Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Waxing and Waning


Today we address an important topic.

To wax or not to wax, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous hair growth, Or to take tweezers against a sea of strays, And by plucking end them?

I'm talking about eyebrows here. Whenver I'm feeling bad about my body, I take stock and thank God fot the litany of afflications he has spared me. Cleft palate. That skin bleaching disease. Burn scars. Goiter. Lady 'stache. Unibrow. However just because my eyebrow hairs are not engaged in a John Henry-like quest to meet in the middle of my forehead does not mean I can ignore this area of grooming. I haven't done anything with my brows in a while and currently the situation is quite dire. It started on the right side. The stray hairs decided to cede from the Brow Major Union. The result is a cowlick on my face. Most of the hairs are going one direction, quietly towing the party line and going with the flow. And then we have an unruly splinter group that is springnig off in their own somewhat reactionary direction. Last night I noticed that the cowlick phenomenon had spread to my left brow as well.

Clearly, something needs to be done. Sure, I've tried tweezing in the past. It's just not for me. I've also tried cutting the stray hairs with little manicure scisors. This is a very stupid-looking and ineffective route. Should I try waxing? If I get them waxed in Chicago this weekend will I be scabbed and bloody for my Saturday night on the town?

If you think this is a lady problem, ho-boy, are you mistaken fellas. I see many men everyday who could benefit from some brow control.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

They won't be scabby, but they will probably be red and a little puffy. Can you get them done before you go? It takes a day or so for the swelling to go down so if you got them today or tomorrow you'll be fine!

Carazy Cashew said...

Go get them waxed chicka usually the redness and puffiness goes away in a few hours depending on your skin type and then make sure you tweeze them when they get unruly way easier and makes it so that you don't have to pay for the waxing as often which is always a bonus! As for your other topic I have some interesting information about boys who wax their eyebrows. My brother gets his done because he looks like bert if they're not... and I have a couple other guy friends who are closet eyebrow waxers. More common then most people know! hee hee

Anonymous said...

Another fabulous option and perk of living in NYC - threading. Like waxing but not painful. There's a million places in NY that do it. Only a few out here in LA...

Cupcake said...

I am interested in looking into threading depending on how the waxing goes. I see that all the time in NY, but mostly at the corner nail salon and I don't know if I would trust them to do it.

I couldn't find anything online for 1000 Waves Salon, and since time is of the essence here I am going to Kiva. I'm going in for a haircut, brow waxing and hot stone pedicure. I will miss out on the nap cube at 1000 Waves.

I have suggested to my brother, twice, that he wax his eyebrows. He ignored me both times. I'm grateful he didn't pound me.

Dawn Z(ed) said...

I have to second the threading.

Here in Vancouver the best places to get threading done are in little, back of the store, hole in the wall places. A tiny Indian woman will then take your brows to task. 3 mintues and $4 later you look great.

The more sketchy the place looks, the better the results. God bless Little India.

Beta said...

I also recommend threading. I've gotten it done in Pawtucket a couple times and here in DC once. I only go about once every 6 months so the women get a good chuckle out of me when I finally get in there. I don't know how it is for the rest of you, but I definitely don't find it painless. Not that it hurts a lot, but I kept hearing that it was completely painless - not true for us all I guess.

Linda said...

Threading hurts about the same as waxing. I've done both, and agree that the threading is faster, and the results are lovely. Indian women seem to have a knack for getting the shape of the brow just right.

Anonymous said...

I personally have been going for electrolysis for years for my eyebrows, and it's been great. It's a very personal approach to shaping because they aren't using a stencil--they are essentially tweezing for you-- but also zapping the hair follicle as well (not nearly as scary or painful as it sounds) so eventually, it never grows back. I personally think it feels the same as tweezing, but magazines always make the discomfort equal to giving birth. Anyway, it's a little bit pricier, but it's been worth it for me. I don't have to do anything with them anymore!

Pre-hair removal tip, especially if waxing: take 2 tylenol and an anti-histamine an hour before you go in. The combo helps to reduce swelling/sensitivity-- I won't wax without it!

J said...

THAT COW IS LICKING A DOG! OUTRAGEOUS!

Anonymous said...

I have tweezed forever (since 8th grade, not telling you how long ago that was!) and I have very little that grows back! I have heard very good things about threading, but we don't have that out in the wilds of Oregon! Will definitely try the antihistimine/tylenol trick before I get my "nethers" waxed. Man, talk about a pain in the #@!

My best friend's ex used to have electrolysis on his chest because "it grew in patchy". He was such a girl! He always was mystified as to why I hated him.Between that and the acne medicine in my crisper was there ever any question? I think it had more to do with the fact that he was a jerk to her and he kicked her little dog, but oh well!

Lord of the Barnyard said...

not all men should be considering the removal of excessive brow. bushy brow is important for any numbber of us. if unibrow was good enough for my dad...

a girl like me said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
a girl like me said...

Wax once, get them properly shaped and from there on out tweeze them. :)

You'll have the shape defined and all you have to do is pluck any strays.

Cupcake said...

What did we learn today? Tweezing hurts. Waxing hurts. Electrolysis hurst. Some men are just as concerned with hair control as some of their female counterparts. Some men think that Bert and Ernie are good enough aesthetical role models.

I'm packing the Tylenol and anti-shitamines and getting my brows waxed in Chicago on Saturday. This could be a big folly or it could open a door to a brave new world. In any case, you can be sure I will report back.

I do it all for you.