GenderLife Forum: The Information Exchange

I had several laser hair removal sessions. I have kept on shaving like i used to - including the parts were basically no hair grows anymore. Someone told me that would damage the skin too much and that i should only shave the parts were there is hair growth. Is this true?

Question. How does your skin feel after shaving?

Well, that's the point: it doesn't feel sore or anything but I still apply after shave as well.

Why shave an area devoid of hair? Or, do you mean that you cannot avoid the hairless areas when shaving the hairy areas?

I had to shave my whole face throughout 15 months of laser, simply because the laser gradually decreased hair density fairly evenly across my face. Shaving with a Braun 8000 never seemed to irritate my skin.

I never use aftershave. Instead, once I finish shaving, I rinse with cold water, pat dry, and lightly apply a good facial moisturizer like Laura Mercier or La Prairie Cellular Time Release.

What have the people doing your laser said? I was told to shave like I normally did, and as I needed to, but to make sure to mositurize.

You have a good question. The laser does leave hair on certain spots here and there. So I just didn't think about it and shaved like i have been doing for the last 25 years. Even on the spots were there is no hair at all.

I'll ask next time...! Thanks!!

You are doing no harm.I used to shave in the shower with a Shower Tech mirror and a wet / dry electric shaver. I used a little baby oil w/Aloe as my shave cream. Follow with Galaxygirl's recommendations.Stay away from any product that has alcohol listed as an ingredient.

Just do the normal shaving and moisturize. No reason to avoid the bald patches. Be gentle.

I don't know if there is any science behind the whole "shaving hurts the skin" bit. It's not like you're abrading the dermis or anything. I wouldn't worry about it.

Besides, shaving helps rid your face of dead skin cells. It's like exfoliating only without the whole extra step!

Not moisturising may well have an adverse effect on the skin if one shaves - as for the razor itself, well, barring cuts, it's only likely to be an issue if you dry shave, or use a worn out razor - both of those are easy to avoid.

And no matter what, please don't try this:

Don't try what?

From my understanding that's the way most people shave with fire in part's of the world where razors don't exist or are too expensive. What's sad to say though is there almost too expensive here state side anyway.

Nothing like becoming virtually hairless after years of HRT.

Saves you a bundle.

Now if only I could get the hair in my armpits to go away...

2 cups sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup lemon juice

Boil until it gets a little darker than honey.

This makes a wonderful alternative to to the wax that salons use of that you can buy in the store. The other nice thing is that it cleans up very easily with only water. Apply the "wax" in the direction the hair grows. Apply a cloth strip over the top in the direction the hair grows, and in one smooth, quick motion, pull the strip off the in the opposite direction. That should keep those armpits hairless for a few weeks. You can wash and ruse the cloth strips. Linen and percale work well for the cloth.

For a second I thought you were giving your recipe for vodka sour (vodka means "little water").

Gosh, I'm easily influenced.

Oh my GOD Hope! For a minute there I thought you were advocating waxing facial hair!

Let me be very clear: waxing your face is a very, very, very, VERY BAD idea!

Even though women do it to their woman-mustaches if you try it on male mustache hair or beard hair you will tear your skin off.

Just thought I would mention that before some Einstein decides it's a good idea (read: me a few years ago).

On the topic of shaving with fire:

Marcella,

You know they do something very similar for shaving cow udders, right? Just thought you would be interested.

Using bleaching agents is not a great idea either: it left me irritated for a whole day (had to conceal the irritation with makeup). But when you have dark hair on not-so-dark skin, and you cannot afford laser or electro yet, unsing something like Blondissima was the only option (you could put on a kilo of DermaBlend, but since I was not a showgirl I didn't see the point).

Poor cows, gosh. People do awful things to them. They need a revolution.

Up with cows!!

So funny you posted the flaming shaver.

Just saw that on TV tonight in a Turkish barbershop.

No stubble goils, you know you want to try it