Inquiring minds want to know
Published by Becky S January 27th, 2005 in miscellaneous fluff, wtf?When did allowing a stranger to approach your genitals with hot wax become standard personal hygiene procedure?
miscellaneous fluff wtf?Does This Blog Make My Butt Look Big?
When did allowing a stranger to approach your genitals with hot wax become standard personal hygiene procedure?
miscellaneous fluff wtf?
After Sex and the City had that episode about going Brazilian.
Not only hot wax, but what about that space-age laser hair removal like the astronauts use?
The astronauts have had their hair removed via laser? Pourquoi? Dave, please elaborate.
I’ve never waxed–way too painful. Hair removal is part of our American culture. Once I lived in Germany for 5 months, and for the first month (January, and my boyfriend was back in the states), I went “natural.” Not a pretty sight on someone with dark hair. I’m proud to be a hair removing American.
I do confess to the laser hair removal treatment–not cheap–but done by a woman I trust. Not everyone needs help with their bikini line–but some of us want to avoid the razor bumps, hassle, etc. And for those considering either–the wax just makes the hair grow in thicker. Laser is permanent.
for some people its hot wax or a weed whacker.
I am ever grateful to be of the fairer (in both hair and skin) genetic persuasion.
Huh?
Oh Clair–haven’t you ever had a girlfriend?
I know it isn’t the coolest procedure ever, but it makes going down on your partner about a zillion times more enjoyable.
Clair’s last girlfriend was a fair lass.
For God’s sake, Walker, my parents read this thing! Though perhaps I should have thought of that before posing the question.
Oddly enough I just saw a video that relates to this very topic. I won’t elaborate, but it does look painful.
I say, go with the lasers since lasers are like, cool and stuff.
I’ve often wondered that myself. I think my mother was supposed to have made mention of that at some point, but it must have slipped her mind. By the time the whole concept came to my attention, I was too old to care.
I too, took it upon myself to begin laser treatment for the underarm area and nether regions. It hurts like hell: A lot more than I anticipated and I am no stranger to laser hair removal. Hopefully the 2nd treatment is a little easier to take but I doubt it.
Thanks for the input. Interesting to know that lasers can be painful too.
Frankly, I think we’ve lost some perspective. Sure, do the best you can with the tools at your disposal, but hot wax? Lasers? No fucking way. Anyone who has a problem with that isn’t worth the time anyway.
Maybe that’s just my genes talking (the “S” in Becky S is a German name).
Kat–the person who does my laser hair removal zaps with one hand, then swipes with a tissue immediately–helping reduce the pain–it’s the gateway theory of pain management–if your person doesn’t do this I would highly suggest them trying it for you.
I also have German genes–so I don’t know what that means. Listen people–not everyone needs this–some of us are hairier than others. For those of us who are–it’s a great solution.
FYI–Some men have their back and chest hair lasered off. In comparison, I little bikini area is nothing.
I am strongly against anybody having anything lasered off (for cosmetic reasons). We are seriously fucked up when we let the media or Gillette or the wax companies or whoever dictate aesthetics. I have better things to do with my time and better ways to spend my money. Um, like, on blonde highlights.
I also think it’s crazy for people to shave their legs (I only do it because once you start, it’s hard to stop), but that’s a whole other post.
And while I’m sharing, let me just say that my legs are currently hairy and will remain so until my landlord fixes the damn hot water heater.
I definitely can’t shave without hot water. If just won’t happen. I don’t laser for THE MAN, or society (at least I think so or keep telling myself that). I have been wanting to do this for a long time for convenience mostly although I was unaware of the inconvenient pain thing. The bikini wasn’t as much of an issue as my underarms. UGH! Very unsightly. No matter what razor or how close I shave it always looks as though I haven’t AND THAT IS A PROBLEM!
Oops I forgot to say who it was. I posted the previous comment.
Yes, there shall be no anonymous hairy underarm people on this weblog!
I don’t mean to sound judgemental about having these procedures done. What angers me is the expectation that subjecting yourself to lasers and hot wax is part of a standard personal maintenance routine (like bathing or brushing your teeth).
OK Becky I am going to have to really spell it out. Most people do not require these extremes–I am sure you do not. However, those of us blessed with luscious locks on our head, long eyelashes, etc. may have up to triple dark, thick hair growing out of one follicle. It is for us that these things are needed. And Kat, good luck with the underarms–my laser chick says it takes 6-8 times for that area–which is why I haven’t done it.
Um, Sassy, you’re missing my point. No one requires these extremes. It is the very use of the word require that I object to.
Also, the idea (fairly recent, I think) that people who choose not to wax/laser–even if they have naturally triple dark thick hair–are lacking in the personal hygiene department is ridiculous.
Sassy J- 6 to 8 times is an awful lot. I feel really sad right now…like I showed up at the Spanish Inquisition wearing a “Heretic” sandwich board. The ouch factor is high but I will trudge on. I don’t feel required to do this. IF some loser told me to do it, I would have kicked him in the shin and spit in his chicken fried steak.
Oh no! Sad commenters! Sorry, Kat, that wasn’t my intention. No Inquisition here.
It’s possible that my stance could be perceived as a bit, er, dogmatic. I put this post up just for fun, and here it turns out that I’m very passionate about body hair issues. Who knew?
I’m not worried so much about losers who would outright demand this treatment (like Kat, I’m sure we’d all kick such a person to the curb). I just wonder why we think we need to do this for ourselves. Where did we get the idea that part of looking good and feeling sexy involves hairless skin in areas that naturally have hair? Then again, why do I color my hair and worry about cellulite (which isn’t even real)?
Still, I can’t shake the feeling that The Man is somewhere in the background, laughing all the way to the bank with his spa/wax/laser profits.
And just to lighten the mood:
1. I noticed that we have officially scared all the men away from this thread.
2. At a convention last year, I met a woman from Victoria’s Secret. Her office sees prints of the models before the airbrush guys fix ‘em up. Very hairy, she says.
Hey! I’m a man last time I checked, and I was not scared off.
I’m a hairy dude (damn my Irish blood!), and I would never think of getting anything waxed or lasered! It is ridiculous, and as Becky said, I am not going to waste my time with someone who is caught up with hair and/or lack of hair. And since I am make up of about 65% cellulite (or ‘fat’ as I like to call it) I don’t worry about that either.
Now, I do have a lot of gray hair that I worry about, but I am not going to be one of those guys that dyes his hair; too metrosexual for me.
So there!
I once dated a hairy Irish man and did not really have any issues. Not about the hair, anyway.
Good, golly gosh…I hope you don’t think I was offended. I meant the spanish inquisition comment to reference the fact that I am willingly doing something that is painful. That is good to know about the hairy Victoria Secret models. I figured out where the brainwashing began: “Nair for short shorts” ads. Until then wasn’t nearly everyone au natural with the exception of shaving under arms and lower legs?
Becky–it is what it is–many women do not do it–but our culture does somewhat encourage it. It’s a personal choice issue. I also do this for no man–but myself–although I’m sure some men may appreciate it. If I am going to be wearing bathing suits, tennis skirts, exercise shorts, etc. in public, year-round (and I do) and do not like the sight of my own dark, hairy legs/armpits (because, yes we were culturally conditioned to think hairless is sexy on women–and is that partly because it is seen as pre-pubescent? even more insidious–but I’m already conditioned), then shaving it is. However, in the bikini area shaving can produces bumps, etc. especially in summer heat, that are painful and unsightly–laser takes care of that. Plus, I love the feeling of hairless legs–as I walk in the summertime, as I slip in between the bed sheets, or in some silky pjs–it’s pleasurable for me.
Ok, now I’m scared off.
“Oddly enough I just saw a video that relates to this very topic. I won’t elaborate, but it does look painful.”
Scott, where do you rent your vidoes from?