OK, y'all had to know that somebody on this list would be desperate enough to do this. I actually tried smearing soy milk on myself to see what would happen. Yes! I know that's not what you're supposed to do - you're supposed to wait for the store-brand product to come out so you won't get all sticky But I just had to try it.

OK ... I have to tell you all ... it was pretty darned good!

I know it sounds ridiculous to sit there and splash soy milk on one's skin. And it's true there was something of a sticky result. But ... at least there was no burn or redness like I got with the hairaway products. It was just basically what you'd expect from splashing a milk-like substance on yourself. No sensation at all, except a little stickiness.

But here's the really amazing part. OK ... I've been SHAVING the area ... so that's not ideal. But here's what happened.

Normally, after shaving it takes about four hours for sharp unsightly stubble to grow in. (Yes, I'm unfortunate that way!) The first time I splashed on soy milk after shaving, it seemed to take more like 8 hours for the return - but I thought it could be the placebo effect, or it could be a hormonal cycle issue or whatever. So I waited before concluding anything.

After two weeks of shaving and splashing soy milk, I am absolutely positive - it's now taking an entire 24 hours for regrowth. From 4 hours to 24! I kid you not! That's a real change for me.

So I thought I would report!

Thanks for the report, anonymous!

I'm not encouraging readers to try this until there have been some published studies done with humans and some treatment parameters and dosages established.

Hair growth is extremely difficult to assess, especially doing short-term observations on individuals in uncontrolled conditions.

Those who are seeking a reliable result should stick with established products, but I know some of you like to do your own thing!

As for me, I'll stick to drinking it for now-- I have a half gallon of chocolate soymilk a week. Yum!

Andrea is right of course!

Definitely - I'll update everyone in a few months to see whether I still feel I'm getting results. And also - what works for one may not work for another.

But if anyone else is weird enough to wanna try something like that - thought I'd just let you know that one person at least is kinda impressed. Not that one person's experience counts for much!

Annonymous--I too am desprate enough to splash around in some soy milk...can you tell me your application technique? Compresses? A quick rinse with it? Soaking somehow? Thanks; will let you know my results.

Yeah, that would be neat. I'd be really interested to see what someone else thought. (Whether I'm just crazy or whether it's actually helping )

I did NOT rinse off because I figured it really has to soak down in there. (I don't know - I'm just guessing.) So I've just been splashing some on a cotton pad and rubbing it in generously before bed.

If you try it, please let us know!

(But I'll do Andrea's bit for her: Though two people is twice as scientific as one - it's still completely scientifically lame.) How'd I do, Andrea?

I started today by doing an after-shower application. I would be happy if ALL the hair, except for that on my head, went away. I dried off, then rubbed it in like an after bath splash. I let it soak in for a while, then rinsed off. It was not unplesant and seemed to leave my skin soft. Tonight I will try the leave-it-on method. Will see if there is any effect. I have monitored growth in all areas of my bod for some time, so hopefully it will be apparent and fast. I wonder if Tofu would have a more concentrated amount of the active (?) ingredient? Somewhere in a reply here I read of someone used soy oil on their legs with some success. Thanks for your reply and the unofficial warning. I will ask some of my more scientific pals if they think there would be any ill effect to using soy this way...it seems pretty begnin, especially since it can be taken internally. Perhaps we should spearhead a research project with the soymilk manufacturers!

I have to agree that if nothing else, it seems pretty harmless! I tried those HairAway-type products (Can't remember off the top of my head which ones I tried) - but they kinda felt like they were burning or something. PLUS as an added bonus - they didn't do squat. That was just a fringe benefit. The pinkness and slight stinging were the highlights. But the soy milk really feels like nothing, doesn't it? It feels like ... milk.

Anonymous, I couldn't have done the disclaimer better myself! I love hairtell readers!

Thanks for the updates-- sounds like you get soft skin out of the deal at the very least!

For those of you shopping for soymilk to drink or apply, the item to look for on the label is the amount of soy isoflavones. For instance, the soymilk I'm drinking right now has 31 milligrams of soy isoflavones per serving. Researchers believe this is the ingredient that may affect hair growth.

As always, there is no published data that this will work on human hair, blah blah blah...

Giving an update as it's now been two months:

I definitely wouldn't describe my experience with the soy milk as a "solution" to the problem as the hair still grows back and I'm still looking for a decent method of removal. However ...

I still feel it is buying me time.

I've been doing this lately: Washing my face, zipping off the sideburn area hair(the bane of my existence) with an electric razor, applying the soy milk, letting it dry, then applying my makeup. Yeah, I know - seems messy not to rinse it! But it really doesn't feel bad. It's actually kind of softening.

Then it seems I'm able to get through the entire day without regrowth. (It regrows by the next morning). But in the meantime ... I'm able to stay out all day and even into the night without worrying about stubble. This is a change for me.

I had an accidental comparison test. I went on a one-week vacation and brought no soy milk with me. Within a couple of days, I found that if I used the electric razor in the morning ... by NOON I had sharp stubble that had to be removed immediately. And then again around five o'clock, and then again before bed etc.

When I got home and started applying the soy milk under my makeup after shaving, I was able to return to the routine of just one hair removal in the morning and nothing else. I'm feeling very good about that.

So ... not a solution to the problem! But for this one person, it seems to be providing a tiny bit of help. I'm definitely appreciating it.

Hope the update is helpful! I shall try to remember to drop another note in six months or so. Anyone else have a different experience? Or the same?

Anonymous, did you notice a diffrence in the appearance of the hair?