For those of you who shave your entire face...

[mingybelle]

I just wanted to know if any of you have switched to waxing and how is it possible?

I have been shaving since I was fifteen years-old. I am now 36 years-old and I have to shave daily (really twice a day is needed because of stubble but my skin is so irritated that one time is all I can bear!) I use a five - yes - five bladed men's razor I believe it's called Fusion and at first I had WONDERFUL results. It took less time to shave and I stayed "smoother" a lot longer. But for the past two months or so I can't get rid of all the stubbly little black hairs on my chin and neck! I shave my face raw trying to get rid of the hairs and then I am left with a red shadow with bumps - and believe me - no makeup hides that!

Sometimes I think the hair is growing slower ( I have lost about twenty pounds since last August) so I'm not able to let it "grow" enough to get a close shave. But sometimes I think it may be just growing so fast that the razor is no match for it!

I don't know what to do. I am so self-conscious about it. I have tried an electric raxor and it doesn't give an anywhere near close shave! I have contemplated waxing but I don't know how I would ever let the hair grow long enough to wax. I have to be in the public everyday - and believe me I have a "beard" just after going 24 hours without shaving.

I would love to get lhr but my hormones are still way out of wack. I am a diabetic and need to lose about 90 lbs., besides I just can't afford it.

It's bad enought that I am losing hair on top of my head (even though I have been using Nizoral OTC now for about 5-6 weeks and I have seen improvement on the crown of my head). I just can't seem to deal with anymore right now and this shaving thing is driving me crazy!

Any suggestions, please?

[*~SugarPlums~*]

The prce of laser treatments have really gone down. I would check into that and see if there are locations in your area that offer packages. The 'per treatment' prices are not too bad.

I was plucking and shaving daily, sometimes twice daily. I was scarring my face and causing ingrown hairs. I had very low self esteem. I would never wear my hair up, kept my hair infront of my shoulders to cover my face. I never let dh touch my face, neck. I would pull away when he went to hug and kiss me. I have to tell you that getting the laser treatments was the best thing that I personally did for [I]myself[I].

I am diabetic too along with pcos, and a few other things. I went to see a new re for my diabetes and he actually asked me if I eer suffered from facial hair being that is 1 of the symptoms of pcos, I said OF COURSE. He literally examined my entire face and said that he will reccomend the laser to all of his patients. I do have the hair in other spots (he saw that) but my face is what bothers me. I would go without alot of other personal things if I had to, to get the laser treatments. That saved me in so many ways (and my marriage). My hair is always up, I don't need to cake my face up with make up to cover the stubble, scars. And most important, dh can touch my face and neck WHENEVER he wants!

[pinkbikini]

Hi-

The reason for my facial and body hair is the fact that my hair folicles are way to sensitive to my NORMAL testosterone levels-so I tried and spent $500+ on laser hair removal and it came back within months...the one thing that is ever worked for me is what I am taking right now---DIANE-35 birth control pills which I get from Canada-sucks to pay for them but they are worth it---I only shave my legs once a week now!!! and my face is so much better!

I say have all the tests done to figure out what is the cause of your facial hair so you don't spend extra money...

Best of luck

[pinkbikini]

Guess I could have mentioned that yes I tried waxing my face, in fact that's what I used to do when my face was that bad...I think it helped but I would definitely have a professional do it for you...I did it myself-it hurt bad at first but but skin got used to it...however, there were times when I would end up ripping the first layer of my skin and it looked bad I have to say-but it also happened when I had it done---so, just be careful & good luck!

[ScaredSally]

PCOS causes elevated androgens which result in facial and body hair and the loss of hair on your head. . the thing with PCOS is to go on an anti androgen to lower these androgens .. and in combination use lazer removal .. diane35 does work as it contains an anti androgen as does Spiro etc

Why not look into this this takes time to work but can be very successful

[skkuyper]

i'm w/ ya cyster.
I had the laser removal two years ago and am almost back in the same situation i was then. They don't tell you that it only works on active follicles....It did work amazingly though. It is the way to go but you have to do the oral meds too. I'm going back to try the laser again (when i can afford) but this time w/ do the oral along with it. Good news is most laser hair removal clinics offer guarantees (at least for 2 or three years)

[joyblack]

i'm w/ ya cyster.
I had the laser removal two years ago and am almost back in the same situation i was then. They don't tell you that it only works on active follicles....It did work amazingly though. It is the way to go but you have to do the oral meds too. I'm going back to try the laser again (when i can afford) but this time w/ do the oral along with it. Good news is most laser hair removal clinics offer guarantees (at least for 2 or three years)

As you say, if laser is going to work meaningfully as a long-term "cure" you MUST get your hormones into the normal female range, otherwise your moustache, beard and whatever else you've had treated will just grow back. It's the meds that keep them from growing back. And for some of us, the meds pose a bigger problem than the moustache and beard growth. Since for me the only real downside of high testosterone levels is the moustache and beard growth, I find it better to avoid the hassles with meds and control my moustache and beard growth by shaving. For someone who's going to be on the meds anyway and who has a light skin and dark facial hair, then laser may well be a good option.

[jayme]

Hello. Congrats on the weight loss!

I just started shaving my face after years of waxing. There are pros and cons to both ways. For waxing, the hair needs to be at least a quarter inch long. If you have a couple of days off of work where you can stay in the house...the hair might be long enough on the third or fourth day. I personally don't care anymore. I go out in public if I have to. I would have to get my face waxed every 2-3 weeks and it gets expensive. I've gone to a few different places and they average at about $28 a session. I decided to give shaving a try to save some money. Also, it gets rid of that embarrassing growing out stage (mostly anyway) and all the irritation from waxing. I would always break out afterwards.

I would love to try laser hair treatments once I am done having kids and on all my medications again. I did go once to talk to someone about them and they were willing to put me on a payment plan. Maybe you could find a doctor that did that?

Good luck!

[NurseJackie]

I also have embarrassing facial hair. The worst is under my chin/neck. I've shaved it for years, though i have to do it daily now, where years ago i only had to do it every 2-3 days. The hair on my face is mostly blonde, but it started getting much longer/thicker/with more dark hairs over the last few years. Waxing i did'nt like because i don't like letting it grow, does'nt catch the dark hairs well, severely irritated my skin, and grew right back. I tried facial nair, which worked well for 4-5 days, then looked stubbly growing back. I finally gave in and bought a good male electric razor. It did take about 2 weeks to get to the point where it cuts closely enough on my chin/neck, works great on my face. Until i get the rest of my symptoms under control, and maybe win the lottery or something so i can afford laser or electrolysis, i'm pretty happy with what i'm doing. I still have a little redness under my chin even with the electric, but much better than with regular razor.

[kevinsgirl]

I noticed when using Fusion that at first it was amazing! Then after using if for about 2 months it did the same exact thing that happened to you. It wasnt shaving no where near as close as before and I would have to butcher my face to get it to shave it all off. So now I've gone back to using Mach 3 turbo. *turbo has the aloe strip on it* This one is getting a closer shave and I can stay a lot smoother until later in the night. Of course I also dont get a shower until around noon. I do that on purpose.

I've never tried waxing. To wax the hair has to be a certain length and I refuse to go one day w/o shaving. Plus I think the pain/redness that comes from it is so not worth it. But thats just my opinion.

[soul cyster]

Hi-

...the one thing that is ever worked for me is what I am taking right now---DIANE-35 birth control pills which I get from Canada-sucks to pay for them but they are worth it---I only shave my legs once a week now!!! and my face is so much better!

Did you have to get a prescription for the pills? Do you order them on-line? Thanks for info.

[Azlee]

i never shaved but waxed for ever and it ran my life because i couldnt go to a party if i hadnt waxed in 2 weeks. also i was spendign so much on waxing.

my life saver was the panasonic epilator. i can do it in about 5-10 mins and take it anywhere.

i tried 3 different types of lhr and none worked for me and must have spent over $5k trying.

[SouthmoorePrnces]

about how much did the panasonic epilator cost you? this hair issue is starting to really bother me and makes me more and more self concious! *sigh* does anyone have any good suggestions for hair loss on the crown of your head as well? ive gotten to the point where i practically cry myself to sleep every night because of it. i use to have real pretty thick curly hair, now its like it never existed. i look at old pictures and think if only i had found out earlier, maybe things would be different.

[BeeyondUnknown]

I have found that being on my BC pills (Yaz) helps to slow down the growth and thin out my facial hair... i shave about every few days and im fine.. Hopefully i can get lazer or use vaniqua and see how that goes... im so sensitive about my face but i manage

[BeeyondUnknown]

I shave my face every few days and im fine... i find that when im on my bc pills (yaz) the hair is thinner and grows less... so that works for me. one day ill get laser treatment