Hi Michelle
When my mother caught me cross dressing when I was 8 she said that I WAS LUCKY BEING A BOY AND GIRLS HAD A LIFE OF PAIN.
It taught me not to be caught again and no pain no gain
toung in cheek Mandyxx

Hi All,
One of my biggest goals is to control the facial hair and pour size on my face. I've discovered that this isn't easy and
involves much upkeep to accomplish. I'm ok with the mosturizing masks, etc... but have a big problem with hair.
The nearest I can figure is that nature has some cruel rules as far as facial hair goes:

1. Anything you do will always be either ineffective (shaving every day) or effective but Painful (Laser, electro, epilation).

2. You can't take short cuts.


About 4 months ago, I tried the chemical approach to facial hair removal and it didn't remove the hair much but gave me a
significant rash.

Today I tried using an epilator (on a soft setting) to remove facial hair.. Big mistake -- OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!

It worked well, but girl, that hurts!!!!! Unless you are into pain, I don't recommend it.

Hugz from a sister in temporary pain,

MichelleLynn

I have tried hair removal on my legs and got a horrible burn also. I tried the epilady -ONCE and never again-cry!!!

Michelle, OMG, OMG. I love my epi but there is no way I would try it on my face. OMG. Oh hon, I am so sorry to hear that. OMG.

I am going through laser treatments on my face and during the 3rd one I thought I was going to die, the only one sofar that got the tears flowing. But I love my epilator for my legs, doesn't hurt at all. Just keep it away from the underarms and upper lip. OMG, that just hurts thinking about it.

Lots of Huggs and even a few more to help get you through that trauma.

Love,
Marsha

Hmm. I think different things work differently for different people in this area too.

I have tried Veet and it works fairly well in most places. I went and actually shaved afterwards on my legs though to get a closer shave. But it worked well on my arms, armpits, shoulders, chest and stomach. I tended to use a wet rag instead of the tool for those areas though.

As for my face, I tried this sally hensen face hair removal cream and it didnt really work all that well. I guess its going to be plain old shaving for now. I don't have the money for laser treatments, though I'd like to. Does it really hurt that bad, Marsha? Kinda scares me.

Good luck to all us ladies in this matter.

<3 Angelyn

Hi Girls,

'm sure we've all tred different products and methods to get rid of, or at least, control, that "curse" we all suffer from, to some extent ........... some more than others .............. "male" body/facial hair!!

After trying various methods, for me, at least, I've now found what works best, is a mixture of things.

For chest, etc. there's really nothing to beat that monthly visit to the salon for a wax !
If I'm getting close to my next visit, but getting a little growth, I use Veet, as a temporary method.

For legs, I'm a confirmed user of an Epilator !
I actually use a Babyliss, but many, many brands are out there ......... I'd recommend going for one of the middle to top price range though, as I've tried a couple of the cheaper ones, and they just didn't seem to "do the job properly"!

Now, facial hair ................... and for this all I can say is that it works for me, it may not be the answer for you .................. everyone is different ! ........................ but, as a "temporary" hair-removal method (3 days usually) I use a product called SoftSheen-Carson Magic Fragrance Cream Shave.
It's a depilatory cream, specifically for Razorless Beard Removal, specifically "formulated exclusively for Black men".
It was originally developed to help avoid "razor bumps" in black men (a common problem for them, due to a genetic effect on their skin).
Like all creams and lotions though, it's very important, that before using, you do a "patch-test", to make sure you won't end up with a bad skin reaction!

So, that's what works for me, but remember, all these are onlly "temporary".
For more "permenancy" there really is only the laser/elecrolysis route.
I'm just starting that road, but, in the meantime, the above "regime" keeps "things under control"!

Hope this helps,

Hugs,
Angela. xx.

Angelyn,
Does it really hurt that bad? I assume you are talking about the laser. It takes several treatments and each time they turn the power up a little more. Because the laser is basically burning only the darker hairs, the more hairs you have the greater the pain will be. Your upper lip has the highest concentrations of hair so that makes for a painful combination. The best way to describe the pain is think about a super hot rubberband being snapped against your face. The pain doesn't last long but considering they maybe zap you ten times in the upper lip area, it feels like a year of your life has gone by, lol. Because hair grows in cycles, you can have more or less being zapped at each treatment. That is why it takes several treatments spread out to remove all of them.

As for using the epi on places like underarms, mine said you can do it but warned of the pain. Figuring I survived the laser, I just had to try it. OMG!!!! I think shaving works just fine, thank you. Remember on your upper lip you have the highest concentration of hairs so in effect the epilator would be yanking out large numbers at once. Think about how it feels plucking your eyebrows, there is a slight pain with each one, now multiply that by dozens at one time and worse yet is it keeps yanking constantly until you turn it off.

Marsha

Angelyn
I have IPL done on my face on average the laser used to treat me for hair removals zaps about 450 hairs in one pulse firing.The Laser equipment at the clinic I attend has super cooled air that is used prior to the firing aimed at the patch to be treated for about 30 secs. This cools the skin rapidly (the cold air is under a high pressure air flow)The benefit of this is it reduces the pain slightly but also helps to prevent any slight burning of the area treated.It is also applied to the area just after firing of the laser.After the whole face and neck has been treated I am given Ice packs to hold on my areas that have been treated.I keep them there for at leat 45 mins. This so far has prevented any redness or rash like condition anywhere on the treated area.
The cheat I have is after the first session the pain I experienced (consider 450 hairs being fried at once) was just a bit intense for a woose like me.Then after I have used an anasthetic cream applied to all areas to be treated 30+ mins prior to treatment.This make my face quite numb a little like if you have an injection at the dentists and parts of your face feel numb.This does not cause me to dribble or not be able to move my face for normal facial gestures. What is does do is reduce the pain signifigantly so I have no fear of visiting the clinic for each session. You also do not feel any after glow as such for several hours.
This has been extremly effective for reducing the tree trunks of hairs that once sprouted on my face.The areas after 4 sessions needing treatment is more than 30% less than at the start. I have very little growth on my top lip now and what growth I do have is much thinner and takes 24hrs+ to show.Very much needed by me as I am on show to the public for at least 10 hours eevery day at work.

Michelle
As far as all my research showed me was only two methods are worth considering for a permanet and effective removal of facial hair.IPL and electrolysis. I know the only cream that does slow the growth of facial hair is Vaniqua I think you can only get this in the UK as a perscription but know it is marketed under other names so other routes for you to get it may be poss though not necessarily recommended.
I at first tried some treatment a local beautician offered which involved a pair of tweezers attached to something that put an electrical pulse through the tweezer. I had two sides of my face done by this girl patiently removing at least 200 hairs from each side of my face. The pain was excruciating for each hair pulled by its roots. It did work very well but I never went back for more treatments not quite into this Sado masochist thing.
I know laser treatment is and can be expensive for each session and or a whole treatment depending on clinic and type of IPl equipment between 8-10 visits for full treatment.I am paying £330 pers session have 9 sessions for that but as the treatment I get is very effective and treated like a princess when there its worth it to me in the long run.I know of a great Dr who works in southhampton who offers all the latest treatments and tailors each session for each person as she has various kinds of lasers,as well as electrolysis equip she knows her stuff inside out and is a TS so knows how important such treatments are for us. Unfortunatly for me I did not discover her till 2 months into my treatment too late for me to change as I had an existing contract.she is very fairly priced about a 1/3 of what I am currently paying anmd the visit is more social than like a purely clinical visit. so if any one would like her details mail me and I will give you her phone number and address.

Unfortunatly there is no magic one treatment fits all as many factors determine what will work best for you. I would strongly recommend that no one uses any Hair removal cream on your face as the skin on our faces are especially sensitive and more so if you are on hormones.
I know this may not have helped answer your question in a way that you hoped but do hope their is some information of some use to you if even for future referance.

Sarah

Rae,

The Depilatory cream for facial hair, I think, may only be available in the US.
I get my supplies sent to me from there, so I've not really chased up the possibility of availability in the UK.
As far as Ireland goes, it's not available in Pharmacies, but I've yet to check out "ethnic" stores.
Maybe they would crry it !

As for how it would effect our delicate Caucasian skins, all I can say is that I've suffered no ill effects from it, and I would thnk, as it has been developed specifically for use on the face, that the possiblilties of contra-indicating side-effects (rashes/burning etc) have been fairly extensively researched.
But, like everything else, what works for one person, may not work forsomeone else, and they do instuct users to do a "patch-test" before general usage.

So, try your local pharmacy (if it's in an ethnically diverse area you may have a better chance), or, as I'm going to do, try the local African/West Indian shops.
Hopefully you'll find it.
If not, let me know !

Hope this helps you, and all the other girls who might be interested.

Hugs,
Angela. xx.

Thanks, Lucy !

I originally found it on eBay, tried it, and tried to get a repeat order, but the Seller I got it from was no longer stocking it, so I found a supply in the States, and ordered "a supply" from there!

But, certainly, if I need to, and can't find a local supplier, it'll be back to eBay, to see if I can save a few Euro's !!

Thanks again lucy,

Hugs,
Angela. xx.

Hi Everyone,
Thank you for all the great posts. After reviewing all your wonderful posts, I've decided to 1- limit the demon epilator to legs and 2 - To save up for laser treatments.

Thanks again,
Michelle Lynn oxoxox

Hi Michelle
When my mother caught me cross dressing when I was 8 she said that I WAS LUCKY BEING A BOY AND GIRLS HAD A LIFE OF PAIN.
It taught me not to be caught again and no pain no gain
toung in cheek Mandyxx

It fascinates me that so many say that laser hair removal hurts. To me it's just a series of pin pricks and that's with the highest setting of the laser. I'm also in the middle of a course of treatment to remove the hair from my scrotal area (bikini line as the clinic calls it). There they changed the laser so that it didn't hurt and suited the darker skin. My only complaint about laser hair removal is that it doesn't remove grey hair. I have to use a melanin enhancer to assist in this.
My fiance used to have his hair removed by waxing. Now we have an epilator and he does his front while I do his back. By pulling the skin tight he suffers no pain at all. We would not advise using an epilator on the face unless you get a single hair epilator designed to work on the face.

Alina xx

LOL!!!
I tried the lotion on my face once. Like you said it didn't remove any hair & my face was so burned I couldn't shave for at least a week. Evan had to take cooler showers because the hot water burned so bad.
Never thought of ripping it out. Can't see why anyone would realy.
I keep thinking about that one & I keep laughing. That had to hurt. A lot!!!

My body hair has reduced dramatically with the hormones and especially Spiro...I have slight growth of light hair or arms that need a shave every 2 weeks and the fingers and back of hands get a quick flick over with a cigarette lighter about as often.
Darker face hair going well with Epilight which at setting 39 is only painful on upper lip and luckily I don't get any rash on my face but get awful red lumps on my neck that take twooweeks to disappear.
Genital hair has retreated from male pattern to female but the inside and back of top of thighs is quite hairy and I might have that Epilighted next week or so.

Dr Suporn says not to dehair the genitals as he can scrape out all the follicles ...!!!!

Hi Michelle, thanks for the thread. Facial hair is of interest to me as I’m currently pondering my next move and am internally debating which method to save up for! At the moment I just use a good quality wet razor – currently Gillette (?) Venus, not great but the best I’ve found. Luckily I don’t have too bad a problem with facial hair. [Whilst its difficult to see in my photo, thats about as heavy a shadow as | get] Elsewhere my chest is devoid apart from a few wayward wanderers and my arms and legs are quite light with hair.

Hi Angela, glad you brought up the ‘bumps’ problem, whilst its very common in coloured men its also a problem I have – and its painful enough!!! I have’nt come across SoftSheen-Carson Magic Fragrance Cream Shave before but will look out for it. My sister recommended another [probably similar] product whose name escapes me and which we could’nt find easily over here anyway! But I’ll ask her what it was called again, I do know its supposed to be very very efficient though we remain unsure what it’d be like on Caucasian skin, in particular sensitive skin like mine.

Much love to you all

Rae x

Angela and Rae, you can get Softsheen-Carson on ebay (UK).
Postage should be cheaper than from the States!
xx

When I was a teenager I tried Immac..(the looks I got when I bought that!!!) and tried to get the chin clear...it took the skin off and gave me a sore patch that didnt heal for ages

Hi,

Thanks for the link, Lucy.
I’m sure the product I had in mind is ‘magic shaving powder’….

Much love

Rae x