Sensitive issue.....

[Summer-Caitlin]

Hi girls

This is a really embarrassing question for me to ask, but to be honest I think of you all as friends and I feel okay about asking your advice.

Okay, here goes.....I'm of Italian descent and I have dark eyes, dark hair etc. However I have dark hair in lots of places unfortunately. I am 25 and I have been shaving since I was 11. Now as for the legs and the usual I can handle that as most women do these things, so it's no big deal. But I have facial hair that is getting me really depressed. I used to get it waxed and it was great, but I stopped doing this when I came back to the UK. Now I desperately need advice I'm getting married in 7 months and I really want to look my best, and to this day I still have never admitted to my fiance that I shave the facial hairs that I can't stand, I know, I know, it's the worst thing I can do and I'm now at the point where I have to do it everyday.

So please, can anyone recommend an alternative to this?, I don't want to spend the rest of my life having to do this. I'm so worried about having the make up artist do my make up It looks alright when I have a tan, cause you can't see it sometimes. I used to bleach the hair, but now it is too thick and it grows in really quickly.
Can anyone suggest anything that may help me? This is so embarrassing for me but I feel I can't tell anyone else.
It is not possible to allow it to grow much as I work every day.

Thanks to all of you in advance

 

[LOUISEANDANDREW]

Hi summer-caitlin, I am a beauty therapist, and have come across this before with brides that have been into the salon. How long away is your wedding? If you've got a bit of time, i don't know whether you've had electrolysis before? It depends how much facial hair you have, as it can b a lengthy process, you will need to go to a salon each week to begin with, to try to kill the hair follicle. Your other alternative is laser treatment, which i have heard is very effective with dark hair. The only down side is it can be very pricy. good luck, and i'm sure you'll still look lovely!

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Hi

Does the hair have to be a certain length for these processes? I have 7 months til my Wedding and this is the only thing that is really getting me down. My hair grows really quickly and in the heat it's even worse

And, I do have quite a lot unfortunately.

 

[Lisa_M]

can you go back to getting it waxed? That's what I do, but it's still growing in more quickly than I like.

 

[LOUISEANDANDREW]

Hi

Does the hair have to be a certain length for these processes? I have 7 months til my Wedding and this is the only thing that is really getting me down. My hair grows really quickly and in the heat it's even worse

And, I do have quite a lot unfortunately

For the elec, the hair only needs to b long enough so u can grab it with the tweezers once you've zapped each hair
(so not very long).
To b totally honest with u, if you have a lot of hair, i would probably consider the laser treatment, although cosltly, you should only need mayb half a dozen treatments. Just make sure you find a reputable salon. I noticed you have poly cystic ovaries, i know some of my clients have it, and have found this treatment quite effective

 

[Deesknee]

Check with your OB/GYN. Believe it or not some are doing the lase hair removal these days. I know mine is. I considered it, but then decided to wait. Mainly because of the cost.

I'm sure your fiancee will see you as the most beautiful woman in the world on your wedding day. But, for you own piece of mind Good luck.

 

[luna99]

I'm getting my chin lasered right now... it is really pricey though.. I'm paying like 600 for seven treatments I believe. It's definitely working though and I see it as an investment because it lasts forever. I put it on my credit card and am just having to slowly pay it off unfortunately (I don't have a lot of extra spending money myself).

I also have light hairs on the side of my face that aren't too bad... so I'm just going to tweeze a bit a few days before my wedding.. because I don't want to look like I have fuzz in my pictures.

good luck.. it's an awfully embarassing thing for women but a reality unfortunately.

 

[hiwaygal]

Caitlin...

Here's my advice, bleach the hair while it grows out to a point where it is either long enough for electrolysis or waxing. I also recommend electrolysis even though it didn't work for me. It will get rid of some hairs, but not all of them.

You can do electrolysis the last time about a week before your wedding, then just do a touch up with bleach about two days before.

Good luck hon!!!

 

[smoof]

I think what I would do is bleach the hair until it gets long enough to wax or electrolysis. I wax myself. I just get the wax strips at the drug store, and use that. It is much cheaper than getting it done. I have purchased home wax kits while in Europe, so I know they are available, but maybe not as common as in the US.

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Thanks girls for the advice I think I'll have to look into Laser treatment as I want it gone forever. I have heard that some contraceptive pills can help, I'll have to ask my doctors which one. Yes, having Polycystic Ovaries doesn't help, it got so much worse after I was diagnosed with it. I think I will speak to my Doc and see if their is anything they recommend also. I guess I could always take a week off, let it grow a bit and wax it, it may tide me over for now.
Laser treatment I think is really costly here, but I'll look into it. My mom had Electrolysis done years ago and it worked for her, but I think she had finer hairs than I do, doesn't help when you made the mistake of shaving them. I'll see what I can do though. You don't notice it now, cause I shave it, I just don't want to continue doing so, cause it's making it worse and it's so time consuming.

Thanks alot girls for the advice, I appreciate your help with this.

 

[luna99]

summer... in my opinion the electrolysis didn't work as well (I tried that too) and the laser goes much quicker when you're getting it actually done. I'm in the office for 10 minutes as opposed to a half hour or more because it gets more hairs at once. I don't know which is more expensive though, you'll just have to shop around. Also, if your hair is coarse and dark, I think the laser would work well for you. My sister had darker, more coarse hair than I do and she did it and was pleased with the results.

good luck.. I know you'll be a beautiful bride no matter what!

 

[smoof]

Don't think you did some damage by shaving. It doesn't truly make the hair worse. It just cuts the thinnest part of the hair off, giving the illusion it is thicker hair. In actuality, it is the same size hair. Waxing will eventually make the hair finer. I always heard that, and didn't really believe it, but after 14 years or so of waxing my upper lip, it is thinner. I think if you get growth after electrolysis or laser it is also thinner too. Good luck! It is soooo frustrating! My chin is now my problem.

 

[Maggimus]

I have very fare skin... so I cant speak about this, but I wish I could... so in the meantime... heres a small cheer to root you in the direction you feel you need to go !

On another hand... I heard that if you pluck a spot continuously... that hair will eventually stop growing (eyebrows, etc). Especially people who over-pluck. I have heard many beauticians get onto people for plucking their eyebrows too much (especially if its plucking to make it the wrong shape)... bc the hair will never grow back in for them to get the right shape.

Maybe plucking-- pulling those hair follicals out at the root will help (sure does hurt like hell though) . Im not good at this whole body hair thing. I hardly shave my legs in the winter because I cant see the hair (and feel no one else can either)-- But DH doesnt like the feel too much (lol).

Good Luck gal!! I know they do have the laser hair removal. We have billboards around down everywhere saying 'Come here for the laser hair removal.. yaya ya" I dont know if thats what the other people are talking about or not... but maybe its worth it if its really a pain to you.

As for telling your DF about the hair- I dont think there will be a problem what-so-ever. HE will love you regaurdless. Love is a crazy thing, ya know it? I could imagine that he would hear you tell him- and not even think twice about it.
We are here for ya...

 

[allisonswonderland]

I am sorry that you are having to deal with this I am also blond so that is not an issue for me- but as far a shaving - I was a competitive swimmer and I shaved my arms and now they are really hairy - so I know how youfeel on that but my hiar is blond so it is not really noticible to others, but it bugs me-

Like Maggie said I am sure that your husband to be will understand and I am sure that you will be the most beautiful woman in the world in his eyes! Good luck through this process!

 

[TinkBride]

Summer-Caitlin!!!!!

I was in your exact same position! I am from italian descent as well and had the dark coarse hair......my solution?

I am currently going for laser haor removal for practically my whole body! It isn't cheap, but the peace of mind knowing that I will not evr have to shave again makes it totally worth the $$$!!!!!

I bought a package of six treatments for each area, I have been three times and I already am having almost NO regrowth and the regrowth that is there is fine and light! I am a huge advocate of laser hair removal now!!

 

[Namsupak]

I vote for the laser hair removal as well. I had it done a little over a year ago. It is a little costly but it was worth it. The hair is so much thinner and when I do have to shave it the hair stays gone for a few weeks before it starts to regrow. It's not only a boost to the confidence...but it's a time saver.

Good luck with whatever you end up deciding! And the other girls are definitely right when they say he'll love you no matter what. Love is a wonderful thing.

 

[Cinderella Fan]

I read this post earlier, but didn't know how to respond. Like some OP, I have lighter hair, so this has never been an issue for me.

Then I saw a commercial for a prescription hair-removal cream called Vaniqa. It is only available from prescription and says it prevents the growth of facial hair. Maybe this is an option - the website is www.13vaniqa.com

Good luck!

 

[disneybride2007]

I would suggest you wax it, again, or consider laser hair removal. I'm sure everything will be okay

 

[StephSFL]

My Mom was going to do the laser treatment on her chin and such and I was going to do it for my armpits (I can't believe I am admitting this). However, with two month to the weddign and more than one treatment needed the doctor felt we were cutting it too short- especially since we can't chave pluck in between treatments!
With 7 months to go you should be fine. I was told that after you first round of treatments, it is a good idea to go back once a year for just one treatment to keep it perfect.
I hope everythign works out. No matter what, I am sure you will look beautiful on your weddign day!

 

[ahutton]

If you are considering laser, even if you are not ready, talk to someone who does it. I was told that I needed to stop plucking and waxing for a while so the hair folicles that reformed would be darker, as the laser does not work as well on light hair. YMMV - I was also told it depends on what type of laser they use. DH has know for years (we've been married 10 now!) that I have a problem, and I finally just got a decent electric razor to use until I'm ready to get the laser done. I hate it, and don't talk about it, but knowing he would still choose me makes it all better.

No stress - the time leading up to your wedding is stressful enough!!