anyone talked about waxing arms?

Gbwmn · 04-13-2005, 03:39 AM

I was wondering if anyone has posted about forearm hair.
I have it, always have and am embarrased by it, and was thinking of waxing it. I haven't done it yet because of my fear of what it will look like when it grows back and how often would I have to do it. I have had friends who shave it and I have seen when it grows back in. It really doesn't look bad. It even looks better when it is growing back in than it did pre shaved!
My experience may be different than theirs though, always my luck!

Tharaa · 04-13-2005, 04:08 AM

Everyone's reaction to waxing is different,some people have sensitive skin and may have red rashes,ingrown hairs,etc.It all depends on the individual.I don't reccomend chemical wax because its very harsh.I think beeswax,or natural wax ( like nads) are the two best ones because allergic reactions are less.
The same goes with shaving,personally I don't have the patience to sit there and try to wax my own arms,because it creates such a mess.Getting it proffessionally done is a little expensive,so I just shave it.It grows back alright,and I dont get ingrown hairs on my arms very often.Just be careful about razor rash!Using shaving cream helps too.

hurrihottie · 04-13-2005, 04:35 AM

a girl i work w/ waxes her arms all the time..she hates body hair..lol..i dont even notice mine..so never gave it a thought.

cherrybomb · 04-13-2005, 01:25 PM

I used to bleach the dark hair on my arms up until last summer but always found it really messy and time consuming - plus the dark roots started to show only a couple of days later which was really noticeable on my fair skin. A friend of mine told me that one of her friends waxed her arms using cold wax strips, so I bought some and used them. It only took me about 10 minutes to defuzz both forearms and when the hair did start to grow back (about 2 weeks later) it seemed finer although I did get a few ingrowns which caused spots, but I now use a loofah when I bathe and this seems to solve the problem. It's lovely to have hair free arms and when I think the hair is getting long again or more noticeable I just wax again. The wax strips I use are called 'Veet' ready to use cold wax strips - effective on short hair (great for your legs too, so you don't have to let the hair grow to gorilla length before waxing!) You'll need to cut the strips in half to make them smaller for use on your arms. I was worried at first that people would notice that my arms had gone from hairy to hair-free but I don't think others notice the hair as much as we do ourselves so they're not bothered.

hopeless · 04-13-2005, 01:49 PM

I've been shaving my arms for about 9 years or so. It's fast, easy, and I don't get ingrown hairs. (I tend to get some ingrowns when waxing other areas, so I assumed the same would happen on my arms)

Musigurl · 04-14-2005, 01:44 AM

I say.....try it once, and if you don't like it, let it grow back! Of course, it's easier to do this in the winter when you're more likely to be wearing long sleeves. What I do know is that I wish I had done it years ago! I was always worried about stubble, but now I just shave every day in the shower with the Intuition razor -- zip, zip, and it's gone. I prefer the look of waxing, but man oh man, I can't stand the look of the hair while I'm waiting for it to be long enough to wax. Problem for me is very light skin and VERY dark hair (lots of it too.....ugh).

cec414 · 04-14-2005, 04:26 AM

I shave my arms, I am pretty fair so it's such a contrast with my dark hair and I used to be teased in high school so when I went to college I just decided to get rid of it and I have never looked back. I use Aveeno shaving gel which is for sensitive skin and it seems to prevent bumps and irritation.

OrangeDaisy · 04-14-2005, 01:11 PM

I've waxed my arms and the top of my hands for at least 5 years now. For about 5 years before that I had it done professionally. I tried bleaching, but it burns the whole time it is on, and my hair is resistant to bleach, so I have to leave it on longer than recommended. Plus the hair is long, so it is very noticeable even if bleached.

The first time you wax it will be very uncomfortable. In my experience that's why you should have have it done professionally the first few times, plus you can observe what they do so you can copy it. After I use hot wax just like they use in a salon. I get pretty red right after waxing, but it is gone by the next day. Sometimes I get a few little pus filled bumps a day or two after waxing, especially around the bend in my elbows, but they go away pretty soon too. It takes me about 30 minutes to wax both arms, and I have to wax every 5 - 7 weeks. I go less time in the summer and longer in the winter. I love the way it exfoliates and makes my arm as smooth as a baby's skin.

If you wax, the hair eventually will become sparser, but tends to grow back at odd angles. I'm very fair, and the dark hair growing every direction on the underside of my forearms is ugly, so I probably wax more often than I would have to otherwise just to keep that cleaned up.

I tried waxing my stomach once or twice, and it was too painful. I can't imagine a bikini wax. I've also tried waxing my sideburns (before Met I had lots of fair hair) and between my eyebrows, but it's like the skin gets sunburned and the hair doesn't pull out. Then I peel a few days later. Maybe the wax is too hot for my face.

firefighters wife · 04-14-2005, 01:22 PM

This will probably sound crazy but here it is. I used to turn on my GAS cook stove and slowly wave my arms over the burners. It very quicly singed the hair off....kinda stinks..but it worked. The hair is gone now.

jlt37869 · 04-14-2005, 03:07 PM

I wax my arms all the time (and every other body part for that matter). In addition, I use (and have used) all different types of hair removal to get my "hair problems" under control (especially since electrolysis and laser hair removal is a long, time-consuming, and expensive process ,,, however that is going well and those results are great). I have been dealing with excess, thick, black hair (that is EVERYWHERE) for years (and nobody I encounter would ever suspect)!!

In the meantime, for me waxing (and/or sugaring) works very well. Pros: the results last longer than shaving or hair removal creams, don't have to deal with razor or chemical burns, nicks, or stubble. The re-growth is fine and more "natural" than shaving. Cost effective (as I do it myself versus going to a salon). No lingering smell as with some hair removal creams. Cons: time consuming (like anything, however, the more you do it, the faster and more proficient you will become at it), messy, limited to doing at home (not as portable or flexible as with shaving or creams).

If you go the waxing route, you may need to "keep at it" awhile. The first few times I waxed myself, it was a complete disaster. So don't get discouraged.

Vlal · 04-15-2005, 12:20 AM

I get my arms professionally waxed in the summer... because of wearing more revealing tops. The hair on my arms is darker than it used to be, though not terribly dark, but it's the fact it is long that I hate... it seems way too long compared to how it used to be and how my sister's is.

I have never had a problem with it... the odd ingrown hair perhaps, but nothing major. I get terrible ingrown hairs on my legs - just started using Skin Doctor Ingrow Go for that - and yet on my arms nothing!!!! II found that it doesn't even hurt that much really... I mean it's certainly not unbearble. The pain was a lot worse when I had it done around my AF so I would just avoid that time. It doesn't even look that bad growing back... no one seemed to notice or if they did, they didn't comment on it.

Vicky-Louise

Barefootie · 04-15-2005, 01:02 AM

if you decide to do this....make sure and have someone help you. I tried to use NADS on my forearms, and I did it alone and you are supposed to pull your skin tight while ripping, and if you do it alone....you only have one hand to work with and that's your ripping hand. I was bruised from the middle of my bicep, down to my knuckles on my hand. Never gonna try that again...so i shave mine in the summer, or have it professionally waxed.

girlie · 04-15-2005, 02:21 AM

it stings a bit but is fast and alot less messy than wax.

Gbwmn · 04-15-2005, 02:03 PM

Thanks ladies for all your input!
I think I am going to do it! I am going to use the shaving method to start with because of the pain of waxing and because of the post that was about needing two hands. I am too embarrassed to ask for help right now.
I'll let you know how it goes!

grab-ya · 04-15-2005, 05:10 PM

I wax mine. I usually just do it myself at home, works great, and it grows back thinner so that's nice. the more I do it the less and slower it grows.