hair from your legs? So farI’ve heard of tweezing, depilatory, waxing, and
bleaching. Are these better than shaving? My
mom says I can start shaving, but I would like
to know what the options are.
Full of Questions
Shaving is the way most girls and women remove hair from legs. You
need to learn to use a razor carefully, because it’s very sharp, but once
you’re good at it, shaving is easier than any of these other methods.
Tweezing (or plucking) is pulling hairs out with tweezers, one at a
time. Although it’s a good way to remove a few hairs, trying this on your legs would take hours! It would also be painful.
A depilatory is a chemical product that weakens hair. It’s applied to
the skin, it sits for several minutes (longer than it takes to shave), and
then it’s wiped off, taking the hair with it. This may sound simple, but
it can irritate skin—and it’s messy and smelly!
Waxing is usually done by a professional, who spreads wax on an area
of skin, then quickly yanks it off like a bandage, pulling the hairs out
by the follicle. Like tweezing, it can hurt, and it can irritate skin. This
method is usually used with smaller areas, not whole legs.
Bleaching hair lightens its color instead of removing it. It’s mainly used
on fine hairs on the arms or face, not on legs. Like a depilatory, it can
irritate skin, and if the hair or skin is naturally dark, bleaching may not
accomplish the job.
Don’t try any method on your own. Before you try one that interests you—including shaving—talk with your mom or dad.
Dear American Girl,
I have tiny hairs on the top of my lip and it looks like
I am growing a mustache. I was wondering if you had a
solution to that.
No Stash
Visible hairs above the lip are not unusual once puberty has started,
especially for girls with dark hair. The hairs are more noticeable to
you than to anyone else, but if they really bother you, talk with your
parent. Your mom can help you pluck the most visible hairs with
tweezers. Once you get older, if you want to deal with more than a
few hairs, a chemical hair remover or bleach made just for the face is a
possibility. Both are available in drugstores, but they can burn your skin
and must be used carefully and always with a parent—never on your
own. Another option is professional waxing, which is effective but has
an “ouch” factor. Every method has pros and cons. Start slow.
Dear American Girl,
I am 10 and I have super-hairy arms and legs. Some
people make fun of me and I try to laugh with them,
but it really does hurt.
Fuzzy
All people have hair everywhere on their bodies, ranging from fine
to thick and from light to dark. It’s normal and healthy. But if your
body hair bothers you—and only you—you could try making some of
your hair less noticeable. Talk with a parent about your feelings, and
ask your doctor for any recommendations he or she might have for
someone your age. As for the teasing, laughing along may help keep
insensitive remarks from getting out of hand. But if you’re feeling hurt,
try leveling with these people, especially if they are your friends: “You
probably don’t mean to hurt my feelings, but it bothers me when you
make fun of me. Please stop.”
Face & Skin
Dear American Girl,
My skin is getting greasy. My mom had greasy skin and
pimples when she was my age. Is there anything I can do to
keep my skin from breaking out?
Grease Face
Oily skin isn’t a bad thing. Without oil, your skin would feel dry and
rough. But as you start puberty, your oil glands may start working
overtime, clogging your pores and leading to breakouts. The best way
to avoid breakouts is to care for your skin before they happen: Wash
your face every morning and night with warm water and an oil-free
cleanser, and follow up with an oil-free face lotion. Avoid pore-
cleaning strips and toners—they’re meant for adult skin. And don’t
wash your skin more than twice a day. If you strip your face of too
much oil, your glands will work extra hard
to give your skin back the oil it lost.
To fight shine during the day,
just blot your skin with
clean facial tissues.
Dear American Girl,
I have TONS of pimples and blackheads on my face.
What can you recommend?
Need
