Ever since the days of the cave man, some form of sharp implement has been used to remove hair. From primitive sharpened flints to collections of prized bronze razors, hair removal tools have been regarded as essential to good grooming. Modern technology has made the often painful task of hair removal easier, and in many cases, much less painful, thanks to the invention of the safety razor in 1762. For centuries, women endured nicks, scrapes, and burns when having their unwanted body hair plucked, waxed, pulled and scraped off. And although in the early 20th Century women could borrow from the boys those Schick, Gillette or Sunbeam razors, it wasn't until 1940 that Remington rolled out the first electric shaver specifically designed for women. Today, in most modern societies, smooth, shiny skin is not only a sign of good health, but also good grooming.'Women tweeze their eyebrows to suit the latest fashion trend. They shave, wax, and depilate hair on legs, under arms, above the lip and in the delicate "bikini" area. All in the name of "beauty."
Q. What method do dermatologists recommend for removing unwanted hair?
A. Electrolysis is suggested for sparse, unwanted hair. For more abundant hair, waxing is best. Seek a recommendation for a good electrologist from your dermatologist.
Q. What is the best way to remove hair using a hand-held machine?
A. Hair should be 1/6 to 1/2 inch long. Take a hot shower or hot bath to soften hairs. Pull skin taut while depilling hair. Consider waxing hair first, then using the machine for keeping the area hair-free as hair grows in.
Q. What is the difference between the paraffin used to soften hands and the wax used for hair removal?
A. Paraffin wax is lanolin-enriched and contains moisturizing oils. Gigi Honee Wax is made with clover honey and other natural resins which facilitate hair removal.
Q. Why does it hurt when I get my legs waxed? Can the pain be lessened?
A. Leg hair is pulled off with the wax. To help ease the pain, skin should be pulled very taut in the opposite direction from which the wax strip will be removed. Stretching the skin properly is the most important tip for reducing the pain. Immediately after the wax is removed, apply firm pressure to the area with your hands. The sting can also be lessened at the point by placing an ice-cold pack where hair was removed.
Q. How long should my hair be to be waxed?
A. Hair should be 1 /2 inch long the first time for the wax to take hold.
Q. What hair removal technique lasts the longest?
A. Waxing, especially when a warm wax is used because it penetrates into the pores and pulls out the entire hair from the root. On the average, it takes three to six weeks for the hair to grow back. For permanent hair removal, electrolysis is recommended.
Q. Can I wax my legs at home effectively?
A. You can wax your legs at home, but probably not as effectively as a professional can. Hot wax kits for home tend to be messy. However, Gigi Microwave Kit is an efficient system providing a transparent wax so that you can see exactly which hairs have been covered by the wax. Gare should be taken in heating the wax, and be sure to follow closely the manufacturer's instructions. The Clean & Easy Mini Waxer is easy to use because the wax is applied with a roll-on applicator that eliminates mess. Hair is removed with cloth strips almost as effectively as in a professional waxing salon. You might also want to try the cold wax kits in which wax is spread on strips that you press on and tear off. The downside: sometimes not all the hair is stripped off.
Q. How do I get rid of ingrown hairs on my legs after I have had my legs waxed?
A. Waxing could have caused this because hair is removed below the skin line. A hair is ingrown when it re-enters the skin after it came out. To remove it, sterilize a fine sewing needle in boiling water and gently pick the hair out. If it doesn't pop out easily, give up. You may need to see a dermatologist if the hair does not grow out. To avoid the problem, don't shave too close, wax or use a depilatory.
Q. How long will my skin stay smooth after using a depilatory?
A. That depends on your hair type - whether you have strong, coarse or fine hair. Usually two to six weeks because depilatories reach hair just below the surface.
Q. Why do depilatory creams smell so badly?
A. They contain two powerful chemical compounds, sodium thioglycolate and calcium thioglycolate which both can dissolve keratin - what hair is made of. Sometimes the smell is worse after the depilatory is applied because the thioglycolate acid reacts with the hair to create a sulphur-type byproduct - the bad egg smell! A few formulations are available which are not as strong smelling, such as Clean & Easy Cream Depilatory.
Q. What do I do if my skin breaks out after using a depilatory?
A. Wash with betadine and follow with Neosporin cream or a cortisone spray to reduce inflammation. Betadine is an antibacterial cleanser that is available over-the-counter from your pharmacist.
Q. Will depilatories dry my skin?
No, not if you follow up with a finishing cream or balm, such as Palm Beach Skin A. Saver with aloe vera to soothe and moisturize skin.
Q. When should I shave, morning or the night before?
A. Shave at night to reduce redness.
Q. When should I shave my legs before going to the beach?
A. Wait 12 hours after shaving or waxing to plunge into the spa, pool, lake or ocean. Shaving stubble, is the one drawback of shaving, although it is still the most popular method for removing leg and bikini hair.
Q. What is the proper way to shave my legs?
A. Shave hair in the opposite direction hair grows. Use razors made for women because their curved handles are easier to hold and seem to help prevent nicks.
Q. How can I prevent the redness and stinging that occurs after I shave my legs?
A. Wash your razor and legs with betadine before shaving. m Shave in the shower using Clubman Shave Cream which will soften the hairs and make shaving easier. After shaving, use Gigi Antiseptic Lotion to moisturize the skin. Palm Beach Skin Saver will help minimize redness and irritation and will leave skin feeling smooth and cool because it is enriched with aloe vera.
Q. Can I easily remove hair from the "bikini" area?
A. Shaving may be the easiest, but is not the most effective way to remove bikini area hair. The best way is to have hair professionally removed using a waxing product with azulene. If this is not possible, try Clean & Easy Bikini Roll On or Clean & Easy Wax Strips which can be used at home.
Q. What is the best way to remove facial hair myself?
A. Ardell Surgi-Cream dissolves the hair at the skin level. An easy-to-use solution is Gigi Removal Strips for the face.
Q. What is the best method to remove or minimize those unsightly hairs that grow in the nose and ears?
A. Nose hair should be clipped with tiny manicure scissors or Tweezerman's blunt nose scissors made especially for this task. For easier hair removal, Wahl makes a battery-operated nose hair trimmer. Nose hairs should not be waxedl Ear hairs can be waxed or tweezed, but it is quite uncomfortable. Most good stylists usually will clip the ear hairs when they are trimming the hair. At home, have your spouse, roommate or significant other tweeze the hairs for you, since it is hard to do it yourself.
Q. How do I choose tweezers? There are so many shapes?
A. For a long lasting, durable tweezer, choose a professional quality 1 00 percent stainless steel tweezer that will not rust when cleaned. The prongs should have a light, gentle spring action and the gripping platforms (at the tips) should be smooth and polished. When the tips are pressed together, they should meet perfectly. Tweezerman makes a variety. The most popular is Tweezerman's Slant Tweezer. Selecting the shape is a matter of personal preference.
Q. What is the best way to tweeze my brows?
A. First, brush the hairs in the direction of the hair growth. Isolate the hair you want to tweeze. Always tweeze in the direction of the hair growth. Pull ONE hair at a time, gently and smoothly. Do not yank the hair out. Ouch! Brows should start just above the inner corner of the eye and extend slightly past the outer corner of the eye. Be careful not to remove too much hair because brows that have been tweezed too much won't always grow back!
Q. How can I reduce the irritation from having my brows tweezed?
A. Dampen a cotton ball with a mild astringent, like Sea Breeze, and gently wipe the area to be tweezed to help prevent infection. Take a steamy shower or place a hot washcloth over your brow before tweezing to open the pores. Don't use an ice cube or "freeze before you tweeze," because this will close the pores and it makes it harder to pull the hair. Use a moisturizer after, not before tweezing, so you are sure to get a good grip on the hair.
Q. What is the best softener for the hands?
A. For long term moisturizing, try a salon paraffin manicure that softens skin and cuticles with moisturizing oils. For daily use, try a moisturizing lotion like Skin Saver Aloe Vera Lotion, Vienna Triple Lanolin Hand and Body Lotion or Vienna Aloe Vera Hand and Body Lotion for extra protection.
Q. Is there a difference between the natural sponges used by spas and the synthetic sponges I find at the drugstore?
A. Natural sponges are more durable than synthetic fibers, which is why you may find them at spas. They will hold up better over time.
Q. What is the difference between using a loofah and using a body cleansing grain?
A. Both exfoliate, i.e. slough off dead skin cell layers. A loofah is made from a loofa plant and is made into a cloth or mitt. Body cleansing grains contain granules which when rubbed on skin exfoliate it, allowing the body to be polished instead of just washed.
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