This is such an interesting thread - and strangely reassuring to read I'm not the only pale skinned (and redheaded!) woman who has body hair like a chimp. Agree with all of you who've described how society's expectations regarding natural female body hair get into you very deep indeed .... I've very occasionally seen women who've flouted this and have admired their bravery, but have also been aware (e.g. at a pool) of others' glances and comments towards them and sorry to say they've all been of the "disgusted" and "revolted" category. I admit I'm a coward, and have very low self confidence anyway and I just can't bring myself to expose myself to that sort of judgement ... even though it makes me angry that (most of) society has this attitude - which is ridiculous when you think about it as someone else's body hair has no effect on anyone else at all.
Anyway, as I doubt things will change in my lifetime, I too suffer the miseries of hair removal if I want to go swimming, wear a skirt or a pair of shorts. Like so many others, I get stubble very quickly and it bemuses me to see a number of posters state that shaving in the shower takes "seconds". Not if you're as blind as a bat without your glasses it doesn't - unless you like the cut to smithereens look! I have to shave using the sink with my legs up on the bath or I simply can't see what I'm doing - and it probably takes me 5 mins to do both. Whenever I've tried to "whizz" a razor over it's simply not effective .... I have to do it slowly but reasonably firmly to ensure as close a finish as possible with no cuts.
I personally have never found a hair removal cream that a) actually dissolves the hair properly and b) doesn't leave me with a rash. The adverts which show silky smooth legs that you can slide a chiffon scarf down bloody well don't apply to me. Instead the hair sort of dissolves and then breaks off leaving stubble .... I've tried leaving it on a little longer than recommended but then you run the risk of a more painful rash. Plus it's hideously expensive IMO, especially when I'd need to do it several times a week.
I do like the effect of waxing but as others have said I'm lucky to get 2 weeks out of it and then there's the regrowth period where you're condemned to trousers. I also find it very difficult to wax the backs of my legs and thighs (which need it) - it's very hit and miss and potentially very messy if you use warm wax. Neither do I think the current crop of prewaxed strips are that good - the ones you have to warm by rubbing together in your hands first. Does anyone else find that half the time you don't get an even distribution of wax on either side ? It's a pain in the bum and I actually prefer the more old fashioned wax strips which came on a backing strip - but can't seem to find them now.
I am very interested to see so many recommendations for epilators though and will seriously consider that. My only experience of them is an ancient old model I must have bought around 17 years ago - it was so excrutiating though that I only used it an handful of times and found that although it did a very good job of pulling my hair and bringing tears to my eyes it wasn't so good at actually getting the damn stuff out ... unless I have particularly tough hair (and it often feels like I do). Hopefully more up to date versions have come on a bit .....
I would love to be lasered - it's one of the first things I'll do if and when I win the lottery but sadly, despite the long term advantages I can't afford treatment now, no way.
Just get so fed up with it all - it really has been the bane of my life since the age of 11 or so and every method of removal is such a faff and time consuming (which is why I will look into getting a new epilator). I hate hate hate how it restricts being spontaneous when the weather's unexpectedly hot and how things which many take for granted like going swimming with your kids turns into a military operation for people like me before we feel "acceptable" enough to show ourselves in a swimsuit. Although my head knows society's attitude to female body hair is wrong and stupid, my heart has still absorbed the message that in my natural state I look - and therefore feel - "disgusting". I hate to admit it because no doubt the more confident among you will think I'm ridiculous but even when I'm fully covered there's a bit of me which feels horrid because I know what's underneath. It really does get under your skin. The agonies of starting a new relationship and having to effectively disguise what you look like - at least until you know you can trust the man concerned not to be put off - is another aspect to being "hairy" which causes a lot of stress.