Ever since i hit puberty i noticed hair growing in parts of my body i never seen before. Since being the only girl my mother never told me about whats going on with my body so i thought i was turning into a freak. I became so vain to be hair free, that i started shaving every part of my body from my legs, snail trail, arms, chest, genital area. I wish i didnt because my hair was so light in the first place and hardly noticeable. Reading and seeing smooth models and girls i thought i wanted to be smooth and hair free, boy did i regret it.
After feeling like i was doing sometthing right to be like other girls my age it all became worse. I found myself quickly having to shave these areas all the time in summer in order to not feel embarrased. It got so much worser that it started growing all over my body like hirsuitism except that i dont have hormonal problems at all.
I dont want to take drugs for hirsuitism because of side effects and because my hair growth was self inflicted and not hormonal. I have mens hair like growth and find it so unbearable that it causes me major depression. I even am scared to show my doctor my whole body. I feel like a freak and hardly show off any parts of my body. When i do shave my bfs always thought i had nice, smooth feeling skin and thats the only upside of my shaving the downside is that i continously have to shave or wax and cant handle it anymore. I’ll rather die then show abeauty therapist i have hair allover my stomach,chest, bum, thighs, legs, hands and arms all because of shaving.
Please help i dont want to feel alone. i ruined my body now i have to live with it. cries
Hi:
It is a myth that shaving makes the hair grow thicker and faster.
If you have a hair problem it is probably caused by genetics or hormones.
If it causes you this much anxiety then you are probably better to see a counsellor to help you deal with it. It is not your fault and you don’t have to feel ashamed.
If you really need to get rid of the hair, and it is not caused by hormonal imbalance, then you can consider electrolysis or laser. Most women have hair, and lots of women wax, shave or pluck. Many get electrolysis or laser too.
I wish you a lot of luck. Don’t feel ashamed. Be proud of yourself for who you are. Don’t let this take away from your love of life, or self.
Alicia
Thanks Alicia!!
All i know is if i didnt shave i would have stayed normal. When i said i have mens hair growth i didnt mean the thickness of it i meant the rate at which it grew on different parts of my body from shaving. Genetic factor could be a possibility but the funny thing is my mum has hardly any hair at all and my dads hair only became abundent when he was over 30(and still not that hairy). Only one person has black hair in my family, my dads mum (everyone else is blonde, red head). So maybe the black hair gene has to be looked into. Oh and to cut my wound deeper my brothers have hardly any hair at all.
I have done so much research similar to what you have told me. I have interrupted my lanugo hairs from shaving and it became worser. Since its not a hormonal problem i think it might be that im sensitive which causes the hairs to grow. I dont want to talk to someone who will continously tell me nothings wrong with it. When most of my life i had to live with it. I love my partner so much that he makesa joke of some women being hairy that it only makes me hide it more.
I know some of my friends used to say they shaved their arms , smail trails and lower backs so i wanst alone it that but it wasnt as bad as what i have done to my whole body. I was so young and stupid now i regret it.
Everytime i walk past a salon with a laser hair removal sign or electrologist sign i keep thinking what if im there afterwork subject at dinner time. I wish they invented sometthing i could be using at home. Oh well looks like i have to keep at what im doing.
The only after work discussion electrolysis practitioners have about their clients is how much they feel for you, and how happy they are when they see that you have come to a place where you are happy with the work done, and everything is under control.
Hi secrectpain
I hear you, but shaving does not increse hair growth. For a man it may be different, but I have to shave my legs to wear shorts! My father was nearly hairless and so are most of my close relatives. At 16 I was more hairy than the men of 30! You are not alone and thats why forums like this exist. Keep with it and time will tell.
Good Luck
Stuart
Sorry to hear that. There is a lotion by Jergens and Aveno, that says to reduce hair growth. It’s called Naturally Smooth, Shave Minimizing Moisturizer. I have only used it for a couple of weeks, but I think it has made a small difference. As far as dealing with your problem of hair I would get laser hair removal done. One of my brother friends has his own laser place and company in Beverly Hills. One time I was there helping, in the front desk, because his nurse was going to some convention. I had never done this before, but I did it because he’s nice to my brother and I and he gives us discounts. Well anyways, while I was there I saw lots of girls getting treated. Some of them were getting full body treatments. There was also a girl who like 15 getting laser done on her face, neck, and upper back. There is nothing to be ashamed about in getting laser work done. I am actually thinking about buying a laser as a co-ownership. I am looking to buy a Diode Lightsheer. I am not sure if this is something that you would be looking into to, but it might be good if you want to treat on yourself or have a friend who needs work done treat you and you can treat them. I know this sounds crazy, but I think it’s a cheaper way to go. Laser places charge a lot for laser, like $200 to $500 an hour. I got the $200 an hour only at a discount rate. A laser would cost around $60,000 and I was thinking if like 7,8,9, or 10 people were to be co-owners, then everyone would chip in and be able to use it. There is also a $7,000 a year maintaince charge to get it serviced, but this can also be divided. I am looking to purchase a laser within the next 6-8 months. Well it’s just an idea, I don’t know if you would be interested. Good luck with everything.
Those products have already been discussed on the site, do a search on their names, and you will find the info.
They only make the hair feel softer, they don’t really slow growth, just your perception of growth.
I know this sounds crazy, but I think it’s a cheaper way to go. Laser places charge a lot for laser, like $200 to $500 an hour. I got the $200 an hour only at a discount rate.
Most places don’t charge by the hour. Most places actually charge by body part, and the most expensive body part is the back and/or full legs ($300-$500). Since your experience with laser was charged at an hourly rate, LHR would seem expensive to you. If you did go to a place that charged by body part, then you would probably realize that LHR is not so expensive that it would make you want to buy a laser machine and share it with 9 other inexperienced people.
i dont know if people are saying shaving doesnt cause worser hair growth problems because of scientific reasons or so the shaving industries sales dont decline. I have heard about most companies paying scientists to not release informations such as that. So im not so much closed minded, not saying that any of you are. I definately dont go by statistics because this is another company paying tactic.
I dont want to go on a false belief but i know how much difference shaving has made to my body and how much longer and thicker it has become and how it has caused my light hairs to become darker. By looking at it definately has become longer from it if i let it grow. I should know my body after so many years of shaving. I can also see the difference when i wax (waxing makes the hair appear thinner and finer then shaving but still can grow long).
I was asked to do modelling 3 times and each time it has killed me to decline. My body issues have stopped me doing alot of things in my life and i have to do quick shaves which i hate. Somettimes when i do look at girls in the magazines i wondered how they looked so hairless it took me another 5 years since puberty to work out that some of them are airbrushed. You can basically say i was (swear word)!!
I’m still working up the courage to see someone. Can anyone tell me if i should see a doctor first?
Another beautiful person which gave me inspiration is Salma Hayek. She grew her real facial hair for the movie Frieda and she wasnt embarrased admitting it. So im glad a person who is famous had the courage to admit that which is what i admire.
Hi:
Hair growth comes from within and is caused by DHT stimulating the hair follicles. Shaving the hair off at the surface should not stimulate the growth of your hair. the fact that you are focused on wanting to get rid of the hair, and have to keep shaving to maintain that appearance may make it appear to have been made worse by the shaving.
Also our hair grows more as we mature. So if someone starts shaving at 16 and their hair is thicker at 21, they say it was since they started to shave it.
You mention your grandmother having more hair than your parents. I thought my eyebrows must have come from my dad, but I got some good pictures of my grandmother and great grandmother from my fathers side, and they had pretty thick eyebrows. Thanks a lot ladies!
I agree that Selma Hayak is a beautiful woman with or without facial hair.
Alicia
Ever since i hit puberty i noticed hair growing in parts of my body i never seen before. Since being the only girl my mother never told me about whats going on with my body so i thought i was turning into a freak. I became so vain to be hair free, that i started shaving every part of my body from my legs, snail trail, arms, chest, genital area. I wish i didnt because my hair was so light in the first place and hardly noticeable. Reading and seeing smooth models and girls i thought i wanted to be smooth and hair free, boy did i regret it.
After feeling like i was doing sometthing right to be like other girls my age it all became worse. I found myself quickly having to shave these areas all the time in summer in order to not feel embarrased. It got so much worser that it started growing all over my body like hirsuitism except that i dont have hormonal problems at all.
I dont want to take drugs for hirsuitism because of side effects and because my hair growth was self inflicted and not hormonal. I have mens hair like growth and find it so unbearable that it causes me major depression. I even am scared to show my doctor my whole body. I feel like a freak and hardly show off any parts of my body. When i do shave my bfs always thought i had nice, smooth feeling skin and thats the only upside of my shaving the downside is that i continously have to shave or wax and cant handle it anymore. I’ll rather die then show abeauty therapist i have hair allover my stomach,chest, bum, thighs, legs, hands and arms all because of shaving.
Please help i dont want to feel alone. i ruined my body now i have to live with it. cries
I can completly relate to what your going through. I did the same EXACT thing when I was young. I shaved many the same places you did. I had very light hair, that turned into dark course hair, in effect of shaving. I have also been asked to model many times, and have been told how beautiful I am. But, pretty or not…(Even though what makes you who you are is not your physical outside) inside those emotional scars from knowing you have hair problems…don’t help much with your self esteem. I’m just as sick of it as you are or anyone else that has it. But, if we want to get rid of it we’re going to have to find a way to get rid of it…or just do what your doing now (shaving,waxing ect.). I want to get rid of it. So I’m going to take a chance. I’ve saved my money and plan on buying a professional blend electrolisis machine. So I can get rid of this in the privacy of my own home. I know it takes time to learn, it’s tedious and it takes patience. But I think it will be worth it in the end.
If only shaving made hair grow thicker and faster!
All balding men would be so grateful!
Is it possible that she is going throught normal ordinary adolensent hair growth and doesn’t really have a problem?
You are normal!
The experts keep insisting that shaving does not cause more hair growth. I guess I can agree with that. One thing I do know is that waxing does. This is what happened to me. I never used to wax my upper lip or sideburns (it was not that long), I only used to bleach them. Then I got caught in scam of Global Electrolysis and used a machine of theirs. The machine needed me to wax first then apply the dye then do the laser. Needless to say it did not work. But what has happened was, I had to continue waxing from that point forward and that when the hair started appearing on my cheeks, which I never had. This has happened from the waxing. I know my body and I know every little change that happens. When you wax or tweeze, the skin experience trauma and blood rushes to that area, in the process it stimulated other hair follicles to become active.
Uh, how old are you?
Is that true is about waxing causing more hair growth? Has anyone else experienced it? I’ve waxed, but am so hairy, that I can’t really tell a difference. I believe being hairy is just something that happens to some people. I’m very hairy and my hair grows fast. In the summer I shave my legs twice a day. My brother has to shave his face in the morning and again around 2 pm. If he wants to be smooth for an evening event he has to shave again before going out. He never looks smooth and has a lot of irritation, but the military demands the constant shaving.
I do not understand why experts claim that shaving does not make hairs thicker. Shaving definitely changes the texture of your hair - perhaps it is not thicker but it is definitely something else. ask anyone who has shaved. boys who shaved the soft hairs on their chins- their hair immediately returns thicker. i can remember shaving my hair on my legs and underams and it grew back more course appearing. and i do not have a hormonal problem. i think for some people, shaving for whatever reason, doesn’t make their hair grow thicker or appear courser. but for many many people, it definitely does. you can clearly see and feel the difference. if your periods are normal, then your problem is due entirely to shaving. do not feel bad. there are many of us who made mistakes like this because we were younger and didn’t know better. i trust you will find a good solution to your problem and things will get better. although the hair will never completelly go away (as it never does on anyone), you will find a solution to make it much lighter and softer. do not be discouraged or feel ashamed. this says a lot about our vain society and the pressure to be unrealistically smooth. if only we taught people it’s normal to have hair on your arms and othe places. hang in there.
If one reads this site, or uses the search feature you will find that we explain in many places, and once again here, that hairs are thicker at the base and taper to a point. This means the hair is actually thicker at the skin’s surface than it is at the natural point. When you shave, you cut the hair down to the base. An unshaved area of skin feels softer because the hair that tapers bends really easily and also doesn’t reflect much light, while a cut hair is in fact thicker at the end than the natural tapered end, while also reflecting much more light off the circular disk that you have replaced the natural point with. Get it?
People with brains know that hair on the body is natural and normal. People who get their idea of beauty from TV and magazines don’t realize that the super model they drool over could be sitting right next to them and not know it because they don’t look like the PhotoShopped images made famous in the magazines and posters.
On the day Tyra Banks did the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, her measurements were 36-26-38 the image that appeared on the cover was digitally edited to be 36-22-34 and caused people who knew her from all over the world to contact her with conscern over her health. Some thought she was sick, others thought she had had surgery, but she simply sent them the unretouched photos to show them the “thunder-thighs” that the digital editors cound not stand to have on their magazine, even though they paid her thousands of dollars per hour for that shoot.
A few supermodels have freckles all over their faces, but you would not know that, because they are always airbrushed out of the pictures. I was really proud that in Linsey Lohan’s Elle shoot, she had minimal makeup and left her freckles for the world to see.
Take Care, and Hold Your Heads Up High.
Hi James:
I am an avid follower of Americas Next Top Model, so get to see a lot of Tyra on that. I think she looks fabulous no matter what her measurements might be, and doesn’t need any airbrushing.
It might be nice to see the real deal in some of the fashion advertisements, since it might be more realistic to see people who look normal. They can still look beautiful and glamorous, but there is no need to change ones figure through digital trickery. The extremes that they create give young women the wrong idea of how they should look, and low self esteem when they can’t achieve that.
Alicia