thoughts on shaving bikini line & trimming pubic hair

[gotacola.livejournal.com]

I'm wanting some ideas on grooming my pubic region. I get really bad razor burn and ingrown hairs when I shave my bikini line - angry red bumps along the edge of the bikini line is not a sexy look in swimmers. Also, its embarrassing for doctor appointments where I have to strip down to underwear and for pap smear etc - the choice is between hairs poking out everywhere around my undies or an angry red rash - I always go with the red rash - just slightly less embarrassing.

So I was looking around online and found the Cleancut Personal Shaver: http://www.amazon.com/Cleancut-ES412-Personal-Shaver/dp/B001IZZX1C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326538719&sr=8-1 It's supposed to give a close shave without irritating the skin. So, it looks like it might be a good option for me.

But then I'd also need to get this: http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-S-Yard-PS334-Femini-Personal/dp/B00141CDGS/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1326618991&sr=8-13 It's to trim the hair to stubble length so the Cleancut can work properly.

But also, I've been thinking of getting a bikini trimmer like this: http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-ES246AC-Bikini-Shaper-Trimmer/product-reviews/B00005JS5C/ref=cm_cr_pr_btm_link_2?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addFiveStar&pageNumber=2 That I want just to trim down my pubic hairs to a shorter length (but not shaved). I use a menstrual cup and if I haven't trimmed my hair with scissors it can pull when I'm inserting the cup. So, just thought this would be a better, quicker and tidier option than scissors.

But, that sure seems like a lot of products for one little area. Just wondering if anyone can suggest an all-in-one product that does what I want - close shave without irritation, plus trimming hairs longer than stubble. Or other ideas? The only female friend I know to ask gets Brazilian waxes but that's just a path I don't want to go down. I wouldn't even wax the bikini line - in the past I've tried tweezing and it made me bleed even done as gently as possible.

Comments

[gatehorse.livejournal.com]

First of all, hair shouldn't be embarrassing. I guarantee you that your doctor has seen plenty of women who don't shave at all. TBH, I personally would rather have the hair than the rash, because hair is natural and healthy, but rashes are not, and I'm always kind of afraid my doc will think it's a medical problem. So I tend to let it grow out a bit before appointments. But that's just my preference.

Second...I really don't think you need 3 products. When I first started shaving my legs, at...11? 12? My mom bought me something that looked like this: http://www.amazon.com/Revlon-RV557C-Smooth-Glamorous-Rechargeable/dp/B000A3I32E/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1328153876&sr=8-8
One edge has a trimmer, and one has the shaver-you use the trimmer to shorten the hair, then the shaver to get the close shave. Of course, no one explained to me how to use it, and I thought the trimmer looked sharp enough to cut me with the lightest touch. Took me a couple years to realize how to use it properly, LOL. Of course, it wasn't that exact razor, so you'd have to do some research into a good trimmer/shaver combo-I'm just using that as an example of what's out there.

I don't have particularly sensitive skin however, and that shaver has long since dissappeared. Now, I just use this as a trimmer: http://www.amazon.com/Schick-Quattro-Trimstyle-Bikini-Trimmer/dp/B001TH8Q72/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1328154389&sr=1-2
I like it cuz it's super cheap and works well, and is wet dry (a requirement because I shave in the shower) And if I feel like shaving down completely, I take the comb off the trimmer to get the shortest trim, and from there I can shave with a manual razor. If you wanted to stick with the electric razor option, you could just do that before using the electric razor. I really don't see why you'd need 3 products.

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

I agree that hair is not embarrassing and your doctor is not appalled by it. It's hair, it is natural.

I do though hate to have my pubes sticking out of my swimsuit or to have a rash :/

[x-hypatia-x.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I use the Schick one for trimming, too, and it's way cheap and works perfectly well. OP, it doesn't sound like you actually want to shave/like you're dubious about whether shaving is going to work out for your skin--have you thought about just sticking to trimming? That should be a lot safer in terms of ingrown hairs.

(Just FYI, waxing goes horribly for me--bleeding and ingrown hairs like whoa--but sugaring my cooch region is fine. And MUCH better than tweezing.)

[mrar.livejournal.com]

Buy a 2% salicylic acid astringent/toner, if you don't have one already. They are advertised for acne, blackheads, etc, and made generically or by almost any major skincare company such as clear & clear, and readily available at any drugstore.

Apply it 1-2 times per day and it will prevent and treat your ingrown hairs.

Also, when shaving, shave WITH the grain as much as possible.

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

I have a Cleancut and I love it. I really do. It is awesome.

To trim my pubes to stubble length I usually just use my leg shaver, which is a Cleo Palmperfect, or sometimes a little Cleo trimmer. I originally had a Femini trimmer and it was really nice, but it's not absolutely necessary; anything that gets your pubes to stubble length will work.

I started out with a Bodybare and the Cleancut is superior in every way. The Bodybare was constantly breaking, and the battery compartment was too big for the battery so it would shake around.

These types of shavers are really only good for the undercarriage, though; I don't find them very effective on the bikini line (for that I use my regular leg shaver) or for the mons, where I like having hair. So if you are only concerned about the bikini line, any normal trimmer or electric razor should work. You can still get razor bumps there from electrics, though, so whatever you shave with, applying a lotion with AHA afterward will keep bumps in check.

[kuradi8.livejournal.com]

Whether corded or cordless, "electric" razors are notorious for skin irritation. An old fashioned razor with a fresh/sharp disposable blade and a can of shaving cream is more likely to give you a smoother shave with less irritation.

If you still want one... rather than buying one of those online, check out the selection of razors and trimmers at your local discount store (US = Walmart) or large chain drugstore. There is usually a better selection of men's products than ladies'. "Self sharpening" is a nice feature.

[dkwgdk.livejournal.com]

I have very sensitive skin and I'm pretty hairy. I used to get Brazilians but they are really, really painful for me. Now, I trim my pubic hair pretty closely with a 5" pair of barber scissors and occasionally wax the bikini line. The thing that helps my waxes heal the best is a very light application of Triple-Paste diaper ointment to protect the waxed skin for a couple of days, together with using the salicylic scrub suggested by mrar. It's important that I use Triple Paste, which you sometimes have to ask a pharmacist for. It's got a really high concentration of zinc oxide (higher than other rash creams) and doesn't seem to have whatever it is in A&D ointment that I'm allergic to...that one is a mystery to me. :P

Honestly, I can't stand the hassle of doing anything other than trimming or letting someone else pull my hair out. I guess that sounds lazy, but seriously, I don't want to bother. If I could afford to have my legs waxed, too, I'd do it in a heartbeat.