OK this is gonna sound pretty wierd but...

[DinbinFanfoom]

...anyone have any experience with hair removal products?

See... I'm kinda... fuzzy. Not "Greek Sasquatch from Klondike Mountain Man" hairy, but enough to annoy me. On my back. I gather it's a part of the "manly aging process" but frankly, I think it looks hideous. So... I checked into a few things:

1) Waxing: I could go to any of the local spas and be abused in this fashion for probably $50. Might even thin things out in the long run. But I've been waxed before... it isn't fun.

2) Laser: Intrigues me, because it's relatively painless, and permanent. Plus I've got the right skin/hair combination (light/dark) for it to work well. Downside: $70/15minutes and would likely take a program of 6 months. That's serious cashola!

3) A Cream: They're relatively easy, but I've heard horror stories about them, and they don't really last very long.

4) Electrolysis: Going the way of the dodo, which is good because I hear it's painstaking and painful.

I tried out 3) today (Something called "Veet"). It actually was pretty easy, not stinky, and while my skin feels a bit "tingly" afterwards, seems to have worked pretty well. Downside: It's hard to reach all of your back, so I missed a small spot or two. I was quite surprised at how well it worked, especially on my shoulders and upper arms, where the hair was longish, but not thick (yes, I'm a freak). If anyone is too embarassed to share their experiences publicly, feel free to PM me. :lowlol:

[Charinida]

*blinks then laughs* Greek Sasquatch?

Mind you, I mainly shave... No waxing, creames (other than shaving creame/gel) or the fancy hi-tech stuff...

PK might know more about the hair removal stuff... Which I think she has somewhere hidden in the dailies...

Cheapest, and easier if you have a friend to assist for the back, is the creame option... Just have to put up with the smell and mess (nair... argh)

Waxing is, as you have noted, not a good pleasent feeling... But might be something when the hair has been thinned down?

[DinbinFanfoom]

Cheapest, and easier if you have a friend to assist for the back, is the creame option... Just have to put up with the smell and mess (nair... argh)Actually, I found the Veet mousse (what I used) didn't smell at all, really.
Waxing is, as you have noted, not a good pleasent feeling... But might be something when the hair has been thinned down?You don't think they'd let me stagger into a spa totally drunk, would you? :lowlol: Cuz I think that'd work. Though I have the inkling that someone who was a professional could likely do a better job and not have to "do over" as much as an amateur.

[Charinida]

Drunk!? Hrmm... Must have been a really bad one for ya then... :)

Sorry I cannot be of much help... since I don't do too much maintenance myself...

And bleaching won't be of help either then I take it?

There was, an infomercial on some austrailian hair removal product... (Judith Light was pushing it, or someone else?) Not sure how well that went... Some green stuff...

Hrmm... Never realized Nair was made for men now... http://www.nairformen.com/index.asp

[kullen]

I've used Epil-stop before. And it also works fairly well. And it smells like Cucumbers. :lowrazz:

I don't mind arm and leg hair, but any amount of chest and back hair is just annoying.

That and I'm a bit of a prima-donna when it comes to products. I have more facial and hair products then most women I know.

[DinbinFanfoom]

I've used Epil-stop before. And it also works fairly well. And it smells like Cucumbers. :lowrazz:Is that an inhibitor?
I don't mind arm and leg hair, but any amount of chest and back hair is just annoying.Yeah, but do you have hair on the outside of your biceps?
That and I'm a bit of a prima-donna when it comes to products. I have more facial and hair products then most women I know.Gonna start calling you "Johnny Bravo". :D

[kullen]

Its just a hair remover, not an inhibitor.

And no, no hair on the biceps. :D

[DinbinFanfoom]

And no, no hair on the biceps. :DDarn you! :lowlol: Ironic that while I'm battling to keep hair at bay everywhere else, it's more than happy to leave my crown. If I could magically transplant every unwanted body-hair to my scalp, I'd have a luxurious mane, indeed.

[Draknor]

Darn you! :lowlol: Ironic that while I'm battling to keep hair at bay everywhere else, it's more than happy to leave my crown. If I could magically transplant every unwanted body-hair to my scalp, I'd have a luxurious mane, indeed.

You and me both. :lowlol:

[Shiz]

I would say just love you for you and don't worry about it.

Hello? Who said that?

[Serani]

Rubi is hairy. He's pretty much a Sasquatch-type hairy. It drives him nuts and he won't be seen in a swimming pool without a T-shirt. He's afraid they'll kick him out for fear he'll clog the drain. ;)

However, men with no chest hair are just...weird. I can deal with back hair okay, though I can understand why Rubi hates it. Arm hair and leg hair is, of course, normal. My favorite quote of all time is from Gaulron, while we were discussing women that don't shave (a la Europeans), "Ohh! That's not natural!" (Shaving IS?!?)

Seriously, though, I like chest hair. (It's sexy to me and a LOT of women I know). In fact, most of my gal friends think a guy who gets rid of his chest hair HAS to be gay.

As for products? I shave. So, I'm not much help. I'm too much of a wimp to try was or anything like that and since I'm blonde, it's always pale enough and thin enough that I don't even have to do it all that often. For Rubi, I use the clippers on the back of his neck to keep the hair at bay there (usually when I cut his hair) and that's all he worries about. He'd love to get rid of his back hair, but he doesn't want to have to deal with the itchiness of it coming back in.

[DinbinFanfoom]

However, men with no chest hair are just...weird. I can deal with back hair okay, though I can understand why Rubi hates it. Arm hair and leg hair is, of course, normal. My favorite quote of all time is from Gaulron, while we were discussing women that don't shave (a la Europeans), "Ohh! That's not natural!" (Shaving IS?!?)
I have no problem with my chest hair, really, though I have been known to get rid of it, just for a change. The problem is, when you're pretty much covered, where do you stop clearing without looking like the human crop-circle? I plan to find my abs some day and I have enough hair there to make that difficult. Haha. Add to the fact that my hair is SO dark and my skin SO light and by the time February comes around I look like a Siberian coal-miner.

[Serani]

Well, for instance, on Rubi - He has a nice pale strip that goes down his side under his arms. Truthfully, I'd probably just stop somewhere along the sides of the chest (and down the sides of the stomach). If you're truly worried about it looking fake, consider purposefully NOT doing a straight line down or something.

Rubi has a similar problem in that he's pale with dark hair (except his arms). For your arms, I'd consider clearing to your elbows, if you really feel the need to worry about it. I would think that no hair on the lower arms would look kinda weird, too.

In the end, though, try it. If it doesn't look right (assuming you're not going straight to laser stuff), it'll grow back. And you can try something else. Wear long sleeves in the mean time if it's that bad.

[kullen]

I'm the same way about the chest hair. I usually remove it for a change of pace, and to better see abb defination. I could take it or leave it though since neither my back or chest is in saquatch mode.

And as far as hair on top.. if the genetics of hair really work, then I'll be safe from hair loss into my 60s.

[Erudite]

However, men with no chest hair are just...weird.

Hrmph. :roll: :~

[DinbinFanfoom]

I'm the same way about the chest hair. I usually remove it for a change of pace, and to better see abb defination. I could take it or leave it though since neither my back or chest is in saquatch mode.
Lucky duck. I'm sure it's human nature to always want to be different than you are. I know "smooth" guys who want to have "manly chests" but then there are fuzzies like me who envy THEM... In my case it probably has to do with my getting into shape... I'm trying to get definition and I just couldn't see it with all the hair. Plus, I find women are quite inconsistent when it comes to what they like in men for foliage. The ones who like fuzzy chests appear to be either in the minority these days or are simply not as vocal. That said, I'd not look into permanent hair removal for my chest, as I like the option. Back is another matter. I don't see how that could ever be sexy. Especially since it's all... tufty... (between the shoulders, base of back, a bit at each side). I have to say though, I might keep using the "defoliator" cream back there, as it appears to work quite well. (Better than I thought it would)
And as far as hair on top.. if the genetics of hair really work, then I'll be safe from hair loss into my 60s.Grrrr... See... there's not baldness in either side of my family; I'm even balder than my dad. My mom insists it's "growing back" because it was probably due to stress, but I'm not so sure, I think she's just trying to make me feel better. (Bless her heart) :lowlol:

[Shiz]

My view is you got chicks fine with back hair, so why go through the hassle of trying to remove it?

[DinbinFanfoom]

My view is you got chicks fine with back hair, so why go through the hassle of trying to remove it?Because I don't think I had it when I got them. :D

[DinbinFanfoom]

Oh yes, and a lesson I learned just recently.

Do NOT get hair depilitory on your nipples! OMG! :eek!:

[Charinida]

Um, didn't the instructions tell you to NOT do that kind of thing? /laugh

[DinbinFanfoom]

Um, didn't the instructions tell you to NOT do that kind of thing? /laughUhm, yeah. It wasn't on purpose. I thought I got it off!

[Raveneye]

Oh yes, and a lesson I learned just recently.

Do NOT get hair depilitory on your nipples! OMG! :eek!:

PEPIS!!! :lowlol:


Man, you guys have got me all freaked out now. I'm in my office trying to peek down my own shirt to see if I have hair in "unsightly" places that I don't know about! :eek:

I've never had to worry too much about it until recently. It's funny this thread came up, as just a couple weeks ago on vacation I started noticing I'm "hairier" than I thought I was. While I have only a small amount of chest hair, located right in the center and not at all bushy or dense, I do have quite a bit of hair creeping up from below, spreading across my belly and the small of my back. I've wondered about removing it, as it doesn't seem very attractive to me, but then would the abscense of it make me seem freakish? (These are the things guys worry about at night, sad huh?!)

I've ALWAYS had hairy legs and forearms. Not a thick enough coat to be mistaken for a primate, but enough that there is no mistaking my gender. I have dark skin (Mediterranian heritage) and dark hair, and the hair on my head grows like crazy, so I always have a full, thick mane for which I am eternally grateful.

My biggest worry is should I trim certain, uh, areas. The older I get, the more hair I seem to collect in places like my underarms, nether regions and rear end. To keep from looking like a total freak, I trimmed my underarm hair back to a respectable level, but I am unsure what to do about the rest.

[Sylvene]

PEPIS!!! :lowlol:


Man, you guys have got me all freaked out now. I'm in my office trying to peek down my own shirt to see if I have hair in "unsightly" places that I don't know about! :eek:
.

/ROFL I hadn't lurked here in a while and you guys just crack me up enough to post. :biggrin: :mrgreen: :lowlol:

[Sylvene]

and why the heck is this in the Juice Bar??!!!!!

[DinbinFanfoom]

PEPIS!!! :lowlol: Don't laugh. Feels like they're were being eaten off by fire ants.
I've never had to worry too much about it until recently. It's funny this thread came up, as just a couple weeks ago on vacation I started noticing I'm "hairier" than I thought I was.
See, this is how I got started too... I think it's a "male aging" thing... I know guys that have chest-hair now that didn't when they were 25, even. I, on the other hand, started with it at about 20 (go me). That wasn't bad... the problem is that it's crept up over my shoulders, and the small of my back, etc. It just looks... wrong.
I've wondered about removing it, as it doesn't seem very attractive to me, but then would the abscense of it make me seem freakish? (These are the things guys worry about at night, sad huh?!)
My experience is that it looks pretty OK cleared off (though the change is rather... drastic) and looks "meh" all filled in, but it's the in-between that's a pain. Wearing a shirt after the first time I "manscaped" my chest felt... strange... I wasn't use to the contact of fabric on skin, to be honest.
I've ALWAYS had hairy legs and forearms. Not a thick enough coat to be mistaken for a primate, but enough that there is no mistaking my gender. I have dark skin (Mediterranian heritage) and dark hair, and the hair on my head grows like crazy, so I always have a full, thick mane for which I am eternally grateful.Lucky you. I too have hairy arms and legs... well, legs and forearms now... Think I might keep upper arms cleared off. One thing I notice is how much easier it is to tan my chest/belly now. I could NEVER get them to tan before. Too much in the shade, I guess. :D
My biggest worry is should I trim certain, uh, areas. The older I get, the more hair I seem to collect in places like my underarms, nether regions and rear end. To keep from looking like a total freak, I trimmed my underarm hair back to a respectable level, but I am unsure what to do about the rest.I do a bit in those areas, but nothing crazy. You'd either have to go totally clear or nothing at all, or I think you'd look like a baboon or something. :mrgreen: The problem, I find, with having a bit of hair just about everywhere is where to STOP clearing and have it not look... well, like you stopped. :smile: I looked into laser removal with some areas in mind, and might look into it again in the future when my wallet catches up to my vanity ($75 per 20 minutes or somesuch, but at least it's the most permanent).

Again though, the irony is that an aging man grows hair in places he doesn't want it and loses it in places he wants to keep it. Cruel!

[DinbinFanfoom]

and why the heck is this in the Juice Bar??!!!!!Hmmmm... maybe we should rename it to something more all-health encompassing? Have we EVER talked about juice here?

[Charinida]

Body Wellness Fitness Center - Open 24/7

[Draknor]

Again though, the irony is that an aging man grows hair in places he doesn't want it and loses it in places he wants to keep it. Cruel!

Exactly. But, overall, I think the best strategy is not to worry about it overmuch. Get a trimmer for the stuff the appears on the face/head in various places.

If you're concerned about what women think, I've found that they're more attracted to a guy that's comfortable with the way he is, rather than one that goes to extreme lengths to keep himself shorn. And let's face it, women aren't perfect, either (sorry, ladies ;) ).

[Serani]

Exactly, Draknor. We DON'T want someone who's overly concerned with how they look. Especially those of us who aren't overly-concerned (read: WE don't spend 45 minutes in the bathroom before we're willing to leave the house.)

Again though, the irony is that an aging man grows hair in places he doesn't want it and loses it in places he wants to keep it. Cruel!

Honey, that's nothing. As women age, our boobs migrate to our a$$. How's THAT for cruel?

[Asharad]

I too know the pain of the hairy man.

I don't mind my chest hair, like Serani said, I consider it manly in a Tom Selleck sort of way. I have hair on my shoulders though, which I remove and a little on my back.

I really do wish I was one of those guys who was hairless though. If for no other reason is it makes any muscles you have stand out more. I mean there is a reason you never see furry bodybuilders.

[DinbinFanfoom]

I don't mind my chest hair, like Serani said, I consider it manly in a Tom Selleck sort of way. I have hair on my shoulders though, which I remove and a little on my back.Amen. I'm thinking of continuing to use depilatory on my back/shoulders/upper-arms because that hair seems to grow fairly slowly and it's the stuff I hate the most.
I really do wish I was one of those guys who was hairless though. If for no other reason is it makes any muscles you have stand out more. I mean there is a reason you never see furry bodybuilders.Yeah, that was a big part of why I clearcut my chest/belly. Unfortunately, that area seems to grow back relatively quickly. One week and it's very noticeable again. That and the fact that I really hate that in-between length where it's prickly and catches on everything but isn't long enough to be soft.

I do intend to pursue the laser treatments for shoulders/back if I ever strike it rich and can afford to indulge myself that way. I've worked hard to get fit, and dangit if I'm gonna appear that way at all times from now on! :D That and I don't much like "temporary solutions". Waxing is needless torture and not permanent, shaving is so temporary it's ridiculous, I'd have to spend 45 minutes a week just on trimming stuff. Laser sounds like a good investment considering how well it performs long-term.

[Aananla]

I have heard, but cannot confirm, laser cannot remove grey hair permanently.

[DinbinFanfoom]

I have heard, but cannot confirm, laser cannot remove grey hair permanently.Jibes with what I've heard. I'm not grey (yet) though. It works best on dark hair on light skin (so I'm actually a good candidate for something other than soviet submarine crewmember). I think it's because a dark hair will absorb more energy and transmit it to the follicle, vs light hair which reflects more light energy.

[Draknor]

Why don't you just by Nair in 55-gallon drums and hook it up to your shower?

[DinbinFanfoom]

Why don't you just by Nair in 55-gallon drums and hook it up to your shower?I'll refer you to "nipples" somewhere previously in this thread.

[Draknor]

I forgot the eyeroll smiley, sorry. :roll: I was being sarcastic because I guess I just don't understand why, but wish you well in your quest to defur yourself. ;)

[EricStratton]

I'm a pretty hairy guy (thanks, Dad). The only part I'm really embarrased about is my back b/c it's all splotchy. I look like a dog w/ mange. Before the wedding and again before the honeymoon, I'll more than likely get waxed. And you can bet I'm having a beer or two before hand.

[Erudite]

/ROFL I hadn't lurked here in a while and you guys just crack me up enough to post. :biggrin: :mrgreen: :lowlol:

Yeah, Mel got a few giggles out of it, too, before she remarked that she was glad I had a smooth chest. To which I responded, "Gee, thanks honey. And I'm glad you have a lumpy one." (Because, really, how can you let an opportunity like that slide by?)

/em rubs his shoulder

For a little gal, she can hit surprisingly hard. :lowrazz:

[kullen]

Yeah, Mel got a few giggles out of it, too, before she remarked that she was glad I had a smooth chest.

See, some women like that look, and I enjoy it because it shows off Abb definition.