Talks about shaving

Body Shaving Research

2007-11-27T01:16:00.000-08:00

Why do people want to shave their bodies?

It’s mostly about sex! But also hairy men with good figures and good muscle tone want to show it off by removing their fuzz, oiling up and posing for their admirers and lovers.

Also, the waxing technique that I recommended so highly in Hair-B-Gone just isn’t for everyone. It hurts too much for many folks and many more are prone to contracting folliculitis (infected hair follicles) following a wax job.

Then there is the aspect of the shaving procedure itself. Whilst waxing is endured or tolerated for its end result, it is apparent that people enjoy shaving their bodies. It can be a sexual experience in itself, whether done alone, or performed upon a partner. There are many men’s magazines featuring women being shaved and women who are already shaved, and in the male gay community, mutual shaving is a common form of sexual foreplay.

When asked about hair removal, adult movie performers generally say they go for shaving over waxing for the maintenance of a hair free look. If they wax, and they are waiting for a long enough re-growth for the next waxing, it can interfere with their readiness to work.

About the research for this article! Hold on to your hats!

It would have been irresponsible of me to make this stuff up and have it published on the Internet so I decided to do some serious research and experimentation. For my research I assembled the following ingredients:

* My boyfriend
* Some razors and shaving gel
* And an outgoing male gay couple!

I used my boyfriend as a laboratory. He was hairy and now he isn’t! Lucky for him he was able to have his chest shaved without getting a rash or folliculitis from the re-growth. I have to admit I liked the feel of a naked shaved man, but I have to warn you that any flab or lack of tone around the middle looks much worse without hair to disguise it!

I actually preferred him before the shave, so I broke up with him and kicked him out. I can be brutal sometimes! Actually I’m only kidding, there was another reason to get rid of that guy! Enough said.

The gay couple came in handy to explain the appeal of the shaving act itself. My funny friends shave each other three to four times weekly and they say it always leads to sex. Aside from the mutual shave being practical, (they can each get their backs shaved) they say it’s essential for games involving baby oil and what they referred to as snake fights. These guys have very good physiques and when they insisted on revealing them to me in their entirety, their total hairless beauty mesmerized me. I showed them my own fabulous waxed hairless body but it didn’t hold the same appeal to them as their own overwhelmingly male bodies, so unfortunately for me, nothing happened as usual!

Basics.

Body shaving is best achieved if these basic rules are followed.

* Wash the skin first with warm, not hot, not cold, water so that the skin is very clean.
* Stand in the bathtub so you don’t make a mess. (Men use a drain basket so you don’t clog the drains.)
* Use a new blade or new disposable razor. The sharper it is the less it will nick.
* Let the shaving gel work on the skin before beginning the shave.
* Do a section at a time, not the whole body at once!
* Pull loose skin taut with the fingers of the hand that isn’t holding the razor.
* Don’t press! The lightest touch will shave just as close as a dig but will be less likely to cut the skin.
* Hairy men, for your first shave, reduce the length of the body hair with a beard trimmer or hair clippers or scissors, but keep those blades off the skin itself.
* Avoid the temptation to attempt shaving your own back. Sideways movement of a razor will make a straight cut through your skin.
* If it’s called after-shave, it’s alcohol and it’s going to sting and hurt. All after-shave smells terrible anyway! Buy some witch-hazel to use after your shave. This amazing natural liquid will reduce razor-burn and help prevent the open pores from becoming infected or producing acne. Don’t use pore-clogging cream after your shave!

So lets get down to it, the head to toe guide to body shaving!

Shaving myth and facts

2007-11-02T05:25:00.000-07:00

Shaving Myth: “Shaving will make my hair grow back thicker, darker and faster.”
Shaving Fact: Gillette’s scientists have conducted extensive testing on the effects of shaving on both male and female hair growth, texture and color.

Results conclusively prove that shaving does not affect hair growth nor change its color or texture in any way. Shaving may alter the way hair initially feels after shaving, because it has altered the tip shape of the re-growing hair. However, if hair is left to regrow completely, it will return to its former soft state.

Shaving Myth: “Shaving will make my skin dry and flaky.”
Shaving Fact: Shaving with a razor actually helps skin look and feel smoother by removing the top layer of dead skin cells. Venus Vibrance with Soothing Vibrations is the first power wet shaving system for women. It gently exfoliates to instantly reveal more radiant skin. Venus Divine provides a close shave and incorporates Intensive Moisture StripsTM for divinely smooth skin.

Shaving Myth: “Soap and water are all the preparation I need to get a smooth, close shave.”
Shaving Fact: Soap and water is not a good choice for a close shave. For the best results, bathe or shower to remove natural oils and perspiration. You should also be sure to use a shave gel to help keep moisture in the hair. Shave gel also allows the razor to glide more easily over skin. Additionally, shave gel doesn’t dry skin and won’t clog your razor the way ordinary soap can. Gillette Satin Care for Women shave gel is great for keeping your skin feeling soft and smooth. You can also use Venus Breeze, the only 2-in-1 razor with built-in Shave Gel Bars, so there’s no need for separate shave gel or soap. Simply wetting the razor activates the Shave Gel Bars for a light lather and smooth glide.

Shaving Myth: “Shaving will remove my tan.”
Shaving Fact: You simply can’t shave off your tan. Tanning is a function of melanin production within your skin. In fact, shaving actually enhances your tan by removing flaky skin that can hide its glow.

Shaving Myth: “It’s okay to share razors.”
Shaving Fact: No, it’s not a good idea – particularly if you’re sharing with your dad or brother. A man’s hair is much coarser than a woman’s and damages a blade quickly. Using a man’s blade could cause unwanted nicks and cuts. Also, a man’s razor is not designed for the way a woman shaves. Venus razors are designed specifically for women, and feature an ergonomic razor handle, lubrastrips and a forward-pivoting, oval-shaped cartridge for control and maneuverability.

Similar problems can arise when sharing a razor with other women in your household. Sharing makes it harder to keep track of how often a blade has been used. In addition, not everyone is equally thorough about preparing for shaving – you may find a blade that you borrowed rough and uncomfortable.

Shaving Myth: “I don’t need to shave during the winter since my legs are usually covered anyway.”
Shaving Fact: More frequent shaving can actually help improve the appearance of skin during the cold-weather season by removing layers of dead skin cells, which cause dryness and flaking.

Shaving Myth: “Nicks and cuts are a part of shaving.”
Shaving Fact: They don’t have to be. There are four primary reasons women get nicks and cuts, all of which can be avoided.

1. Inferior-performing products, such as single-blade razors, can cause nicks and cuts; a three-blade technology, featured in all Venus razors, utilizes three progressively aligned blades that are specially positioned to extend gradually closer to the hair. While a second blade can cut a hair extended by the first blade, a third blade makes it less likely to miss any hairs.

2. Shaving with a dull blade can cause nicks and cuts; change your blades frequently.

3. To avoid side-to-side razor slippage that can cause nicks and cuts, use a razor with a handle designed to give greater control in a wet environment. Venus razors feature ergonomically designed handles that provide ultimate control for hard-to-reach places, like the bikini area.

4. Women occasionally apply too much pressure to their razor. To help prevent unwanted nicks and cuts, use a light touch, exerting as little pressure as possible, and shave in the direction that feels most comfortable.

Shaving Myth: “Women should remove underarm hair for cosmetic reasons only.”

Shaving Fact: Not true. In addition to making you feel fresh and clean, removing underarm hair reduces the potential for bacterial build-up, which is the principal cause of underarm odor.

What is “traditional” shaving for men?

2007-10-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

Let’s face it…much of what we call “traditional” shaving has little to do with most men’s experience of shaving.

The very concept of “tradition” is a culture-bound phenomenon, so we need to ask “traditional” for whom? Yes, my Dad used a brush and a Double-edged (DE) razor, not so much because he wanted to, but because that’s pretty much all that was available in his day. He didn’t have a weekly “rotation” of brushes and razors, nor did he need an extra cabinet in the bathroom to house the dozens of soaps, creams, razors, mugs, and associated paraphernalia that I seem to need. Were he still alive today he would probably take one look at all that stuff and slap me up the backside of the head! And he never sought out a straight razor in order to get that connection to his “manly” roots, because he was pretty busy working two jobs just to keep us fed and clothed. That was manly enough for him thank you! And when I first started wet-shaving with an eye to bringing some “tradition” into the process in the early ’80’s (before kids came along and I too had only enough time to shave as quickly as possible and get out and earn everyone’s living), frankly, I had no clue about the vast gamut of “traditional” shaving products available. Sure I manged to find a good shaving brush after a pilgrimage to New York City, and a tub of Caswell-Massey shave cream was readily available at their store in The City. But it is in fact the Internet that has really enabled the current renaissance of interest in so-called traditional shaving. The various products we associate with the term “traditional”, such as shaving creams, soaps, exotic lotions and potions, etc., certainly have history; they’ve been around for many years. But, I suspect, many of these products were also somewhat elitist and likely accessible by only a few well-heeled “gentlemen”. Most older men I have spoken with about shaving confessed to basically using hand-soap to shave with and usually the collected remnants of their bath and hand bars which they accumulated in a mug and shaved with. Talk about environmental consciousness!

So let’s face it, there’s little “traditional” about traditional wet-shaving, other than that the products have been around for many years (unless you come from a long line of English and French “dandies”, in which case it probably is traditional for you). It’s like saying that a Leica camera is about “traditional photography”. Which tradition would that be, I’d like to know? Film was only one stage in the evolution of photography, and a Leica was always a very exclusive (read expensive) camera, certainly not part of anyone’s “tradition” other than a few great professionals. So when it comes to shaving, I like Leisureguy’s term “Gourmet Shaving” which better captures the more exclusive and passionate nature of this endeavor.

Source:
http://scourmanop.wordpress.com/2007/08/12/what-is-traditional-shaving-anyway

Does shaving make it grow back thicker?

2007-10-01T03:04:00.000-07:00

Answer

No. Shaving hair doesn't make it grow back thicker. It also doesn't affect the color or rate of growth. The color, location, thickness and length of hair on your body mainly depend on genetics and hormones.

After you shave body hair, it may feel coarse or "stubbly" for a time as it grows out. During this phase, it may be more noticeable — and may appear darker or thicker. But it's not.

There are many hair removal methods available. These include:

* Shaving
* Waxing
* Tweezing
* Electrolysis
* Lasers
* Prescription creams

See your doctor if you have a sudden increase in facial or body hair. Some medical conditions and medications can cause excess hair growth.

Source:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hair-removal/AN00638

Perfect Shaving

2007-09-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

Phase one: PREP

1. SHOWER
Always shave in the shower or immediately after one. As with the hot towel, steam is the key—it opens pores, which in turn causes whiskers to rise so they’re easier to lop off. If the bathroom mirror hasn’t fogged up, the shower isn’t hot enough.

2. CLEANSE
Wash your face with a bar of soap or liquid cleanser. “I explain it this way,” says Anthony Sosnick, founder of the men’s grooming brand Anthony Logistics. “You always wash your car before you wax it.” Shave without washing first, and you’ll trap dirt and grime in your pores, leading to bumps and blemishes. Also, don’t confuse exfoliating with cleansing—using a harsh scrub may do more to irritate your face than refresh it (and between using a brush to apply your shave cream and shaving, your beard area will get plenty of exfoliation as it is).

3. APPLY PRE-SHAVE OIL
Although it’s often omitted, shave oil is crucial in eliminating nicks, cuts, and irritation. Pour a dime-size drop of it into your hands and massage it thoroughly into the beard to soften whiskers and help the razor glide smoothly. Don’t worry, this minuscule amount won’t leave your face with a greasy sheen.

Phase two: SHAVE

4. APPLY SHAVE CREAM
The cream should be spread over the oil. This is best accomplished with a badger brush, which further preps the beard by raising hairs. Wet the brush, then use it to whip the cream into a lather and spread it on in a circular motion. Avoid shaving soaps and canned aerosol creams like Barbasol, which foam excessively and make it harder for the razor to get close to the skin. Opt for creams in jars or tubes instead, which produce a thin, gentle lather.

5. THE FIRST PASS
A razor should always be drawn in the same direction that stubble grows—i.e., with the grain. Regularly shaving in this direction lifts whiskers from their pores and prevents ingrown hairs. Begin shaving at the sideburn and work your way down. Save the neck for last—this gives the oil and shaving cream extra time to relax the thicker stubble. Always use long, even strokes, and rinse the blades frequently.

6. LATHER UP AND SHAVE AGAIN
Typically, just one pass provides an amply close shave. But going over the beard twice makes for the closest shave possible. On this second pass—and only now—shave against the grain. Note: Make sure you use an extremely light touch.

Phase three: REPAIR

7. RINSE
When you are finished, splash your face repeatedly with cold water. In addition to washing away the remaining shave cream and oil, the cold water helps close pores and soothe skin. Then gently pat (don’t wipe) your face dry with a towel.

8. AFTER-SHAVE CARE
Whether out of fear of fragrance or of getting shiny skin, many men mistakenly shun after-shave products. But even when done properly, shaving is traumatic for the skin, so a little TLC is in order. There are two primary types of after-shave that will do the trick: alcohol-free toner, which is ideal for oily skin, and should be patted on lightly; and moisturizing balm with soothing benzocaine, which should be gently rubbed in until absorbed. Balm or moisturizer is a must for anyone with dry skin; if you have normal skin, you can use whichever you prefer.

Bikini Hair Removal Options

2007-09-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

Useful tip is Hair Inhibitors
To get maximum results from any of the bikini hair removal methods below, use a hair inhibitor to reduce hair growth. This will greatly reduce your waxing and shaving sessions

Option 1 - Waxing

For best results with bikini hair removal, a hard wax is needed, either for total bikini hair removal or when leaving a strip of hair.

When waxing for bikini hair removal follow these suggestions:

Avoid showering and making the hair wet prior to waxing. Hair absorbs the water making it soft and less likely to adhere well to the wax. Tough hair is easier to pull off.

Be sure to test a small area of skin first to make sure there is no acute sensitivity or allergic reaction to bikini hair removal with waxing.
Hair should be at least 1/8 inch long. If it isn't wait until it reaches this length.

Be sure to wash the skin thoroughly and dry it well beforehand to remove any lotions or oils which may prevent the wax from adhering closely to the skin.

Heat the wax carefully so as not to overheat and thus burn the skin when applying. Test on a small area first. The consistency should be soft rather than runny.

If pain and discomfort is a main concern use a pain reducing gel or cream available from pharmacists. These solutions should be applied 30 to 60 minutes before waxing so the skin is numbed beforehand.

Apply a thin layer of wax in the direction of the hair growth and peel back with a rapid movement close to the skin. Do not pull up or out, rather pull back.

Clean the skin with a warm moist towel afterwards to remove excess wax.

Avoid wearing tight clothing over freshly waxed areas to minimize the risk of irritation and ingrown hairs.

After 24-48 hours exfoliate the skin (with a Loofa sponge for example) to prevent the dead skin from accumulating and causing hair to become ingrown after bikini hair removal.

GiGi Brazilian Body Hard Wax achieves the desired results when using waxing for bikini hair removal.

Option 2 - Electric Shaving

The "Cleancut"/Feather Touch Personal Razor is a battery operated, ultra-fine screen, rotary-head personal razor that leaves the skin very smooth after bikini hair removal. This razor is especially designed for the pubic area and will provide a fine shave without irritation. Neither will it 'bite' the sensitive areas or cause ingrown hairs after bikini hair removal.

Option 3 - Wet Shaving

Choose a female razor, obtainable from Wilkinson Sword or other well known razor manufacturers, rather than an ordinary safety razor. Microfine wires wrap around the blade minimizing the risk of nicks and cuts. Opt for a more expensive good quality razor rather than a cheap throw away which is more likely to cause nicks, soreness and razor burns in this sensitive area.

If the pubic hair is thick and long use small scissors to trim down the hair to about a quarter of an inch. This will avoid blunting and clogging the razor too quickly.

Wet a large, washcloth and lay it over the entire pubic area for two or three minutes. Alternatively, take a long hot bath or stay in the shower for a while making sure the genital area receives a lot of water. Pubic hair is coarser than head hair and needs more time to soften.

Shave upwards against the direction of the hair growth. Make sure there is shaving foam on the skin each time you make a stroke with the razor. Shaving bare skin can cause razor burn.

To stop or reduce itching after shaving rub an ice cube over the area. Alternatively, rub a little baby oil into the pubic area.

If you suffer from itchiness or blood spots, let the hair grow back for a week before shaving again.

Keep the shaven area well moisturized between shaves by using a skin moisturizer or baby lotion. This will reduce the uncomfortable effect the stubble may cause between shaves.

Option 4 - Laser Treatment

Bikini hair removal by laser treatment can take approximately 8 - 10 minutes. At least 2 or 3 treatments are necessary.

An absolute requirement is that the hair must be darker than the surrounding skin. White skin with dark hair responds best. Persons with dark, coarse hair are the easiest to treat as dark hair contains melanin, a dark pigment which attracts the laser light so more laser energy is absorbed. Fewer sessions are needed. Light colored hair is more difficult to treat and blonde and red hair are very difficult to treat requiring multiple sessions with varied results.

As for pain with laser bikini hair removal, this varies from person to person depending on their sensitivity. Some have described the sensation to a slight sting on the skin. Others say it feels like a pinch on the skin.

The cost of laser bikini hair removal can vary according to geographic area. Use your local yellow pages and telephone a few laser clinics to get comparisons.

How to Remove Female Facial Hair

2007-09-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

It seems to be a common assumption that only men have facial hair, and all women have smooth hairless skin on their faces. However this can safely be disproved as most women have a small to moderate amount of hair on their faces, ranging from soft fluff to stiff whiskers.
This is perfectly normal, in fact most women have it, and nothing to be ashamed of.

The most common methods for treating facial hair is plucking, though bleaching is another viable option and threading is rapidly gaining popularity. Some women also wax their faces.

A couple other options are electrolysis and laser. Laser is quicker and cheaper(though not inexpensive) but less thorough, electrolysis is more thorough, but takes longer and costs more.

There are also facial depilatory creams available, though depilatory creams designed for the body should not be used on the face.
A rotary epilator can generally be used on the face safely.

Friction is a method which should not be used on the face, as the skin is delicate and does not respond well.

Because the face generally offers a small area with typically fine hair, there are many methods available.

Before you shave

2007-08-21T02:39:00.000-07:00

1. Use a sharp blade. Replace worn parts as necessary. Dull blades will pull hair, increases risk of ingrown hairs, and just don't do the job. Electric shavers should come with instructions on how often to replace parts. A good rule of thumb for disposable razors is you should not need to use any pressure -- if you do, replace it

2. If the hair is very long (never been shaved before) you may want to clip it, with scissors, first

3. Soak in warm water first for at least three minutes. This is especially important for coarser pubic and armpit hair. Warm water softens the hair, opens the hair follicle and relaxes the skin. Wet hair reduces wear on the blade and stands up easier

4. If you are using a regular razor blade or an electric razor that allows you to use shaving gel, apply it and let it sit for at least four minutes. This helps soften the hair more, locks moisture into the hair, helps keep the hair erect, reduces friction and conditions the skin. You should always use some sort of foamy stuff meant for shaving. Otherwise you may get razor burn (red raw skin, irritation, or bumps). Thicker is better protection for your skin

5. You can use hair conditioner to help soften the hair first if it's especially coarse. Just let it sit for a while, then rinse thoroughly

6. Avoid shaving when you first get up after sleeping. Body fluids make the skin more puffy. After 20 to 30 minutes the skin becomes more taut and the hair shaft more exposed

Good Shaving!

Arm Hair Removal

2007-08-14T04:58:00.000-07:00

Women and men remove hair from their arms more often than you'd think.
But removing hair from your arms provides a unique set of requirements.
Shaving is quick and painless, though stubble on your arms may be more of a disadvantage than you'd prefer.
For this reason, waxing or sugaring are the recommended methods for temporary hair removal on the arms. With waxing or sugaring regrowth will be finer, and will look less like stubble.

What's more, both these methods last longer than shaving.
You can have waxing or sugaring performed professionally for around $30-$50, you can by a home waxing/sugaring kit for around $30, or you can even make your own sugaring recipe at home for easy hair removal at almost no cost.

As your arms are straight and relatively flat, they are a relatively simple area to remove hair from.
Waxing or sugaring your arms is like any other body part. Spread the solution on your skin with the direction of hair growth in a small patch.
Next, press the cloth strip on top and stroke it firmly a few times in the direction of hair growth.
Then grip one end of the fabric and pull it quickly back, towards the opposite end of the strip. You should always pull back, not up or forward.
With sugaring you can reuse the same strip until it looses its ability to grip hair.

Electrolysis and laser hair removal can also be plausible options for permanent hair reduction or removal.
If your hair is dark and your skin is light, laser may be for you. It works by targeting the melanin in your hair, heating it and subsequently 'disabling' the hair follicle.
Laser can be especially good for the arms, where hair reduction may be the desired outcome, rather than total hair removal.
However, laser treatment can be expensive, and can require multiple treatments for satisfactory hair reduction.
A good technique for finding a quality laser technician is to ask around for other people's experience with laser hair removal. It's important to find a skilled professional, as lots of money time, and comfort can be wasted.

However, if you do want as much permanent hair removal as is currently available, electrolysis is the way to go.
Electrolysis works by placing a hair-thin needle into the hair follicle, and electrifying it, zapping the root.
Hair by hair, this is generally the agreed upon method for permanent hair removal.
However it can be a long, uncomfortable process, with each hair treated individually. Also it can be very expensive, with treatments possibly continuing for a year or more for large areas.
If you want to undergo electrolysis, again it is important to find a skilled technician. Ask around, good practitioners will have good things said about them.

Also methods such as friction, threading, and depilatory creams can work well for the arms. Ultimately it's up to you and your preferences.

Shaving notes

2007-08-06T04:47:00.000-07:00

By Steve Proffitt, STEVE PROFFITT is senior producer for the NPR newsmagazine "Day to Day."

I HATE SHAVING. But what are the alternatives? Waxing is out of the question, and I don't want to look like Saddam Hussein emerging from his spider hole. So, I shave.

Because I have also reached an advanced state of baldness, and keep my hair cut short in a No. 1 buzz cut, I spend what seems to be an inordinate amount of time engaged in hair removal. I suppose I am lucky. I'm not nearly as hairy as a friend of mine, who is one of those guys with a line at his collar where he stops shaving. Marty once revealed to me that his yeti-like, full-body pelt requires 20 minutes to dry after a shower, but that's another story.

My grandfather, who immigrated to this country from Lebanon, never shaved. He had someone else do it. Maybe there was a lack of mirrors in the old country. To make sure he always had a skilled blade-handler at hand, he rented an annex in his restaurant to a barber. Part of the lease deal was a daily shave.

These days, all the servers at Google probably won't be able to find you a neighborhood barber who will lather up your face, strop a straight razor and begin removing your stubble. Still, science and industry offer us technology that might have persuaded even my grandfather to become a do-it-yourselfer.

Personally, I think three blades is enough on a razor, although I understand there are models with four, even five, finely-honed cutting surfaces. The first blade grabs the hair and trims it, allowing the second blade to cut even closer, followed by … ad nauseam. Surely this approach has limits, and surely they have been reached.

Still, I did fall for the vibrating model, powered by an AAA battery in the handle. It contributes nothing to the effectiveness of shaving, as near as I can tell, but it is strangely comforting. There's an on/off button on the handle, and I find myself accidentally pressing it while negotiating a tight curve along my jaw, causing the pulsation to cease and creating shaving anxiety.

Of course, before one puts blade to skin, one needs to apply some sort of shaving product. For years, I was a devotee of Barbasol, primarily because it cost only 99 cents and came in a barber-pole-striped can that made me feel good about my purchase. I tried gels but found them lacking any connection to tradition. Recently, I have discovered shave oil. And I like it — "revitalizing" shave cream that features "peppermint oil and marine extracts enriched with vitamin E and pro-vitamin B5." How evolved am I, former Barbasol man?

The secret to this stuff — and this is why I like it — is that it works best when you use a tiny, tiny amount. None of the slathered-in-lather look popular in TV commercials. I figure I can squeeze out at least a year's worth of shaving from the 5.5-ounce tube. And it really does seem to give a smoother shave, especially on those places on either side of my Adam's apple that always cause trouble.

BUT EVEN mysterious marine extracts can't make shaving go away. I still have to stand in front of the mirror, run the hot water, dab peppermint cream on my face, spread a thin film of it all around and then attack my skin with the razor in the prescribed short, quick strokes. Sometimes I remember the pre-pubescent male who looked into the mirror and strained to produce the slightest amount of fuzz, hoping to be more of a man. Then I rinse the razor and curse my beard.

But there is always hope. Perhaps somewhere out in the Big Pharma back forty, a keen researcher is on his or her way to developing a chemical that will redirect the pattern of my male-pattern baldness from my pate to my face. Then, not only will I be able to again complain about the high price of hair products and experience the joys of bed head, but my unshaven chin will be as smooth as a baby's bum.

Advanced Shaving Techniques Video

2007-08-03T04:27:00.000-07:00

Let me know your thoughts in the comments

Bald Head - It's Cool

2007-07-31T05:33:00.000-07:00

There was a time when hair was everything (heck, they even made a musical about it!), a time when a hair dropping off your scalp was a sight of terror, and words like hair loss and balding were the worst things a man could hear from someone else’s mouth. Bald head care wasn’t even mentioned, because it meant resignation and shame.

Luckily, these times have changed; balding men have started to realize –finally- that there are millions like them, and that it’s no good to obsess over some hair on top of our heads. The change has been so strong that even men with fully grown hair, shave their heads in order to be bald – and look great!

Bald head care means approaching hair care from a different perspective. Now it’s more about our skin, a part of our body that may be the more exposed to the rays of the sun and dryness. You still have to massage it for instance, and apply shampoo to keep it clean, but you also need to moisten the skin, using a face moisturizer with SPF.

In case you have hair and want to go bald, you could also use some head shaving advice. These days you can find great products made specifically to head shaving, including razor blades and shaving gels for dry shaving. Head shaving I think started going mainstream when the scalp of Michael Jordan started to shine on the basketball courts, now we see it everywhere, from Bruce Willis to Jack Nicholson…and even Britney Spears!

As you see, now bald can be cool (as long as you don’t have a nasty comb-over), and not only that, it will save you a lot of time when you need grooming, because you don’t have any hair to style! You will experience the freedom of waking up every morning without your head looking messy. Have a bald look, be free and be cool.

Head Shaving

2007-07-31T03:15:00.000-07:00

Recent talks

Famous people who have had shaved heads
Head Shaving history

Shaving revolution

2007-07-31T03:13:00.000-07:00

Recent talks

Shaving Facts vs Myth
Religion and Shaving
Shaving History Begining From Prehistoric Times
Shaving Problems? You Don't Know How Lucky You Are
Beauty revolution

Hair removal

2007-07-31T03:12:00.000-07:00

Recent talks

Body Shaving Research
Shaving myth and facts
Does shaving make it grow back thicker?
How to Remove Female Facial Hair
Arm Hair Removal
Get Rid Of Unwanted Hair Your Own Way
Laser Hair Removal - Fact Or Fiction?

Shaving tips

2007-07-31T03:10:00.000-07:00

Recent talks

What is “traditional” shaving for men?
Perfect Shaving
Before You Shave
Shaving notes
Advanced Shaving Techniques Video
20 Shaving tips - How To Make It Easy
How to wet shave [ Video ]
Chest Hair Shaving Benefits
New Shaving Problems Solution
Experienced man gives advices [ Video ]

Shaving Issues

2007-07-31T03:06:00.000-07:00

Recent talks

How To Get Rid of Razor Bumps
Stop Razor Bumps Once And Forever
What I have to know about shaving issues. Part 3
What I have to know about shaving issues. Part 2
What I have to know about shaving issues. Part 1

Male Head Shaving

2007-07-31T03:04:00.000-07:00

Recent talks

Bald Head - It's Cool
Head Shaving Video
What I Learned By Shaving My Head
10 Techniques For Shaving Your Head

Shaving Penis

2007-07-31T03:01:00.000-07:00

Recent talks

Pubic Hair Styles
Shaving Pubic Hair for Men and Women
Enhance Your Already Perfect Penis By Shaving It

Shaving Legs

2007-07-31T03:00:00.001-07:00

Recent talks

Why Women Shave Their Legs
8 Main Tips For Shaving Legs

Female Head Shaving

2007-07-31T02:58:00.000-07:00

Recent talks

Female Head Shaving Video
Ten Techniques For Safely Shaving Your Head

Shaving Pubic Hair

2007-07-31T02:54:00.000-07:00

Recent talks

Bikini Hair Removal Options
Little Known Ways to Vagina Shaving
Pubic Hair Styles
Bikini line shaving - Tips When Shaving
Shaving Pubic Hair for Men and Women
Removing pubic hair methods
Pubic Hair Styles - Bikini Waxing Styles and Pubic

Pubic hair styles

2007-07-25T03:05:00.000-07:00

Why do people modify their pubic hair style?

The most frequently reasons are:

* fashion
* religion
* tradition
* sexual practice, such as for oral sex
* tactile sensation
* appearance
* hygiene

The modification of pubic hair can be considered a statement about one's style or personal lifestyle as can leaving it unmodified. The fashion designer Mary Quant was famously proud that her husband trimmed hers into a heart shape.

Pubic hair styles example:

Natural style — no trimming or maintenance

Trimmed style — hair length is shortened but not removed or shaped

Triangle style — hair removed (generally waxed) from the sides to form a triangle so that pubic hair cannot be seen while wearing swimwear . This can range from the very edge of the "bikini line" to up to an inch reduction on either side. Hair length can be from an inch and a half, to half an inch

Landing strip style — hair sharply removed from the sides to form a long centred vertical rectangle, hair length about quarter of an inch

Hitler moustache style — a shorter version of the landing strip

Brazilian waxing/G-wax - pubic hair completely removed except for a remnant, centred, narrow stripe above the vulva approximately an inch in size, and the hair length in the sub-centimeter range

Full-Brazilian/Hollywood/Bare style — pubic hair completely removed

Dyed style — colouring hair to match hair on the head, or to give it a unique look (for example, red--in the shape of a heart)

Others — V-shaped, heart-shaped, arrow, initials, etc. These are usually variations of the Brazilian/G-Wax, where a design is formed of the pubic hair above completely bare vulva.

Get Rid Of Unwanted Hair Your Own Way

2007-07-13T01:10:00.000-07:00

Unwanted hair on the face or on the body affects a huge number of women. Some women are likely to develop hair growth where they don’t want it usually during the onset of their puberty period. Unwanted hairs are usually specific traits that are inherited, through families or races.

Ways To Get Rid Of Hair:

1. Shaving

This is done either through electric razors or a disposable razor held by hand, that can give about three dozen of smooth shaves. Applying a shaving cream on wet skin will be helpful in achieving a smooth appearance. While this method is very fast, easy and painless, the results are brief; usually will last 2 - 3 days. New hair growth can be bristly giving you rough and even legs that are painful to the touch. Avoid razor burns:

- Always shave with a new blade.
- Shave thoroughly, applying as little pressure as possible, paying special attention to the curves.
- Wash off shaving cream with cold water.
- Apply an aftershave.
- Pat with a towel to dry the area well.
- Smooth on lotion to skin.

2. Waxing

Waxing is a method of epilation, meaning the hair is plucked from beneath the surface of the skin. The results of waxing can lasts long for several weeks. Waxing involves two techniques, warm and cold waxing. Both can be easily done at home with the use of waxing kits. Warm waxing is usually performed in a salon and more effective compared to cold waxing. Pain is dependent to each individual’s threshold. Hand pressure is applied so discomfort can be minimized. The waxed area will remain red for a few hours.

- In a warmer, wax is heated until it melts.
- Using a spatula, the warmed wax is then applied to the skin.
- A paper or cloth strip is positioned over the wax until cooled.
- The cooled wax becomes slightly hard and the strip is pulled to the direction opposite the hair growth.

3. Depilatory Creams

These creams work by dissolving the hair on the surface of the skin, which normally takes ten to fifteen minutes. It is applied to the skin and leaving it for a few minutes then washed off using a towel or a sponge. With this method, hair can grow back as fast as shaving and some depilatory creams have unpleasant odors. Chemical depilatories are mainly used for the under arms, arms and legs. Using it on the face will cause irritations unless it is stated in the label that it is safe for the face. Thin hairs are damaged faster than thick ones; therefore these creams may be not effective on certain areas of the body and in some individuals. When applying the cream for the first time, test it first by rubbing a small amount onto an area of the skin. Wait for a few minutes and see if it causes a reaction on your skin. If it does, do not use it. Read and follow the instructions carefully, the manufacture has provided instructions for safety. Do not leave the cream on your skin longer than what the label says for it could irritate your skin.

4. Electrolysis

This method is done by destroying the roots of the hair with an electric current, thereby loosening the hair follicles, and removing it with tweezers. This is a simple process where a very thin needle that is electrically charged is inserted into the hair follicle, where the hair is coming out. The follicle is then zapped with electricity and destroyed.

5. Laser

Hair must be in a growing stage during this treatment, reason why laser is done on a few sessions. All follicles are always not on the same phase and all not at the same time and each stage or phase of hair growth can last from two to six months. Growth, regression and resting are the stages of hair growth. This method disables the ability of the follicle to make more hair. The stage growth and hair darkness will determine how many sessions is required to get rid of all unwanted hairs. Once the session is finished though, one could go on for life without unwanted hairs.

Head Shaving Video

2007-07-11T08:03:00.000-07:00

Let me know your thoughts about this men head shaving tips

How To Shave Your Head

Beauty revolution

2007-07-09T23:51:00.000-07:00

The objectification of women is alive and strong in the U.S. but it's not by men. No, we're doing it to ourselves.

Artists throughout history leave a pretty accurate visual account of a culture's ideals of beauty. One great example is the quintessential representation of Venus - the female human embodiment of beauty and sexuality. One of the very earliest examples is the Venus of Willendorf, a statue of a woman created between 25,000 and 20,000 B.C. She is, by modern North American standards, obese.

A few thousand years later, Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, painted in 1485-1486, depicts a much thinner goddess, albeit still healthy and amply curvy.

Until recent decades, Western artists have consistently portrayed the ideal female figure as shapely and voluptuous. More importantly, the ideal woman embodied femininity.

But within the last 50 years or so, North American and Western societies have made a drastic shift away from the idea that women should look like, well, women, to the point that androgyny is the new norm.

When Twiggy hit the runway in the mid-1960s, she rocked the fashion world and quickly set the modern beauty ideal. Models after Twiggy, and to this day, have grown taller and frighteningly skinnier, to the point that 18-year-old models like Eliana Ramos of Uruguay fall dead in their hotel rooms, induced by monthlong diets of only lettuce leaves.

Today, the average U.S. model is about 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs about 110 pounds, which is terrifying. I'm the same height, but I haven't weighed 110 pounds since middle school.

As modern feminism finds its place in a still male-dominated world, the female standard of beauty has lost it's shape - the curves that make women unique and sexy.

The new beauty ideal is much more masculine - perhaps women are finally learning that, to succeed in a male-dominated world, they have to appear more like men.

Now there's nothing wrong with being skinny or choosing to present yourself in a way that may be construed as more gender neutral.

If that's how you fit into the world, then more power to you.

The problem arises when young girls start fad diets, when women don't feel comfortable in swimsuits, when beauty magazines consistently have to report about eating disorders or when my own 11-year-old sister tells me she thinks she's fat.

But we women aren't just torturing ourselves over body size. We also do it through makeup, hair products and our constant battle with body hair.

Using makeup should be a rewarding process, not a daily ritual that ties you down every morning. I stopped wearing makeup altogether more than two years ago. It was hard at first - I felt naked and a little ugly. But now I never think about putting makeup on in the morning, I feel noticeably more confident and my skin is happier.

I know many women, and a few men, who love wearing makeup and get the same confidence boost from sporting it that I do from my bare skin. It can be a rewarding process when a person can embrace his or her unique differences instead of attempting to "perfect" or "fix" them.

More powerful than makeup use, the hairless-female trend has gripped U.S. women since World War I, when the May 1915 edition of Harper's Bazaar magazine featured a woman wearing a sleeveless evening gown that displayed bare shoulders and armpits.

Soon after that, a marketing executive representing a company that made razor blades for men began a campaign to convince North American women that underarm hair was unhygienic and unfeminine, according to www.QuickShave.com. In two years, razor blade sales doubled and a new gender stereotype was birthed from an effective sales campaign.

Shaving, wearing makeup or staying skinny aren't bad things at all but women shouldn't do them because we "have to." It's time to start accepting women of all shapes and sizes, regardless of individual grooming choices.

Each of us is more of a slave to advertising and social constraints than we realize, and when we view women who ignore those constraints as different, we're only perpetuating the problem.

It's time to stop buying into society's idea of what is beautiful, or even normal, and instead realize we're all beautiful and unique, even without makeup, perfect waistlines or smooth legs.

How To Get Rid of Razor Bumps

2007-07-06T01:08:00.000-07:00

Is it summer time and you want to slide into your bathing suit and bask in the sun? Maybe you have a fancy dinner date and need to wear some nylons that reveal your legs. Is your husband rushed to shave and get out the door for that business meeting? Any of these scenarios can lead to having razor bumps which can become quite annoying.

How many times have you felt that it would have been better if you need not shave? Frankly speaking, I share this feeling. I shave only when it becomes absolutely necessary. Tragically many men can’t do that. Call it business etiquette or whatever; many jobs demand that you are clean shaven every morning.

This can be tormenting when one has razor bumps and in grown hair. These things can make the shaving process a pain every time you shave. If you have faced these problems, it is time that you get rid of razor bumps once and for all. This includes shaving your legs, your face, and even your arm pits.

The best way razor bumps treatment is to prevent razor bumps.

So this are the basic advices how to get rid of razor bumps:
1.The 1st question, I would ask is that are you using for shaving. This is the main concern. Many people use cheap plastic razors for shaving. This is not the right razor for you. There are good alternatives present like Mach 3 or others of the same class. The difference in the cost is not great and you have a greater satisfaction by using the costly razors. Your facial skin is the most delicate skin and you must treat it with care. Quality blades may cure your razor bumps.

2.Rich shaving gels and creams also determine whether you will have razor bumps or not. These products moisturize your face and helps in preventing cuts and other associated injuries. Another very important thing that you must keep in mind is that you must shave from the grain of the beard. By doing this, you will ensure that you do not have ingrown hair and razor bumps.

3.If you want to cure those ugly bumps and ingrown hair, you must take care of the way you shave. Apart from shaving properly, you must adopt good skin care practices. Using a good face scrub is also a good way to keep your facial skin moist. It also helps your beard to remain soft for the blade. After you are done with the shaving, be sure that you use a good after-shave lotion. Using a good after-shave lotion will lend your facial skin moisture and softness.

Its high time that we get back our baby face skin. Hopefully we provided you enough information to prevent razor bumps in the future. Remember several things can lead to this condition.
The summary is:
Remember to select the proper razor and find a shaving gel that suits your skin. Even the temperature of the water you shave with can prevent razor bumps. It is one of those things you can prevent if you just take the time to learn what causes razor bumps. Thanks for stopping by and most of all go get that skin back.

Bikini line shaving - Tips When Shaving

2007-07-04T02:12:00.000-07:00

- Never use the old-fashioned switch-blade razor. It is quite unsuitable for pubic hair shaving and can be dangerous.
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- Choose a female razor, obtainable from Wilkinson Sword or other well known razor manufacturers, rather than an ordinary safety razor. The design makes it much more difficult to cut yourself.
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- Opt for a more expensive good quality razor rather than a cheap throw away which is more likely to cause nicks, soreness and razor burns in this sensitive bikini line area.
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- If the pubic hair is thick and long use small scissors to trim down the hair to about a quarter of an inch. This will avoid blunting and clogging the razor too quickly.
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- Wet a large, washcloth and lay it over the entire pubic area for two or three minutes.
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- Alternatively, take a long hot bath or stay in the shower for a while making sure the pubic hair area receives a lot of water. Bikini line hair is coarser than head hair and needs more time to soften when carrying out pubic hair removal.
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- Apply plenty of shaving foam or gel over the area and leave for a few minutes to soften further. Ordinary soap is not suitable as it does not lock in the moisture to the hair the way a shaving preparation cream or gel does.
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- Experiment with different brands if you find some cause skin irritation. They contain various chemicals and you need to find one that suits you.
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- Pull the skin straight with your free hand and shave without applying pressure.
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- Shave your bikini line upwards against the direction of the hair growth.
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- Make sure there is shaving foam on the skin each time you make a stroke with the razor.
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- Shaving bare skin can cause razor burn and can be especially painful in pubic hair removal.
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- Rinse the razor every couple of strokes as it will clog easily.
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- Rinse off and see any areas that may have been missed and again apply gel to that area and shave.
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- Massage unscented Vitamin E oil into the pubic area after shaving.
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- To stop or reduce itching after shaving rub an ice cube over the area.
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- Alternatively, rub a little baby oil into the pubic area.
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- If you suffer from itchiness or blood spots, let the hair grow back for a week before shaving your bikini line again.
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- Keep the shaven area well moisturized between shaves by using a skin moisturizer or baby lotion. This will reduce the uncomfortable effect the stubble may cause between shaves.

Shaving Facts vs Myth

2007-07-02T01:00:00.000-07:00

Well, your mother was wrong—but just this once. The following myths about shaving have been circulating for years. Here are the real facts to set the shaving record straight:

Shaving Myth
The age at which you begin to shave influences the amount of hair you will have on your legs and underarms.
Shaving Fact
These factors are determined strictly by heredity. Early experiences with shaving coincide with the natural increase in hair growth resulting from puberty.

Shaving Myth
Shaving promotes darker, thicker or faster re-growth of hair on legs and underarms.
Shaving Fact
Since shaving removes hair on the surface of the skin, it doesn't affect the color or the thickness of the hair. After an area has been shaved, the hair shafts start to emerge from the follicle, so your hair looks and feels coarse and bristly. If you allow the hair to grow out, it will take on its original appearance and texture.

Shaving Myth
A tan can be removed by shaving.
Shaving Fact
Tanning occurs at the lower levels of your skin, where the skin's pigment cells are located. Razor blades never come in contact with these cells. Shaving can actually "polish" your skin and give it a healthy glow. You'll improve the look of your tan by removing flaky surface skin cells that give your skin a dull appearance.

Famous people who have had shaved heads

2007-06-22T02:16:00.000-07:00

* Britney Spears
* Isaac Hayes
* Michael Jordan
* Tupac Shakur
* Michael Stipe
* Billy Corgan
* Kurt Angle
* Kerry King
* Andre Agassi
* Moby
* Zinedine Zidane
* Me'shell Ndegeocello
* Sinead O'Connor
* Bruce Willis
* Bono
* Joan Jett
* Natalie Portman
* Dan Andriano, bassist of the Alkaline Trio
* Michael Jackson
* John Amaechi, former NBA star
* Bill Goldberg, former pro wrestler
* Nora Greenwald, aka Molly Holly, former pro wrestler
* Matt Hasselbeck, Pro Bowl QB, Seattle Seahawk
* Shaquille O'Neal
* Bebe Winans
* Seal
* Blue Man Group percussionists
* Thomas Dolby musician, composer
* Mr. Clean fictional spokesman
* Cory Booker Mayor of Newark
* Kelly Slater
* Right Said Fred rock band
* Vin Diesel
* Kevin Sharp, country singer
* Ruben Studdard
* Howie Mandel
* Michael Chiklis
* Vince McMahon
* Tiki Barber

Actors who have shaved their heads for roles

* Cate Blanchett and Giovanni Ribisi in Heaven
* Natalie Darryl in The Girl in the Kremlin
* Renée Jeanne Falconetti in The Passion of Joan of Arc
* Albert Finney in Annie
* John Hurt in The Elephant Man
* Tommy Lee Jones in Cobb
* Persis Khambatta in Star Trek: The Motion Picture
* Judith Light in theatre production of Wit
* Bai Ling in Anna and the King
* Melanie Mayron in Playing for Time
* Maggie McOmie and Robert Duvall in THX 1138
* Demi Moore in G.I. Jane
* Jack Nicholson in The Bucket List
* Eleanor Parker in Caged
* Lori Petty in Tank Girl
* Natalie Portman in " V for Vendetta"
* Tony Randall in 7 Faces of Dr. Lao
* Vanessa Redgrave in Playing for Time
* Emma Thompson in television version of Wit
* Robin Tunney in Empire Records
* Natasha Wightman in V for Vendetta

Head Shaving history

2007-06-19T03:19:00.000-07:00

The earliest historical records describe examples of shaving the heads of people, such as in Egypt and Rome. In ancient Greece, long hair was a symbol of wealth and power, while a shaven head was appropriate for a slave. Throughout much of the 20th century in many Western countries, head shaving was considered somewhat unusual or lower class. Head shaving was often associated with manual workers such as seamen, dock workers and soldiers, as well as with prisoners and psychiatric hospital patients.
The practice of head shaving has often been used to punish people, such as criminals or political opponents. Especially for women, the act of shaving off an offender's hair serves to humiliate the victim and remind them of their offense. For example, thousands of European women had their heads shaved in front of cheering crowds in the wake of World War II, as punishment for associating with occupying Nazis during the war. As of 2006, several countries — such as the United States, Libya and Russia — still shaved the heads of prison inmates as a punishment, and also to prevent the spread of lice. Inmates of boot camps for delinquent youths in the USA are forced to have their heads shaven.

The practice of shaving heads has been used in the military, mostly for new recruits. The militaries of the United States, Russia and several other countries have welcomed their recruits by giving them haircuts using hair clippers with no guard attached. As of 2006, shaved heads continued to be standard haircuts in the United States Marine Corps. In Greece, this practice was abolished on June 25, 1982, when the military started allowing recruits to have up to 4 cm of hair. Before then, the regulation haircut in the Greek army for recruits was en hro (an archaic phrase for "shaved to the bone"), which was implemented for hygiene reasons.

In some Hindu societies, Widows are required to shave their heads upon the death of their husbands. Buddhist monks and nuns shave their heads upong entering their order, and Korean Buddhist monks and nuns have their heads shaved every 15 days.

In the 1960s, some British working class youths developed the skinhead subculture, whose members were distinguished by short cropped hair (although at that time they didn't shave their heads right down to the scalp). This look was partly influenced by the Jamaican rude boy style. It was not until the skinhead revival in the late 1970s — with the development of punk-skinheads and the Oi! scene — that many skinheads started shaving their hair right down. Head shaving has also appeared in other youth-oriented subcultures, such as the punk, hardcore, metalcore, Nu metal, hip hop and techno music scenes.

Shaving Pubic Hair for Men and Women

2007-06-11T01:21:00.000-07:00

As the old saying goes, you have to learn how to crawl before you walk. The same goes for shaving pubic hair.
This is a form of art that you have to practice at before you become an artist. Don’t be afraid to get right in there and try something new. The hair will grow back in time if for any reason you don’t get the shape or design that you want, and if worse comes to worse you can always take it all off. Going bald is something that is becoming increasingly popular with both males and females.

Guide for shaving pubic hair
If you want to learn how to shave pubic hair then just follow this easy to learn guide for shaving pubic hair. You need a fresh razor to start with and some tips to avoid the painful ingrown hairs and itchiness associated with infection. If you doing your pubic hair removal at home then start with trimming in front of a mirror so you don’t accidentally cut yourself in the wrong place. Pull the hair up and then trim away.

A good tip for shaving pubic hair is to take a warm bath to soften the coarse hair, and maybe even get you in the mood by relaxing you a bit. The first time is always the most nerve-wracking, but it’ll get easier for you. After the bath it is time to later up using shaving gel or shaving cream. If you add a thin layer of petroleum jelly it will help you get a closer shave. To avoid a very uncomfortable feeling of itchiness and redness, do not use soap.

Male pubic hair shaving is a bit more difficult than it is for women. Men need to lift and move more often to make sure you get all the right spots, whereas shaving a woman’s pubic hair is simpler because for women it is easier to see and reach. Take short strokes, trying not to stay in one area too long. If you are going for a specific design keep a picture of the design nearby to help you know where you are going when you are shaving. Start with removing a little bit at a time and slowly take more away depending on the design. Men, be careful not to cut yourself if you choose to shave your penis or testicle area, it can be very painful especially if you plan on having sex anytime in the near future.

After your artwork is completed, you need to remove the dead skin. Remember it is been a long time since your hair has seen the light of day down there, and it needs to be exfoliated so it looks the cleanest it can be. Rub lightly to avoid irritation after shaving. Then comes the fun part, the moisturizing. Using baby oil or Aloe Vera to soften the area and make it very inviting.

At first it may seem a little uncomfortable if you are not used to shaving your genitals, but you need to learn how to enjoy something as simple as shaving pubic hair. It will not only make your partner appreciate the time you took to complete such a task, but it will make you feel cleaner, more free, and for women, it will make you feel a bit sassy.

Female Head Shaving

2007-06-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

Female headshave in men barbershop

REAL MEN DON’T SHAVE

2007-05-31T01:36:00.000-07:00

I’ve always hated shaving, one of many things I’ve done on auto-pilot for no particular conscious reason other than it’s something I’m supposed to do. Why do most men perform a daily act that is so anti-skin and anti-man?

There are two reasons:

1. Men shave to appear presentable to their boss or manager. A scruffy appearance doesn’t match well with Dockers khakis and a button-down.

2. Men shave to satisfy women. I’ve gotten many complaints from women that my manly stubble irritates their chin, so there was actually a time period where I cared and would shave for them before hot date nights. Obviously this was before I became a real man.

From these two points you may agree that men shave for others. But if you consider that the main purpose of work for men is to earn enough wealth and material possessions to impress or provide for a woman, only one conclusion remains: men shave for women.

Take a look at the 1970’s when hippie culture was strong in this country. Did men shave? For the answer just ask your dad for pictures of when he was in his twenties. Chances are the manly essence that is facial hair flows from his face without restraint. Many men didn’t even cut their hair during this period. It was not until the feminist movement gained strength did men start to go from freely displaying their hair to being almost embarrassed of it.

If you want to study cultures where women are treated poorly and men dominate society, the Middle East is probably a good place to start. There, women are forced to cover their entire bodies with cloth and are subjected to various inhumane punishments. Turn on the television to a report about Saudi Arabia and you will see one thing in common with most of the men: unshaven facial hair. I don’t suggest we treat women poorly, but this example shows that men who care little about what a woman thinks will never shave. There is no need to.

I haven’t met a man who liked to shave, for as a gender we’re not born with the urge to get rid of our body hair. We do it because society tells us that an unshaven face is not acceptable. The line between what is masculine and feminine is becoming so blurry that solely feminine acts only a decade ago, such as eyebrow plucking, are now practiced by both genders. I wish for the day when I can go to the beach with my little brothers and we can all be proud of our full hair coverage, while making fun of the American men who not only bring a razor to their face, but to their body as well.

Removing pubic hair methods

2007-05-24T02:09:00.000-07:00

Shaving is the most common removing pubic hair method. However, it is not the only one.

After you have decided you want to remove your pubic hair, you will have to examine the different methods for removing pubic hair and decide which one is the best for you.
The following lines include a brief glance of the existing pubic hair removal methods:

1. Shaving – razor shaving is the most popular removing pubic hair method. One should shave his pubic hair area carefully and gently using a suitable razor and shaving cream. Make sure you wash and clean your pubic hair area before and after the shave.

2. Hair removal creams – those can cause lots of pain and allergic reactions. However, they are very effective in removing pubic hair. We suggest you test in on a harmless spot like your back or the inside of your elbow to check for possible allergic reactions. If your skin gets red or itchy for a long period of time (more than 3 hours) do use it. Again, wash you pubic hair area carefully after using this removing pubic hair method.

3. Waxing – We strongly suggest avoiding using wax for removing pubic hair. Most of the women can not stand the pain and the outcome is as good as the other removing pubic hair methods.

4. Electrolysis – A permanent pubic hair removing methods using electric shocks. It can be done in a hair salon or at home after purchasing a personal device. This method is very expensive (It may cost as much as a thousand dollars). It also painful in most cases but this method provides a permanent pubic hair removal.

5. Pulling – We got to know in our research quite a few women who prefer pull their pubic hair out. It takes time, Its painful but it involves a satisfaction.
Now you can make the proper decision on the best removing pubic hair method for you. Good luck.

How to wet shave

2007-05-23T07:06:00.000-07:00

Let me know your opinion about this tips.

Religion and Shaving

2007-05-21T02:58:00.000-07:00

Some faiths require the removal of body and facial hair whilst others do not.
Hair removal may be mandatory in some religions for instance on reaching a certain age or at the death of a relative or spouse, whilst removal of hair is forbidden within others.

Shaving for Islam

Throughout the Islamic world, hair removal is considered in the
context of religious law. Amongst Muslims, hair removal is part of an impulse towards general purity and cleanliness and includes the trimming of nails and the removing of armpit and pubic hair. Both men and women should remove armpit and pubic hair at least every forty days.
A beard is desirable for Muslim men and women can remove 'unnatural' facial hair but should not reshape eyebrows for reasons of vanity.

The Hanafi branch of Islam, which includes the Sunni Turks, demands that every part of the body - every part! - be free from hair. Therefore, at each hamam visit, women waxed their body with waxes made of sugar and various herbs.

Men preferred razor blades and hair-removing ointments.

During the Ottoman period, removing body hair was more important to Moslem men and women than it is in the modern world.

Shaving for Hinduism and India

In India, head shaving is practised by many Hindus and seems to have more ritual significance than any other kind of hair removal.

Chudakarana Samskara: Head Shaving

Both Hindu boys and girls undergo a ritual at about four years old in which they have their heads shaved. Hair is seen as an adornment so by shaving the head, the child confronts his or her bare ego. It teaches humbleness and devotion. Children with shaved heads are seen as innocent and holy and are treated with great respect.

Shaving the head can also be seen as an act of humility for adults. For example, at the Kumbha Mela the first ritual observed by most pilgrims is the mundana ceremony, the shaving of the head. Hair is considered the symbol of vanity, and in order to receive the full benefits of a pilgrimage to a holy place, one must first give up vanity. Thus, the pilgrims believe that the hair should be shaven from the head in a gesture of surrender and humility.

Hindu men have their heads shaven only when somebody elderly dies in the house and women were shaven_headed only when they are widows and not otherwise.

Shaving for Sikhs

The Sikh religion forbids cutting or shaving any bodily hair. Orthodox Sikhs always carry a dagger with them, lest someone try to force them to do something against their religion. The dagger is considered one of the five "outer badges." The others are wearing hair and beard unshorn; wearing a turban; wearing knee-length pants; and wearing a steel bracelet on the right wrist."

Sikhs seem to have reacted against shaving and depilation, possibly because of its association with the Hindu caste system. This has led to what one writer calls an "anti-depilatory taboo" as a reaction to certain rites of renunciation or sannyasa that were prevalent throughout the Punjab (and indeed the rest of India) at that time. In the initiation rites undertaken by the Hindu sannyasi, he would, having found a Guru or spiritual teacher, have his beard, moustache, and head entirely shaved.

Shaving for Buddhism

There is a head shaving ritual for boys in Burma, somewhat like the Hindu version.

Thai Buddhists have a head shaving ritual for purification of the newborn.

Head shaving is part of the process of becoming a Buddhist monk. The Head Shaving Ceremony is about renunciation from common mundane life and all its illusory pleasures. By renouncing not only one's old sense-desire based lifestyle but also all attachments, one enters into a monastic lifestyle aimed at the attainment of Buddhahood. The Buddha also renounced his home-life at a young age by leaving his palace and cutting off his long hair.ic lifestyle aimed at the attainment of Buddhahood. The Buddha also renounced his home-life at a young age by leaving his palace and cutting off his long hair.

Laser Hair Removal - Fact Or Fiction?

2007-05-15T05:46:00.000-07:00

More and more people are giving laser hair removal a shot! If you're not into this hot, new treatment, then you've come to the right place. Imagine never having to deal with messy creams. Imagine talking to the grocery clerk and not having her stare at the hair on your upper lip. Imagine never having to hide your precious parts at the beach.

Stop imagining! You can make your dreams of hairless summers and hairless winters come true. First of all I believe it's important for women and men to find out what causes abnormal hair growth before they start drastic measure to remove it. Doctors say hair usually grows abnormally due to hormones. Once you've determined whether you have health concerns related to your hair, then you can decide on the appropriate remedy.

Are Lasers That Remove Hair Safe?

I can tell you lasers are safe and effective in the removal of unwanted hair. A trained specialist can help you determine what treatment is best for you using your skin and hair type. With lasers you don't have to worry about shaving, tweezing, or waxing now and forever. Forever sounds like a long time, doesn't it? Lasers produce a beam of light that is used to remove hair. The light passes through the skin to the hair follicle. Once it gets to the hair it basically kills it. Neat, huh?

How Long Does A Treatment Take?

The process only takes less than an hour.

How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

Lasers are attracted to dark colors. You'll get the best results if your hair is darker than your complexion. You're wondering if the laser has any side effects. It does if you have a tan. Tanning and lasering leads to burning. Ouch, it really hurts so you'll want to beware of adding the two in combo. Also, it's important to note that the laser doesn't do a thing for blondes, white or gray haired people.

Are There Alternatives?

If you're not ready to give lasers a shot, then there are several other techniques on the market that can help you get rid of your hair-raising problem. Let's talk about the only permanent hair removal known to man right now. It's called electrolysis. If you're scared of needles, then this is not the treatment for you. You'll want to make sure that you have not waxed or tweezed within a few days of having a treatment. This makes the hair follicle easier for the electrologist to reach.

The electrologist inserts a tiny needle into each hair follicle and uses a short impulse of energy to kill the root. Sounds, cool, huh? The hair is tweezed out one at a time. Sounds like an awfully long process. However, it only takes a few hours. You will most likely need more than one treatment to kill all of your hair. There are electrolysis kits that you can use at home, but I wouldn't recommend it. You're better off using a licensed electrologist.

What Probable Areas Can Be Treated?

Speaking of problems, what's yours? Everyone has a specific area of the body where they want to be bald. Women usually hate facial hair on their upper lips, chin and sides of face. Hairs in those areas don't seem to bother men that much! Okay, I shouldn't joke about it! Hair on the lip is very troubling to most women. It can be removed using a bleaching procedure.

Tell me more about alternatives Bleaching works if your hair is similar in color to your skin. Be careful, bleaching lightens hair in dark complexions. I'll never forget someone with a dark complexion once asked me if she could use a depilatory creams on the lip. No way, don't even think! My response was fast and furious. Depilatories are harsh on sensitive skin and should never be placed on the lips or eyes areas.

The important thing to remember about depilatories is you should use them on the legs and thighs only. Depilatory creams dissolve the keratin in hair. As you can imagine that's some pretty strong stuff! Be sure to test patches of skin before you put the cream on. The cream can cause rashes and skin discolorations. It is possible to treat a negative reaction with an anti-bacterial solution and antibiotic.

Waxing on the other hand is a great way to remove hair from the legs and thighs and bikini area. Your skin will feel so clean, smooth and soft after this procedure. Waxing doesn't irritate your skin the way shaving and creams do. However, waxing is a temporary hair removal procedure.

What I Learned By Shaving My Head

2007-05-07T02:29:00.000-07:00

Why On Earth Did You Do THAT?

My decision to shave my head actually was the confluence of a number of forces.

I'd always envied the ease-of-use that men with crewcuts had.
I love the texture, the feel, of very short hair.
I'd always had trouble with my head itching. Dandruff shampoo made it worse. A friend of mine told me she'd shaved her head, and that her dandruff had gone right away.
It had been quite hot for quite a while, and I didn't have air-conditioning.
I was consulting, so didn't have to worry about the impact this would have on my long-term career (or on what my Controls professor would think).
I could see that I was indispensible for at least six more months on my current contract - far longer than it takes hair to grow out to a respectable length.
My mother was between jobs and residences and had moved in with me. If she didn't like it, she could just leave.

Shaving head RESULTS
This is Tough!
Shaving a round object with a flat object is actually quite tricky, especially when the view of the round object is partially obscured by the rest of the round object.
I ended up buying a pair of clippers and trimming down to about 1/8" every six weeks or so.

A More Personal Interest In Gay Rights
For the first few weeks after I shaved my head, I walked around very nervously, convinced that people were going to jump out of alleys and beat me up for being a lesbian.

Because I am straight and have a lot of straight friends who I am certain are totally disinterested in hurting my large number of gay friends, I knew that not all straight people hate all gay people. That didn't matter. I was still nervous.

After several weeks of not getting beaten up, I relaxed. But the experience made me personalize the fight for gay rights. Instead of being for gay rights because it was "the ethical thing to do", I now have a personal motivation because I realized there is nothing I can do to prove that I am NOT gay.

My friend Wendy had a (straight) friend whose brother (that Friend hadn't seen in many years) came to visit him in Oregon. Friend gave his brother a hug on the front porch when he showed up. Friend got kicked out of his apartment complex for being gay. "He's my brother!" "Doesn't matter. You're gay, you're out of here." At that time, there were no laws there against discriminating against gay people, and there was nothing he could do to prove to his landlady that he wasn't gay. He had to move.

Being Happier
There is a very intriguing book by Shelby Steele called The Content Of Our Character. It is written primarily for the African-American community, and discusses two strategies for not getting hurt by whites. Remember, lynchings of blacks by whites used to be quite the sport.

One is the "shucking and jiving" role: Don't hurt me because I'm no threat to you. The other is the the "menacing role": Don't hurt me or I will hurt you.

Because I had read this book, I was able to recognize quickly that people got nervous around me if I was neutral. I was scary. I also knew the antidote: smiling a lot.

(This also worked to dispel concerns that I might be undergoing chemotherapy or have some other nasty disease. The image people have of deathly ill people is not of a smiling face.)

And by golly, do you know what happens if you smile? You feel better! You mingle better at parties. People come talk to you. People smile back at you! :-)

Envious Looks
I was certain that nobody was going to ever talk to me again, that I'd get funny looks in the grocery stores, and that I wouldn't get a date for seventeen years.

People responded in exactly the opposite manner! Men who had never given me the time of day before crossed rooms to talk to me. I got looks in the grocery stores, but they were "OOoooooh, I wish I had the nerve to do that!" looks.

I think what happened was that people said to themselves, "She has a shaved head. She must be interesting." Never mind that I hadn't changed anything else; it's just that my native irreverence was more obvious. This caused me to start:

Being More Interesting
Once everyone started treating me as being interesting and unusual, I sort of felt like I had a responsibility to be more interesting. In particular, it was very difficult for me to not buy a motorcycle during this period! In general, I started being more daring, trying more things, and being more "artsy". (It was in this period that I got involved with High Tech Heroes, for example.)
No More Itching Scalp
I started using Ivory soap on my head, and my scalp was much happier. Even now, when I have hair again, I still use plain old Ivory bar soap, and it seems to work just fine. :-)
Californians Don't Care
I thought that I might have to grow my hair back or scare off my clients. Nah. They just didn't care. I suppose that if I were no good at what I did ( timing analysis consulting), then it might have been a problem, but nobody really cared - not even in Chippewa Falls, WI.

I also noticed that Californians have great license in the rest of the country. I went to a wedding in Chicago, and a friend reported that she heard some women talking about my haircut briefly. "Oh, she's from California", and that made it ok.

Why Women Shave Their Legs

2007-05-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

We all know the power of advertising. At the turn of the century, for example, the South African Diamond company, DeBeers, created the image that the diamond was forever and therefore would make an excellent wedding ring.

Another marketing campaign around this time convinced the women of North America to shave their body hair. Notably, women in the other parts of the world do not engage on masse in this ritual. Even in French Canada, the habit is not largely undertaken.

It all began with the May, 1915 edition of Harper's Bazaar magazine that featured a model sporting the latest fashion. She wore a sleeveless evening gown that exposed, for the first time in fashion, her bare shoulders, and her armpits.

A young marketing executive with the Wilkinson Sword Company, who also made razor blades for men, designed a campaign to convince the women of North America that:

(a) Underarm hair was unhygienic
(b) It was unfeminine.

In two years, the sales of razor blades doubled as our grandmothers and great grandmothers made themselves conform to this socially constructed gender stereotype. This norm for North American women has been reinforced by several generations of daughters who role modeled their mothers.
BTW, some useful info for those who however shave the legs here Shaving Your Legs

Heads Up - Ten Techniques For Safely Shaving Your Head

2007-05-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

Head shaving done by females as well as males is seen and accepted much more these days. But history tells us it's nothing new. Both ancient male and female Egyptians used to shave their heads bald. Females always wore wigs. The modern female who is shaving her head often has fun doing so as well.

Many people find bald heads very sexy. And if you didn't know - The entire scalp is an erogenous zone after shaving.

If you're certain you're ready to go bald for the first time, here are techniques to help you:

1) Start by cutting and then trimming your head hair to a short stubble before shaving.

2) Next, take a hot shower. The steam will relax the skin and soften the hairs, which will make head shaving easier. Allow your skin and stubble to be wet for five to ten minutes.

3) Then apply a rich lubricant and allow it to sit for a short while. You might want to use a little Tea Tree or mineral oil. This will help the razor glide more easily while shaving your head, which will help prevent cuts.

4) ALWAYS use a fresh, new blade in your razor. And if it starts to feel like the razor is dragging, put in a new blade.

Especially because people will be noticing your bald pate, the last thing you want is scraped, scabby skin. You want smooth and shiny skin after shaving.

Obviously, you can't see the back of your head to shave it, so if you don't want to end up looking patchy ...

5) Use a mirror. Also, regularly use your fingers to feel for areas you've missed.

Note: The direction of head shaving doesn't matter because the hair grows in different directions. Whatever feels best to you.

6) Try not to apply too much pressure or repeat strokes in the same area as you're shaving as both of these actions will certainly irritate the skin.

After you're finished shaving your head -

7) Thoroughly wash off any remaining lubricant with warm water.

8) Then rinse with cold water. If you think you can handle it, rub your head with an ice cube. This will go a long way to close and calm the follicles, (the skin depressions from which hairs emerge), and generally tone your scalp skin.

9) Pat the area dry, making sure not to rub.

10) Many veteran head shavers believe applying witch hazel, after shave or another alcohol based product works well to further close the follicles and also act as an astringent to kill any germs and bacteria. But beware - Alcohol dries out the skin and dry skin is a major culprit in creating skin irritations.

Shaving Tip: One way to kill bacteria, prevent infection and obtain moisture is to use the popular natural remedy Tea Tree Oil. It will deeply condition your scalp and provide your pate with a healthy sheen.

There are many creams, lotions and oils specifically formulated to limit irritations and itching from shaving.

Used regularly, these will soften the skin and hair follicles and even reduce the stiffness of the stubble when hairs start growing in between shaves.

After you rub a goodly amount into your skin, go ahead and put on some more - Only this time don't rub it in but allow your skin to absorb it.

These guidelines are based upon generations of people's experiences head shaving with a wet razor, so if you follow them, you should receive the most pleasing results.

Depending on how much hair you want showing between shaves, you can shave your head every day, once a week, or only once a month.

If you decide you do really enjoy having a bald head, do some research. There is an alternative to shaving your head with a wet razor that will remove your hair closely, cleanly and most importantly, safely.

Shaving History Begining From Prehistoric Times

2007-04-28T00:44:00.000-07:00

PREHISTORIC TIMES, B.C. -
The history of shaving takes us back into the STONE AGE, around 100,000 B.C. when Neanderthal man first started pulling hair from, painting, and tattooing his body. He also enjoyed filing down his teeth for some reason, too. Ancient cave paintings inspected today will indicate that early man discovered other ways to remove hair from his face; in the beginning, he simply plucked them out using two seashells as tweezers. In fact, tweezers have remained throughout history as the most popular grooming tool ever invented, used by both "civilized" men and women to painfully remove body and facial hair. It's too bad they didn’t have Quik Shave Razors back then.

The earliest shaving razors discovered were flint blades made possibly as far back as 30,000 B.C. Flint could provide an extremely sharp edge for shaving; these were, of course, the first disposable shavers because flint becomes dull rather quickly. Not only did early man cut and/or shave off body hair with flint; he also seemed to enjoy carving unusual artistic designs into his skin. If he added natural dyes and colors to these cuts, he ended up with a tattoo. Other stone shaving tools found were made during the Neolithic Period, or Late Stone Age.

4000 - 3000 B.C. -
Women are removing body hair by making their own depilatory creams that contain bizarre combinations of scary ingredients, such as arsenic, quicklime and starch.

3000 B.C. -
Permanent shaving razors are developed, thanks to the invention of metalworking. Copper razors are found available now in both India and Egypt.

1500 - 1200 B.C. -
Some of the most elaborate razors of ancient times are produced during this period in Scandinavia. Excavated from the Danish Mound Graves, razors were found inside their own leather carrying cases with mythological scenes etched or embossed into their bronze blades; the handles were carved into horse head-shapes.

500 B.C. -
In GREECE, it is popular for men to crop hair very short and shave the face. ALEXANDER THE GREAT is pretty much the guy responsible for this trend because he is obsessed with shaving. He even shaves during wartime, and will not allow himself to be seen going into battle with a five o’clock shadow. Greeks back then considered it an aesthetic approach to personal hygiene, like the Middle Eastern cultures.

500 B.C. -
Around this time, ROMAN WOMEN remove hair with razors, pumice stones and make homemade depilatory creams made from medicinal drugs, such as bryonia. They also use tweezers to pluck their eyebrows. ROMAN MEN have a skilled live-in servant to shave them; otherwise they start their day with a trip to the tonsor, or barber, who will shave a face with an iron novacila, or Roman razor. This type of shaver corrodes quickly and becomes blunt; so most customers usually, or eventually, get cut. But don’t worry- the tonsor can fix this by applying to the face a soothing plaster made from special perfumed ointment and spider webs soaked in oil and vinegar. Despite the dangers of going to the barbershop, Roman men continue to flock in daily because they are also great centers for gossip and news.

400 B.C. -
The typical man of INDIA is found sporting a neatly trimmed, well-groomed beard; yet he shaves off all hair on his chest and pubic area; the average woman is removing hair from her legs with razors and tweezers.

400 B.C. -
Meanwhile in GREECE, the average woman is removing hair from her legs by singeing it off with a lamp. Most Greek men are shaving their faces on a regular basis, following the example of the bold shaver ALEXANDER THE GREAT.

300 B.C. -
One day, PUBLICUS TICINIUS MAENAS, a wealthy Greek businessman, brings professional barbers from Sicily to Rome, which introduces a whole new craze for shaving. Barbers use thin-bladed iron razors, which are sharpened with water and a whetstone. They don’t always use soap or oil, which is probably why it takes so long to shave a patron's face. The shaving trend endures until the days of EMPEROR HADRIAN (76-138 A.D.); who would revive the fad for beards. Hadrian actually grew a beard because he wanted to hide the lousy complexion he had on his face.

300 B.C. -
During this same time in ROME, young men about age twenty-one are required to have their first shave. They kick this off by celebrating their official entry into manhood with an elaborate party-like ritual. Other guy friends are invited to watch and give the novice shavee a bunch of nice gifts. Only soldiers and those training to become philosophers are excused from participating in this cultural ordeal.

292 B.C. -
The renowned SCIPIO AFRICANUS MAJOR (236-183 B.C.), conqueror of Hannibal in 202 B.C. also affirms the mode for being clean-shaven. He is admired and copied by men throughout Rome and by neighbors.

50 B.C. -
In ROME, many men are following the grooming example of JULIUS CAESAR (101-44 B.C.), who has his facial hairs individually plucked out with tweezers every day. He also writes this same year that "the Britons shave every part of their body except their head and upper lip."

54 - 68 A.D. -
In early Rome, POPPAEA, wife of the notorious EMPEROR NERO, uses depilatory creams to remove unwanted body hair on a daily basis. Depilatories are used as an alternative to the bloody mess that results from shaving with a blade. The latest available creams include some pretty wild ingredients, like resin, pitch, white vine or ivy gum extract, ass's fat, she-goat's gall, bat's blood, and powdered viper.

AROUND 100 A.D. -
In ROME, shaving the male face starts to become old hat, thanks to EMPEROR HADRIAN (76-138 A.D.), who is now reviving the desire for beards. Actually, Hadrian grows a beard to hide the lousy complexion he has on his face.

476 A.D. -
The ROMAN EMPIRE folds.

THE MIDDLE AGES: 476 - 1270 A.D. -
Because women in Europe wear very large and outrageous headdresses, the bizarre beauty secret of removing all hair from the eyebrows, eyelashes, temples, and necks becomes tress chic. This is masochistically accomplished by plucking and shaving every day, but a real lady who wants to represent herself in the ideal image of contemporary female beauty, knows this is a must. Sure, this makes a woman seem practically bald and somewhat extraterrestrial looking, but it is The Look to die for!

840 A.D. -
In southern Spain, a famous musician and singer from Baghdad known as BLACKBIRD opens the world’s first beauty institute. Here, students learn the secrets of hair removal, as well as how to apply cosmetics, manufacture deodorants, use toothpowder, and the basics of hairdressing.

1066 A.D. -
Shaving and haircuts help WILLIAM OF NORMANDY invade England to overcome HAROLD THE SAXON, King of Hastings. Before the attack, Harold’s spies venture out to gather intelligence; they return with the report of a very large group of "priests" seen nearby, but no enemy soldiers. Those "priests" were actually William’s army, mistaken for Holy Men due to the clean-shaven appearance on their faces and exaggerated pageboy haircuts. They shaved off the hair on the back of their heads but kept a short back and sides look, which gave them all a monk-like appearance.

THE CRUSADES: 1096 - 1270 -
Europe is introduced to the luxuries of Middle Eastern life, which make a profound impact on dress, toiletries and customs in the Middle Ages.

1100 - 1199 -
The Twelfth Century radically changes the way many societies dress and groom. In the beginning, FRENCH MEN are wearing non-stop beards, but by the close of the century, almost all chins were clean-shaven.

1500 -
The AZTEC INDIANS of North and Central America are shaving with razors made from the volcanic glass obsidian.

1558 - 1603 -
The medieval habit for women to maintain super-white skin and remove all hair from their eyebrow and forehead areas continues, as QUEEN ELIZABETH practices this action I (1533-1603) during her reign.

LATE 1600s -
Aristocratic women everywhere still pluck or shave their foreheads, and wear add-on hairpieces.

MID to LATE 1700s -
Both men and women remove all hair from the forehead to wear artificial press-on mouseskin eyebrows.

1770 -
French barber JEAN-JACQUES PERRET writes a treatise called The Art of Learning to Shave Oneself (La Pogonotomie), which gives men advice for using various shaving products and equipment. His book is also the first to originally propose the idea of a "safety razor."

1770s -
FRENCH WOMEN shave their heads completely bald so they can wear those huge, wonderful, to-die-for decorative powdered wigs fashioned in the latest hairstyles of the day.

LATE 1700s -
The PERRET RAZOR is actually manufactured, which is an L-shaped wooden guard that holds a razor blade in place. This will prevent one from cutting too deeply into their skin. Still, it lacks the real "safety" capabilities that everyone wants and needs, and therefore is not considered to be the first true safety razor. This is, however, the beginning of the safety razor’s evolution.

EARLY 1800s -
Shaving and proper grooming for men is now a self-indulging and overly narcissistic pastime, thanks to fancy London resident GEORGE BRYAN "BEAU" BRUMMELL (1778-1840), who is somewhat of a dandy. Known for his impeccable grooming, manners and style of dress, Brummell is said to shave his face several times a day and plucks out leftover hairs with tweezers. After inheriting a reasonably sized family fortune, Brummell is dedicated to maintain the lifestyle of a "gentleman of fashion." Other men are following in his footsteps so they can become like him, too.

EARLY 1800s -
European women are still concocting homemade depilatories in the kitchen. A typical formula now is one that contains chopped oak and white French wine; it is to be digested in a hot water or vapor bath for 24 hours. Another recipe calls for distilled water and celandine roots, and walnut oil is a popular hair-removing ingredient.

18th - 19th CENTURY -
In Sheffield, England, STRAIGHT STEEL RAZORS are produced, and remain in demand until the mid 1800s. The bad news is these razors become dull quickly, so they have to be honed and stropped frequently in order to use over and over.

1830 -
American men have stopped going out in public with only their shaved, baldheads. They now wear hairpieces or hats.

1840 -
After fleeing England in 1814 to escape from paying off tremendous gambling debts, possessed shaver and oh-so-pretty Man About Town GEORGE BRYAN "BEAU" BRUMMELL dies in a French lunatic asylum.

1847 -
English inventor WILLIAM HENSON creates the first "hoe type" razor, which places the blade perpendicular to its handle, just like a garden tool This forever changes the way that man will grip his shaver, and provides greater manageability. It is an overnight success.

LATE 1800s -
The VICTORIAN MAN is now very particular about personal grooming. He is starting to use shaving soaps and after-shave lotions, which are usually made at home in the kitchen from cherry laurel water.

1880 -
In the United States, the KAMPFE BROTHERS file a patent for the first SAFETY RAZOR, featuring a wire skin guard along one side of the razor’s edge. Only one side of the actual blade is used which has to be removed often for sharpening; this is the best available shaving method on the market that won’t cut a user, like straight steel razors. Blades then are manufactured by forging, which require frequent special sharpening.

1895 -
In the United States, KING CAMP GILLETTE, a salesman for the Baltimore Seal Company, originates the idea for a new disposable razor blade. For the next six years, he will promote and sell this idea to backers and toolmakers in order to make his dream shaver a reality.

1900 -
Central AFRICAN TRIBE MEMBERS are still using razors made from the volcanic glass obsidian.

1901 -
GILLETTE teams up with MIT engineer and machinist WILLIAM NICKERSON in Boston, Massachusetts. Together, they modify the safety razor by manufacturing a double-edged blade that is disposable and replaceable; it receives a U.S. patent this same year. This is a T-shaped razor which opens at the top so the user can insert a new blade after tossing out its dull, used predecessor. These blades are cut from a template, rather than forged.

1903 -
GILLETTE begins his legendary climb to the top as king of the U.S. shaving market, thanks to his shaver’s high quality, low price affordability, and his keen approach to marketing. In 1903, his total sales were 51 razors and 168 blades.

1904 -
GILLETTE'S total sales for the new state-of-the-art safety razor reach 90,000 razors and 123,000 blades.

1905 -
GILLETTE opens his first overseas office, headquartered in London, England to market products in Europe.

1910 -
WILLIS G. SHOCKEY receives a U.S. patent for his WIND-UP SAFETY RAZOR, the forerunner of electric shavers. It has a wind-up-by-hand flywheel that operates for a limited amount of time.

1914 - 1918: WORLD WAR I -
GILLETTE works out a mega deal with the U.S. Armed Forces, which provides his safety razor and blades to every enlisted man or officer on their way to Europe as a regular part of their standard issue gear. This creates tremendous worldwide promotion and publicity opportunities for Gillette’s company and products.

Why Women Shave Their Legs and Underarms -

We all know the power of advertising. At the turn of the century, for example, the South African Diamond company, DeBeers, created the image that the diamond was forever and therefore would make an excellent wedding ring.

Another marketing campaign around this time convinced the women of North America to shave their body hair. Notably, women in the other parts of the world do not engage on masse in this ritual. Even in French Canada, the habit is not largely undertaken.

It all began with the May, 1915 edition of Harper's Bazaar magazine that featured a model sporting the latest fashion. She wore a sleeveless evening gown that exposed, for the first time in fashion, her bare shoulders, and her armpits.

A young marketing executive with the Wilkinson Sword Company, who also made razor blades for men, designed a campaign to convince the women of North America that:

(a) Underarm hair was unhygienic (b) It was unfeminine.

In two years, the sales of razor blades doubled as our grandmothers and great grandmothers made themselves conform to this socially constructed gender stereotype. This norm for North American women has been reinforced by several generations of daughters who role-modeled their mothers.

1920s - 1930s -
Popular female HOLLYWOOD MOVIE STARS in the United States are shaving off their eyebrows with razors, plucking, or using depilatory formulas to get a hair-free face. They then "draw" very thin brows back on the face with an eyebrow pencil. Later, these eyebrows will begin to look exaggerated, unnatural and alien-like, especially when seen on a black and white movie screen. Like the brows of actor GROUCHO MARX, who completely shaves his face and eyebrows before drawing them back on with a black grease pencil in rather unusual shapes.

1921 -
U.S. Army LT. COL. JACOB SCHICK is so inspired by the military’s repeating rifle, he invents a new type of razor called the MAGAZINE REPEATING RAZOR, which has replacement razor blades stored inside its handle. Users can change out an old blade without ever touching the new blade’s surface, thanks to Schick’s clever design. Blades for this razor were purchased in clips, which were inserted with ease into the razor. Schick also begins to develop his INJECTOR RAZOR, which would become an extremely popular shaver in the years to come.

1925 -
COL. SCHICK establishes a company called MAGAZINE REPEATING RAZORS to manufacture his product.

1926 -
COL. SCHICK begins marketing to the public his MAGAZINE REPEATING RAZOR in the U.S.

1927 -
COL. SCHICK invents the World’s first electric dry shaver, with oscillating blades.

1928 -
COL. SCHICK sells the assets of MAGAZINE REPEATING RAZORS to AMERICAN CHAIN & CABLE COMPANY so he can obtain capital and financing for production of his electric dry shaver.

1929 -
COL. SCHICK’S first electric dry shaver is finally available for purchase by consumers. This innovative shaver uses a small motor to move the blades. Unfortunately, the general public is not all that crazy about buying and using it.

1929 - 1948 -
Mechanical and electrical engineer ALEXANDRE HOROWITZ goes to work for the PHILIPS COMPANY in Eindhoven, Holland (Netherlands). There, he develops numerous products for the company, like the famous PHILISHAVE ELECTRIC RAZOR, the first double-headed shaver. Over 50 years, HOROWITZ obtained 136 patents for his ideas.

1930 -
WILLIS SHOCKEY'S spring razor is still remains the #1 automatic shaver seller on the market. COL. SCHICK incorporates his business as SCHICK DRY SHAVER, INC.

1930s -
In the U.S., women are buying specially manufactured "MACHO" SHAVING PRODUCTS for men because most guys still think that fussing over their appearance is still a sissy thing to do. However, most after-shave powders and creams purchased for men are used, which will launch a whole new revolution for shaving products and toiletries. In both Europe and the U.S., women are now WAXING their bodies to remove hair.

1931 -
COL. SCHICK finally obtains a U.S. patent for his World’s first electric dry shaver.

1935 -
Due to increasing health problems, COL. SCHICK moves to Canada.

1936 -
SUNBEAM introduces its SHAVEMASTER electric shaver.

1937 -
COL. SCHICK dies after a kidney operation; his wife FLORENCE and two daughters survive him.

1939 - 1945: WORLD WAR II -
In Europe, FREDERICK PHILIPS of the PHILIPS COMPANY in Eindhoven, Holland begins to market the PHILISHAVE ELECTRIC RAZOR, the first double headed shaver. During this time, Philips also spends years being coerced in having to deal with, hide from and elude the Nazis while keeping well-groomed every day with Philips' two-headed electric shaver.

1940s: WORLD WAR II -
In the U.S., some women are painfully removing hair from their bodies by rubbing sandpaper all over their legs and underarms, due to severe domestic materials shortages caused by the war.

1940 -
SCHICK DRY SHAVER is incorporated in Delaware as RAINBOW, INC.

1940 -
America’s most successful depilatory lotion, NAIR, is developed with the powerful ingredient calcium hioglycolate, which destroys the protein structure of hair, reducing its texture and strength. It smells funny, too.

1946 -
RAINBOW, INC. changes its business name to SCHICK, INC.

1960 -
GILLETTE safety razors with long lasting stainless steel blades hit the U.S. market. Later, other inexpensive injector-type cartridges and disposable razors become available.

1960s -70s -
DISPOSABLE RAZORS, which can neither be sharpened or replaced, hit the market for both men and women. They are to be used 2-3 times, then thrown away. Numerous manufacturers economically design them in simple shapes, which make them inexpensive to produce and sell.

1971 -
GILLETTE begins to aggressively market a new twin-blade razor on a wide scale, even though there have been similar razors available since the 1930s.

1978 -
American entrepreneur VICTOR KIAM decides that his REMINGTON ELECTRIC SHAVER is soooo cool, he buys the whole company. He then stars himself in numerous national TV commercials to promote this fact.

1979 -
SCHICK, INC. closes its U.S. manufacturing plant.

1981 -
Europe’s PHILIPS DAP and its NORELCO division in the U.S. take over SCHICK, INC.'S manufacturing and trademark rights, then establish domestic headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.

1995 -
HERBIE McNINCH of Houston, Texas decides he’s sick and tired of having to spend so much time shaving his face every day. He gets an idea to create a double-headed wet shave razor, like two razors in one. The handle of this shaver would fork in two at the end so two razor blade cartridges could be loaded onto each side. He develops a prototype for this razor from wood, and begins his search for a manufacturer.

1996 -
Calling his new razor the QUIK SHAVE™ RAZOR, clever McNINCH obtains a U.S. patent. He is finally able to produce several aluminum prototypes of the shaver. McNINCH'S wife DORIS decides that the razor is the greatest women’s shaving product ever and gives some as gifts to female friends; they all agree with her.

1997 -
The QUIK SHAVE™ RAZOR becomes available on a worldwide scale, thanks to basic Internet marketing with McNINCH'S Web site. He also kicks off a television and print media advertising campaigns to market the razor.

1998 - 2002
Quik Shave is reviewed in Glamour, McCalls, in newspapers,and on TV talk shows. Quik Shave enters into about 30 stores east Texas for a test market

2003 -
Quik Shave gears up for mass production of their new plastic razor, and begins setting up distributors.

8 Main Tips For Shaving Legs

2007-04-27T04:48:00.000-07:00

Shaving legs is by far the most popular method of hair removal for women. As much as we hate it, we do it on fairly regular basis. Some of us even every day.

But there is much more to shaving than just a razor, a little bit of soap and water.
If you want to prevent the annoying cuts, razor rash and ingrown hair and get the closest shave possible, then I suggest you read the following tips and implement them into your daily shaving routine.

Ready? Let's go shaving legs!

Tip # 1
Invest a few dollars and get a good razor. The disposable ones are not designed to do as good of a job as the reusable ones. You will definitely get a closer shave and avoid nicks with the more expensive one.

Tip # 2
Don't forget to change your blades frequently. Using a dull razor will give you a razor rash, nicks and a chance for ingrown hair.

Tip # 3
Do not go shaving legs right after getting out of bed in the morning. Your skin is more puffy at that time of the day and your stubble is not as visible. You will get a closer shave if you wait about 30 minutes.

Tip # 4
If you shave your legs in a bath, you must know that your skin will shrivel in under 10 minutes which will make the stubble disappear somewhat. The solution? Shave your legs within the first 10 minutes in the tub.

Tip # 5
Exfoliate your legs with a body scrub or a loofah. That will get rid of dead skin cells that will otherwise clog up the razor. Plus it will give you soft and smooth skin.

Tip # 6
Do not apply your shaving lotion onto dry skin. Wet your legs for at least 2 minutes first. When your skin is hydrated, your hair will stand up and you'll get a closer shave.

Tip # 7
Once the shaving lotion is on your legs, allow it to sit there for a couple of minutes. That will hydrate your skin even more.

Tip # 8
Please do not use plain soap. I know we've all done it more than we care to admit. But the problem with soap is, that it will not only dry your skin out, but also the razor will not glide smoothly and it might give you a few cuts and a rash.

So there you have it. Your basic rules for shaving legs that will give you the closest shave possible.

Shaving Problems? You Don't Know How Lucky You Are!

2007-04-26T00:52:00.000-07:00

Today's man may suffer from shaving rash, razor burn and sensitive skin but compared to our forefathers he's in the lap of luxury. This article takes a brief look at how men coped with their facial fungus in days of yore...

Did you know that the average man's beard hairs have the same tensile strength as copper wire? It's a fact. So maybe it's not so surprising that in remote antiquity most mature men resembled a badger peering out of a hedge! Why? Simple - their beards stubbornly refused to stop growing and they had nothing sharp or tough enough to cut them with!

Some of the really ancient ways of coping with excessive beard growth were not only painful, they were downright dangerous. Research indicates that one of the first ways of de-bearding (it can't in any way be called shaving) was to simply set the beard on fire. No, it's not a joke but the first practitioners of the craft probably didn't intend to do it anyway.

Picture the scene. It's a warm summer's day sometime in the Old Stone Age. There stands your average 'caveman', looking like a mobile haystack. He ambles over to his spouse who's got a fire going and is cooking something he knocked over the head earlier. Mmm - that smells good. He bends lower and lower, trying to pinch a succulent piece while she's not looking (some things never change, eh?). Suddenly - whoosh! Up goes his beard and most of his hair in flames. The resulting tumult is best left to the imagination.

After he's been extinguished and calmed down he notices something - he can see a lot better and he's much cooler, several pounds of matted hair having been removed from around his face. All his mates jeer at him for looking like a boy but soon they realise that the figure of fun can not only see better to throw his spear, he can keep a better eye out for the lions and bears that want to eat him . . .

Maybe that's how shaving was born. Maybe our caveman's better half, seeing his near-naked face, thought how he looked a darn sight better than the wooly mammoth he was beginning to resemble. Who knows? Yet a less traumatic method of removing beards, whereby they are singed off with a small firebrand, is thought to have persisted in many tribes right up until the age of copper. We can only guess at the state of those poor guys' skins after having a 'shave' in those days!

Next along the deforestation route was a method probably no less painful but considerably less dangerous: hair plucking. Now we all know that modern ladies pluck their eyebrows and various other body areas but guys! let's face it! - they're not trying to drag hairs out that grow out of your face but seem to have roots in the vicinity of your knees, are they? No. That's a reason that this was, amongst certain Native American tribes, considered an activity that only real men took part in and persisted way after much better shaving tools were to be had.

The Romans, by the way, abhorred all bodily hair and spent hours at the baths having their entire bodies plucked - and I do mean the lot. No wonder they had such an empire - had to get rid of all that pent-up aggression somewhere or other (it wasn't considered manly to howl in anguish whilst some sadist with tweezers went to work on your tender bits, by the way). So they just went out and overran Gaul instead, where all the men had beards and probably much better temperaments.

Next came flint knives and obsidian, a kind of very hard natural glass. An edge could be produced on tools made from these materials that was certainly sharp enough to give a near-shave, perhaps to a fraction of an inch or so, without removing large chunks of skin in the process. Shells were also used for the same purpose. Yet it wasn't until the Bronze Age that razors that could be called anything like efficient were made - some of these survive today, found in archeological digs.

Once it was discovered that bronze could take a good edge that was also smooth, something like modern shaving began to take place. Yet think of this: even at this time men shaved 'dry' - that is, without the lubricating benefit of soap. It wasn't until the start of the Christian era that soap was in common use for washing and, for shaving, it was thought to have been a while longer before some genius decided to give it a go. The rest, as they say, is history.

So, men of the World, think yourselves lucky. No longer do you need to have a bonfire to remove your beard, or have to undergo what in most places would be condemned as something best befitting the worst exploits of the Spanish Inquisition. Shaving rash? Won't seem so bad now, will it?

Enhance Your Already Perfect Penis By Shaving It

2007-04-25T00:13:00.000-07:00

Shaving on and around the penis is being done by males not just for surgery anymore. Just take a look around the locker room the next time you're at the gym. Today's males say shaving the pubic hairs on and around their penis is a way to feel fresh and look neat and clean. And cleanly shaving their shaft allows a condom to slip on and off much easier.

These are very good reasons to support shaving the penis indeed.

But - If a male is being totally honest, he'll tell you that he is shaving his pubic hair because it gives his penis the appearance of being larger and it gets a lot more, ahem, attention when it's cleanly shaved.

So for those of you males who are interested - Here are a few things you should know before shaving on and around your penis:

Penis Shaving Advice #1
Never start shaving your penis unless you're sober and fully alert. The pubic area is much more sensitive than your face, which means it's much easier to hurt yourself, so you want your wits about you.

Penis Shaving Advice #2
And while penis shaving is pretty easy to do, it does require patience and care.

Penis Shaving Advice #3
If you're shaving for the first time and have long pubic hairs, trim them with scissors or better yet, a hair trimmer.

Penis Shaving Advice #4
Take a long, hot shower or bath. This will open the follicles, (the skin depressions from which hair emerges), and soften your naturally coarse pubic hairs to make shaving easier.

Penis Shaving Advice #5
Pat dry your shaft and surrounding area with a soft, clean towel.

Penis Shaving Advice #6
Apply a generous amount of a rich lubricant. Allow this to sit for at least 3 minutes before you begin shaving.

Penis Shaving Advice #7
ALWAYS use a new blade in your razor.

Note: It's rumored that if you start shaving your general pubic area, testicles, and inner thighs, you'll get the best optical illusion, er, affect of a larger penis.

If you do decide to start shaving your general pubic area and inner thighs while you're at it, make sure another new blade is easily available so you can change blades if your razor starts to drag.

Start by shaving the penis in the direction the hair grows, making sure you shave all sides. If it isn't already erect, gently pull your penis upwards. This will make it easier to shave.

Once you've removed all hairs, go back and shave against the way the hair grows. This will give you the clean, close and smooth shave you're after. But don't shave the same area more than this second time or apply too much pressure. The last thing you want is a razor burn on your penis from shaving.

After shaving your penis, make sure to completely rinse off any traces of the lubricant with warm water. Then rinse with cold water. This will close and calm the follicles and generally tone the skin.

Pat, don't rub, your penis dry with a clean, soft towel.

Some males apply a non stinging astringent after shaving. But to avoid any reaction, just lightly dust your penis with a talc free powder or plain cornstarch.

Ultimately, you want to prevent any kind of irritation to this newly raw skin. So focus on keeping it dry and doing what you can to limit initial friction. If you don't already, wear some loose fitting boxer shorts for a while after shaving.

Many males go as long as possible between shaves in the belief that it will reduce skin irritation. But it's been suggested that the incoming hair stubble is what causes skin problems, so shaving more often is actually better.

Males who are very physically active are usually shaving every other day.

While it's a fact that eventually, after regular shaving, the hairs will become weaker and softer and your penis will remain smoother - If you're not ready, able and willing to follow the regimen outlined here, you probably shouldn't start shaving your penis.

Because anyone will tell you, there's only one thing worse than a hairy penis - And that's a stubbly, scabby penis.

A dry shaver is definitely the safest penis shaver. Do some research and discover the compact shaver that's designed specifically for safely shaving the penis.

Pubic Hair Styles - Bikini Waxing Styles and Pubic Hair Shaving

2007-04-24T02:22:00.000-07:00

Styling pubic hair is common practice today and it's becoming more and more popular. Hearts, triangles and flowers are now among the pubic hair styles women choose. In fact, many women shape their pubic hair into whatever pubic hair style they think reflects their personality.

Bikini waxing styles

Waxing is only good for fairly simple pubic hair styles. A French bikini wax is probably the least radical and a Brazilian the most. A French bikini wax is where hair is only removed from either side and above the bikini area. If you decide to have a Brazilian, you could be left with no pubic hair at all or perhaps only a small "landing strip" of hair. Whatever bikini waxing style you choose, you should make sure you communicate it clearly to whoever is doing the waxing unless you want to leave the salon with more-or less-than you bargained for. You can do a French bikini wax yourself at home but a Brazilian wax should always be done at a salon or spa.

Pubic hair styles and pubic hair shaving

You don't need to be a hairdresser to style your pubic hair but it will help if you're a wiz with a razor. If you are not, it might be a good idea to buy a product specially made for pubic hair styles. Whether just a trim or shaping your pubic hair, there are some guidelines that should be followed;

To get the best results follow these steps. First take a hot shower or bath to soften pubic hair and ensure it's really clean. Then dry the area thoroughly. Next, carefully trim pubic hair using a pair of small sharp scissors. Now you can begin pubic hair shaving. If you're using a razor, cover the area you want to shave with plenty of shaving cream or gel and make sure you use a good-quality safety razor. Work carefully and slowly checking your progress in the mirror. Try not to shave the same area over and over again as this can lead to razor-burn, skin irritations and ingrown hairs.

Chest Hair Shaving Benefits

2007-04-23T01:33:00.000-07:00

Though all of us in the end has different reasons as to why they would like to shave their chest hair, at the end of the day we are all left with pretty much the same selection of opportunities of hair removal. But before getting into that let's talk about some of the reasons and hence benefits derived from chest hair shaving.

1. Develop their self-image as well as self-esteem while they are in public. This can be anywhere from in the intimate corners of the bedroom, to the public beach).

2. There may be a lot of friction caused as a result of you walking around. I.e. the hair between your chest and your work attire may be a cause of discomfort especially in the hot hazy months. But then it may act for as a woolly layer of warmth during the colder seasons.

3. For those who believe in body art, chest hair may block off the view of things such as tattoos, body painting and art, rings, and other things of that nature.

4. Perhaps your skin is becoming pale as a result of being lodged up at work year-round and you want to work on you tan. Removing hair from you chest may be beneficial with coming up with a better and more even tan.

5. Finally, perhaps your loved ones, children, or anyone else makes a fun habit out of pulling on your chest hairs. Maybe it gets painful after a while and you want to end this game once and for all. Some people shave for this grounds so they can this.

Stop Razor Bumps Once And Forever

2007-04-20T01:01:00.000-07:00

Razor bumps, ingrown hairs, pseudofolliculitis barbae we know they hurt but, why do they appear? It all happens when we shave. While shaving our facial hair gets caught between the follicle or it grows the other way, into the skin. That's what produces the swelling, redness and swelling. This does not mean you are stuck with razor bumps for life. There are ways to help diminish razor bumps and here in this article we will share these tips with you.

Here's a really simple way to stop the painful razor bumps, ingrown hairs and razor burn. Learn how to stop irritating your skin and avoid razor bumps with just a few simple steps.

Tip #1
The first step is to use active ingredients. There are tons of men skin care products that claim to alleviate ingrown hairs and razor bumps, but don't rush to conclusions. The truth is that the active ingredient that eliminates razor bumps is Salicylic Acid. What this ingredient does is moisturize, exfoliate and clear you pores thus avoiding any further infections. For even better results use an after shave product that contains salicylic acid and that way it will stay on your skin during the day. The No-No's here is that you should NEVER use products that contain alcohol. Alcohol dries your skin and closes your pore which only worsens your ingrown hairs. Also, do not use foam shaving creams because these also dry your skin. Instead use non-acnegenic shaving creams which are specially made for men with sensitive skin.

Tip #2
Focus on how to improve the surface of your skin. Removing the outer layers of your dead skin may sound nasty but to sum it up it's called exfoliating. Men who have ingrown hairs must exfoliate in order to improve the skin's surface. This can easily be done with a gentle face scrub that contains the ingredient we mentioned in the first tip, salicylic acid.

Tip #3
Change is good. And that is why my next tip to you involves you changing the way you shave. By now you should know that shaving too closely is one of the main causes of razor bumps. If you didn't know, well know you know. By shaving too close, your hair stubs will be cut to close to the skin and more prone to getting stuck inside the hair follicle and viola an ingrown hair is born.
A couple of things you can do to avoid shaving too close is first of all not pulling on your skin when you shave. Do not apply too much pressure on the razor blade, shave with the grain and use a single blade razor.
It is crucial you keep this in mind while shaving because if you forget and shave too close the razor bumps will come back to haunt you and it will take a while before you get rid of them again.

Tip #4
What about the ingrown hairs you already have? Now it's time to destroy those little suckers. To get rid of your ingrown hairs you just simple but carefully lift the ingrown end out with tweezers. Warning: Do not pluck them out. Just lift them out of the skin otherwise the ingrown hair will only re-grow deeper. To reduce the redness and swelling you can use products that contain azulene, allantoin and witch hazel. Those ingredients will keep you comfortable.

There you have it, for easy to follow tips to get rid of your razor bumps. All you have to do is take a couple of more minutes of shaving time and remember to keep these tips in mind. I also suffered from razor bumps and aside from it being embarrassing it was painful. However, thanks to these steps I was able to get in control and improve my skin. You can do it too! You can keep on irritating your skin or you can put this in practice and see similar results.

New Shaving Problems Solution or Olive Oil Saves Our Faces

2007-04-19T01:11:00.000-07:00

Guys (and maybe ladies too), I have some good news about shaving. You have probably experienced some of the hassles and problems of this chore and are familiar with its inherent potential for being very annoying.

You may be frustrated with razor burn and dry skin after struggling with your daily shaving routine. You can bet I tried all kinds of different razors, shaving cream and even some aftershaves to see what I could do about this problem.

You want to know what I found after a lot of experimenting and trying different things? You probably have a neat handy little item that is common household fare and may be found in your kitchen. It’s Olive Oil. You got it, olive oil!

The benefits to using olive oil for shaving are huge. It is such a natural lubricant that the right kind of razor will slide right across your face giving you smooth and soft skin and still getting the job of cutting the growth from your face. And the best part is that your skin will actually start to look younger after using olive oil to shave with over the long term.

Therefore, do not forget to apply some olive oil to your forehead when you shave too. The reason is that the rest of your face will become younger looking and you want your forehead to keep up. In retrospect, I remember reading about a famous Hollywood actress that mentioned that olive oil was her secret to having great skin.

You can bet that others are using olive oil to shave with too. I did a search right before deciding to share this information with you and sure enough there are other people out there that shave with olive oil.

One nice thing about it is that you don’t have to use high quality olive oil. You can buy the inexpensive low grade olive oil that doesn’t taste very good from your local supermarket to shave with.
A bottle will last a really long time. You can kiss your shaving cream goodbye. You can also leave out aftershave if you so choose. Your skin should feel great without it.

Now, let’s talk about that razor of yours. Here is what I have found out about razors and am willing to share with you. Even though I use the great lubricant properties of olive oil to shave with, I still have found a few issues that using the right kind of razor can help with.

If your experience is similar to mine, you may have found that it is difficult to shave in the grooves of your neck and face, particularly under the jaw bone with typical razors. Even with olive oil you can still easily cut your ce if you make the wrong movement. You might find that that Gillette’s Mach 3 and olive oil are the perfect combination.

The Mach 3 has a nice swivel head with a great lubricating strip. This allows for the flexibility to really get into the nooks and crannies when used in combination with the olive oil. You will be able to get in there with a lot less fear of cutting yourself. It’s not impossible, but the Mach 3 does make it a lot harder to cut the skin of your face.

You may be using another brand of razor with a lubricating a strip. So far, in my opinion, none have come close to the Mach 3 for safety and comfort. I do sometimes use a stiffer blade to make the vertical strokes because it can be really effective. But, when it comes time to dig into those nooks and crannies, I like to break out the Mach 3.

No, I don’t work for Gillette and I am in no way associated with them. The reason I use a stiffer blade for the vertical strokes is because its effective and also less expensive. The Mach 3 blades are a bit on the expensive side, so you can save a little bit by just reserving them for the nooks and crannies. With the use of olive oil, you might be able to get a longer usage period out of a blade before needing to dispose of it.

For ladies, I suggest using a sparing amount of olive oil. The reason is that you will be covering a much larger area and too much olive oil can get a little messy. For us guys, we can probably enjoy the luxury of using more because it is easier to wash from the face.

I wish you the best of luck with your next shaving experience.

This article is for information purposes only. I cannot assume any liability for your use or misuse of this information. If you are not willing to assume the full risk and responsibility for the potential consequences from using this information you are advised not to use it. It’s impossible to know the skill levels or abilities or available equipment of any individual out there, therefore I cannot be responsible for the use or misuse of this information. Your use of this information implies your consent to bear the full responsibility for any result that may come from its use or misuse.

Little Known Ways to Vagina Shaving

2007-04-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

I started shaving bikini line (fur along my inner thighs and lowest belly) when I was about 13, I think. It was the same time I started shaving my legs, which I recall being after everyone else (this is probably a slightly biased memory). I started shaving cause I was getting teased about being furry, and because I wanted to be smooth; I thought it was feminine and sexy. And necessary.

So this is a story of my ways to vagina shaving.

I stopped shaving my legs and armpits when I was about 17 but kept at my bikini line for another year or two. Until I was 19, I can remember because I was quitting it when I met special boy and was slightly worried that he might think the growing crop of hair on my inner thighs was unsightly-- not for being there, just for not matching the rest of the full-grown pubic hair.

Shaving was always something I did in the shower or in the tub. I seem to remember trying to do it once at a sink, somehow splashing myself to get the skin wet, but I must have been camping or something. I did recognise the importance of wetting the area to be shaved. Dry shaving can result in unsightly and uncomfortable red bumps on the skin (razor burn!), maybe because the lack of lubrication irritates the skin (not sure).

My main advisors in the art of shaving were magazines aimed at young women. Every 18 months or whatever they run a "how to get a great shave" article and frequently have questions in the advice columns about what to do about lack of closeness, lack of smoothness, whatever.

What I did was this: I got the bikini area wet, but not too warm so as to avoid making the skin swell (on the advice that it would un-swell later and leave little pricks of hair poking up), and shaved with a wet, sharp, clean, un-nicked razor in the opposite direction of hair growth (ie: from ends to roots). This translated to shaving towards the outsides of my fur.

I found it best to encroach on the fur in small increments, especially if I hadn't shaved in awhile or was breaking new territory. Saving a long swath of long fur caused problems because the hair would clog up the razor, and because hair would get tangled around and I would end up cutting parts of hairs that weren't in the line of fire. Thus, I started at the outermost edge of the fur and crept inward with small strokes.

Often I would note red bumps after vagina shaving, which were somewhat unsightly. The only advice I can recall seeing regarding the treatment and prevention of these was to apply a disinfectant/antibiotic cream like Polysporin after bikini line shaving. Presumably this would counteract redness due to minor infection of irritated follicles and skin. My bikini line was the only place I noticed these red bumps, so long as I didn't shave anything while dry.

I sort of gave up hoping for closeness and an absence of all prickliness, but on some message board lately (now that I don't shave), a woman was giving her super-duper bikini line shaving process guaranteed to produce beautiful bare inner thighs. I haven't done this, but I relay it for the benefit of the interested.

The basic principles of vagina shaving were three things:

Do all this the night before you require a lovely bikini line. Before setting about shaving, soak in a nice hot tub and soak the (clean, sharp, un-nicked) razor as well so that everything is warm and wet.

Once very warm, and while still in the tub, shave the desired area from roots to tips (the direction of growth). If hair is not fair or if roots still appear dark, pull the skin tight and shave against the grain, from tips to roots. Careful not to cut yourself doing this-- pulling skin tight makes it much easier to nick.

Finally, once out of the tub and dry, apply an antibiotic cream generously over the shaven area and wear tight fitting shorts, tights or long-underwear to bed. Ideally, in the morning, a smooth and bare bikini line.

I like smooth bare skin as much as the next sailor, but I also feel the need to point out that furriness is fun too, and that shaving is a pain. Stubble begins to be detectable by feel the very next day, although it may not be visible for 2-3 days. It can't successfully be reshaven

Experienced man gives advices

2007-04-05T01:26:00.000-07:00

Let me know your opinion about this tips.

20 Shaving tips - How To Make It Easy

2007-04-03T02:24:00.001-07:00

The following tips help you make shaving easier:

1 shaving tip
Avoid shaving when first getting up after sleep as body fluids make the skin puffy making it more difficult to shave the hair. After 20 or 30 minutes the skin becomes more taut so the hair shaft is more exposed making it easier.

2 shaving tip
Don't stay in the bath too long before shaving. The skin will shrivel after eight minutes or so making it difficult to get a smooth, close shave.

3 shaving tip
Use preshave products such as soaps, lathers, creams and gels. They lock moisture into the hair, they help keep the hair erect and they reduce friction allowing the blade to glide easily over the skin.

4 shaving tip
Hair conditioner can also be used to soften hair.

5 shaving tip
The more repeat strokes over an area of skin the greater risk of irritation.

6 shaving tip
To remove stray hairs which are not removed after one or two passes with the razor, use a pop-up trimmer.

7 shaving tip
Never share your razor or shaver with anyone else to avoid skin infections.

8 shaving tip
Running the fingertips over the shaved area is a very effective method of ensuring a close thorough shave. The sense of touch will alert you to stubble and missed patches it may be difficult to see in the mirror.

9 shaving tip
Always wet the hair first for at least 3 minutes. Hair absorbs water which makes it stand up making it easier when shaving.

10 shaving tip
Wet hair also reduces wear on the blade. Shaving after taking a shower is an ideal time.

11 shaving tip
For a close shave with minimal irritation, try and use an angle of approximately 30 degrees between the blade and the skin.

12 shaving tip
To lessen the risk of razor burn and extend the life of the blade, allow shaving cream to sit on the skin for 4 minutes before shaving.

13 shaving tip
Thick shaving cream or foam offers the best protection against irritation and cuts.

14 shaving tip
Use a sharp new blade. If you need to use pressure on the blade it is time to change it. Using a blunt blade can increase the danger of ingrown hair.

15 shaving tip
Splash the skin with cold water after shaving to help stop any bleeding from small nicks and also remove any traces of soap or lather.

16 shaving tip
When shaving the leg area use long strokes going against the grain avoiding repeat strokes. Great care needs to be exercised especially around bony areas such as the ankle or knee.

17 shaving tip
Hair under the arm grows in all directions so a side to side stroke as well as up and down strokes may be necessary to catch all the hairs.

18 shaving tip
Do not apply deodorants or anti-perspirants right after shaving as this can cause acute irritation and soreness.

19 shaving tip
For the bikini line, shave in the direction of the hair and avoid repeating the strokes to minimize irritation in this very sensitive area.

20 MAIN shaving tip
The last and the main tip is just take it easy and don't be nervous when taking razor:)

What I have to know about shaving issues. Part 3

2007-04-03T02:22:00.000-07:00

Razor Burns

- What are Razor Burns?
Razor burns are burning sensations and irritation more often than not caused by applying too much pressure with the razor. When this happens, you do not create a barrier between your face and the razor resulting in friction burns.

- How to prevent Razor Burns?
Use pre-shave oils and a high quality brush and soap to ensure a rich soapy barrier and do not apply too much pressure. Use after shave balms or oils to soothe the skin.

What I have to know about shaving issues. Part 1
What I have to know about shaving issues. Part 2

What I have to know about shaving issues. Part 2

2007-04-03T02:20:00.002-07:00

Shaving Rash

- What is a Shaving Rash?
Shaving rash is more of a problem with men who have curly hair and is similar to 'razor bumps', the symptoms are unsightly red or darkened, painful 'bumps' which can lead to 'scarring' in severe cases.

- How do you Prevent Shaving Rash?
To prevent shaving rash, do not stretch the skin as you shave. Hairs are most likely to grow inwards if you pull on the skin whilst shaving. The hairs pop out of the follicle when you pull the skin and after the cut the tip of the hair retracts into the follicle and curls into the follicle as it begins to grow. This causes the shaving rash and razor bumps.

- What Relief is Available?
To achieve relief from these problems first check that the skin appears to be free from infection - angry red areas or spots are symptoms - if present, treat with an antiseptic solution or cream.

- How do I Treat Ingrown Hairs?
If you can see ingrowing hairs, try to tease the tips of the hairs out of the skin. Soak a flannel in hot water and apply it to your skin for a few minutes. This should soften the hairs to enable you to pull the hair out of the 'bump' with a pair of fine tweezers. Cut the loose end with a pair of scissors. You can refrain from shaving for a few days. Then cut the beard with scissors quite close to the skin. As the hair regrows, it should grow slightly straighter and not back into the skin. But remember when you continue to shave NOT to pull the skin too tight or shave against the grain of the beard. The problems caused by shaving are often because of poor technique and the use of inferior, cheap products.

- What Products are Available to Help Treat or Prevent Shaving Rash?
One product I recommend is PFB VSH . This is a unique, cosmetically elegant roll-on gel formulated to aid in the relief of ingrown hairs, razor burn/bumps resulting from shaving, waxing, electrolysis and laser hair removal. PFB VANISH exfoliates skin cells to "lift ingrown hairs" above the skin line. Skin food is another product that can be applied daily after shaving. It is effective at fighting ingrown hairs and helps calm redness associated with hair removal.

What I have to know about shaving issues. Part 1
What I have to know about shaving issues. Part 3

What I have to know about shaving issues. Part 1

2007-04-03T02:20:00.001-07:00

Razor Bumps and Ingrown Hair

- What are the Symptoms of Razor Bumps and Ingrown Hairs?
The symptoms of razor bumps and ingrowing hair are unsightly red or darkened, painful 'bumps' which can lead to 'scarring' in severe cases.

- What Causes Razor Bumps and Ingrown Hairs?
This occurs when curly hair grows out of the skin, curls round and then grows back into the skin. This happens if the hair is cut too short. Normal hair cut too short will create the same problem. They result in the medical condition pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB). An ideal shave cuts the hair flush with the surface of the skin and avoids any undue friction and/or irritation to the surrounding skin. If you suffer from razor bumps, ingrowing hair and shaving irritation, the chances are that you are pulling the skin too taut during the shave and the hairs are cut too short. Don't pull the skin tight and see if it makes a difference! People with PFB and razor bumps often have a great tendency to develop ingrown or curled under hairs, which get red, raised and tender. These bumps often leave dark marks on the skin for many months and sometimes even cause scarring.

- Who Tends to Suffer with PFB?
While PFB can occur in all ethnic groups, it is most common in those with very curly hair and especially amongst African Americans.

- What Treatments are Available?
Treatment of tough cases of PFB often requires special shaving equipment. In fact, some African American men have opted to wear a beard rather than be subject to the pain and embarrassment that often accompanies severe PFB. Special razors have been developed that cut the hair slightly longer than typical razors. These razors are available as part of an entire product line called the Bump Fighter ® Shaving System designed exclusively to help control PFB. In addition to these products, Skin food is also helpful for many PFB suffers. For most people, these over the counter products provide sufficient control of shaving related problems. In fact, there are no prescription products targeted specifically for shaving related problems. Vitamin A related products such as Retin A (tretinoin) or Differin (adapalene) may be prescribed in some cases and work by helping exfoliate skin both on the surface and around the follicles. This results in less chance of the hairs getting caught in the skin and growing inward. Shaving related problems usually respond well to a combination of proper shaving technique, equipment and products. For tough or treatment resistant shaving problems, it is always best to consult personally with a dermatologist.

- What Can I do to Help Prevent the Problem?
In addition to the normal tips on shaving , you might find benefit in the use of certain shaving devices and products. The products and devices tend to be specialized towards serving either those people with tendencies toward ingrown hairs or those with a tendency towards razor bumps and PFB. A large majority of PFB sufferers and sufferers of shaving problems generally tend to be African American. The reason for this is that very curly hairs are most inclined to grow inward or curl around to form razor bumps. Ingrown hairs and shaving irritation can be greatly improved by simply following the standard shaving tips found on any shaving website . No special shaving equipment is suggested, but experience has shown that re-usable metal shaving handles serviced with disposable blade cartridges tend to provide smooth shaves with less chance of causing shaving irritation and ingrown hairs than electric razors. Blades should be changed at least once every ten days, more often if skin irritation persists. Disposable razor blades should are also best avoided when possible. Shaving gels are important in the treatment of this condition, as a good gel will minimize the friction associated with shaving and reduce the likelihood of ingrown hairs and skin irritation. Products that Can Help One product I recommend is PFB VSH . This is a unique, cosmetically elegant roll-on gel formulated to aid in the relief of ingrown hairs, razor burn/bumps resulting from shaving, waxing, electrolysis and laser hair removal. PFB VANISH exfoliates skin cells to "lift ingrown hairs" above the skin line. Skin food is another product that can be applied daily after shaving. It is effective at fighting ingrown hairs and helps calm redness associated with hair removal.

What I have to know about shaving issues. Part 2
What I have to know about shaving issues. Part 3