BellaSugar

Do You Have Hair . . . There? You're Not Alone

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:43 -0800

I remember the first time I found a few hairs on my nipples. That's right, I admit it. I had already been dealing with a few errant hairs that had been popping up on on my chin, upper lip, and sometimes even "sideburns," so when I found a few hairs on my boobs, I wasn't all that surprised - although I can't say that I was all too pleased, either. Do you have hairs on your nipples? You're not alone. To check out the stats, just keep reading.

The Big Tria Update: All of the Pros and Cons

BellaSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:00:18 -0700

A few things have happened since Tria, the at-home laser hair-removal gadget, came on the market. First, the economy tanked, which may explain why Tria's price went from $995 to $795. Second, I've had almost a year to give it a whirl (full disclosure: Tria's PR team sent a trial unit for me to use). Third, my opinion has shifted over the last few months. Is Tria worth the hefty price tag? Does it remove hair permanently? Would I recommend it? Find out the answers to these questions when you read more.

What Do You Prefer When It Comes to Manscaping?

BellaSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:00:28 -0700

Whereas the 20th century led women to remove much of their body hair, it wasn't until recently that dudes got into deep depilating. (If you missed it, check out this back waxer.) Now, razor companies aim to persuade guys to shave most of it off - pits, chest, pubes. Brands such as Gillette and Nivea are targeting guys by posting videos of how to shave their bodies, not-so-subtly implying that the less hair they have, the more action they'll get from ladies.

But will they? While I appreciate a well-groomed man, I don't love the idea of a nearly hairless one. Years ago, I dated a guy who shaved all of his body hair. His arms and legs were always prickly, which I found uncomfortable and unpleasant. And I know hairy guys who feel unnecessarily embarrassed for having a little (or a lot of) fur on their chests and backs. Overall, I'd be happier if body hair weren't treated like the worst thing evah - for both men and women. Would you rather see men look natural, completely shaved, or somewhere in between?

Photo by thefuturistics

A Mad, Mortifying Manscaping Video

BellaSugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:00:24 -0700

The metrosexual trend blossomed in the early part of the decade, and though the male-grooming pendulum has swung from that highly coiffed extreme, some guys are still looking into new ways of preening. Chuck Darrow, a highly hairy reporter, decided that it was time to remove his man-fur. And so he went to a Philadelphia spa for a torso wax. He jokes waxing is more torturous than waterboarding - a tacky and inaccurate comparison, to say the least - but winds up highly pleased with the results. There's a video, of course, and I can't decide whether it's hilarious or horrifying. To check out the footage of ol' Chuck's depilatory debut, walk this way.

How Long Do You Stay Smooth After Waxing?

BellaSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:00:22 -0700

OK, this one goes out to all of you who wax various parts of your body: how long does your skin stay smooth after a session? I ask because I get about three days of baby-butt skin before the body-hair gods descend upon me - and I'm not even hirsute in the first place. Sigh. Laser hair removal is looking better and better these days . . .

New Product Alert: Peeka Bu

BellaSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:00:13 -0700

Is this a hair gadget? No. A magnifying mirror? Guess again. A pubic-grooming mirror? Ding ding ding, we have a winner.

Peeka Bu ($35) is a new flexible-necked tool designed to give you a better view for the tidying of your nether regions. Designed by former art director Sarah Nehamen, the mirror attaches to a solid surface via suction cup, then can be angled as necessary. It's biodegradable and made in the States, if that's important to you. The marketing materials promote it as a smart addition to your grooming arsenal, but it would be just as useful for getting to know parts of your anatomy. No doubt Betty Dodson would approve of that, but would you shell out $35 for this mirror?

Reader Review of the Day: Bliss Poetic Waxing Kit

BellaSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:05:35 -0700

Hair removal is the bane of many of our existences, but it doesn't have to be. A few months ago I dished on my experience with Bliss Poetic Cosmetic Waxing Kit ($45), and now it's Bluegirl81's turn. Here's what she had to say about this DIY home waxing product below:

This wax is amazing. I used to break out on my face when waxing at home or the spa, but this wax does not make me break out. It is virtually pain free compared to other waxes. I have been removing hair on my face for over 10 years and this is by far the best. I will never use another at home wax. Highly recommended.

Share your thoughts with us now on anything from hairbrushes to toothpaste on our Product Reviews website. Thanks!

Would You Get Your Swerve On?

BellaSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:00:14 -0700

I once briefly dated an mall-emo boy who was very particular about the hair on his head - had to be dark and just so as it fell into his eyes - but who was even more particular about his body hair. As in, he couldn't stand having any. Homeboy shaved his legs and his arms, and he was almost always a bit stubbly.

It kind of weirded me out.

So, I thought of him as soon as I saw The Swerve, touted as the "first full-body groomtool." It's a razor meant to help dudes defuzz their hairy backs and chests. The ergonomic design is supposed to be easier to maneuver than a normal razor, which makes me think that it could be useful for my own leg-shaving needs. Then again, my regular razor does the job, so perhaps I'll leave the Swervin' to Mr. No-hair. Would you try this out, or would you foist it upon a man in your life?

If you're dying to see a computer-generated demo of the back-shaving in action, read more.

How to Have (Nearly) Pain-Free Bikini Waxing

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:00:40 -0800

At the risk of taking the bullet train to TMI City, I loathe bikini waxing. It is the Sisyphean task of my beauty regimen: I wax, the hair returns, I wax again. On and on it goes.

For a while, I got a $35 wax from a really sweet lady... until I noticed that she was double-dipping the waxing stick. Since I'm a clean freak, I've decided to wax less often but go to a better place. Ergo, I de-fuzz with the bikini wax at Bliss spas, where double-dipping is strictly verboten. Plus, it's shockingly not painful to be waxed here. Bliss has its own special wax that is the closest thing to pain-free ladyparts grooming that I've experienced. It doesn't stick to the skin, but it grabs even the smallest hairs. So one quick rip, and that's all you need. During my weekend bikini wax, at one point I literally didn't feel the wax pulling my hairs out. Score!

If you don't live near a Bliss spa, or you'd like to save a few bucks, check out the waxing kit ($45). It contains the same wax and tools that the pros use, and I've had success using it at home. (Not for Brazilians, though; there are some things that are too tricky for me.) Along with the Completely Bare kit, it's the best at-home option for a minimally painful wax.

Trying Tria: The First-Quarter Update

BellaSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:00:20 -0800

It's been three months since Tria sent me one of their at-home laser hair removal gadgets to try out. At $995, the device is hardly cheap - but it's a lot less expensive than having laser hair removal in a medical spa or doctor's office. Many of you have asked how things are going, so here's the update.

As it turns out, I have the pain threshold of a hamster. Where other people probably feel just a snap from the laser, I feel a quick jolt of needling pain. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm in a hair-removal gulag or anything, but I am a big baby and sometimes the zapping hurts. Tria has three levels of intensity, and as long as I put it on its lowest setting, it's not too bad.

So how hirsute am I these days? To find out, read more.

I hope this isn't an overshare, but I treated my bikini line and left shin with Tria. I chose my bikini line because I hate spending money on waxing every month, and I used my shin as a "control" to see whether the hair truly was disappearing. Three months into the laser-ing, most of the hair is gone. It seems too good to be true, but it is true: I haven't waxed since September, and I have only a few stray hairs. With a few more Tria sessions, they'll be gone.

As for my legs, I let my hair grow out for a few weeks. (I'd like to tell you that this is because I care deeply about measuring my hair-removal process, but really, I'm just lazy.) Here, too, I could tell a difference: The areas I'd zapped with Tria had much less hair. Success!

All in all, I'm pleased with my Tria experience. I absolutely love not having to schedule bikini waxes, and dealing with some discomfort is definitely worth it. Obviously, the price of Tria means that it's not going to be an impulse purchase, but if you already have your heart set on laser hair removal, it's a more affordable way to do it.