How best to remove (women's) facial hair?

suki1964

Awwww

My friend visited her mam every day in the hospital to pluck her facial hair away. Her mam was in her 80's and was never coming home but she was always to the end conscious of he facial hair

curlygirl1971

emsywoo123 wrote: »

They have no idea how long a pot will last as no one there has been allowed it!

I did actually burst into tears when she said no...possibly that had something to so with it.......

I use Vaniqa and by being careful I can get about 4 months out of it - maybe more.

My PCT stopped prescribing It last year. Fortunately I've been under an Endocringologist (sp) on NHS for several years and when I told her she gave me a private prescription for 6 tubes. She didn't charge me for this service - if I had consulted her privately there would have been a charge.

I shopped around and found that at the time Boots online were the cheapest as the cost per tube went down if you ordered 4 - which I did....worked out at about £57 per tube. Sadly I am now ceasing to see the Endo. As there is nothing further she can do to help me and i dont need medical supervision, so I will have to reconsider the Vaniqa unless I'm prepared to pay For a consult as well As the cost of a private script.

I am also currently having laser treatment (soprano diode).....I've seen very good improvement on my jawline (I used to have Bradley's :rotfl:), some improvement on my chin, lip....but the progress seems to have tapered off recently and I'm wondering if it's working. I've had 10 sessions. I'll be honest - at times I've found it excruciating.

Incidentally my Endo. Consultant advised that there are studies to suggest that Vaniqa used whilst having laser treatment increases the effectiveness of the laser.

So what else have I tried....

Previously (17 years ago) I had a couple of years worth of electrolysis - it worked whilst I was having it done but wasn't permenant. I gave up on it as I was getting scarring and had a numb patch! However I may consider it again with someone specialising in it to try and clear up the stubborn areas the laser isn't shifting.

The most effective treatment I've had however was a combination of the Vaniqa and a drug called Spironolactone taken with Dianette contraceptive - however I needed regular blood tests for the 5 years I was on this to ensure my kidneys stayed healthy. Spironolactone caused kidney tumours in lab rats...... And it was imperative that I didn't become pregnant. I was taken off Dianette by my GP a couple of years ago due to my age / stroke risk.

Bleaching - boots do a very good hair lightener that is cheaper than Joleen and I find it easier to use. I think it's best on finer hair - I currently bleach my forearms which whilst thick is not coarse - it works very well. I used to use it in my face as part of a wider 'hair management regime' that also involved several hours plucking qnd waxing, but it did leave me with a blond tache with dark regrowth at the roots. If you use bleach just make sure your skin isn't sore and you've not waxed that area in the previous 24/48 hours.

For the record - I don't have PCOS, I have normal levels of testosterone (for a woman) but I have an abnormal sensitivity to it......I'm just a regular circus freak. Whilst weight is a factor for some cases, in my case there was no difference for me when I was 2.5 stone lighter.......

At the moment although things aren't pleasant, it's not half as bad as it used to be and I feel so much better about myself. I just hope that I can continue to afford the laser and Vaniqa........otherwise the cost is my sanity! I can really relate to the tears and remember all too well feelings of disgust, shame, humiliation, frustration, depression......for the PCT's to say it's a cosmetic issue....I know they only have so much money to go around, but theyve no idea how socially debilitating it is to have the hair growth pattern of Mrs Chewbacca. If I had a scar or birth mark, I'd get far more empathy.

curlygirl1971

Spirit wrote: »

I might be imagining it but I am sure it grows quicker in summer.

.

Nope....I've noticed it over the years too!

Chia

curlygirl1971 wrote: »

I can really relate to the tears and remember all too well feelings of disgust, shame, humiliation, frustration, depression......for the PCT's to say it's a cosmetic issue....I know they only have so much money to go around, but theyve no idea how socially debilitating it is to have the hair growth pattern of Mrs Chewbacca. If I had a scar or birth mark, I'd get far more empathy.

YES. "Cosmetic issue" - nonsense. Not until society stops being so narrow about what femininity is. People do notice if you're hairier than is 'allowed' and I believe they do compare you to your own ethnic group, so it doesn't do me any good living in a more multi-ethnic area now as people will still line me up beside other blonde, blue-eyed people.

You are right about the scar/birth mark...it also occurred to me that if I showed up and said I actually wanted to change sexes, there are avenues for that on the NHS whereas there aren't if you just want to blend in as the gender you already are.

curlygirl1971

Yeah I feel like a woman trapped in a freaks body! You are so right - not wishing to trivialise Transgender problems, which must be horrendous to go through, but there is more support for a woman trapped in a hairy mans body than there is or a woman trapped in a hairy woman's body. That's sexist :rotfl:..... And I'm not just talking about a bit of extra hair in my case, I'm not being a drama queen or wanting to be completely smooth and hair free - just normal, but the modern idea of what constitutes attractiveness just doesn't help. And don't get me on to Designer Vag1nas :rotfl:

Incidentally there is a website called Verity for PCOS sufferers and there is a forum on there also......it always helps to know you're not the only one

Dunroamin

I think this is on topic and it's something I've been meaning to ask. Why has it become so difficult to buy facial hair removing cream these days?

curlygirl1971

To be honest I've never had any success with it, so I dont buy it and therefore haven't noticed. Is there perhaps a trend towards waxing and this is reflected on the products put on shelves?

Dunroamin

curlygirl1971 wrote: »

To be honest I've never had any success with it, so I dont buy it and therefore haven't noticed. Is there perhaps a trend towards waxing and this is reflected on the products put on shelves?

I think the trend is towards waxing (more profitable, I expect) but that doesn't explain why it's almost disappeared from most shops.

emsywoo123

Dunroamin wrote: »

I think this is on topic and it's something I've been meaning to ask. Why has it become so difficult to buy facial hair removing cream these days?

I have just used normal Veet in the past.......I didn't know there was something specific available?

emsywoo123

curlygirl1971 wrote: »

I use Vaniqa and by being careful I can get about 4 months out of it - maybe more.

How effective did you find Vaniqa alone? I am a total wuss with pain so am trying to avoid ILP.........