Pre-beach trip hair removal -- need input
 

Okay, it's not 100% a travel question. But I AM asking because of the beach travel I do. I vacation in warm destinations a LOT, and I am tired of shaving and/or depilitating my body hair!

I'm considering electrolysis but I don't know anyone who has done this. From what I can tell it's the only "permanent" hair removal solution; lasers are NOT permanent hair removers (although they do offer "permanent reduction").

Your input is appreciated. I'm thinking the bikini line and some stray hairs on the face have got to go. Worried about the pain factor, damage to my skin (esp. the face), and whether it works.

If you shave every day, it becomes part of your personal hygiene regimen.

Go to France, then it won't be an issue.

One word: Brazilian

Really, just go to your closest day spa and ask for some waxing services and tell them what locations on your face and body you would like to have "hair free."

The only time you have to worry about damage is in any area you use Retin A products.

We travel to the Caribbean two or three times per year and I have even gotten my husband into the spirit. He gets his upper body waxed - front and back but not arms - all the way to the top of his swim trunks.

The pain is only kinda bad in certain areas - if you get my drift... :)

Electrolysis for the all the areas you are talking about would cost 1,000's and take multiple visits since each hair must basically be zapped all the way down to the roots.

Diana's right, waxing is the most thorough way to get rid of bodyhair before a beach vacation. I can't shave my legs every day, or they'll get all bumpy, so it's the only way I can go to the beach!!!
Electrolysis just wouldn't work for large areas...

I couldn't stand not shaving daily. Creeps me out.

Well, I've never done a bikini wax so perhaps it's time to try. Scares me to death.

GoTravel, don't you get tired of shaving every day??? I just think it would be a dream come true if I could hop on a plane to the beach on a moment's notice, without thinking "uh oh, gotta get rid of that hair . . . "

Plus, if you shave your bikini area, it's a KILLER to go into the ocean too soon afterwards. Ouch.

Lasers work best on dark hair and light skin, so perhaps lasering the ole bikini line is the way to go. Then maybe electrolysis on the face.

If you've had kids, waxing is a walk in the park.

Im with GoTravel...I cant imagine not shaving everyday...would make me feel icky I think.

But if your hair was gone, you wouldn't need to shave. So no cause for feeling "icky."

Debbie, it's just like brushing my teeth. I do it every day so it is habit. On the few rare times I've skipped (being sick) it has grossed me out.

Get a good razor, a Mach III (expensive but worth it) and try it every day for a week. Once you've shaved, when you shave the next day, there isn't much to shave so it doesn't take long at all.

Ditto for the bikini line.

Do not, I repeat, do not use a cheap disposable razor. It will tear up your skin and give you razor burn.

I also suggest shaving with a thick oil. I use Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Oil. It is thick and makes my skin feel like silk.

Electrolysis would work beautifully for a few stray hairs on the face. You would probably need two or three short treatments as some hairs are always in a dormant phase at any given time. I think you'd be very pleased with electrolysis for this area.

For larger areas, though, I think electrolysis would take way too much time and money.

Electrolysis is slightly painful but tolerable for a short session.

Electrolysis for your face- but remember that you can't have too much sun exposure for a day afterwards. It is permanent but will take time. Shaving stopped working for me when I was in my early-mid twenties-- red, bumpy, ingrown hairs. For a while waxing worked but I seem to have the coloring that works for laser hair removal (dark brown hair, very light skin) and I am doing it at my dermatologist's office. I am not doing bikini line though because everyone says it is too painful. If I had beach vacations frequently though, I would. It is VERY expensive and takes at least a year. Waxing works well enough for bikini when I need it.
Call up the most upscale day spa in your area and ask if they can recommend someone who does electrolysis. You probably know lots of women who have done electrolysis and laser but just don't know. If you speak to women about these issues- friends, co-workers, neighbors- I'm sure many will share recommendations and experiences.

I never had any idea people thought body hair was so gross ;)! Those poor beeastly hairy french women!
( guess I better shave more often!) But seriously, there are those of us who cannot shave daily without skin getting irritated and bumpy, and for beach trips, waxing is a godsend!

Jeeees, take it offline will ya - I made the mistake of reading this just before lunch. Ugggg. But as long as I'm here, I'll vote for the traditional wax. But I cannot believe you guys force your hubbies to get waxed.

One thing I recommend is to keep your skin in really good condition -- mainly to keep it moisturized. I think this is true for ANY type of removal you have planned.

I shave my legs often, using products that seem to help my skin remain smooth. Before shaving, I use one of those nylon scrunchies -- with body wash -- to loosen any dead skin and add emollients (sp?). Immediately after showering I slather on Skintimate Shave Gel.

hey SoBeTraveller, I just give the ole hubby a shot of brown liquor and let'er rip! The pain from the back wax doesn't render him unconscious.

Hey SoBe.
I don't FORCE him to wax - but I did talk him into doing it once, and now he is hooked.
He was very embarassed the first time, and it took him three hang up calls to get up the nerve to make the appointment.
Now he is a regular "metrosexual." ;)

Just chiming in here.

Waxing works great.

Electrolysis is really only practical for small sections of skin - upper lip, eyebrows, etc. Otherwise it is cost prohibitive and takes a really long time.

OK, no force, I see. People should be free to seek out pain, I agree.

WAX I wax my legs, starting a couple of months before shorts weather. By summer the hairs are so fine and sparse that I could go all summer with out shaving my underarms or legs. Never done the bikini area. Waxing doesn' hurt as much as plucking eyebrows. Get it done professionally the first time and then do it yourself. The sugarwax, available at drugstores and grocery stores, is the most effective and very reasonable priced.

Here's my 3 cents, for whatever it's worth: got a bikini wax a few years ago, just prior to summer....have been getting them every 5-6 weeks since...same day as my facial. I really can't understand why any woman would not have this done. Yes, it stings momentarily, but so what? So does plucking eyebrows. And I too, shave my legs every day - can't STAND the stubbles at night, as I sleep on my side with legs on top of each other.
However, I DO have a rather strange question regarding leg shaving: after watching "Queer Eye"'s Kyan go ballistic when men shave "against the grain" - should we shave our legs from top down? Cuz, honey's I shave from ankle up! Have I been doing this wrong for the past - well, we just won't say how many years!

Wax for sure ... if your lucky you may even get some permanent hair free spots. I have large sections of calf that never grew hair again after a few wax sessions. I find if I let it grow for an extra few days before waxing it lasts longer. The first salon I ever had a wax at recommended it ... said the hair grows in 2 or 3 cycles and you want to make sure all the cycles have grown out at least a little from the last shave so they all get gripped by the wax and pulled out out. Don't know if that is at all true but it does seem to last longer if I let it get grow a bit before hand. As for pain its not that bad ... not even the bikini part and well worth it for no bumpy red spots.

I must be doing something wrong, because even with waxing I get red bumpy spots. Painful and frustrating! Maybe I should try a professional at my day spa 'cause I clearly don't know what I'm doing.

Laser hair removal is the way to go for the bikini area! I had five treatments, each one two months apart. The last one was more than a year ago and there has been very, very little regrowth. Each treatment was $100. Expensive, but so is waxing if you do it every 5 weeks as some have posted. The discomfort was minimal.

Anyone know if this topic has been discussed on the Euro board, and specifically how French men think about hairy French women?
I once read that the average French woman changes underwear 3 times per week.
Now THAT really disgusts me.

If God meant for us to wax our bodies, we would have been born with linoleum for skin.

Everyone has different pain thresholds, and different hair. My friend's aunt is an electrolycist, and it's putting her out of business. Electrolysis can be just as painful as laser and it can take longer to kill the follicle.

Some women experience horrible ingrowns with waxing, some with shaving. There is no perfect solution for all people.

That said, I opted for taking 3 ibuprofen and a shot of vodka (bad for my liver, I know) before heading off to the wax salon, something I did 3 days before the trip to the beach. Worked for me.

the it's should read Laser removal...

A brazilian wax can do wonders for your sex life.

I get sick of shaving my legs everyday...therefore ....i don't! To heck with it...when i think i need to go somewhere with shorts then i shave more otherwise...let'em grow...lol.

Been there and done it all! I am all about the laser. Great results and fast! Prices have dropped considerably since it first hit the market. It gets less painful as you get less hair folicles. It definitely gets your attention, but not umbearable. I usually bring a little squeeze ball for my sweaty palms.

Go for it!

Just thought I'd post an update since I started this discussion . . .
Went in for laser hair removal (bikini) in May, have had my second session (two weeks ago) and so far I'm very pleased. The place I'm going offers free "touch ups" two weeks after each session in case hairs were missed, which has helped. They recommend three to six sessions, spaced 2-3 months apart to allow for new growth cycles. I have very fair skin and dark hair, so I'm a great candidate and I'm hoping I'll be complete DONE with only one more session.

As for pain, I was expecting it to be pretty painful, so during my first session I was pleasantly surprised -- until that laser moved into some more sensitive spots, then it was like "HEY! YOWZA!" It's an odd feeling because the pain is focused in a tiny spot, but it's intense. However, it's definitely worth it. I was red for an hour or so afterwards, but that's it. At my second session, the technician cranked up the laser three more points, which hurt a bit more but is better for ensuring hair removal.

I have two "bathing suit trips" within the next two months and I'm looking forward to more.

I'm so jealous... I've considered having it done but I can't bring myself to spend the money. I'd rather take a vacation instead!

thanks for the laser report! May I ask the approximate cost?
thanks!

As for cost, I did my first session during a 1/2 off summer "bikini line" special. Total cost was $99. Second session was full price, $198. There is a fall special (two sessions for one) starting in October so I'll schedule my next session around that. Since you wait 2-3 months between sessions, it's easier to set aside money each week to save up. It's not impacting my travel savings; instead, I make more lunches, don't buy lattes, etc. etc.