in the pictures, it looks like early on, John shaved his chest hair off. was there any other kind of hair removal used at all besides shaving? how about consistant maintenance of body hair?

I've been looking into a few ideas on how to keep the body hair neat / trim / gone besides shaving, and would like some ideas that work.

thanks

I agree with you. I look mangy if I let my chest hair grow. Its not solid (which in some ways is fine), so it looks anything but neat. I have had it waxed, which really worked well. It lasted for about 3-4 weeks, which is a lot better than shaving all the time. Waxing can cause your skin to get a little red, as it is kind of irritating! After being inspired by John, & resuming my program, I used Nair to get rid of the initial hair which was longer. (didnt want to spend all day cleaning my razor!) Now that its short I shave using a razor, and it looks good, but only for a few days, then it feels stubbly.

I'm interested to hear what works too...

in the pictures, it looks like early on, John shaved his chest hair off. was there any other kind of hair removal used at all besides shaving? how about consistant maintenance of body hair?

I've been looking into a few ideas on how to keep the body hair neat / trim / gone besides shaving, and would like some ideas that work.

thanks

Why don't you want to shave? It seems like the most practical way to get the job done (and the method I use to get rid of body hair).

I guess you could use wax or something along those lines. That just seems like a hassle (well, moreso than shaving). And hell, I already have razors in the house.

The most effective method for permanent hair removal is the laser. In terms of cost, that is also the highest. The newer lasers also have reduced the short term side effects.

Depilatories like Nair and Andre for Men, use chemicals to dissolve the hair. The drawbacks are the effect lasts a short time (anywhere from a few hours to several days), dark-hair may have visible "shadow" under the skin. The depilatories often require use every two or three days. Which can cause skin irritation and cuts. Some people consider them to be a severe skin and eye irritant (the definitely can stink!).

Razors, well, we all know what razors can do. Knicks, cuts, doesn't last any longer than depilatories and it clogs the drains. :)

Hope that helps.

I am extremely hairy and have tried everything except laser removal. I am looking into it but I don't think I'll be able to afford that luxury for quite some time. Fortunately, my girlfriend likes my chest hair and doesn't want me to shave it off completely. The best method for me was trimming it down with electric clippers just short enough to see that I am human.I have found that nair works best with shorter hair (around 1/4"). I guess there is less hair to burn.

Is it common for guys to shave their chest, especially weightlifters? I like my chest clean, and I prefer it shaved, so does my wife as I'm not all that hairy. For those who do shave, how do you prevent getting ingrown hairs, or pimples? Also how often do you shave? I do it every couple of days.

The first time I got rid of my chest hair (March 2003) I had my wife wax it off. The pain was pretty bad, but the worst part was the horrible rash (http://www.johnstonefitness.com/all/front/63.jpg) I got from it. The rash lasted for weeks. Needless to say, that was the last time I tried waxing.

Now I just shave down every Saturday morning after my workout. I only shave my chest/abdominal area and my arms (not under them, though!) In the summer I sometimes shave my legs just so I can get a better look at my muscle development and get some sun on them, but I don't like doing it very often because A) it takes a long time and B) as the hair grows back I tend to get a rash from ingrown hairs. Thankfully I never have a problem with rashes on my chest and arms (at least not since the waxing fiasco).

Yeah, I catch a little shit from some of my friends and some of the people who email me, but I don't care. I like the way my chest and arms look much better with no hair on them. My wife does, too, so that's all that matters.

Maybe it's a little vain, but screw it; I worked hard on my body, and I want my muscles to show! :flex:

For those who do shave, how do you prevent getting ingrown hairs, or pimples? Also how often do you shave? I do it every couple of days.

You can get ingrown hairs from waxing as well. Using a loofah sponge or coarse washcloth is supposed to help. There is usually some after-wax lotion that you can put on to help with the bumps that come up. A good idea would be to bathe the area in cool water immediately afterwards.

Shaving is probably the easiest but you have to do it more often than if you waxed, and if you've got hair on our back :( you'll have a hard time doing it yourself. If you do try chemical agents, make sure to test it on a small piece of skin first.

Has anyone tried the new "Micro Razors" that are popular on TV?

Has anyone tried the new "Micro Razors" that are popular on TV?

I've seen those mini-razors / trimmers in my local WalMart. All they are is a miniaturized version of a hair trimmer/buzzer - battery opererated. I guess it would be good for doing small areas but I wouldn't use it for major hair removal.

I am extremely hairy and have tried everything except laser removal. I am looking into it but I don't think I'll be able to afford that luxury for quite some time.

i have an appointment today at 3 to get Epilight laser hair removal done. it's $215 for 100 blasts of the laser. Each blast is approximately 1.5x1 inches according to the lady I spoke to on the phone. She said it usually takes 2 or 3 applications for most men. I'll let you know how it works. Hoping to do my back/neck/shoulders today and the chest later on.

Dear all,

Why on earth would you want to remove that which the good Lord has seen fit to bless you with? Hair is excellent. No exceptions to be honest. I had my back waxed (due to plans for a tattoo, which never happened sadly) by the now wife, and had a terribly spotty back for about 8 weeks. Not only was the pain wreched, I itched the whole next two months.

The jist of my point is, there is nothing wrong with body hair whatsoever. If it grows on you, enjoy it, for if it stops growingon you, you will only miss it.

Andrew.

Dear all,

Why on earth would you want to remove that which the good Lord has seen fit to bless you with? Hair is excellent. No exceptions to be honest. I had my back waxed (due to plans for a tattoo, which never happened sadly) by the now wife, and had a terribly spotty back for about 8 weeks. Not only was the pain wreched, I itched the whole next two months.

The jist of my point is, there is nothing wrong with body hair whatsoever. If it grows on you, enjoy it, for if it stops growingon you, you will only miss it.

Andrew.
Do you shave your face? Cut your finger nails? Cut your hair?

haha.. yeah good point John. seriously.. it's a preference.. most women i know DON'T like hairy backs.. some don't mind a hairy chest and some actually like it.. but nobody likes a hairy back or shoulders or ears or nose. okay??? okay..

i had the first laser treatment the other day and it hurt like a mofo. like someone kept snapping a rubber band against my neck. i can't wait to go back! :) definitely not cheap.. but waiting 6-8 weeks between treatments helps break down the cost over a period of time.

Do you shave your face? Cut your finger nails? Cut your hair?

All are required for work. Body hair is not.

Andrew.

Do you shave your face? Cut your finger nails? Cut your hair?

All are required for work. Body hair is not.

Andrew.Depends on where you work. Sounds to me like you sold out your beliefs for money.

I dislike body hair on myself, so I can certainly understand why guys want to get rid of all that hair, as well.


I would LOVE to have that laser treatment!!!

I remember when I stopped shaving and grew a beard. My then girlfriend stopped shaving her legs. I just couldn't enjoy the hair God gave her on her legs. So I shaved.

P.S. (that means post-script, but if I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will let me know :D )

I didn't miss the hair on her legs one bit.

Depends on where you work. Sounds to me like you sold out your beliefs for money.

John, my original comment was concerning body hair. I fail to see how your last post is fair, or even appropriate.

Andrew.

Depends on where you work. Sounds to me like you sold out your beliefs for money.

John, my original comment was concerning body hair. I fail to see how your last post is fair, or even appropriate.

Andrew.
You came into a thread in which someone asked about hair removal methods and basically crapped all over it with comments like:

"Why on earth would you want to remove that which the good Lord has seen fit to bless you with? Hair is excellent. No exceptions to be honest."

"The jist of my point is, there is nothing wrong with body hair whatsoever. If it grows on you, enjoy it, for if it stops growingon you, you will only miss it."

That's called "thread crapping", and I don't like it. No one in this thread asked for opinions on whether or not hair removal was something good or bad, and your comments were totally out of place and inappropriate. You made several sweeping generalizations, and my comments were designed to show that you are being hypocritical.

This is the second thread in which you've derailed the conversation. Please make sure it's the last by considering your comments more carefully before posting them. Thanks.

http://www.nevershaveagain.com/ ..... hmm, this looks interesting.:)

And, what about the waxless hair removing creams that has been shown on infomercials? Not the "nair" stuff, but the other creams. I can't remember the name of the one in particular that I'm thinking of, but when I do think of it I'll post it.

After, doing some searching online I came up with this site: http://store.yahoo.com/igiaonline/epil-stop.html I think this is the stuff I was thinking of. Anyone use these products out of curiosity?

The electrolosis tweezers are useless. You just can't get enough current down the hair shaft to cause any damage to it. You'll get the hair out, sure, but it will only last a day or two more than if you shaved it. It isn't worth the investment in time.

Andrew-
I think all John was trying to say was that your questioning why people want to "get rid of what the good Lord gave them",however, the good Lord also gave you hair on your head and face and also gave you fingernails that would grow unsightly if not groomed. You agree to groom these "socially expected" hairs/nails (your excuse/reason being work). There are jobs that do not require your face to be shaved and hair to be cut (many blue collar jobs like construction, truck driving, auto mechanic, etc...), however, you apparently choose a profession in which you are required to groom these places. You are then questioning others that go beyond that. If you are so against modifying what nature gave you, you had a choice to go into a profession which did not require you to do so. I think John's comment was completely relevant and correct. For females it is pretty much socially expected to groom the majority of their body hair (which god also gave us). Are you against that too or is it ok because almost all women do it? To each his own. If grooming body hair makes other's feel better about themselves, who are you to question or judge them for it? This forum has a really positive energy and should not be bogged down by people picking fights over trivial things that really aren't worth getting upset about. ;)

Franco Columbo, the famed body builder took this method: Everyday, he'd grab a pinch full of body hair and yank it out. Eventually it stopped coming back. I'm getting to that age where I'm getting hair where I don't want it - I've taken to yank out the ones that appear on my shoulders, and they don't seem to come back...

I guess if you're serious about being rid of it, and don't want to shell out for laser treatment, that's a good method.

(Don't forget though - hair is your body's lubricant. It tends to grow places you don't want to chafe.)

As far as body hair removal goes - I think it's a matter of opinion. Visually, it's tidier, but maintenance can be a pain...