So I was thinking about this recently and thought I’d ask you guys.
There are a bunch of different ways to get rid of body hair, so why does everybody (myself included) shave?
I guess its convenient as I also shave my face, so I already have most of the necessary equipment and its something I’m used to but its also annoying to do so frequently.
The Trinewbies article is a good read for how to shave and has some points about why its the superior way of doing things, but then this article really makes me consider trying something else.
If its something that I’ll be doing over and over again, why not go for a technique that reduces hair growth and makes the need to shave way less frequent?
Thoughts? Have you guys tried epilating or waxing or even laser?
Is it worth even considering or should I stick to shaving?
I only shave if I am going racing or it is very hot weather.
I also MTB and having a bit of hair there is helpful if you take a tumble.
I find it makes quite a big difference in hot weather if shaved though.
I shave my face every 2-3 days (could probably do it every day but I don’t like what it does to my skin on the 2nd day). I shave my legs weekly (razor). I shave mainly because I like the feeling of shaved legs while riding. I feel dirty while riding if my legs aren’t shaved. I also hate all hair except on my head. I have hated hair since I was 15 or 16 years old. I was also a swimmer growing up so I’ve been accustomed to shaving for quite some time but I used to only shave twice a year for big meets. The aeroness, road rash, and massage benefits are nice to have but they aren’t my main reason for shaving.
I’ve never tried epilating but I have done laser hair removal on my back. Laser hair is expensive and you have to go multiple times. I think I did 3 or 4 sessions on my back and it still grows back but it is definitely less. Anyone that says laser hair removal completely removes all hair is just lying to you. Everyone is different and depends on your hair color and type (I have dark dark hair which makes laser hair removal a bit harder). If you do laser hair removal, you have to stay out of the sun. I live in Florida and run with my shirt off when outside which makes staying out of the sun quite difficult.
If I don’t shave I resemble a runt Sasquatch, and Mrs. mck414 prefers me to not look like a runt sasquatch. Tired waxing my back once…once. I’ll stick to a weekly shearing.
I actually started ye ol’ full body shaving during the summer months when I stationed on Okinawa, I found I was way more comfortable without the additional hair t-shirt. This was before I found triathlon, so I came into the sport already a weird guy who shaves.
I can’t stand body hair, not mine, not anybody else’s, so I have tried most types of body hair removal more than once:
Laser
Pros:
long lastingsmooth
Cons
expensivenot particularly painlessneed several sessions (4 to 10)need to know which laser is used (wrong one means all the efforts were done in vain)after couple of years have to start from scratch
Epilation
Pros
very smooth from the first sessionlasts about a week
Cons
very painfullasts only about a weekmay want to use a promay cause serious irritation or infection
Shave
Pros
cheapfastno external help needed (except the back)painlessno special tools required - most of us already have the shaver (my favorite is the “stolen from the wife” one)
Cons
short lastingoccasional nicksoccasional irritatoin
The worst one is in my opinion is the epilation. The best one is the laser, but it is rather troublesome and not particulary cheap, so I stick with the fast and easy one.
To piggyback off the shaving question. To those who shave their chest/leg/whatever hair weekly-ish, are you walking around with stubble towards the end of the week? And does it end up looking weird with shorts or itching under pants?
I don’t bother removing hair, except once a year when girlfriend requests I get my back done in advance of a beach holiday!
I’ve had my back and shoulders waxed for the last couple of years. It’s not a pleasant experience!
I do have quite a hairy lower back and it really hurts.
I did once shave my torso several years ago. This was because I’d done a stress ECG and the technician had shaved two little patches on my chest to get a better electrode contact. These looked ridiculous so I decided to shave the lot and let it all grow back together. Having done my chest I decided the back had to be done to match. That was all pretty straightforward and pain free. However, a couple of weeks or so later (can’t remember exactly the time period) when the hairs had grown back to several millimeters length, just long enough to curl around and stab me every time clothing or anything else brushed against me. The discomfort was awful, and relentless. This continued for another week or two IIRC. So, it seems to me, if you start shaving you have to keep it up or suffer the growback pain. Correct?
I can’t stand body hair, not mine, not anybody else’s, so I have tried most types of body hair removal more than once:
Laser
Pros:
long lastingsmooth
Cons
expensivenot particularly painlessneed several sessions (4 to 10)need to know which laser is used (wrong one means all the efforts were done in vain)after couple of years have to start from scratch
Epilation
Pros
very smooth from the first sessionlasts about a week
Cons
very painfullasts only about a weekmay want to use a promay cause serious irritation or infection
Shave
Pros
cheapfastno external help needed (except the back)painlessno special tools required - most of us already have the shaver (my favorite is the “stolen from the wife” one)
Cons
short lastingoccasional nicksoccasional irritatoin
The worst one is in my opinion is the epilation. The best one is the laser, but it is rather troublesome and not particulary cheap, so I stick with the fast and easy one.
Amazing response thanks for doing this!
I wonder if a home laser would be a good compromise as it seems to be the most effective by far if not for the expense and making sure you use the right laser.
Has anyone tried a home laser? I had a look at the Remington iLight and the Tria 4X. Seemed fairly decent except the Tria looked like it would take forever to do legs.
Pros
very smooth from the first sessionlasts about a week
Cons
very painfullasts only about a weekmay want to use a promay cause serious irritation or infection
The worst one is in my opinion is the epilation. The best one is the laser, but it is rather troublesome and not particulary cheap, so I stick with the fast and easy one.
This is good to know. I had heard about an epilator sometime last year and wondered why I hadn’t heard of anyone in cycling/swimming use one.
I don’t shave, I trim. Hate having long hairs on the legs, so I trim with a buzzer with #1 clip. I do shave my 10 chest hairs because they are just out of place =)
To piggyback off the shaving question. To those who shave their chest/leg/whatever hair weekly-ish, are you walking around with stubble towards the end of the week? And does it end up looking weird with shorts or itching under pants?
Yes to the stubble. No it doesn’t look weird (legs I’m talking). Yes it itches, not due to pants, just due to the regrowth I think. I shave the legs 2x/week.
I don’t shave, I trim. Hate having long hairs on the legs, so I trim with a buzzer with #1 clip. I do shave my 10 chest hairs because they are just out of place =)
This is an interesting. But don’t you feel like its kind of a half measure?
I don’t shave, I trim. Hate having long hairs on the legs, so I trim with a buzzer with #1 clip. I do shave my 10 chest hairs because they are just out of place =)
This is an interesting. But don’t you feel like its kind of a half measure?
I do the same thing. I keep my legs trimmed (weekly, and no clip guard) and only shave for races. It’s faster than shaving and still helps me keep cool and aero.
After years of shaved legs I hate the feel of having leg hair (heat, how the wind feels on the bike, pants/sheets feel different) and trimming works well enough.
This is good to know. I had heard about an epilator sometime last year and wondered why I hadn’t heard of anyone in cycling/swimming use one.
I tried epilation. First time was very painful, subsequent times not as bad because the hair doesn’t all grow back at same time, so you’re not pulling as many hairs on any given treatment after the first.
The biggest issue with epilation for me was ingrown hairs - tons of them, it was a huge PITA so I went back to shaving which for me doesn’t cause irritation or ingrown hairs.
Home (IPL) lasers are decent but obviously not nearly as effective as commercial lasers. For me the home setup stopped growth in areas and slowed the growth in other places. It does involve a decent time commitment to keep on top of the treatments. Laser removal at a plastic surgeon’s office has come down in price a lot. They will generally quote you over the phone so it may be worth your time to call around.
