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So...armpits, specifically Lily Allen's

51 replies

MostlyCake · 27/06/2014 21:42

Just watching Glastonbury - how would you go about getting armpits as smooth as her? No matter what I do haven't tried waxing or epilating I always can feel tiny tiny hairs and have a sort of dark shadow.

I'm fair skinned and dark haired, probably the worst combo for this....

Also, isn't her hair cool! Wish I had the guts Sad

OP posts:
BrianButterfield · 28/06/2014 11:30

Definitely epilating - no shadow and doesn't hurt me now at all. Super quick, too.

GeneHuntsMistress · 28/06/2014 11:52

Rockpink - it's about £400 from boots, I used half advantage points and it was on special offer for £50 off. Prep - nothing, you just have to shave. You can't wax or epilator throughout treatment, as it works on the light shooting down to the root and killing it (highly technical analysis). You can shave as much as you like in between sessions though, so it's not like you are hairy when waiting (one of the things I hated about waxing). Also it great fun when you get to next session and realise you have shaved at all since last one! Where usually I have to shave legs every 2 days...

Make sure you're suitable though, works best on dark hair and light skin (hence the quick and amazing results on armpits & bikini).

GeneHuntsMistress · 28/06/2014 11:54

It honestly doesn't hurt at all.

Only your purse.

MostlyCake · 28/06/2014 12:14

Gene you've convinced me. I'm away to dig it out now! I hope it still works....i bought it about 2.5 years ago was too scared to try in, no idea why then I got pregnant. It said not to use it while preg so I didn't convenient excuse and then I had a baby another convenient excuse

Fingers crossed it works!

OP posts:
RhondaJean · 28/06/2014 12:18

Ive got one of those laser things hiding in the wardrobe as well - its not painful, the worst it feels is like an elastic band snap, but I didn't find it quick, so I gave up on it.

Perhaps I should drag it out again as well?

Sylviecat · 28/06/2014 12:26

Are you talking about the philips lumea thingy? I got it years ago and it's now become an embarrassingly expensive secret in the back of the wardrobe . Didnt dare tell dp how much it was. Shall I dig it out?

ThisBitchIsResting · 28/06/2014 12:26

Rewind a bit. Foundation on your armpits ?

Grin
SinglePringle · 28/06/2014 13:00

Yup! Foundation on your armpits! Mac Face and Body is really good for this. On any show such as Strictly, BGT, DOI, all the celebs have a spray tan but the make up artists take the foundation down the neck / shoulders and - if the dress requires exposed arm pits, then they'll take a sweep,of it over there too. See it happen many many times.

hattymattie · 28/06/2014 13:07

If I had foundation on my armpits I would just sweat it off. Plus, it must wreck your clothes.Confused

MostlyCake · 28/06/2014 15:44

It's been so long since I saw it I can't even remember the make.....

am hunting for it this evening it's somewhere in the barn...might never find it

OP posts:
rockpink · 28/06/2014 17:06

Ah I'm fair skinned but underpit hair is kinda mousy brown, think it would work?
Anyone feeling like selling theirs!

TiredCassandrasbed · 28/06/2014 17:13

Has anyone a link to this home lazer kit? for when I can afford it Who can use them and who are they unsuitable for?

drbartlet · 28/06/2014 18:32

I have fairish skin that tans easily and almost black hair under arms and bikini.

Underarms and bikini line are now totally hair free and smooth. For years!

Best £350 I've ever spent!

Need to work on my legs but it does take time for large areas and you can't be tanned or sunbathe so that's been stopping me.

I've got this one

www.boots.com/en/Boots-Smooth-Skin/

drbartlet · 28/06/2014 18:39

Oh forgot to say that it does work on my leg hair, which is mousy brown, I just haven't finished a course (takes 8 weeks iirc, 1session per week)

MostlyCake · 28/06/2014 18:40

Let's all do it and report back in s few weeks. Will be an incentive to carry on!

OP posts:
GormlessNormTheGardenGnome · 28/06/2014 20:06

I'm tempted to try this too, I'm yeti-woman. Is it safe though? I can't help wondering if in 10 years, laser hair removal will be the equivalent of what sunbeds are now. We'll all have beautifully smooth private parts, shrivelling up and falling off, while all the happy hairy people go "well, duh, firing lasers at your fanny? What did you expect?"

Ninjamouse · 29/06/2014 13:00

Is there an advantage of salon lasers over the home ones? Does anyone know how they differ? Are the salon ones much better? I'm just worried about forking all that money out and then finding it doesn't work very well but spending £300 in a salon would have iyswim? Buying one has the benefits of being able to do dh's back, and possibly sharing with my mum and sis, whom I might be able to convince to share the cost......!

Ninjamouse · 29/06/2014 13:00

Is there an advantage of salon lasers over the home ones? Does anyone know how they differ? Are the salon ones much better? I'm just worried about forking all that money out and then finding it doesn't work very well but spending £300 in a salon would have iyswim? Buying one has the benefits of being able to do dh's back, and possibly sharing with my mum and sis, whom I might be able to convince to share the cost......!

GeneHuntsMistress · 29/06/2014 15:18

gormless that cracked me up! yes you're no doubt correct but I suppose at least we'll be hairless anyhow.....

Ok the one I have is Philips Lumea. I had the original boots smooth skin and had great results, but it was very time consuming as would stop when it got too hot so could only do quarter of a leg at a time, and the cord meant it was uncomfortable reaching some areas. However it was really good, and I still have completely bare patches on my legs where the hair has never grown back even after a lot of years.

I stopped using it (you won't believe how quickly you become complacent once you're hair free, after a lifetime of planning and thinking about removal, once there you just forget about it...), and eventually the hair gets back (althought it never came back anywhere near as prolific, say shaving every 2 weeks instead of every 2 days) and when I eventually got the Boots one out of the loft it had stopped working.

I bought a philips Lumea and it is way better, but I think that is compared to the old original boots smooth skin which has obviously been upgraded a lot since then. The Lumea is cordless, so it find it so much easier to use, you don't need the contact gel that the boots one requires, it's much much faster, you just slide it across every few inches and flash. One charge is enough for chin, pits & bikini and that lot takes 10 mins. One charge for both half legs.

With all theseIPL machines, you can't use on tanned (natural or fake) skin, so best to do it in winter and then just the odd upkeep session during Summer.

They do work on anything really, best results are on pale skin/dark hair, but will work on anything other than blonde hair on pale skin.

Honestly, anyone who has one in the loft, get it out and use it! You only have to shave before each treatment, that's all the prep needed, and shave as much as you like in between, so there is no great deal involved. I can't tell you what a difference it makes to be able to get up and think, ooh I'll wear a dress today, and not have to thinks about tights/shaving etc etc. And something as simple as going swimming - to just say to kids yes ok let's go! And pick up cossie etc and not worry about any hair issues first!

I don't work for any of these IPL machine companies! But I have spent my life and a fortune and agony and TIME getting rid of bloody hair, and I wish I had this from the beginning. That and the bendy spring thing for my face that I read about,on here - wow, it's just less STUFF to worry about in the great list of Shit a There Is To StressAbout.

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 29/06/2014 15:26

Okay you've sold me on the IPL thingie - but what's this bendy spring thing for my face?

GeneHuntsMistress · 29/06/2014 15:35

I readit on here a couple of months ago, think it was an Epi something - it's a long spring thing with rubber ends and you bend it over your face and it pulls out all the hair. It's kind of like threading. Bloody kills cheeks etc but I stick with the chin and it is FABTASTIC pulling out all the bastard beard hairs, I fin it strangely relaxing. Only few quid too! Love it.

Bobbingalongnicelyalmost · 29/06/2014 16:08

Not read all the replies so sorry if I'm repeating. my sister is very dark haired and very hairy, she literally had 3 hairs coming out of every hair folicle she had, even after shaving she would look like she had stubble but it was the dark hair showing through her skin, this was on her legs and armpits...She won't mind me saying that Smile Smile and she started using a IPL machine regularly she now has lovely soft skin under her arms with no hint of a shadow and her legs are also hair free.

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 29/06/2014 16:08

Hmm think I'm okay for beard hairs - just the odd neck whisker!

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 29/06/2014 16:37

Gene Your Boots one that doesn't work anymore - have you tried a new replacement bulb? (sorry if you have and if I'm being obvious)

Thank you for all your posts I'm hoping to save up for an IPL - I'm like Desperate Dan's chin all over! Blush Grin

On the topic of replacement bulbs can I ask how often do you have to replace them and roughly how much are they? TIA

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 29/06/2014 16:41

Sorry just read up - the Philips ones don't need replacement lamps

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