Facial Hair.

Source

I am descended from darker skinned people - we think Greek and we know Native American. I've had a moustache for as long as I can remember. When I was 13 one of the boys in our street pointed it out (thanks Lyndsay Adkins ) and I promptly went home and shaved it off. As you do. Mum had the same thing, as did my Nana. Mum and I have an agreement. When I see that she has let her facial hair grow and is nurturing a beard, we're having her put down, because clearly, in her own words 'I'll obviously be off my head.'
My Dad is hairy, my brother is hairy - I'm basically screwed whichever way you look at the genetics.
We're hairy. What can I tell ya? I'll tell you one thing. I'm not going to be embarrassed about it. I personally don't want to resemble the lovely chap above so I take care of it, but I'm not embarrassed at all about having facial hair. FFS what ELSE are we supposed to be 'embarrassed' about.

After another report in another paper today about facial hair - I mean GOD FORBID we aren't completely bald - but whatevs: I thought a quick 'Best way to rid yourself of it depending on the area' may help.

Eyebrow - thread or pluck. Waxing stretches the skin - take it from me, at some point your upper lid falls down. Don't encourage it.

Mustache - thread, wax, bleach (not if you're dark skinned), depilatory creams (burn 'em off) or shave (my preference, and no it doesn't grow back much thicker and denser - mine's 90% gone on a permanent basis)

Nasal - scissors (inside), pluck (outside)

Chin - pluck or thread. Waxing isn't quite strong enough for these hairs. They're like tree trunks. Especially the other side of 40. Sorry girls.

Excessive hair on face due to conditions such as PCOS - threading is easiest to manage, you don't want to be bleaching that amount of skin. And waxing can lead to ingrown hairs and irritation. Laser is a good long-term option but takes patience, and bear in mind it doesn't work as well on really dark skin.

Of course there are other options. Electrolysis - too painful and time-consuming for me (and WHO can be bothered?), laser in salons - pricey, IPL - triggers killer headaches for me and again pricey and home laser kits. All yours for the taking.
I'm too much of a wimp for electrolysis. And the home laser kits are just as good as the salon ones for taches/chins etc in my opinion. I'm playing with one at the minute and will report back in due course.

I am still plucking, shaving and lasering - depending on the area. My Grandad's mantra was 'testicles, spectacles, wallet and watch'. Mine is 'tweezers, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste'.

In the meantime, my name is Caroline. I have a razor and I'm not afraid to use it.

Raise and hold your leg please...

* Don't worry - there are no before and after pictures in this post! But let's set the scene:

A bush.

I'm not the best at de-hairing myself.  I shave my legs as and when, my underarms more often (obviously - eewww) and my Lady Garden? Well, it hasn't been waxed in about 9 years.  Let's just say I maintain it myself...(my poor mum is going to die when she reads this post).

So when I was offered the chance to visit Xenia Yordanova at Eleven salon - just off Bond Street - I thought it was perhaps an opportunity to take maintenance - you know - down there - a little more seriously.

Xenia is a no-nonsense yet warm powerhouse of a therapist.  After getting me to strip off from the waist down - she held up a modesty towel (thank GOD) while I got on to the bed - which, incidentally was still dressed for a facial with full bedding - nice - my previous experiences have involved therapists stripping the bed right back to the plastic and using a strip of bedroll down the middle - practicality for them - not comfort of the client - taking precedence.

Xenia asked what I was after - the thought 'to have it look less like Epping Forest' did cross my mind - but we went for between a normal bikini wax and a Brazilian.  A Hollywood? Not for me thanks - I'm not keen. I think we're supposed to have something down there - no?? And I went for strip wax - I hate hot wax - I don't understand people who say it is less painful. Ugh!

And then?  'Raise your leg and hold it and pull this area tight for me.' OK. This part was new to me - and I was seriously embarrassed - this woman has now seen parts of me previously only seen by my husband and gynaecologist - and yet the look on her face was one of total concentration and professionalism.

My embarrassment quickly disappeared and we started talking - in the way that you ask a taxi driver 'you been busy?' - I asked Xenia - 'I bet you've got some horror waxing stories haven't you!?' And - well - she did - but I think therapist etiquette is 'what is said in the room stays in the room'. But let's just say cleanliness is a courtesy to your therapist - as she said - 'if you are going to the dentist - you brush your teeth!'

And the waxing? Everything you would hope it to be - quick, when I say quick - I mean - pro-level quick - 10 minutes tops - (perfect for squeezing it in at lunchtime), clean, efficient - and done exactly how I wanted it - not how she thought it would be - again - sign of a good therapist - someone who actually listens to you! - she wanted to take more off - baby steps people - give me a chance!

If you are a regular waxer - especially in you know - that area...  you need to visit this woman. Brazilians and Hollywoods are her speciality.  And it shows. I'm going back.

Highly recommended.

Xenia Yordanova is based at Eleven, 11 Blenheim Street, W1.
Appointments - 0207 491 2390
Prices start at £18 for a bikini, rising to £35 and £40 respectively for Brazilians and Hollywoods.