Then check out the Budget Fashionista! I really like that name.
So, my first appointment was August 12. I know - much time has lapsed. But that means I get to tell you about how the lasering went AND what the results are after a week and a half have passed! Tee hee.
Ok - I arrived, and Mara and I walked across the street to purchase a package of disposable razors so that I could shave some of my longer facial hairs. This helps the process because the actual hairs don't get in the way. The benefit of this will become more apparent later on. I shaved the hairs from my sideburn areas, chin, upper and lower lip, and jawline. Let me just say that I went through some serious psychological dissonance to shave my face. But I digress.
We then went into a client room (like a medical exam room but nicer) and she cleaned the equipment. Very cool. She then got a huge icepack out of the freezer. I lay down, I placed the ice pack on the first area Mara was going to laser to numb the skin, and then we were in business.
The first area she did was my sideburns. She glided the laser handpiece along my skin in lines, like if you were highlighting a document or mowing a lawn. The sensation of the laser penetrating the hair shafts was that of someone snapping a small rubberband against your skin for a moment and then the snap fades away. Truthfully, because you know I wouldn't lie to you, the whole process didn't hurt all that much. Not any more than waxing would anyway, and I'm very used to that. The zap/snap sensation was the worst of it, and Mara said that it hurts more where the hairs are darker because more energy from the laser is absorbed. So interesting! The areas that hurt the most were my sideburns, the corners of my upper lip and right between my eyebrows. Mara said that was pretty typical.
As each area was completed, we would "freeze" another area and again, the laser would glide along in rows, covering all the surface area. As we continued, I noted a burning smell - like the smell when your hair gets trapped in a hair dryer on high heat. Hairs that were not shaved off got kind of singed, so that was the smell. Hence the benefit of shaving as much of it off as you can stand to shave.
When we were done, there was no lingering pain or discomfort at all. We slathered my face with clear aloe gel to prevent irritation, Mara advised me to stay out of the sun for a few days and keep my skin hydrated and then gave me a lovely hug as I left. That was the completion of the first round! Yippee!
There was some redness to my skin as I left, but that went away after about 2 hours. I had no bumpiness or discoloration at all. I kept my skin hydrated with aloe and moisturizers applied a couple of times a day. (Elizabeth Arden products are SO nice for soothing skin, but that's another entry.) Within a week, a neat thing started to happen. As the hairs began to grow back, they would just fall out as I exfoliated at night. So, if I scratched a particular spot, any hairs that were zapped would just come out, never to return again!
So far so good. Round two is September 9. I will faithfully update you once again after the second session. Until then...
I just about fell off my chair looking at Banana Republic's fall line of women's shoes. Oh my -- berry-colored suede in at least four different styles! (And berry colors were a big hit on the runway this year, especially with Ungaro and Alberta Ferretti, to name a couple.)
So, I'm having some hair removed by laser. Actually, Mara is removing the hair, but she's using a laser to do it. And I'm chronicling my experience as it unfolds so that you all may learn and benefit. Just call me GP for short. (guinea pig, just in case the reference was too obscure.)
At first you might ask, "Oh my gosh, doesn't that hurt?" And I'd like to report that it really doesn't. Not any more than waxing hurts, anyway. (Although I must admit I have a pretty high pain threshold.) And "Is it really permanent?" We'll get to that. But let's start from the top.
I have lived most of my life with what I consider to be more than average amounts of facial hair. And, thanks to my cultural heritage, it's really dark hair. I mean, REALLY dark! Does being called "gorilla face" as a child give you a hint? In addition to the peach fuzz we all have on our faces, I have dark, coarse hairs that grow above my lip, between my brows, along my cheeks as sideburns (Elvis had nothing on me!) and most recently on my chin and jaw line. And I have never liked it.
I have tweezed, waxed, bleached and even threaded to remove said hair. I've settled on a combination of waxing (the troubling coarse hairs) and bleaching (the fuzz-like hairs that are not as noticeable) that works pretty well to keep the gorilla comments at bay. And the combo works. That is, as long as I have time to keep it up during the week - which, if you have been reading my blog as of late, has been a rare thing. I barely have time to exercise much less banish hairs from my face.
Enter laser hair removal. The idea that in a relatively short amount of time and with a somewhat reasonable amount of money I could be rid of my lovely facial companions "forever" and "permanently" was INCREDIBLY appealing to me. So I started looking into it about a year ago.
I scheduled an appointment with one of the leading dermatologists in the Chicago area. He put a magnifying lens with BRIGHT lights up to my face and gazed at me with eyes that were now 100 times bigger than normal. He explained the process of laser hair removal a bit and quoted me an obnoxious price (down payment on a car comes to mind) for removing all the facial hair I so desperately wanted to shed. He was also a bit abrupt in his manner, leaving me less than confident in our partnership as hair banishers. So I walked out of his office a bit disheartened since the cost was way out of my league.
Fast forward to June of this year - at a summer barbecue, a friend mentioned that her real estate agent (and a fabulous one at that!) shared that she has been very happy with the results from her experience with laser hair removal. She has had her legs, arms and face "lasered" and was SO glad that she made that choice. No more shaving in the shower every day, no more plucking and tweezing between waxings.
I got her contact info and called. She referred me to the fabulous and wonderful Mara (who is one of the nicest people I have met, aside from being very good at what she does) with whom I immediately scheduled a consultation. During our first meeting, Mara began by cleaning the laser equipment with medical strength disinfectant in front of me. She explained that she always cleans the equipment prior to laser appointments while her client is there so that she/he has peace of mind about hygiene. I immediately felt at ease.
We then discussed all the ins and outs of lasering - that it is really called permanent hair "reduction" and not "removal" as it is not entirely true to say that 100% of your hairs are permanently gone for all of eternity. The laser actually penetrates the skin layers and targets the blood vessels at the hair follicles, stopping the blood supply to the follicle and thereby reducing the hairs that grow back. To be most effective, the process takes several visits, she explained, since hair grows in cycles. So, to make sure we've zapped all the hairs, we need to allow their growth cycle to run its course.
She shared VERY detailed information about possible effects (such as mild skin irritation, redness, bumpiness, and in very rare cases change in pigmentation in the areas that are lasered) and answered any and all questions I had. We also talked about cost (which was WAY less than the original quote I had gotten a year prior) and I was sold.
We scheduled my first session, and, just to tease you, I will share how that went in part II.
I think it happens to everyone: you get your hair cut and about a month later it looks awesome. Totally like you want it to look. You have rock star hair. THEN, the next week, it's over. Your rock star hair has turned into just normal hair once again, too long to style properly, too short to be different. Your styling products no longer have their desired effect. The magic is over.
Time for another haircut, or just rebel and let it go? What to do.
I blogged about this once in my other blog, but I will say it again: Naturalizer shoes are hot hot hot!!! Not to mention they are way affordable. I remember Naturalizer shoes being those that my grandmother would wear...now they are sexy stuff. Bust out.
I just read that Kate Spade, and husband, Jack, will be designing the uniforms for Delta's new low-cost airline. I didn't know Delta had a new carrier, much less that they will be so stylishly outfitted. I wonder who does Delta's uniforms - they've been quite happening since they were revamped a few years ago.
Nooo. Nordstrom Rack in downtown Chicago? Yes, ladies, it's true. Just opened this week at 24 North State Street. (Word has it they have more than 30,000 pairs of shoes!)
1) buy a deep house CD (Anandha Project is a good one).
2) pop it in.
3) listen.
Capes were all over fall 2003 fashion shows, and frankly, I'm excited. They're not as sweet as pashmina shawls, and not as stiff as leather blazers. They can be short or long; with or without collars; and can be either mod & mysterious or warm & bundly. Now the trick is to find one that's in my price range.
Two weeks ago, in an attempt to save $, I decided that giving myself a foiled (don't know the technical term) highlight was a good idea. Having watched many colorists perform this seemingly easy task, I thought I could get the hang of it after a few tries. Out comes the box-coloring and aluminium foil cut up into little squares. 2 hours later: Orange top later of hair with brown blotches and underneath, darker brown hair...damaged, frizzy and just gross. I looked like an electrified Garfield (the cat).
For those of you on a budget who may attempt this feat, Aveda Institute on Clark Street can make you whole again for the small cost of $55. And they use great product. Just be prepared to wear a baseball cap for 2 weeks until the appointment.
Don't you love wearing those cute summer skirts in all kinds of colors? And at the same time hate the chafing that sometimes happens on your inner thighs? And who wants to wear nylons in the summertime? Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of wearing lightweight, cute summer skirts?
Well, for those of us with some curvature around the upper thigh area - especially on the inner part of our legs, ahem - here are two ideas for preventing that uncomfortable chafing and bumpiness when your thighs rub together:
1. Wear athletic shorts - like biking shorts - underneath the skirt. Nylon with spandex work best and are very lightweight. There are great styles at various stores that are light, come in different colors, and cost around $19 or less.
2. Use Body Glide! I can't recommend this more - it looks like a deodorant stick but glides right on and prevents chafing like no one's business! Many athletes use it for running or biking. It's not oily or greasy and is odorless. And - double benefit!! - it's great to put on your feet when you wear shoes that rub and create blisters.
Try it out and let us know what works for you!
Dear Skin on my Face,
Why are you doing this to me? You are nice and normal on my cheeks, but darn you, evil T-Zone, for being so...evil! You break out for no reason! I drink gallons of water and still you act this way. What have I done to offend you so? I have tea tree-oiled, hormonally-controlled, exfoliated, antibiotic-ed, blotted, washed, sprayed you with nitrogen, astringented you and I am 24 years old and isn't this supposed to be over with by now?
I don't want to use drugs for stupid acne. I just want my adolescence to be over so I can get rid of you, dumb combination skin! I hope that someone at your quality control department gets this and spreads it around, because I am at a total loss.
With reluctant love,
Lacey
I came across a thought-provoking blurb today:
Arguing about money is rarely about money. It is about power.
Arguing about sex is rarely about sex. It is about intimacy.
Arguing about the kids is rarely about the kids. It is about control.
Arguing about chores is rarely about chores. It is about fairness.
Arguing about jealousy is rarely about fidelity. It is about maturity.
Arguing about work is rarely about work. It is about time.
Arguing about relatives is rarely about them. It is about expectations.
Have you ever had a relationship (with a man ;-)) that was on again off again. EMOTIONAL Rollercoaster!! UP and DOWN and UP and DOWN!! Try as I might I cannot end it....I moved thousands of miles away from the man just to be pulled in again by the very thin string that he has attached to my waist! The attraction between us is unbearable....it is like static electricity....the kind that gives you a little jolt when you touch someone....when we are together everyone can feel it. Especially me with his eyes on me as I cross the room. UGH!!! So what do you do when there is a thorn in your side that you just can't seem to reach to pull out?????
Sometimes, I marvel at the power I wield. Like when the elevator doors open, and I get to walk in first, while five others stand around waiting for me to do so. It can be a lot of pressure, when I don’t feel like being first, or when I’m carrying a large bag and need to get by a man or two. But, inevitably, I find the strength within to move forward. They’re counting on me, after all.
In my younger years, I found this responsibility bothersome, and was not afraid to let people know it. But now that I’ve made it through my teen angst, I feel myself quite lucky to have married a man who opens the car door for me and waits for me to be seated before seating himself. He’s not opposed to my holding open the door, but he’s a gentleman. Last week, I had to refrain from coaching some teenage boys to wait until I had left the elevator before rushing out themselves. If it makes a woman in their future feel as special as it makes me feel, they would have thanked me. But hopefully they’ll learn it on their own.
Today is the day! Shoe Soul, voted "Chicago's best shoe store" by Chicago Magazine, starts their major shoe blowout today. The owners frequently travel to Italy to bring back trendy European shoes -- but only one pair in each size, so we're talking limited quantities here -- and they're on sale sale sale at all three locations! Shoe Soul @ 3242 N. Broadway Avenue, 2223 N. Clybourn Avenue, or 11 E. Oak Street.
What is the deal with dieting in our country? Everyone I know talks about dieting or has been on a diet or is going to start one tomorrow! Wait a minute or is that just me???
I moved to Chi-town in January when it was very cold you can all relate to that, I'm sure, and started my new job sitting in a cubicle in front of a computer all day. No, its not really that bad anymore, I now love my new job now but when I first started I had major issues with my new sedentary lifestyle. I was very active in my jobs before I came here and so it was hard for me to sit all day long and I felt like every minute I had to sit in front of my new best friend, the computer, my waist was growing inch by inch by unbearable inch!! So I decided to become obsessive about my weight, although I only really gained about 2 pounds, and am actually in great shape due to the fact that I workout religiously. I tried the Atkins diet for a couple of weeks and decided that I did not like that at all and then I tried for about a minute some other diet on the Internet that I ran into....I also looked into weight watchers....I can't believe all of the diet plans that I came across and how many magazines have diet plans in them. So what was my obsession about? Women and weight??? What is it all about? To please ourselves or to please others? After being a bit obsessed for awhile I can totally relate to the diet craze....I have been on the other side of the cookie...so to speak!! After researching and reading many books on health and dieting I have come to the realization that it is better to be healthy than to be pencil thin and eating meat all day long. Of course we all know that but do we all know what being HEALTHY really means??? No I don't think so and that is why there are so many overweight people in our country. We cannot indulge and think that there will be no consequences. Our relationship with food needs to change. It is not to give us comfort but to sustain our physical bodies. It is not meant for us to eat whatever we feel at any given moment. Over indulgence and instant gratification is one of the problems. Obesity is a serious problem in our country and it is no wonder there is a "dieting frenzy" going on right now. The lifestyle in our country has become more sedentary and rushed. People don't sit down to have meals anymore but would rather grab a burger and fries at McDonald's before running off to a board meeting where it will then sit in the stomach. I can't begin to tell you how bad for your body that is. Even if you are thin and eat that stuff you will probably have a heart attack by the age of 40. Should the problem just be ignored? Should we just say, "well just eat what you want and let's not talk about it or feel guilty about it"....NO I SCREAM!! That is the problem!!!! THINK about it and realize what you put into your body. I don't mean to feel guilt, which can impede your growth but at least to make better choices and better habits in place of bad habits that we may have started when we were children. Ok, well as you can probably tell I certainly have lots of opinions about health.....hmmm...could it be because my degree and background are in the health field...yes yes and yes it is.....I love to talk about nutrition and health....it is my passion....there it is that is where my passion lies....I cannot stress how important PREVENTATIVE HEALTH is and how important it is to think about these things when we are young so that we can prevent the body from breaking down when it is older. We spend more money in this country on health care treatment for the elderly than anything else......if only they had paid more attention to preventative health measure and the amount of crap they shovelled into their mouths each day when they were young....but don't be fooled by my all of my passionate ramblings, because I do love chocolate chips cookies and brownies...!! My passion also lies there!!! :-) However, now I try to eat the ones made with only organic products and not as often.
Well speak of the devil, the famed "Q" section (the delight of every Sunday edition) of the Trib did a whole front page section on waxing. Check that out here. Also, check out the inside article, which delves more into waxing, and even included a handy-dandy guide to various waxing terminology. (login: girlieblog, pass: girlie)
Speaking of hair...i'm starting to think that we may need a new category called "hair removal."
Hair removal is the ignored, underappreciated topic among beauty magazines and girlietalk. Why aren't we more open about this matter? How much time is spent shaving, plucking, waxing, exfoliating, bleaching, carefully releasing ingrown hairs...worrying that you CAN'T go to the beach tomorrow unless you can get an appointment with Olga today in enough time for the irritation to heal and not cause any attention to your upper thigh area? And if you factor in time, energy and money, how much do you spend doing so? A heck of a lot of resources are spent grooming unwanted hair. But I don't hear enough about it.
Of all the topics I discuss with girlfriends, the most uncomfortable that of hair removal...ESPECIALLY "down there." Some of my friends are blessed with blondness and say they just don't get it...what is all the fuss? just shave daily. I could write volumes in response, but not today. Let's just say this is clearly a case of the "haves" and the "have nots" and this time, the latter has the privilege. When I ask other girlfriends, they give me short responses like "I'll give you my waxer's number" or "Don't ask me, I just can't be bothered to upkeep anymore." Some are lucky enough to laser and be done with it. We will spend hours talking about hair color, the latest fragrance, and just the right shade of lipstick, but hair removal conversations remain short. I haven't figured out why.
Perhaps I am a wee bit sensitive to this question right now because after spending 10 years and 120 hours, and an estimated $4800 on leg waxing, I have just discovered the EMJOI GOLD CARESS CORDLESS EPILATOR (I promise this is not an infomercial). This handydandy item is not for the faint at heart, but if you have ever given yourself a bikini wax, you possess the pain threshold and this is the item for you!!! Of all the epilators, it is better than Silk-epil, Satinelle, and the Epilady (I have tried all).
Why it rocks:
1) A one-time cost of $75 - it is cheap, cheap, cheap
2) Can be used anytime. you can capriciously decide to go to the beach tomorrow, worryfree of flashing anyone.
3) Experiement with hair removal in places you've always been curious about without telling a soul or paying big bucks (disclaimer: i have not done this myself, and can't vouch for pain threshold).
Here's the catch. You can't buy it in stores. Yes, folks. Parallel to the topic of hair removal itself, this little item is inaccessable except through the internet (try shavers.com or emjoi.com).
So, if you can't talk to your girlfriends about it you can read about it here :)