Waxing

Lycra-Byka

Firstly, no pictures allowed in this thread please.


After some advice from somebody that has waxed down below in the quest to stop chaffing and in particular ingrowing hairs.
I have been suffering on and off with these afflictions since upping the cycling frequency and subsequently, miles.
I have tried everything believe me so please don't try advising anything else. Obviously this is quite a drastic measure for most people to try but it's got to be worth the short term pain.

Basically before I buy the stuff needed does anybody have any advise on the art of waxing?
Most importantly did anybody have improvements after screaming the house down.

Oh and no I can't afford/brave a pro waxer to do it.

Been to the gp about this and he told me either reduce ride frequency or try waxing(after I asked if it would help)

Druidor

I must admit round the back has come into contact with those waxing strips solely down to getting a sores due to sweating in the summer. that is as far as the very thought of waxing will ever go.

fatsmoker

Shaving? never done it myself, but porn stars do it, so it must be awesome. Waxing has to be seriously painful and you won't be riding soon after the wax - too tender - i do know this from an ex gf who insisted we wait a day after she waxed.

Lycra-Byka

fatsmoker wrote:

Shaving? never done it myself, but porn stars do it, so it must be awesome. Waxing has to be seriously painful and you won't be riding soon after the wax - too tender - i do know this from an ex gf who insisted we wait a day after she waxed.

It's sore that long after?

Oh shit!

goonz

I dont wax or shave, I simply run my hair trimmer over every part of my body every few weeks. Even the nether regions, wont leave you smooth as a babys bottom but gets rid of the hair and no pain.

Or if you really want to wax it then read these first:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B000KKNQBK

doug5_10

Do you use chamois creme? Reduces chaffing and consequently irritation to hair follicles. That and keeping the undercarriage clean as possible i.e. washing straight after riding and clean bibs every ride? i would try everything before having to wax under there! You would have to get someone else to do it anyway: much rather someone who knows what they're doing than a significant other giggling with a few Veet strips!!

Lycra-Byka

doug5_10 wrote:

Do you use chamois creme? Reduces chaffing and consequently irritation to hair follicles. That and keeping the undercarriage clean as possible i.e. washing straight after riding and clean bibs every ride? i would try everything before having to wax under there! You would have to get someone else to do it anyway: much rather someone who knows what they're doing than a significant other giggling with a few Veet strips!!

I don't wish to sound condescending but, I did say I have tried it all. Waxing is the last resort. I just want advice and experience about the waxing. Thank you for advice though.

lc1981

I'm ignoring your call to keep this to the question of how to best go about waxing, but isn't the purpose of body hair to reduce friction? Removing it might make things worse. That article also suggests that it might lead to more, rather than less, infections.

ednino

Forget wax, I use Nair hair removal cream. Painless and works the same.

It also says 'for men' on the bottle so I don't feel like a gay in Tesco

WindyG

Never had a problem with shaving, I do it once a week and can ride no problem the next day, found being to hairy led to being too sweaty and got sore much easier, I don't think I could do waxing, though I think the wife would enjoying doing it to me :shock:

diy

Try thrush/athletes foot cream on the chaffed area. You probably have an infection.

racingcondor

I wouldn't advise shaving high enough to de-hair anything that has friction issues (i.e. top of leg outside, not quite so thorough inside. Leave everything above the leg well alone). Pretty sure you're going to cause trouble if you remove hair anywhere with significant saddle/lycra contact.

Don't forget that if you waxed you'd have to leave the hair until it grew a lot longer (than shaving) before you could re-apply so you're asking for stubble issues.

neeb

Yup, shave up to the tops of the thighs and then stop! Above that let everything grow to its full and natural length... As long as it's clean and you /always/ wear newly washed shorts, I can't see how any form of hair removal is going to cause less irritation than just letting it grow. On the rare occasions I've shaved my arse I've had rashes.

rodgers73

I've been waxed by a professional for over a year now. I get it done every 5 or 6 weeks and it costs me £35. It was painful to start with but by now the hair follicles are so weak that its easily manageable - if you see waxing as the only solution then bear this in mind if the pain worries you.

Typically its over and done with in about 20-25 mins and she leaves me very very smooth. Far better than I could ever achieve myself considering the sort of areas you're dealing with and the angles you'd be working at.

Its a little tender the day after but not enough to stop me riding. The only sore spot is at the base of my old man and she only does that bit to neaten up the overall look - I could easily leave that au naturelle. The only other after effect is you need to exfoliate (gently!) to avoid any ingrowing hairs cropping up in the week or so afterwards.

So, I'd say its probably worth putting your hand in your pocket for a professional job. It'll save you a lot of pain and frustration in the short term and longer term you'll be able to get a discount as a regular customer.

GGBiker

lc1981 wrote:

I'm ignoring your call to keep this to the question of how to best go about waxing, but isn't the purpose of body hair to reduce friction? Removing it might make things worse. That article also suggests that it might lead to more, rather than less, infections.

Damn straight, I shaved the bits including round the back door in an effort to improve things, worst mistake ever, you are absolutely correct to say that body hair reduces friction. If you take it off your shorts rub directly on sensitive skin, thousands of times per ride= severe pain. I tried all sorts of creams to settle it but no joy.

My ass was on fire for months until the hair grew back. Worth remembering that the skin has been protected by hair for years and it is soft as a result. Removing it then chafing it maybe 50,000 times per week is not good.

Lycra-Byka

People its not chaffing. It's ingrowing hairs which is caused by pulling.
Not everyday sores.

goonz

Best ask the doctor then....

racingcondor

@ rodgers73 - You sir are a braver man than I ;-)

Mark Elvin

A quick grade 2 over the meat & two veg does the trick, shaving made things worse.....much worse! :oops:

SpainSte

I shave/wax everywhere except my head and my pits. I hate hairy bodies and the missus prefers it like this too.

MTFU, grit your teeth and get it done. General tip - go over it with a hair clipper on the closest setting to get the hairs shorter - it hurts less that way!

goonz

SpainSte wrote:

I shave/wax everywhere except my head and my pits. I hate hairy bodies and the missus prefers it like this too.

MTFU, grit your teeth and get it done. General tip - go over it with a hair clipper on the closest setting to get the hairs shorter - it hurts less that way!

Why not the pits?

neeb

goonz wrote:

Why not the pits?

That occurred to me as well. Maybe it's a generational thing (I'm mid 40s), but I think there's something a bit sinister about shaved or trimmed pubes. Legs (and optionally faces) are the only things below the neck that should be shaved in men or women IMO. We're mammals FFS!

SpainSte

goonz wrote:

SpainSte wrote:

I shave/wax everywhere except my head and my pits. I hate hairy bodies and the missus prefers it like this too.

MTFU, grit your teeth and get it done. General tip - go over it with a hair clipper on the closest setting to get the hairs shorter - it hurts less that way!

Why not the pits?

Not a fan of the way they look to be honest with being in and out of the pool most of the summer months I'll look like a tool

Lycra-Byka

rodgers73 wrote:

I've been waxed by a professional for over a year now. I get it done every 5 or 6 weeks and it costs me £35. It was painful to start with but by now the hair follicles are so weak that its easily manageable - if you see waxing as the only solution then bear this in mind if the pain worries you.

Typically its over and done with in about 20-25 mins and she leaves me very very smooth. Far better than I could ever achieve myself considering the sort of areas you're dealing with and the angles you'd be working at.

Its a little tender the day after but not enough to stop me riding. The only sore spot is at the base of my old man and she only does that bit to neaten up the overall look - I could easily leave that au naturelle. The only other after effect is you need to exfoliate (gently!) to avoid any ingrowing hairs cropping up in the week or so afterwards.

So, I'd say its probably worth putting your hand in your pocket for a professional job. It'll save you a lot of pain and frustration in the short term and longer term you'll be able to get a discount as a regular customer.

Thanks for the info. I'm going to have a bash myself first. Think I'll MTFU for the name of science. Although a bit worried about the fact you say you have ingrowing hairs the week after, but this proves the point about hairs being pulled causing ingrowing hairs.
I think my plan is, (I've already trimmed in prep), exfoliate first , wax, then stay off the bike as much as possible. (broken ribs anyway so pretty much off the bike ATM )

I'll let you all know if I live through the process....

Mikey23

Another waxing fan here. Have legs, bum and chest done every 6 or 7 weeks from a professional lady friend of mine and costs about £40. Have been doing this for about 5 years now. I leave man bits alone as I have tried otherwise on the bike and it doesn't seem to be a good idea. Not too uncomfortable and the more you do it the easier it gets as the hairs soften and are easier to pull. My friend says she has many male customers and it seems much more common in Europe ...

rodgers73

Lycra-Byka wrote:

Although a bit worried about the fact you say you have ingrowing hairs the week after, but this proves the point about hairs being pulled causing ingrowing hairs.

In theory you're supposed to exfoliate but I always forget and by now there are no side effects at all. I think it is more of a problem the first few times you get it done or if you're very hairy.

Otherwise, I shave my chest (minimal growth so no need to wax) get my nostrils waxed and run a beard trimmer over my armpit hair. I leave my legs hairy but getting tempted to tackle this soon too. Hollywood/TV seems to have created this myth that men getting waxed is some sort of Medieval torture - its quite bearable in practice.

Lycra-Byka

Lol
Chest-shave

Nostrils-wax

Armpits -trimmer


Sorry just sounds like you butter your cornflakes and pour milk on your toast, if you will.

neeb

rodgers73 wrote:

Otherwise, I shave my chest (minimal growth so no need to wax) get my nostrils waxed and run a beard trimmer over my armpit hair. I leave my legs hairy but getting tempted to tackle this soon too. Hollywood/TV seems to have created this myth that men getting waxed is some sort of Medieval torture - its quite bearable in practice.

Hairy-legged and otherwise waxed all over, what kind of cyclist are you?

Lycra-Byka

Recumberent.

goonz

rodgers73 wrote:

Lycra-Byka wrote:

Although a bit worried about the fact you say you have ingrowing hairs the week after, but this proves the point about hairs being pulled causing ingrowing hairs.

In theory you're supposed to exfoliate but I always forget and by now there are no side effects at all. I think it is more of a problem the first few times you get it done or if you're very hairy.

Otherwise, I shave my chest (minimal growth so no need to wax) get my nostrils waxed and run a beard trimmer over my armpit hair. I leave my legs hairy but getting tempted to tackle this soon too. Hollywood/TV seems to have created this myth that men getting waxed is some sort of Medieval torture - its quite bearable in practice.

Nostrils waxed? How the feck do you get a strip up there? And shave your chest and leave your legs hairy? I assume you dont have an other half to laugh at you with that look?

Think the waxing depends on how hairy you are and whether you are ready to MTFU. I find a trimmer on lowest setting works fine for all over my body, no need to shave or wax.

rodgers73

Lycra-Byka wrote:

Lol
Chest-shave

Nostrils-wax

Armpits -trimmer


Sorry just sounds like you butter your cornflakes and pour milk on your toast, if you will.

I literally have about a dozen chest hairs - no need to pay to have them waxed out when 10 secs with a razor sorts them out.

I trim the armpit hair rather than shave/wax as I dont want them completely smooth - just shorter hair

See? I all makes sense