Hair removal
by Geraden
Geraden's Tips No. 1
A visitor called Aston left this message on my blog-board:
hi guys. just wondered whether you recommend hair removal and tights-wearing? what method of removal would you suggest?
Good question. Of course I recommend tights wearing! But I guess that the question was more about whether people who wear tights should remove the hair from their legs.
First of all, most women do this. Why? Because hairs flattened down and showing under tights look gross. Smooth legs look and feel better than hairy ones. Even women who favour bare legs usually remove the hair. If you wear tights, hairs will poke through to a certain extent. Short hairs do it more than long ones. If you want the smoothness of tights, you don't want hairs poking through any more than you want the hairs to be visible underneath.
There is another reason for removing leg hair. Compared with bare skin, hairs form a low-friction surface. So tights will tend to slide over hairs, where they would grip skin better. Tights have a tendency to slide down in any case, because of gravity and because they are under tension when worn. Any downward movement will cause a reduction in the tension because legs are thinner lower down. This encourages further downward movement. Short leg hairs, particularly cut ones, have a ratcheting effect that pulls the fabric lower and resists any upward pull.
Ok, on to men. Men have longer and thicker leg hair than women. If women feel a need to remove leg hair when wearing hosiery, then men need to do so even more, and for the same reasons.
Hair-free legs on men used to be unusual, but it is less so now. This has nothing to do with wearing tights (would that it had!) It is more common amongst younger men than older ones, and in men who engage in sport rather than men who do not. Cyclists, swimmers and athletes have found that having more aerodynamic, hairless legs enhances their performance.
The situation in general is that a man's hairless legs will not now provoke public comment, though there will still be wives and girlfriends who will notice and respond, either positively or negatively, to a man who starts shaving his legs.
So the answer to Aston is, definitely ditch the leg hair, unless doing so will cause you problems on the domestic front!
The next part of the question is how? There are a number of methods, but I have only ever used shaving. The advantages of shaving are that it costs little, does not hurt, and can be done in the bath or shower. On the other hand it is the most temporary solution, needing to be repeated after two or three days. The cut hairs feel harsh and, as I have said, have a bad ratcheting effect on tights. I have heard claims that shaving causes ingrown hairs, but I have never experienced that in practice, and I find it hard to understand in theory.
The other methods involve dissolving hair (with a depilatory cream), pulling hairs out (e.g. waxing, using an electric epilator) or permanent removal by electrolysis or laser treatment. I will let someone else comment on those.
Philips-Norelco came out with a new electric shaver designed specifically
for men called the Bodygroom just a few months ago. This shaver is meant
for use below the neck, so it will work on more than just leg hair. It's a
great alternative to shaving with a conventional razor, because its shaving
foil has teeth packed close together so you get a close shave, but no nicks
from exposed blades. Best of all, instead of just shaving outright, you can
choose to trim the hair so just enough remains so that it doesn't look
gross in tights, yet provides some of the same benefits of shaving
completely.
Chris
I find using an epilator maybe once every 2-3 weeks and hair minimising
cream daily makes them smooth silky and the hair that you do have is short
and soft, avoiding them snagging in your tights. It does take a little
while to get the result you want and once you have lost the long thick
hairs, using the epilator is not so painful.
Hi Vic
I have shaved two years now. it took long time my legs get used to it. My
girlfriend first did not like it, but now she buys me tights or I can
borrow hers.
my husband has worn pantyhose for 15 years, always in dark colors to hide
his leg hair. the girls in my bridge club are used to seeing him around the
house and are accepting. recently i bought him a pair of taupe pantyhose
and told him he needed to shave; the girls in my club were very
complimentary and he was sorry he had not worn sheer hose and shaved years
ago.
Judy
Hi Geraden, I am pleased that you have had some success with the epilator,
don't give up, and you will find things improve, I have been using a
product from Johnsons, a reputable make and the chemicals, do not seem to
have been causing any problems for me, I think that it is mainly a skin
moisturiser that gives you very smooth and soft skin, this seems to help
the epilator remove the hair from the root as oposed to breaking it off, I
guess any normal moisturiser that you are happy with may help.
since my note on july 5th the girls bought my husband n 50 dollar gift
cert. at hanes one place, with my permission, and have ask him to join the
bridge game. he is now happy and feels accepted as a hose wearer with no
hang up.
why is there so much concern with a man wearing pantyhose? why do so many
men on this page worry about telling their loved ones about a simple piece
of clothing? my husband started with nylons in the 60's and changed with me
to pantyhose by 1969. i thought it odd, then alright, and finally cute. we
are the same size and share our hose. most of my female friends are
widowed ,divorced or single and think my husband is adorable in his
pantyhose.
my wife judy has become a regular reader of this site and asked that i
write. good job and keep it coming. judy's comments sum it up and i can
only add that i have always felt comfortable wearing nylons in her
presence, along with her friends at bridge club.
Hi, just wanna say that I like to have my legs waxed, okay, I know there is
the pain thing here, but it is worth it in the long run as my legs stay
smoother for longer and it gives you a smoothness that cannot be beat in my
personal view. My wife also loves it when I have them done and we both
love how my legs both look and feel in either sheer tights (pantyhose) and
stockings. Hairless legs is the only way to wear hosiery!!!!
Geraden,
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