come out of the closet...do you shave your face?
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free skin care · Mon May 17, 2010 5:29 pm

margarett wrote:

I'm sooooo happy I found this thread!
I was looking the other day in an interview at Laura Bush and saw her wrinkles on the upper lip area look so bad, I guessed she smoked or smokes, the thing is, I have smoked too Embarassed

I shave my upper lip and I have been doing that since I can remember but I do waxing in between too Wink

I have NO wrinkles there, nothing, NADA.
My hair is not thick but it grows often and I would say I have to shave every week and I go for waxing maybe once a month.

Wow Margaret! Good for you

Sounds like you've gotten some real benefit from shaving. I smoked for about 10 years, was a sunworshipper and have thin skin. Unfortunately, shaving hasn't prevented me from having lip lines at age 57. Dang it!--but my skin overall, looks really good for my age.

free skin care · Mon May 17, 2010 8:33 pm

Hi Mountaingirl,

I read the whole post and saw your beautiful face and avalange's mom's and OMG! Shock

You girls must be asked for ID when you go to a club!
I remember that I took a look at this post a whiiiiiile back but did not pay much attention to it, then I saw Laura Bush on CNN, yesterday I think, which made me think Confused

how come I don't have so pronounced lines (or none at all) on my upper lip if I smoked for so many years (more than you, actually). I do suffer from lines around my eyes and nasolabial folds but I have botoxed those and fat cells, well, my doctor has.

The thing is, I do apply some pressure with the razor to get rid of my hair on my upper lip and sometimes I go over twice. I think the skin there is used to this "treatment". I will start with the rest of my face now, very softly first to see how it goes and just on my forehead...I'll go slow.

free skin care · Mon May 17, 2010 11:00 pm

gossamerwings wrote:

Lip lines are not just caused by cigs. It can be caused by facial expressions, using a sports bottle, or just having thinner skin there.

The cigs impinge on blood flow to the entire oral area which will increase the likelihood of developing wrinkles on and around the mouth. This is in addition to the sucking on the cig motion. There is another thread that discusses a better way to smoke where you don't drag on the cigarette and therefore decrease the wrinkle risk.

free skin care · Tue May 18, 2010 2:56 am

nakeidknits wrote:

Um, what kinds of razors are you using?

I don't shave my face, but I would assume a Men's razor would be better cuz men shave their faces more often and maybe the blade is built for that?

Oddly enough though, it always seems the 'good' mens razors are always 1/2 price and the womn's ones almost never on sale...

I usually use men's razors on my legs, partly because I got so many free Laughing

I actually had laser hair removal on my underarms and face years ago.
Luckily I was only charged $50 per treatment for both areas.

I find the problem though is that I can not use fragranced deodorants at all or my skin is too sensitive.
I actually had an allergic reaction to a organic deodorant..some kind of stick sold in a Canadian store (life natural deo, from shoppers drugmart).
And that left me with burned skin for 3 days...ouch!

free skin care · Tue May 18, 2010 2:59 am

My only reason for not smoking is vanity. I saw those lip lines surfacing early on and that was all it took. The hell with my lungs...it was my face I was concerned about Rolling Eyes

free skin care · Tue May 18, 2010 3:01 am

nakeidknits wrote:

Um, what kinds of razors are you using?

I've always used a men's razor. I like the ones with 3 blades.

free skin care · Tue May 18, 2010 10:38 am

mountaingirl wrote:

My only reason for not smoking is vanity. I saw those lip lines surfacing early on and that was all it took. The hell with my lungs...it was my face I was concerned about Rolling Eyes

Motivation in any form is a good thing.

And I'm sure your lungs are grateful too

free skin care · Tue May 18, 2010 12:09 pm

sister sweets wrote:

gossamerwings wrote:

Lip lines are not just caused by cigs. It can be caused by facial expressions, using a sports bottle, or just having thinner skin there.

The cigs impinge on blood flow to the entire oral area which will increase the likelihood of developing wrinkles on and around the mouth. This is in addition to the sucking on the cig motion. There is another thread that discusses a better way to smoke where you don't drag on the cigarette and therefore decrease the wrinkle risk.

My point is to not assume when you see someone with lip lines that they smoke. I used to do this and I am embarrassed of it now that I can see those I know aging differently and not everyone having a ready cause or culprit. Smoking is not the only cause of lip lines, anymore than crows feet are only caused by contact lens wearing (does anyone remember this study from way back? Contact lens wearers are more prone to squinting, and at higher risk for developing "crows feet" lines around the eyes).

Do MEN get lip lines???

Back to the original thread... I have a male friend of 47 years of age who has chronic alopecia. He hasn't been able to grow hair on his face since he was 20. He does not look his age and is still carded when he buys beer- REGULARLY. He has never shaved his face. He does workout and he has a nice developed masseter muscle... but, he has never done anything to exfoliate his skin and he looks 25 years old, tops. My theory is that his lack of a "five o'clock shadow" is whats making him appear young. He has baby face skin because he has never had stubble. Generally the only men with adult skin sans stubble are around 17-25 years of age. So it seems that for men there is more than one thing that can make their skin appear youthful.

I started shaving my face when I said I would. How often do you do this, MountainGirl?

I can't see an improvement in my skin yet, but, I can attest to even though I use multiple exfoliation products, seeing lots of exfoliated skin on the razor. Obviously my routine isn't enough, eh? Since its not hurting me to shave and no trouble, I'd like to continue it, but because my skin and facial hair is so fair and sparse, I am not sure I am doing it often enough.

I am confused by those who say they can hug a friend and "feel" stubble if the woman shaves. My husband and I neither can feel anything on my face but smooth. Even when I rub against the hair growth, I can't feel it the way I can on my legs when growth is coming in.

free skin care · Tue May 18, 2010 6:11 pm

Gossemer - I shave almost everyday. I forget sometimes, but I think 3 times a week is plenty. I have NEVER had stubble Laughing

I don't think you ever have to worry about that unless you have coarse hair on your face that you are shaving. You shouldn't feel peach fuzz growing back. I don't know when you started, but this is not a "quick skin fix." It's something that will preserve your skin over the long haul. The longer you do it, the more your skin will benefit. Hope that helps.

free skin care · Tue May 18, 2010 7:49 pm

I haven't needed to shave peach fuzz since I went on the pill 6 years ago. Yuck, GROSS. I'll be on HRT the rest of my life which means no shaving for me, ever!!

free skin care · Tue May 18, 2010 11:49 pm

I could give a few stories of why you should not smoke.

This lady that is like a grandmother, she was maried to the same man 49 years.
And she had a lovely marriage too- her husband though he liked to smoke all the time.
Back then there ws not much known or said about ssmoking and health.
Well, this lady's husband ended up with lung cancer, had to have his voice box taken out.
Then the cancer sprad to his brain and liver.
The husband passed away at the 49th year of marriage...there was no 50th wedding aniversary to celebrate Sad

My uncle was also a smoker and last year he ended up with brain and liver cancer and he passed away as theycould not operate on him.

free skin care · Wed May 19, 2010 4:23 am

Sad stories OS! Of course the ravages of smoking are far worse internally than externally.

Ottawa Shopper wrote:

I could give a few stories of why you should not smoke.

This lady that is like a grandmother, she was maried to the same man 49 years.
And she had a lovely marriage too- her husband though he liked to smoke all the time.
Back then there ws not much known or said about ssmoking and health.
Well, this lady's husband ended up with lung cancer, had to have his voice box taken out.
Then the cancer sprad to his brain and liver.
The husband passed away at the 49th year of marriage...there was no 50th wedding aniversary to celebrate Sad

My uncle was also a smoker and last year he ended up with brain and liver cancer and he passed away as theycould not operate on him.

free skin care · Wed May 19, 2010 6:30 pm

Since about the age of 12 I have shaved the following:

forehead, cheeks, chin, upper lip, jaw, ears, neck, underarms and arms, hands, fingers, legs (both parts), feet and toes. I also have to pluck other areas Crying or Very sad

I'm now 62 and until about 2 years ago had no upper lip lines, despite decades of heavy smoking and very fair skin.

Wed May 19, 2010 7:55 pm

Definitely. Have been for years. I am so grateful for my mother talking me into shaving my arms when I was in high school.

Have been shaving my face, toes, hands, legs and arms ever since!

free skin care · Wed May 19, 2010 9:18 pm

I told my bf I wanted to shave my face for exfoliation. He said he'd give me some tips and to join him in bathroom when he was about to shave. So I did, I was ready with razor in hand.

He said, "First thing you have to do when you want to shave your face is grab your testicles."

I just glared at him.

"Oh! You don't have testicles to grab? Well then, that's how you know you shouldn't be shaving your face."

That butthole!

free skin care · Wed May 19, 2010 10:05 pm

SandraD4880 wrote:

I told my bf I wanted to shave my face for exfoliation. He said he'd give me some tips and to join him in bathroom when he was about to shave. So I did, I was ready with razor in hand.

He said, "First thing you have to do when you want to shave your face is grab your testicles."

I just glared at him.

"Oh! You don't have testicles to grab? Well then, that's how you know you shouldn't be shaving your face."

That butthole!

I did my first shaving face yesterday and applied Emu oil all over my face afterwards, it wasn't bad but I was very gentle. I will continue as a weekly routine and see in six months how my skin reacts. My skin reacts very fast to everything, I don't need to wait.

free skin care · Thu May 20, 2010 5:39 am

I didn't even start shaving my LEGS until I turned 30. That's how little body hair I have! Now I only shave to my knee.

free skin care · Thu May 20, 2010 5:52 am

SandraD4880 wrote:

I told my bf I wanted to shave my face for exfoliation. He said he'd give me some tips and to join him in bathroom when he was about to shave. So I did, I was ready with razor in hand.

He said, "First thing you have to do when you want to shave your face is grab your testicles."

I just glared at him.

"Oh! You don't have testicles to grab? Well then, that's how you know you shouldn't be shaving your face."

That butthole!

FUUUUUUUNNNNNY Laughing

free skin care · Sat May 22, 2010 12:15 am

I've done this several times. Normally I use an epicure gadget but if I am going away for few days this is better as it lasts about 4 days before the peach fuzz returns.

free skin care · Mon May 24, 2010 8:08 am

Well, I've read this post and got curious (as usual) and tried it on myself. I have no visual facial hair in general, have some of it over the lip that can be seen if looked for. But I still was and am over-concerned about getting hair after this procedure. I understand that it is most likely a myth that is planted so deeply in us. I can only find the explanation to it is the fact that most of us started shaving certain parts of the body when we were very young and in those places that are effected by hormones and would grow hair anyway. So the first hair on those places was sorter, and then after removing "baby hormonal" hair it came out as it was supposed to be anyway. Similarly, I remember, when my son was a baby, his hair (on his head of course) was very fine and even though was growing, but was pretty rare and very thin for 1.5 year old. We didn't give him a haircut till he was that age. Then we shaved (cut with the machine to 0) his baby hair, and BAM! his hair grew normal. Of course, if we didn't shave his hair, it would still become normal overtime and he would still have the same hair as he was supposed to, predetermined by his genes, but it would take longer for us to notice it on him, as it would be gradual transition. So I think, similarly, when we started shaving certain parts which grew hair caused by our genes/hormones, we all see a sudden change in the hair when it grows again after initial shavings.

This is what makes sense to me, as I know for sure that the claims that hair grows courser cannot be without a reason either. I was sure of that too, remembering how my lower legs hair became more apparent after shaving it first in my late teenage years.

free skin care · Mon May 24, 2010 8:21 am

So to separate the issue from hair removal/growth, I must say, I tried it for the exfoliating benefit as all of you here attest to.

I have only done it twice so far. After the first time:
-Shin became really soft and smooth (and I normally have a very soft and smooth skin anyway, so it was above normal)
- It opened up the pores more for better cleansing

Second time I tried on the 3d day after the first one (only because many of you said, you do it twice a week or more often):
-Skin looked very good immediately after. I also had a spicy hot green mask right after. Perhaps it was a mistake. My skin now has a little dry and tiny (thin) flaky top layer that can be pilled with a nail, so I am tempted to touch my face all the time (trying to feel on a patch that can be pilled of) But it is not very visible, it is a tiny, thin layer anyway. It still looks very smooth and glowy...

I will wait for about 2 weeks (just to see what happens with the hair that grows back - just in case Rolling Eyes

), and then, I will try again... Will keep you posted.

Mon May 24, 2010 9:07 am

I will not try to shave my face ever! Exfoliation can be achieved by other means. My body does not like hair removal of any kind. Despite experimenting with various methods of shaving, waxing, epilating, and many cleansing/shaving products, I always end up with razor burn, ingrown hairs and the like. Don't want to risk this on my face. I have very minimal and light blonde peach fuzz and would like to keep it that way.

I know that it has supposedly been proven that hair doesn't grow in thicker or darker. But, that has not been my experience at all. Thick dark coarse hair replaces any that I have removed intentionally or not. I slightly burned my arm while cooking a few months back which removed some blonde, fine arm hairs. It has now grown back and it's dark brown and thicker. Very noticeable. Yuck Sad

free skin care · Mon May 24, 2010 12:50 pm

sunflower75 wrote:

I know that it has supposedly been proven that hair doesn't grow in thicker or darker. But, that has not been my experience at all. Thick dark coarse hair replaces any that I have removed intentionally or not. I slightly burned my arm while cooking a few months back which removed some blonde, fine arm hairs. It has now grown back and it's dark brown and thicker. Very noticeable. Yuck Sad

The new hair hasn't been bleached by the sun yet?

My hair (which as I posted is so sparse I didn't even start shaving my legs until I turned 30) has not grown back thicker or darker. I can't feel when its coming in. I usually find its time to try the shaving again (if I wanna) by seeing new growth. The new growth is as fine and sparse as the original growth.

Mon Jun 21, 2010 4:17 am

Did any of the ladies who began shaving because of this thread continue to do it? Any regrets??

free skin care · Mon Jun 21, 2010 4:51 am

I do scrapping with the razor (this is how I see it rather than calling it shaving, as I do not have any hair to shave). I am getting addicted to it. I use other methods of exfoliation, but it is very different. I honestly like it so far.

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