BellaSugar

What We're Sweet On: A Razor Worth Putting on Display

Annie Tomlin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:00:25 PDT

Most of us usually toss our razors in the dank corners of the shower - and that, by the way, isn't a hot idea, since moisture can decrease the life of your blades. But the Schick Intuition Naturals razor (around $9) practically demands to be put on display. With art-nouveau packaging designed by blogger Kelly Framel of The Glamourai, it's about as chic as hair removal gets. But there's more here than just good looks: the razor's four blades are surrounded by an aloe-infused solid skin conditioner that lathers when wet, eliminating the need for shaving gel. If you're looking for a little eye candy in your grooming tools, then give this one a try. But move fast, as the limited-edition design won't stick around for long.

Tyra Banks: I Don't Have to Shave My Legs

BellaSugar — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 04:01:00 PDT

Many women would say that shaving their legs is their least favorite beauty task, but for Tyra Banks, there's no need to bother with the the razors-and-shaving-cream rigmarole in the first place. Tyra explains to Life & Style, "I don't have to shave my legs," adding, "The hair is so faint, you don't even see it." Not all of us are as lucky as Tyra (although what law ever said anyone had to shave their legs, anyway?), who admits there have been times she actually has whipped out the razor. "I used to shave my legs for the Victoria's Secret fashion show . . . and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue shoot," she quips. Look for Life & Style out on newsstands Friday nationwide, and tell us: if you have fine or light-toned hair, do you forgo shaving, too?

So You Didn't Shave . . . Ways to Still Work Out

Heather Dale — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:32:55 PDT

Two things that always manage to keep me from going to the gym: hairy legs and hairy armpits. Like most people who say that time (or lack thereof) is the primary reason they can't make it to the gym as often as they'd like, I too, will often use the "time" excuse. It's often used when I take one look at my hairy legs and say - "nope, not enough time to shave, which unfortunately means I won't be able to go to the gym today."

I know, this is a lame excuse on my part, which is why I've come up with ways to make sure my legs are prepped for the gym, and/or my armpits are hair-free for yoga, and b) get my butt to the gym even if I'm not smooth shaven. Without further ado, here are some tips for never having to use the "hair-removal time excuse" again.

Mark your calendar. Pick a day or two each week to devout precious shower time to shaving your legs. You already have to shower for work, so make it a priority to shave your legs as well. This way, your legs will always be smooth and ready for your gym shorts . . . no hair freak-outs required.

Keep reading for more tips.

Peach Fuzz Removal: Methods That Work (and Ones That Don't)

Jaime Richards — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:05:00 PDT

Vellus hair, which is endearingly known as peach fuzz, is the short, fine, lightly pigmented hair that can appear on the face, neck, and other areas of the body. While it's often barely noticeable, many people have their own reasons for wanting to rid themselves of it. As you may know, peach fuzz is a tough thing to remove permanently, but there are a few things you can do to temporarily eliminate its appearance. So to see which treatments work, and which ones don't, just keep reading.

So Long, Sarong: 3 Easy Ways to Rid Yourself of Razor Burn

Jaime Richards — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:15:00 PDT

The dog days are upon us, and that means there's still plenty of time to hit the pool or beach. That also means a scramble to stave off razor burn. While there are a few things you can do to prevent razor burn, if you happen to already have the red bumps and irritation, there are a few things you can do to banish the burn.

How do you spell relief?: Formulated with soothing willow herb and ginger root, Kiehl's Razor Bump Relief Lotion ($28) helps to reduce the appearance of ingrown hairs, bumps, and razor burn caused from shaving.
Wipe it away: With Satin Smooth's Res-Q Ingrown Hair Treatment Pads (prices vary by retailer), you can easily wipe away discomfort caused from all sorts of hair removal methods, from shaving to electrolysis to waxing. One side soothes while the other gently exfoliates, loosening trapped hairs.
Get to the root of it: OK, so it's not a treatment per se, but Tria's Hair Removal Laser will help liberate you from many of the problems that come with shaving, especially razor burn and ingrown hairs.

Threading, Sugaring, and Waxing: Health Risks of Hair Removal

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:01:00 PDT

Women go through all kinds of hoops when it comes to beauty, especially in the quest for smooth hairless skin. From waxing to sugaring, threading, and beyond, check out the health risks involved when it comes to common hair removal techniques.

Shaving - Probably the most common way to remove hair since it's fast, cheap, and easy to do yourself. With shaving, there is a risk for nicks, ingrown hairs, and the dreaded razor burn. If you forget to change out the blades, dull or rusty metal may cause irritation or infection. Shaving can also cause folliculitis, an infection in the hair follicle usually caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus (staph) or a fungus.

Waxing - A layer of wax is applied to your skin, and a strip of fabric is placed on top. Once the wax is dry, it adheres to the hairs; pulling the strips off of the skin pulls the hairs from the root. Depending on the location of your body, waxing can be extremely painful; it hurts to have your hair pulled from the root, and the wax also adheres to your skin, taking skin cells with it as it's removed. Waxing can cause irritation and inflammation, especially if you have a reaction to the chemicals in the wax, and, if the wax used is too hot, there's also a risk of burning the skin. If your skin is not held taut when pulling the wax strips off, bruising may occur. Some people also suffer from postwax breakouts or scarring if they have sensitive skin. Once the hairs begin to grow back, you may find painful raised bumps (ingrown hairs), especially under your arms or your bikini area since the hairs tend to be coarse and curly. Waxing should be avoided if you are using Retin-A, Accutane, or antibiotics. These medications make the skin thin, which means more than hair will come off during a waxing service. If you are using Renova or alphy hydroxy, check with your aesthetician before scheduling an appointment.

Read on to hear about sugaring, depilatories, threading, and more.

Sugaring 101: All About This Hair Removal Technique

BellaSugar — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:00:14 PDT

Looking for a sweet way to remove hair? Sugaring might be just the thing for you. This centuries-old method provides longer-lasting results than shaving, and it's less painful than waxing. It just might be a (relatively) easy way to get rid of unwanted fuzz during beach season. Get the scoop - watch now!

How to Take the Pain Out of Waxing

Allure — Thu, 12 May 2011 13:30:00 PDT

We are proud to present this story from Allure:

Perhaps the worst thing about coming out of winter hibernation is the realization that a '70s-era embrace of body hair is not, in fact, sweeping the nation. That's not to say, though, that there is no way to make the delicate reacquaintance with your waxer more bearable. Here, tricks that actually help take the sting out of waxing. See the pain-relieving tips when you keep reading.

10 Gifts You Should Probably Think Twice About Before Giving

Jaime Richards — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 09:00:23 PST

Most gift givers have nothing but good intentions in mind when choosing gifts for their loved ones. Unfortunately, and mainly due to their inherent nature, some gifts can come off as unintentionally insulting. Here are 10 beauty items you might want to think twice about - or put on your list for the ultimate passive-aggressive frenemy gift.

What Do You Know About the History of Shaving?

Jaime Richards — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 06:00:00 PST

Even though I'm a lady, I actually prefer men's razors, particularly the Gillette Fusion ProGlide Power Razor ($9). And while modern shaving products offer up quadruple razor this and vibrating handles that, in the early days, razors weren't quite as sophisticated. Let's go way (way) back and explore the history of these basic hair removal devices. What do you know about the history of shaving?

Take the Quiz