I have been struggling with what I would call excessive body hair since puberty. I deal with thick rug like hair on my chest down to my private area, from the back of my neck right down to my butt and all over my shoulders. The hair is dark and coarse and irritates my sensative pale skin. It also makes me much hotter in summertime, which is why I often shave it. But the problem with shaving is the stubble and the itching when it starts to grow back. Also the hair on my behind makes things very unpleasant after a bowel movement (like spending 10-15 minutes cleaning up).
The problem is the hair just never stops growing. I got hairs on my chest that are almost 2 1/2 inches long, same for my back. I cant afford laser treatment or electrolysis, so I’ve just been shaving it. I’m not so concerned with what women think (even though one girlfriend I had got her bracelet stuck in my chest hair…not pleasant!) so much as the hair is itchy and is not comfortable. I also get prickly heat in my groin area in the warmer weather when I hike, no doubt made worse by the hair. I do admit I’m afraid to take my shirt off at the beach for getting laughed at though, because of how thick my chest hair is. When I shave my chest and back (usually when I cant take it anymore) its enough to fill up a bucket! I try to see how long I can stick it out before shaving, so far I haven’t made it longer than 9-10 months.
You can get a trimmer and keep the hair nice and trimmed on your chest, stomach and any other areas you can reach. This way you won’t get razor burn or rashes, but the hair will look more manicured and less thick.
Just a thought 
Permanent hair removal and reduction via electrolysis or laser is not easy or inexpensive, but it’s all you have in 2008 to relieve you. For the huge amount of hair you have all over your body, laser would be the starting plan and believe it or not you are lucky because you have coarse,dark hair. Just getting a reduction would make you feel physically more comfortable in the summer, cleaner and you wouldn’t have to be annoyed by the after effects of temporary hair removal.
I think ale’s suggestion is very helpful. I heard you when you said you can’t afford laser or electrolysis, but always feel it necessary to offer advice on how to tame the hair and put this concern behind you.
Creative strategies are found by millions of people when they are in tough situations. Maybe you will think of ways to earn some money just for your hair removal needs. Maybe you can become a laser technician and get discounted treatments? Maybe you could learn how to do electrolysis with on a buddy system with someone else that is suffering just like yourself and help each other? It’s a good way to fill in the time on some of those boring weekends.
A permanent solution for hair removal/ reduction is not a constant. There is a point where one gets finished and is satisfied. Effort and money goes in another direction for some other need or want. Your not me and I’m not you, but if I were you, I would not live like this.
I would suggest using clippers we well. With maybe a short “blending” guard on it. This would eliminate any razor bumps and probably do wonders for you. Definitely much better than what you are dealing with now.
Many laser places and dermatologists offer specials and interest free financing for a year. Now that the economy is bad, most places are hungry for business and I bet you can get a good deal. It’s got to be worth a try. Nothing to lose except all of that uncomfortable hair.
Stormy-the problem is that the prices have not come down. I live in a cosmopolitan city and the prices are very high. The economy does not seem to affect people from spending money on laser hair removal. I guess vanity is the last thing to be cut from people’s budgets.
I have been manscaping for years. It’s the poor guys answer to laser treatments : )