Wax or Shave? How to Get the Smoothest Skin

I'll be the first to admit it, even though I'm super type A, I definitely keep up with my hair removal more in the spring and summer than in the colder months.  Honestly, I don't think I've ever met a woman who didn't.  When it comes to exactly how, I've tried most and use different techniques for different areas, but truth is hair removal isn't the only thing to credit for smoothness.  Here's what you need to know about how to get the smoothest skin for sundress season like the girls in the Nine West ad (above). Razor Fans

They say to shave in the direction of hair growth for a clean cut, but we all know to get a closer shave you need to shave in the opposite direction.  Look for a razor with 4-5 blades to ensure it gets each hair as it runs across your body and conditioning strips that ease the glide like the Gillette Venus & Olay Exfoliating Razor.  As you shave not only are you removing hair, but you're also exfoliating your skin, which removes dead skin cells keeping your skin silky to touch.  Adding a moisturizing shave cream doesn't hurt either.  Try Pure Silk Moisturizing Shave Cream.

Waxing Fans

Rip, ouch, ooohh.  Yep, something like that.  Numbing creams are a girls best friend (I've used BareEase) and after the madness of the (most likely) Russian woman ripping you to shreds, you realize it was all worth it.  Since you wax about every 4-6 weeks though, you need to make sure you regularly exfoliate to keep your skin fresh and touchable.  Of course, exfoliate once to twice a week in the shower all over your body, but I'd recommend using a retexturizing lotion like Skinceuticals Body Retexturizing Treatment on your legs daily.  It promotes exfoliatoin and radiance.

The Right Brows for Your Face Shape

I'm pretty anal when it comes to having my eyebrows threaded.  I get them done when there's the least bit of hair underneath them because they need to look and feel very clean.  I also love the woman who shapes my brows because she places the arch exactly where it needs to be. What about you?  Are your brows shaped properly according to your face shape?  There is a science to the madness!  DailyMakeover recently talked with the owner of Browhaus Salon, Cynthia Chua, to find out just how to get the perfect brow for your face shape.  Check out the article to make sure you're in check.

Have you ever experienced a brow horror story?

Only Real Men Laser Down There, Or Do They?

When the Brazilian revolution hit America, women stormed out to their nearest salon to get waxed. Now men are joining the hairless movement and getting their bodies lasered – even down there. What a relief for 99.9% of American women whose boyfriends suffer from looking like a wooly mammoth (do women actually date those guys?). When I was on the swim team in college, a male diver had chest hair was like Austin Power’s.  My teammate whispered to me, “If he has that much hair on his chest, imagine how much hair he has under his speedo.” From that day on hairless men has become the new rave. Most men want to be stylish and according to AskMen.com, their appearance is top priority. Men will do anything to impress women and that means removing their wool sweater.

"The latest male grooming trend is pointing the laser to the unmentionables –in addition to their brows, back of necks, backs, chests, and even knuckles," remarked Jennifer Kandemir of Advanced Derma Laser Tech Inc.  So why remove the pubic hair?  Well, ladies you all know this.  Men are getting an ego boost from it because removing the hair around their shaft creates an illusion of a longer you-know-what.

Read more after the jump...

Men believe that having a hairless body is more appealing than having abs of steel.  Men are opting for laser hair removal over other methods to avoid cuts and ingrown hairs in such a delicate area, which is a perk for the both of you.

Each year the male clientele for laser hair removal gets younger and younger. Well if women are judged for having one tiny hair on her leg, I think it’s about time men are catching on!

The Threading Truth

The ancient practice of eyebrow threading has evolved into a regimen coveted by beauty buffs everywhere, including the Hollywood elite.  The practice, which uses a thin piece of twisted cotton thread to remove hair from the root, was originally developed in India and has long been prevalent all over the Middle East, where excess hair removal is nothing short of an art form.  Within the last couple of decades, the phenomenon has spread to the Western world as an alternative to the ever-dreaded eyebrow wax.   So, how does threading compare to waxing?

• Generally cheaper than waxing, at about $5 to $20 per session, depending on the salon.
• Lasts the same amount of time as waxing, about two weeks to a month, based on individual hair growth patterns.
• Threading yields much more precise results as it only removes a single row of hair at a time, as opposed to larger areas.
• Pain factor?  Not comfortable, but definitely tolerable.  Similar to waxing, sans the hot wax.  Also less likely to irritate your skin, especially for those with a sensitive complexion.

Threading can also be used to take care of other unwanted facial hair, including furry hairlines, sideburns, chins, cheeks, ears, noses, necks, and upper lips.

As the unfortunate victim of genetically bushy brows, I have been having my eyebrows threaded since the age of twelve and I am extremely satisfied with the results.  Aside from a bit of redness immediately after the process, irritation is minimal and results are top-notch.