Full Beards...

Acajou73 · 03-04-2004, 09:22 AM

How many of you have full beards? I don't just mean a little hair on the chin and a little on the sides. I mean a full fledged beard. I have to let mine grow for 21 days so that I can wax it off. I've read that after 4 treatments with the wax you are supposed to see a significant decrease in growth as well as texture. I don't know if its true, but im willing to give it a try. Thank god for winter... Unfortunately I feel less and less feminine the more it grows. It is really depressing. I just wondered if there were any others out there that have more than just a little hair growth...

Also, for my fellow african american cysters, do any of you have a problem with black spots where the hair has been removed? How have you managed to get rid of them if any of you have and has waxing worked for any of you?

Thanks in advance.

missmelanie23 · 03-04-2004, 10:27 AM

I have I guess a semi beard? My sides and under my chin to the neck. well if you consider a full beard like a men's beard, all that's ok with me is my cheeks.

i have found a way for it not to show that much.. shaving with a men's mach3 turbo blade.. followed by the aveeno perfectly smoothe for the face.

eeyoremom · 03-04-2004, 01:52 PM

I have sideburns, lip, chin, down into the neck. Everything! I just started laser treatments in Jan. They have been great! Really starting to see results.

shades of grey · 03-04-2004, 04:00 PM

weird cuz I'd never guess that from looking at your picture! your face looks smooth and hairless!

Citrine · 03-04-2004, 04:41 PM

I have a full beard. If I let it grow out, I would have more of a beard than some guys! And my beard is whiskers basically, very coarse and dark. I know my beard would be worse, but for a couple of years I had electrolysis and then laser. I feel the electrolysis worked better (more permanent) than the laser. I'm just waiting a couple more months for my body to get in order, and then I hope to go back to electrolysis with true permanent results. How do you go 21 days, and why?! I have to shave at least every 2 days. I would be depressed too, heck I already am! Jean

eeyoremom · 03-04-2004, 07:51 PM

Thanks for the compliment. I have waxed, tweezed and bleached for years. But, like I said, I just started laser treatments in Jan. and have been very pleased with the results.

Acajou73 · 03-05-2004, 05:15 PM

Thanks to all who answered.

Citrine,
You sound a lot like me. I can't tell you how utterly disgusting I feel having better facial hair growth than my husband

. I tried electrolysis when I was younger. The hair just grew back thicker. Laser treatment is not an option for me. I'm black. It works with people who have dark hair and fair skin. Well, I have to go 21 days to have sufficient growth in order to wax the hair off. I am a house wife, so only my husband sees it. When I go out in public, I wear a hat and a scarf covering my face (thats why I said thank god for winter) all you can see are my eyes and my nose. Still, it has only been a little under 2 weeks and i'm so incredibly depressed because of the way I look... Waxing is supposed to last at least 8 weeks. So, it is worth it if it lasts that long.

yltnelis · 03-05-2004, 05:51 PM

Hi Acajou,

I'm African American as well and I also have a full beard. I don't wax (it never really worked for me). So, unfortunately I shave. I do have some spots under my chin from when I foolishly decided to try plucking. It absolutely ruined my skin. I haven't really found anything that helps with the spots. Although I think they made be fading slightly just due to time (or it could be wishful thinking and my imagination). I get depressed about it too. I rarely leave the house unless I absolutely have to. I've never worn make up before, but I'm actually in the process now of trying to find some type of foundation that may help a little. I just hate the feel of make up on my face. I want to start feeling good about myself again, so I'll give almost anything a try.

Citrine · 03-06-2004, 12:26 AM

I am not as depressed as I was, maybe 3 months ago. But, I am still fairly depressed and don't leave my house except on certain days (the days I can shave),and sometimes the day after. So, my friends don't understand when I'm like, "Sorry can't go out today (I don't tell them it's because it's my "off" day).

I'm seeing some ok results on the Metformin. I can grow enough hair and long length in about 6 or 7 days for waxing, but it doesn't work very well for me! I'm sorry you have to wait 21 days Acajou73.

That's gotta be rough. This beard thing I know does a real number on our feelings of femininity.

I have to pluck my chin/neck (it is the worst spot for showing the black hair underneath my skin , I'm fair skinned). So, I usually pluck for about 30-40 min. then I spread Neosporin all over my chin/neck. I do this the night before I shave so that the shaving isn't as irritating to the skin that I just plucked. Then, after I shave I usually put on a creme like Bikini Zone to help fend off those nasty ingrown hairs. Talk about a beauty regime! After all this I don't want to bother with makeup! I do wonder if a good foundation would help conceal the hair, redness from plucking, and little scars. I might work my way up to that soon. It already takes me forever to get ready on my "living" days!!!

Jean (stuck with a beard for now)

jamielynn · 03-06-2004, 03:47 AM

Add me to the list! I could grow a lovely full beard (sideburns, chin, sides of the face, neck, and a light mustashe). Nothing has had a more negative impact on my self asteem. throughtout high school I frequently noted that I had more facial hair than the guys and I 've had it since I was 13 or 14! Fortunately and unfortunately it is blonde. Fortunately because it is harder to see (but it is actual terminal hair growth, not light blonde vellus(?) hair growth you occasionally see on women's faces), unfortunate because I'm pretty sure I will never be able to have laser treatment. I think it is the worst pcos symptom. I have to shave every day and nothing has gotten rid of it (or even reduced it much) including losing more than 100 lbs and taking the max amount of spiro for almost a year. I don't even pluck because it would take hours to get it done and I don't wax because I couldn't grow it out that long (I would have to go into hiding!). I'm so embarrased by it the only people I have told about it are my gyno, endo, and mom. Its so hard to talk about because nobody but the people who have it really know how bad it makes us feel. Some of the worst insults have come from friends and they don't even realize it, like when they laugh at a joke on a movie or tv about a woman with a hairy face or body or even make comments on it and you can't even tell them because now you know how they feel.

Fawn Leibowitz · 03-08-2004, 04:16 PM

I SOOOO identify with all of you! I always check out men to see if my beard is heavier than theirs and it often is! It is very embarrassing and Jamielynn, I know EXACTLY what you mean about when your friends make jokes and laugh at women with facial hair. It makes me so uncomfortable. I pluck and wax everything every other day which takes over an hour to do. I can't afford laser and there's no way I could let it grow out long enought to have something professionally done. Would you believe that my husband and I have been together for 12 years and I have never even discussed this with him? I'm too embarrassed.

BeaJay · 03-11-2004, 12:48 AM

When I was in Jr High, I only had a few hairs on my chin, but I had a pretty good mustache going. It was very noticeable because I have dark brown hair. I found a bleaching product made to use on your face. I bleached my mustache & honestly believed that no one would notice it. One day a boy made a joke about me having more hair than some of the guys. That night I shaved it off. Later I started having problems with sideburns, hair on my chest, stomach & even my toes.

SoFarAway · 03-12-2004, 10:31 AM

Wow...it's good to know I'm not the only one. All through high school I was teased and told to "shave my face". Everything I tried never worked, all those cream hair removers etc.. all they succeeded in doing was giving me a rash! So for the past few years I shave every day, sometimes more than once a day. It's such a pain in the butt! I don't talk to anyone about it (except my doctor) and I too hate when my friends make jokes about women with facial hair! It's just reassuring to know I'm not alone.

Citrine · 03-12-2004, 03:27 PM

SoFarAway, I see you just found Soulcysters...Welcome!!! Just wanted to let you know I used to have to shave twice a day also. Then I was put on Metformin 2000mgs and I no longer have to shave twice a day. Right now I can go about 1 and 1/2 to 2 days! There is a lot of information on this site about Metformin (maybe you already know about it?). Anyhow, welcome and happy reading! Jean

nick_name · 03-14-2004, 01:45 PM

me too.. and down my neck to my collar bone