I am 22 years old. I have been BATTLING body and facial hair for as loonng as I can remember.

Lately its been eating me up inside. I am too embarassed to do anything, go out in the sun, im afraid to drive with someone in my passenger seat because of how the light will hit my hairy face!! I could go on and on about all those little things I do related to my hair..

My body is an issue in itself..(i shave my arms and legs and sometimes my happy trail).. I guess what bothers me the most is i get hair around my nippled and in the middle of my chest.. oh and my back is whole other thing... yuck.


but my biggest issue is my face.. I have light skin and dark hair, so although the hairs on my cheeks, jawline, and neck are somewhat fine, they are dark so they are very noticeable.. the hairs on my chin are mainly blonde, but kinda thick and long.. my mustache is really gross and I can't seem to find anything that works besides waxing.. I've considered bleaching my cheeks, neck, and chin, hoping that will help..

Ive seen many people post this on here, but I too, also play that game of "is that girl hairy?" for example, I'll be standing behind someone in line and I'll look at their back, cheeks, chin, etc and compare myself to them... for the most part they just have cute baby peach fuzz hairs.. I have yet to see someone as hairy as me..

I do have a boyfriend, and Im pretty sure he knows how hairy I am, and I guess he just doesnt care. the other day though he pointed out his hairy pale legs and said they were gross and that he hated hair. It just made me sink inside. But he's always telling me how much he loves me and how beautiful I am and all that stuff. He has told me many times he wanted to get married, as well. I just dont know what his point was when he was pointing out his "gross hairy legs" that I could probably even beat him in a hair contest if I grew mine out!!!

anywayyy im now meeting with my doc tomorrow to check for any hormonal imbalances.. and then i think im going to proceed with electrolysis.. im just sick of waxing/plucking/shaving, just to have it return in a matter of days.. being 22, and not being able to be myself, due to lack of confidenece and feeling alienated and bad about myself just makes me soooo much more frustrated.

overall I'm a really happy person, too. I mean, the only thing I dont like about myself is this hair issue. which is why its so frustrating. i feel happiness and confidence inside of me, but its just blocked by my dark little secret.

ive been reading this forum obsessively today, and its made me feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. ive never realized there were other women who worried so much about the hair on their neck/chest/cheeks/etc. id never WANT someone else to go through what Im going through, but its nice to know im not the only one.. I acutally dont feel so alienated anymore.
:]

Don't do laser!!

i wasnt planning on doing laser. electrolysis is different.

i tried laser on my tummy a long time ago and it didnt do much of anything. it was a waste of money

Laser caused more hairs to grow for me. That's why I warned against it.

I am 22 years old too, and excessive hair is also a lifelong problem for me. Also, I too have dark hair and light skin and so even the fine hairs are bothersome.

I wax my legs from when I was 13, and it's not a problem pain-wise, but it is a messy process. I waxed my entire body once but got breakouts which led to scars on my upper back, upper tummy, and cleavage. Never going to do that again. I just shave the hair on my stomach and cleavage now.

I used the rotary epilator but it is pain pulling out a few hairs at time. And for some reason, new hairs after rotary epilation feel like spikes.

I had electrolysis on my unibrow, but the constant trips back and forth wasn't worth the removal of the square-inch of hair. I also tried laser and you could read my experience in my lastest post. So I have been there and done that and have not found any satisfactory method.

it sounds like (from reading these forums) that although, yes, electrolysis is time consuming and is a long process, its well worth it.

for me, spending the last 22 years trying to mask my hair with waxing, shaving, plucking, bleaching, (the list goes on) is enough to make me think spending about 2 years to remove the hair for GOOD is worth it! it also makes me feel there is a light at the end of the tunnel, yknow?

and ive also heard that waxing can actually make the hair grow back stronger and thicker (ive been waxing my face for the last year or so.. i dont think im going to anymore....) i think im going to stick with bleaching and trimming until i start electrolysis.. itll probably be embarassing.. but im hoping itll start to fade with electrolysis

I planning to try electrolysis on the abnormal hairs that grew on my neck after the laser. So even though I don't like the method, it is probably my only option.

why dont you like it?

As you know, it is time-consuming and one hair is treated at a time so only a few hairs get treated in a session. The electrologist charges a dollar for a minute and 30 minutes is the limit for a session. Plus I have to go every week and the closest electrologist is in another town, so a lot of gas money wasted. Also, I am a student and so I don't have the time to go every week. But like I said, there is only one last option and so I feel the same way you feel, it will be worth it.

sent you a pm

Ladies: One hair at a time sounds time-consuming, but in actuality, it is very time efficient if you find an electrologist that has newer equipment that allows them to work without a footswitch and offers microflash or picoflash thermolysis. It is possible to remove between 500 and 700 hairs per hour on the chin area using these modalities. I do it daily and so do other electrologists. Electrolysis is not the same old electrolysis that your mother and grandmother had years ago, unless the electrologist you choose is locked in a time-warp with very old equipment with no desire to try a better way.

It sounds like you ladies are reading these forums. Get as much information as you can about what modern electrologists van offer and go on the hunt for that special electrologist that can take control of your problem. Focusing on one area that bothers you the most, is the best way to start.

I am dismayed that an electrologist would only offer 15 and 30 minute appointments. Can you explain why? In the beginning, clients need more time and frequent visits to get the hair off asap. You're going no where fast with short appointments. You will eventually get frustrated and doubtful and then perhaps you will give up.

Keep looking. California has some great electrologists and I feel confident that you will find some great choices in the Bay area. Know what getting the best means and don't settle for less. Start close to home and move outward. Maybe there will be some consumers peeking in that can give you the best recommendations.

Dee