. Also, nerves get numb already after the first few strokes (you might notice starting each area is more painful, then it gets better). With time, the nerves on epilated areas learn to ignore the depilator and you'll be doing it without the slightest grimace.


So, how bad is that first time ?

   What's your pain threshold ? Think waxing/tweezing. People who wax don't find epilating tolerable even the first time. People with low pain thresholds have a much harder time. My next post will deal with tips on making the first time less painful.


Does the hair have to be of a certain minimum length ? Do epilators deal with the finest hair ?

   If someone tells you that epilators need the hair to be a minimum length, or that it misses finer hairs is either doing it wrong or has a crappy depilator. My ancient Braun Silk-Epil grips with even the tiniest and the finest hair (although I do need a few passes to get complete smoothness)


Does the hair regrow coarser, or finer ?

   If the hair is regrowing coarser (hint: the tips are blunt, not pointed) then your epilator is breaking the hair instead of pulling it out. You're either doing it wrong, or your gadget is crap. My upcoming posts will tell you how to deal with this problem.


What about ingrown hair ?

   You might get it, it depends on your skin. The trick is to exfoliate often, and moisturise the area.


Which part of my body can I treat with an epilator ?

   Legs and arms is standard and easy, but it's also possible to do your armpits, chin (for intermediate users) and even back and front bikini area (experts only ! I still cringe even at the idea.)


What type of epilator should I get ?

   If your pain threshold is low and you have serious doubts, try borrowing one at first. When buying, go for Braun or Phillips, EpiLady products are much lower quality. Cordless is less green than ones with cord, and usually the cord is long enough to use comfortably. You also don't have an additional chore to remember (keep the batteries charged), but then cordless may be handier while travelling. Read reviews on Amazon, and remember that you don't need the latest and most expensive one to get the best results.



   In my experience, most people who get their fingers burned during epilating get discouraged by the hard first time. Don't worry, it gets way better, and check out tomorrow's post for tips on dealing with your first time with an epilator !
   I realise I've said "doing it wrong" several times in this post. It's because I've been having problems with my depilation and I thought I needed a new epilator... but then I realised it's my technique that was causing the problems. My ancient Braun, I'm keeping you.

Have you ever tried an epilator ? Love it or hate it ? 

Photo by Brennana9    

Magic Wand For Facial Hair Removal

 

   I have found a miracle gadget to remove unwanted fuzz from the face! This weird little tool should be in every ladies beauty toolbox. It's so easy to use, fuss-free and damn cheap. I loved that you can even use it without a mirror, like when you're watching TV.

Update: I have received several emails from readers telling me the epi stick is like the only thing that doesn't irritate their sensitive upper-lip area.


Note: This is NOT a sponsored post. I am genuinely in love with this product, and I have paid for it myself. The whole 2€.

What's an Epistick Hair Removal Wand ?

   It's a little spring for facial threading. It works on the same principle as threading, but way less painful and much easier. You just twist a little spring to pull out the hair from its roots. It covers the face quickly, but is too small to use on the body.

What's Facial Threading ?

   In many Asian countries girls use threading to epilate their face to get a smooth shiny look. The threads are twisted to grab small hair and pull it up. Face fuzz supposedly mattifies and dulls the face, especially if your hair is dark.
  Most of us probably don't need to epilate the whole face, but have hair on the upper lip of around the jaw that doesn't exactly make us prettier. Another problem spot can be lady-sideburns, which can be irritating when you are trying to blend your foundation in.

How does this springy-thingy work ?

You twist it to catch the hair, and pull it out from the roots. It works on all of the face except the eyebrows: upper lip, chin, neck, forehead, etc.

Take a look at the official demo from Epicare.
However, this lady has it covered it really well:

Eternal*Voyageur's Review of the Epistick

Ease of use: ****
Took me a bit of time to get the hang of it, but then I'm not very coordinated. I loved that it's pretty quick, and non-messy.
Pain: ***
I didn't find it as painful as some of the reviewers on the Makeup Alley, but then I have been tweezing for a while so I guess that my pain threshold isn't that high. As one reviewer put it,the pinching is irritating rather than painful. It gets less painful over time, as the skin gets used to it.
Skin safety: *****
Doesn't effect the skin: no harmful chemicals, minimal pulling, no irritation! Yay! Epistick can also be used  if you apply Retinoids.
Re-growth: ****
Pretty slow, since the hair is removed with the roots. That means that over time the hair growth will be weaker.
Areas covered: ****
Is way too slow to use on on the body, and dangerous around the eyebrows. Other than that, it deals with any hair on the face !
Effectiveness: *****
Grabs even the finest fuzz.
Price: *****
Cheap, if you buy from Ebay.


Comparison with other methods:

Depilatory creams: I'm not a fan of them since I don't fancy applying anything on my skin that can chemically dissolve hair. Besides, the Cosmetic Database reveals that most depilatory creams have medium to hight safety concerns. Painless, but messier, and the hair grows back very fast since it is removed only on the surface.
Waxing: pulls the skin, and is way more painful. And messy. Might cause skin discolorations, an wreaks havoc with spider veins. And works only with longer hair.
Tweezing: pulls the skin more and takes a longer time than the Wand. However, you will need your tweezers for the area between your eyebrows.
Shaving: (yes, there exist facial razors for ladies) is gentle on the skin, but I imagine the stubble would be unpleasant. Update: you can totally shave your face without getting stubble, apart from the lady 'stache. However, the hair grows back much faster that after the wand.

Eternal*Voyageur's Tips:

• If the hair you want to remove is longer (like one the cheeks), shave it with a razor first, and use the Wand on it the next day -- it'll be less painful.
• For the first time, try it after a shower, when the hair pores are more open.
• Store your Wand so that it doesn't get dirty (unless you really want to break out). Just wrap it in a tissue or something. Got any ideas for DIY storage of the Wand ?
• Keep it away from the eyebrow area till you get skilled in using it. Then maybe you can attempt the area between your brows.
• Don't wait too long between uses. When only some of the hair has grown back and it is still short, the process is much less painful !
• Do clean it with alcohol every once in a while.
• If it doesn't work, you are doing it wrong. Just roll it, don't move it around ! Read the instructions carefully  & watch the video.
• For sensitive skin: dust the area with powder. And after epilating, use Witchhazel on sensitive skin to calm it. Thanks to cakemix for tips.

Epicare vs Epictick vs Bellabe

These are practically the same thing from different brands, apart from the fact that Bellabe comes with a plastic storage tube. Bellabe is produced in the US, Epicare in Malaysia. Epistick in an even cheaper knock-off of Epicare. I bought mine on Ebay for 2€, brand new, inclusiveshipping. I'm cheap like that.

Where to buy this wonder-tool:

Search Ebay for Epistick, Epicare or Bellabe.
Official site of Bellabe (US), and Epicare (UK)

Don't just take my word, check out the raving reviews from Makeup Alley !

    

Does not removing facial hair make you a cavewoman ?

 

Is it necessary to tweeze and pluck the whole face ? Is it ok not to ?
It all depends: which hair and where, how visible it is, and... your facial features and personal style. In my opinion, hair in certain places should be removed under punishment of beheading, while other can be left well enough alone. Read on to find which is which.

Please get a magnifying mirror and good lighting

Better yet, get two mirrors, to get those hard-to-see angles of your face. Scrutinise your face carefully, including the sides and the jawline. It's amazing how often people don't realise they have an unsightly hair growing from some part of their face.
If you are pregnant or around menopause, spend a little more time on this. You might not have noticed the additional fuzziness due to hormonal changes.

Lady-moustache

I'd actually advise you to get rid of your moustaches. It rarely looks good on anyone.

Unless you are Frida Kahlo, that is.

Hair growing out of birthmarks:

Evil. Makes people shriek and scream, then drop dead. Eliminate upon sighting.
Same for anything long on the chin.

Eyebrows:

Most ladies benefit from tidying up the eyebrows, since that opens up the eyes and gives a more groomed look.
By tidying I mean removing anything that's outside of the actual brow outline. Maybe some small changes. But most people shouldn't try too hard to change their eyebrow shape. There is no such thing as a perfect eyebrow shape, no matter what the magazines say. Angelina Jolie's eyebrows would look terrible on the Olsen twins, and that's that.

Over plucked brows are even worse than wild bushy ones.

 

Not everyone needs thin, delicate arches. Especially those with a strong or a chubby jawline.

And uni-brows can totally rock.

 

Sideburns & neck fuzz:

That's the hair on the sides of the cheeks, under the ears and around the jaw-line. Check using two mirrors if yours is noticeable. Women with a lot of dark hair everywhere usually have visible hair in these areas. If you do, you don't need to stress about removing it. I say it's absolutely optional, unless it's really prominent.
The hair on the temples ('connecting' the eyebrows with the hairline) falls into the same category.

Nose hair

Do check in the mirror, since very few people pay attention to their own nostrils. If the hair that actually grows out of their nostrils, just trim it with nail-cutting scissors.

Ear hair

I think this is a male thing. Begone !
Unless you are Yoda.

Coming up: review of Epistick, a magical hair-removal wand !

What are our thoughts on epilating facial hair ? Do you epilate your face ?