Like Me

#TT

 

Cream on the inside. Clean on the outside.

I talk to a lot of chicks about beauty regimens and inevitably we talk about hair removal and exchange stories about how each of us stay bare “down there.”  I’m always surprised because most, if not all, of them shave!  At least the ones I talk to do.  Personally, I don’t even consider shaving an option, because if I shave, my hair grows back literally the next day.  It’s not only annoying for me, but "lez be honest," no chick wants to feel stubble against the sides of her tongue or mouth.  I damn sure don’t.  It’s also annoying having to shave an area that folds and is so sensitive.  I’ve never cut myself, but that’s because I was always took extra care not too.  But after years of shaving, I finally tried waxing and I NEVER went back to shaving.  I haven’t done it in years.

Waxing is cool for a lot of reasons, the most important to me being the length of time that I stay hairless (3-5 full days, as opposed to less than 1 day shaving), while the density and texture of the new growth are the 2nd and 3rd most important reasons I wax.  See, hair that is waxed is pulled out of the hair follicle.  Hair that is shaved is cut off mid-shaft at the surface of the skin.  When hair is cut at the shaft, a blunt cut is created that means the new growth is stiff and thick giving it a stubby, prickly feel.  Hair that is waxed grows back with a rounded edge and therefore isn’t stubby or prickly.  This means that even when the hair grows back, it’s nice and soft and still enjoyable for myself and whomever else is playing in it ;-)  Hair that is pulled from the hair follicle also grows back at different intervals (hair growth cycles), so I may stay near-bare anywhere from 3-7 weeks, depending on where different areas of hair follicles are at in their growth cycles and when I get waxed.  When you shave, the growth is immediate, because any hair reaching the skin’s surface is continually growing.  Pulling the hair out of the follicle requires the hair to be delayed until the next growth cycle to begin growing.  That is what affords us an extra few weeks of near-bareness. 

 

Waxing is great for these reasons, but don’t get me wrong, it hurts!  I have a wonderful wax lady, though, who helps by pressing my skin after pulling or spritzing me with cold water.  She’s also fast, detailed and hilarious, so we laugh and talk through breathing exercises she has me do before pulling.  I’ll be instructed to exhale as hard as I can while she pulls.  It sounds funny, but it helps.  I also hold a stress ball and squeeze as necessary.  The first time is the worst, but afterwards I had lesser hair and by the 3rd time it felt bearable.

 

Your wax lady should have good reviews (I checked Yelp), which will mean she’ll do all this and know what kind of wax to use on you.  There are two kinds of wax, soft and hard wax.  Hard wax doesn’t adhere to the skin at all, and only adheres to the hair.  Soft wax adheres to the skin, slightly, and therefore shouldn’t be used on all parts of the area.  For some people, those with super coarse and curly hair, hard wax should be the ONLY thing a wax specialist uses down there.  Super tight coiled hair hurts when it’s pulled because it has more tension from being coiled.  I have average curly hair, so I am waxed with soft wax around the bikini area and hard wax on my lips and around my booty-hole (yes, I wax it ALL).

 

 After waxing, I’m sore until I hop off the bed.  By the time I get to the car, I forget what just happened.  I’m not exaggerating.  The service costs anywhere from $40 to $75.  Initially, price wasn’t a factor, but I lucked out and got a wonderful wax lady for a good price.  I also invested an extra $12 to purchase some after-care products.

 

Now, whether you wax or shave, you’ve GOT to exfoliate.  If you don’t, you will get ingrown hairs which are like pimples.  They form around the hair that can’t break through the skin’s surface. This usually happens when dead skin cells aren’t exfoliated from the skin’s outermost layer, and create barriers through which the hair can’t pass.  Hair’s gonna grow REGARDLESS, so it grows back into the skin when it can’t grow out of the follicle.  The skin around hair that is growing inwards becomes irritated, turns red and eventually your body will try to eliminate and force the hair out by flooding and inflaming the area.  This formation ends up being a fluid-filled sac that looks like a pimple.  Imagine having 5+ of these in a small area?!  Nobody wants to see that!  They’re also painful, and will hurt if you or someone else touch, rub or attempt to extract it.  To avoid all this, I just exfoliate.  It’s as simple as it sounds.  The two products I use are a body wash by Neutrogena that exfoliates with Salicylic Acid ($6-8 pictured below) and an exfoliating hand glove ($3-5 pictured below).  I put a small dab of the Clear Body Wash onto my hand glove and rub in circular movements around the entire area that was waxed.  This gives a mild chemical exfoliation and a mechanical or physical exfoliation.  As a result, I haven’t EVER had an ingrown hair after using these two products together.  True story.  Prior to this, I used to have 3-5 ingrowns at a time.  It was so frustrating, because even after I’d pull them out, I’d have dark scars or pigmentation.  Clearly, not the look.

 

Anyway, hopefully this is useful to you.  If you wax or shave and have additional tips, tricks or info, feel free to share in the comments.

 

Titty's on Tuesday

Lazy Sunday

It's a nice breezy cool Sunday, and I'm curled up with my books in bed.  

I am also thoroughly enjoying the mood and energy I am getting these days from eating raw foods and juicing.  It's one of the things I been meaning to incorporate into my life.  I was able to easily give up caffeine in all forms when I realized that fresh vegetable juices in my morning hours give me CRAZY energy all day.  I recommend it for everyone...not as a strict diet, just add it in there.  Juicers run about $110 for a personal one (Breville compact) and I only use organic vegetables, of course.  But for any of y'all on a new years resolution for health, should definitely research (google, youtube, magazines) the benefits of juicing, and see if it's something you'd like to get into.  

Just some thoughts and experiences I'm having these days...

 

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!!!  The holidays were CRAZY BEAUTIFUL.  I'm glad to have time to me again.  I've spent the past 2 days of 2011 completely alone and connecting with myself (haha, yes, in more ways than one, although I also smelled some roses over the holiday too, so hmph).  I validated taking a lot of time for family and friends because it was the holidays, but now that the parties are over and my holiday rounds are complete, it's ALL ABOUT ME.  

My celebrations were fun, loving, and memorable.  I feel blessed and renewed.  After today though, it's back to the hustle.  I did a bit of work through the holidays, but I laid low, since everyone else was on break and attending to their families, as was I, but now it's time to get back to it ;-)  

 

#TittyTuesday

Nothing makes me happier than titties, thighs, AND heels in the same picture...

Feeling the spirit!

This is my FAVORITE Christmas song of ALL TIME!  I do like John Coltrane's Drummer Boy, but that's a year-round fave.  I only break out Mimi for the Holidays.  This has been on repeat all day...

 

 

#TittyTuesday !!!

LA has been rainy ALL weekend...this picture is in rebellion of the horrific So Cal weather we're experiencing, and of course I love the rose!  

Black Swan

The holidays are here! I've had friends in town since I got home on Wednesday. We been out every day and night since then, and I had a holiday party to attend yesterday. LA has been a wet *pause* rainy mess, but it's been good ass times. I saw the movie Black Swan today, my first low-key day all week. I definitely recommend it. The costumes and styling are pretty...

Home.

I'm home!  Yesterday was my travel day.  I flew home, and although Virgin America is offering free wifi on all flights until January 2, my bag was so full and my flight was so short, I didn't want to drag my laptop out.  It was nice though, cause I caught up on reading and some personal writing.  My writing consists mainly of connecting with my thoughts and ideas.  It was a really soothing flight, as a result.  Then I touched down and things got hectic.  I went out to eat with my girl to fill our stomachs for the drinking we were going to do later, and then I came home to unpack and get ready for the night.  I had a really nice time.  I only got moderately typsy, and then afterward we headed to an after-hours spot for food.  When I got home, I got a text from a friend, and a family member of theirs has died.  My friend is extremely family-oriented, so this is devastating.  

I got to thinking about the holidays, family and friends, and then this morning my girl and I were talking about meeting up with some other friends of ours for Christmas Eve, and the next comment out of her mouth was, "So what do you want for Christmas?!"  Easy.  I just want her.  My friends and family are all that I need and want.  I seriously cannot even think about gifts.  My friend's situation reminded me that this time is all about connecting and feeling love.  It's about connecting with the people that love you, nurture your soul, and fill your life with love and light.  For some people, this may not include family, which is fine, because friends count as extended family, and spending time with them is equally as important.  Other people, for whatever reason, don't feel they have a network, and in that case, I always say that connecting with people in any way possible is the solution.  There are numerous organizations that need help with various events during the holiday season, and volunteering your time to connect with your brothers and sisters in your community can fill you with much love and light.  

I will be volunteering at a local organization for LGBTQ youth, because a friend of mine recently shared his coming-out story, and a huge part of that was feeling like he wanted to end his life.  This happened last summer, and because he has such a kind spirit, beautiful heart, and despite his many successes, I could never imagine him feeling that way.  It was quite enlightening for someone who has never had an internal battle remotely similar.  Another of my friends also shared his coming-out story recently, and the reaction of his parents brought me to tears.  My friends are all coming out of the darkness and reconciling their feelings and lives, but I think about the people who are still in that darkness, and like I hug and share love with my friends, I feel the need and importance to do it for as many people as possible.  Sure my network is tight and plentiful, but if we all stay in our bubbles, then how we are ever going to collectively grow as a community and people?  

Be blessed and love.