Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with grooming

I don't get why aestheticians like their jobs!

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 07:20:21 -0800

I have finally worked up enough nerve to try getting a brazilian wax. It's not the pain; it's the privacy issue. My appointment is booked. I've been to gynos etc. Why does this seem different? I just can't get past the idea that the waxers must think it's a yucky job. But then, I think to myself, why did they end up in that job? Do people actually LIKE waxing other people's genitals? For example, the salon I've booked an appointment at is strictly a brazilian waxing salon. So the staff there are literally waxing vaginas etc all day long. They must enjoy or at least not hate doing it. How is this possible? How do they end up in the profession? If I can understand this, perhaps I will stop feeling so nervous.

Any further hints or encouragement or anecdotes to relax me about the whole thing are appreciated. Why am I so nervous when it aint no thing to other people!? The idea of someone paying such close attention to my private parts in a non-sexual non-clinical way is freaky!

Hacking away the forest

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:14:01 -0800

ICan'tBelieveI'mAskingThisFilter: How does your grooming, er, down there affect sex? [Possibly NSFW] Female and rather inexperienced sexually for my (young/old) age.

I like the feeling of my bits shaved, but it itches like the nine hells if I don't put in a large amount of effort maintaining it (because hair on any part of my body grows like a weed). So usually, I just trim it down and call it a day. If I don't expect sexytimes for a while, sometimes I don't even bother with that. However, the difference between 'au natural' vs. 'trimmed down' has been noted by others (nicely, just as a mention), favouring the latter. I felt a little embarrassed and now put in more effort to trim things up.

This got me wondering: does most women trim, shave, some combination of the two? Wax/epilate (the thought makes me cringe, although I do own an epilator)? Don't give a damn? And while I'm guessing that men probably don't do as much in terms of keeping their junk beautifully bare, they probably do something too, right?

So...male or female: what do you do? Do your partners tend to favour the more bare side of the spectrum, or is it a very individual basis? Does regular grooming affect the actual sex at all?

(FWIW, in a very conservative area where 'sex' is spoken of in euphemisms and weird hand gestures, so it's not like I can outright ask this of someone.)

How to groom a dog who behaves like a bucking bronco!

newfers — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 08:58:02 -0800

Can anyone please give advice on how to snip a couple matted areas from our rambunctious Newfoundland dog without anybody being hurt? Our Newfoundland dog, Daisy, who is a year and a half old, has developed a couple of matted spots around her ears. We somehow missed these as they developed (bad parents!), and now we'd like to snip them away. Problem is, she's a very playful and strong dog, and weighs over 100 lbs, and when we brush or groom her, she thinks we're playing, and thus she bounces and bucks and wants to play or nibble at our hands. She's still very much a puppy and rarely has any time when she just wants to sit and enjoy being petted - mostly she wants to actively play with us, so when we brush her, it's quite a chore sometimes.

We have sheep shearing clippers, and scissors of course, so I'm seeking advice on how two people (wifey and I) can quickly and easily clip these matted spots away (very near her ears) without incurring too much damage to ourselves!

Gentlemen, what washing/grooming product(s) do you use on your body hair?

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:45:14 -0800

Should I start to shampoo and condition my body hair? Are there specific products out there? Okay, so I'm a pretty hirsute guy. I've got a pretty thick layer of hair everywhere except my back, although it's slowly getting there as well.

Recently I realized that, hey, I ought to be doing something about it as it is, well, hair and there's a heck of a lot of it.

So what do I do? Shampoo? Condition? I do both to my winter-beard, but that's considerably thicker than my body hair.

Just as a sidenote: this isn't about having it look nice, but more wondering if it would feel nicer and be better for the skin if I started taking better care of it.

Can I use a depilatory cream on my male genitals?

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:40:26 -0800

Can I use a depilatory cream on my male genitals? or Non-sharp ball hair removal suggestions. My scrotum is very wrinkly and loose, and it grows long, straggly hairs that I'd like to remove. Similar stragglers also grow around the base of my penis and up a few inches. I use a trimmer to keep the above-the-genitals patch tidy, but even with the plastic guard on it's too sharp and poky to be effective any further down. I can't use scissors or a razor either, again due to the looseness of the skin in the region (and because I have shaky hands).

Will Nair leave me screaming and scarred forever? I imagine waxing would for sure. Searching online I can only find totally unhelpful fake 'answers page' ads for 'bodygroomer' electric razors and the like. Are there any other options for hair removal from delicate man parts?

Maybe it's time for a (hairstyle) change?

Vorteks — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:46:09 -0800

I'm a man, and all my life I've had exactly one hairstyle. Now I'm looking to refine my look a little bit. What do I need to know? I've had pretty much the same hairstyle for 26 years. My friends and family often tease me that there's no point in me even going to the barbershop because "it always looks the same anyway". I have always worn a medium-length cut. My hair parts naturally, and I've never fought it. I pretty much use no hair products of any kind, other than shampoo and conditioner. I'm pretty conservative in my dress and grooming.

Now, I'm thinking a bit of change might be good. I might change my overall hairstyle, or maybe I want to keep my style but use some kind of product to enhance it or keep it in place a bit. However, I have no idea where to start. Can you help me? How does a man choose a new hairstyle? Is there some kind of guide? What sort of products (gels, sprays, brushes, etc) should I know about? What's the difference between a $10 barber, and a $30 salon? Any and all information would be helpful.

In general, I would consider:

A new (yet still conservative) hairstyle. A bit longer, a bit shorter, try to remove the part, whatever.

Using a subtle gel or spray to hold my hair in place or enhance it

Going to a new shop or salon if it would help

I would not consider:

Coloring or highlighting.

Gels or sprays that have a very obvious and dramatic effect - making your hair look solid, or laquered, or whatever

Anything that would shock your grandmother. I'm going for a more modest, business-friendly look.

I'm looking for more general advice about my options rather than a specific recommendation, but if it helps this is what I look like (although the part in my hair isn't always that pronounced). Also, if it matters, I live in Michigan, USA.

Thanks in advance!

Quality, at-home haircut for the vain

notjustfoxybrown — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:06:44 -0800

I wear my hair close-cropped, sort of like Erykah's in the picture on the right (I don't actually like to cut close enough to see skin but I like it low.) In order for me to keep it this way, I have to cut it at least weekly ... which is expensive and time-consuming. I'm looking for a place where I can purchase barber-quality clippers either somewhere in the Phoenix area or online. I'm not looking for anything I can buy at Sally's or Target (I've tried clippers at both places and they just aren't are good as the ones my very-skilled barber uses.)

Thanks!

Chicago body waxing for men that won't break the bank?

ggypsy — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:51:17 -0800

What is the high quality, economical solution for a male in Chicago needing full-body waxing? Failing that, where's the right place to look? I'm preparing for my first job as a male exotic dancer, which clashes with my Italian-inspired body hair. So pretty much everything below the ears has to go, and shaving just won't cut it. The absolute cheapest I've found this service for was $250, and that was just a hodge-podge of parts that will probably neglect some area (arms, chest, legs, booty).

So where should I go? Or if you don't know where I should go, where should I look? I was told to check Devon St, but other than driving up and down the street asking at each salon what their prices are, I have no way of comparing vendors. I checked Yelp, but the information seemed all over the board and they didn't list prices. My future customers that don't have to deal with my prickly stubble thank you in advance.

Best Eyebrow Tweezers?

dreamphone — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:35:08 -0800

Seeking your recommendation for best eyebrow tweezers. I’m looking for eyebrow tweezers that work. Revlon and other drugstore-brand styles don’t seem to work for me; over time they become less “true,” and some even don’t work straight out of the package. I’d like to take a step up in quality and price range (say $20-$50?), but don’t know where to look.

My only real requirement is that they have tapered (or pointed) tips. Would be nice to have scissor-style grips, but will consider any pair that you’ve had success with. (If it matters, I have thick hair, which occasionally takes some tugging to extract.)

Fire down below!

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:58:27 -0800

I am a girl with incredibly sensitive skin. Help me stay free of rashes AND hair "down there"... or convince me it's not worth it (men, please reply). I've tried waxing. I've tried shaving. Epilator? Check. It doesn't seem to matter what method I use, I ALWAYS get a rash.

Sure, it looks good for about a day, or even a week. But my skin is insanely sensitive, and I inevitably get a horrible, painful, scary-looking rash, especially along the edges where my groin and my legs meet. These rashes last 3-7 days.

I have had two long-term relationships where the guy didn't care down about having hair down there, so cool, I trimmed it. I'm single. Every time I am single, I feel OBLIGATED to be hair-free. So I try, but no method seems to work AND be non-irritating.

So far I have tried all of the following:

1. Using a new razor and sensitive skin foam after a bath
2. Professional waxing
3. Home waxing
4. Plucking all the hair with a rounded set of tweezers to avoid wax irritation
5. Nair (dear god never again lol)
6. Electric razor
7. Tend Skin and variations of that stuff
8. Clear deodorant
9. Only wearing skirts/dresses, no tight pants
10. Only shaving in the direction the hair grows
11. Epilator (yes really)
12. Exfoliating the area by every means possible

I feel like I want to have sex in the future, hence the grooming. But I can't always predict when sex will happen! So, guys... if you were going to have sex with a girl and there was some razor burn, primarily obviously on the... um... edges, how grossed out would you be? What if the girl had an STD test and showed you she was disease free, would that reassure you? Is a little hair better than no hair at all and a few red bumps? Ugh I feel so undignified even asking this. Help.

This is embarassing as hell. Throwaway account: embarassingashell at gmail.

Meet Little Ms. Clumpy

mudpuppie — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:46:16 -0800

My cat's fur is suddenly getting matted. Why, and what can I do about it? My little freak of a cat is developing mats in the fur on her hind legs, and more on her right side than her left. She's a 10-year-old short-haired orange tabby, by the way, and is 100% indoors. Her winter coat is developing, as it does every year, but this has never happened before. I'm brushing her daily, but it's not doing anything for the mats. I've been trying to loosen them, but she gets really squirmy after 10 seconds of that.

Her diet hasn't changed recently, nor has her overall health. She is not overweight.

She used to be a fanatical groomer. I've started paying attention to her grooming habits lately, and have really only seen her groom her front half. (Then again, she could be doing it when I'm not looking.)

Any theories on why she's getting matted all of the sudden? Is this something that will work itself out as winter comes on? Any tips for getting rid of the mats, or should I just wait it out? I thought about smearing some butter on her hindquarters in an attempt to get her grooming, but that might just freak her out.

Help me with my hirsute shoulders!

bardic — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:23:18 -0800

Shoulder hairs. I hate 'em. But I'm getting older and I'm getting more of them. Is there any easy way to get rid of them? Shaving my shoulders (more specifically, the upper portion of my back between my shoulders blades) seems like a recipe for disaster. But, what to do? Plucking is what I do now, but that's tedious. A piece of tape? A very patient GF with tweezers? ZOMG help me before I turn into a cave-man!

Where did all the eyebrows go?

divka — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:41:31 -0800

Should I stop worrying that my one of my cat eats my other cats' eyebrows? It appears to be an entirely consensual act. All right, so I have two male cats (unrelated, neutered) who love each other. They express this, in part, through mutual grooming. I've noticed recently that the orange cat has been vigorously nibbling at the brown cat's eyebrow whiskers during the grooming sessions. Now, all the eyebrow whiskers on one side are entirely gone. His fur and skin in this area look perfectly normal.

This happened before--but with the other side of the brown cat's head. Those have grown back in now--so I guess they've been switching sides. Both the orange cat and brown cat appear to be extremely blissed out during the eyebrow nibbling.

The brown cat is fully capable of defending himself. He is, in fact, the dominant cat in this situation.

Of course, one cat over-grooming himself is signs of bad things. But this? I'm not so sure how much to worry about it. Plus, I don't know how I'd stop it if I'd try. Much of the loving action takes place when I'm not home.

And yes...I could call the vet and ask. But, I'd like some outside cat-loving opinions before I call and have my vet make fun of me over this one.

Electronic quick-finders for dogs: fact or crap?

Ufez Jones — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:22:47 -0800

Has anyone tried one of the electronic quick-finder dog nail trimmers (like this)? Are they worth the extra $10 or so? I've looked through the other pet nail-trimming threads and seen the advice on Dremels and files and just having the groomer do it, but there hasn't been any mention (that I could find) of anyone trying/using a device like this. Has anyone tried one? Do they work as advertised?

Twentysomethings and B.O.

joseph_elmhurst — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:07:58 -0800

Young people and body odor - did I miss the memo? I am aware of a lot of folks who, apparently, are perfectly fine with body odor. No, they're not hippies. No, they don't live on the street. No, they are not mentally ill. They're typically young, employed, fashion-conscious, have enough discretionary income to buy lots of records, go out to bars, maybe enjoy a recreational drug or four. Yet they have the pepper steak smell that I associate with infrequent bathers and/or clothes washers. It's a subculture thing, I suppose, but its origins confuse me. I can grok hippies who feel that being "natural" extends to not showering every day (conserves water/energy) and not using deodorant (nasty chemicals in that, man) but creative class types who probably do not share the same sensibilities - why do they want to have obvious B.O.? Does this trend, which I've noticed for the last four or five years, have a single origin?

Long Haired Mama Seeks Lawnmower

Phalene — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:08:16 -0800

Razor Filter: What's a good electric razor for legs and face? Mama Moth has, like her sisters and female relatives, a moustache. While not bothered by this to the extent of laser removal, she wants a little workhorse of a razor she can use on her mouth and chin area and then on her legs in the summer time. Thus she has asked me (her daughter) to beg the mighty green mefi for their advice in this matter.

The intended gender of the razor doesn't matter, and she'll pay plenty if it's a nice, long lasting unit that gives a good shave. So, give ye your advice, oh wise and mighty hivemind! Which products are worth it and which aren't worth the cost of stamps to return them?

How can I calm him down safely?

sunshinesky — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:20:35 -0800

Our Pit Bull refuses to have his nails clipped. My boyfriend is the nth owner of our lovely 2y/o pit bull, Rocky. In the year or so that he's owned him, his nails haven't been clipped once. I suspect it's putting uncomfortable pressure on his 'toes'. Not only that, but it really hurts if he jumps up excitedly on us.

He is generally well behaved, and not violent at all- he'll offer a paw when asked, but he will NOT let you hold it. As soon as he suspects it's clipping time, he becomes extremely agitated, to the point where neither of us are willing to risk pushing him.
I would not even trust him with a professional groomer- that's how defensive he gets.

Is there anyway we could subdue him a bit in order to get this done? We've tried relentlessly to make him happy and comfortable with his paws being handled (gently even!).

(Please no angry backlash)- but I'd really like to know if there's anyway we can safely drug him to calm him down. Any other suggestions are definitely welcome though.

So many shampoos, so much confusion

stedman15 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:40:07 -0800

I need to know the truth: How often should I be using shampoo and conditioner, and what sorts of shampoo and conditioner? Over the past few years, my hair has started thinning. I'm not bald, but I no longer the possess the luxuriant mane I had in college.

I get my hair cut at a hairstyling academy, and have been asking the stylists how I should shampoo. Their advice is making my head spin. Some told me to use organic shampoo, others told me to use shampoo without sulfates. Some told me I need to condition my hair often, others have said once a week is enough. I've been told to use volumizing conditioner by some to make my hair fuller, others say it doesn't matter.

So I ask MeFi: How should I be washing my hair, with what, and how often? If you can also let me know specific brands to use, it would be much appreciated.

I saw this earlier thread, but it doesn't seem to answer my questions.

Girly Product Comparisons

joannemerriam — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:33:02 -0800

Are there any magazines or websites which provide comparisons/recommendations for girly grooming products? Whenever I see recommendations in the major women's magazines, they seem to be tied to whoever bought ads in that issue, so I don't trust the (for lack of a better term) journalistic integrity of those recommendations.

Are there any magazines or websites which somewhat-objectively compare different products (shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, make-up, nail clippers, etc.)?

I want to wear black shirts again.

Elmo Oxygen — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:51:34 -0800

Looking for an all-natural, hair-friendly, anti-dandruff shampoo. For the longest time, I used Herbal Essences, and everything was alright with the world. I'd have to wash my hair more often in the summer then the winter, but it was no big deal. (think twice a week during the winter, every other day during the summer)

However, about 6 months ago, they changed their formula and threw my world into chaos! Since then, I've tried a few different brands (including the new Herbal Essences formula) and none have worked for me. Most disturbingly, I've developed dandruff! Yuck!

So, bottom line, I need a new shampoo. I've tried the standard anti-dandruff shampoos before (think Head and Shoulders) but they all scared me - they burned my face, had a real mediciney smell, and made my hair look awful. Worst of all, they used things like 'coal tar.' Yuck!

I'm looking for all-natural shampoos and conditioners that will keep the dandruff at bay and will also make my hair look great. My hair is naturally very thick and wavy and bouncy. I don't know if this matters or not.

Also, bonus question - the dandruff has mostly appeared in the last few months. It isn't super super bad, but it's at the point where it even appears a few hours after I've washed my hair. I'm pretty sure that it's never been this bad before. Can one 'develop' dandruff? Could it be seasonal? Or is it due to using the wrong haircare products?

Lion Cuts = Cruelty??

sfkiddo — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:17:09 -0800

I was looking for a cat groomer on Yelp today and was struck by the comments: only place that will do lion cuts in the city, most places won't shave cats, please don't shave your cat, etc. I realized that I've seen this sentiment quite often on the interwebs... This puzzles me: after all, dogs get groomed (aka shaved) and I never hear about it being "cruel" to the dog (the adjective of choice when it comes to cats). Could you help me figure out the cultural difference between shaving cats and shaving dogs?

Here are my working theories on why cats and dogs are stereotyped differently vis-a-vis grooming:

- Cats have a tendency to look baleful in photos. Our minds notice the lion cut (because it's different), register the regular look (baleful), and put it together that the cat is "mad" because of the lion cut;
- Cats are more "independent", thus we don't like the idea of them getting groomed into a cute shape because that means they're submissive and might end up in Paris Hilton's handbag;
- Dogs are "dirtier" than cats; thus, it's OK to groom them because they can't do it themselves.

Any other ideas? Also, my question comes from a US California perspective; would love to hear how everyone else thinks about this subject.

Solutions to survive the pain of laser hair removal treatments please!

iamkimiam — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:28:12 -0800

What can I do to make laser hair removal treatments more tolerable? I recently started laser hair removal treatments on my legs and bikini line. I prepaid for the treatments and am very interested in completing them...however, my first session was UNBEARABLE. I thought that I had a high pain threshold, but this was a whole different animal. Something about the way the lasers work...it was excruciating. I want to go through with the remaining treatments because I think the results will be worth it, but I'd like to hear about some pain management techniques or topical anesthetics that would be safe to try. My internet searching has been fruitless. Anybody been through this? How did you survive?

Why is my dog's hair suddenly getting matted after 13 years?

RobotHeart — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 09:08:28 -0800

Why is my dog's hair suddenly getting matted after 13 years? I've already figured out what I need to unmat her (a slicker brush), but I want to know why. We don't know what breed my dog is. Most people guess at least part border collie, if not all border collie; others definitely see black lab and/or German shepherd in her. Her hair has always been smooth and shiny, with the occasional little whorl on her chest in the white part.

Over the last month or so, her hair has gotten a bit clumped in places. Also, the texture has changed. It feels more porous and not quite as smooth. The shedding blade is doing nothing, which is a new development. Last time, a bath washed most of it out. This time, not even that helps. I can pick them out carefully with my fingers; what comes out is the usual reddish-black late spring undercoat that has always come out on its own with regular brushing and petting on our parts. It started over her left shoulder, which incidentally has a few cysts or lumps there that the vet said were benign. (That's probably a coincidence.) Now I've also found clumping under her collar (which I have checked and is not too tight) and where her back legs meet her body.

The dog has been under a good deal of stress lately. Her mommy was in the hospital for a week, and even when home has not paid as much attention to her. However, the other two members of the household have given her at least as much attention as usual, and there are additional people coming in and out, giving her attention, which she likes.

Could this be caused by stress, or hormonal changes due to age? The reason why I am wondering is if this is some sort of isolated incident, we'd just borrow a slicker brush instead of buying one. And based on what you guys say, we'd be open to taking her to a groomer or vet too.

Help my little Skeletor!

ubu — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 07:53:23 -0800

We had our beautiful Wheaten terrier shaved and now she looks like a ghost--any ideas to overcome this scary phase? Our dog was hot and itchy and her hair was too long, so we took her to the groomer yesterday. It was the first time I've had a dog groomed, and I told them to shave her hair off so she wouldn't be hot during the summer. When I went to pick her up, I honestly did not recognize her. We had no idea that she was this skinny underneath her thick coat. She looks like a skeleton running around! They hand-cut (very poorly) the hair on her head, and now she only has one eyebrow left! Is there anything that will make her beautiful coat grow back faster? Recommendations for what to do next time (what to tell the next groomer for a summer cut)?

Also, we thought a nice grooming might improve her "licking her private parts" neuroris, but it has only made everything more accessible and now she is licking herself like crazy. I think the grooming actually far worsened the problem. Any advice on how to discourage/prevent this?

H2O-soluble nail polish scam?

TochterAusElysium — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 18:38:06 -0800

Do all nail salons use polish that comes off quicker than the brands you buy in stores? I've only had a manicure twice, and like the look; just a simple, light color - nothing fancy. Both times I went to the same nearby nail salon. But both times, as soon as my hands were exposed to water (once, washing my car, once, just showering) the polish started to peel off right away. This doesn't happen with standard store-bought polish; do salons use water-soluble polish just to keep you coming back more often? Or do I need to find a more upscale place? (Any recommendations for the north-of-Seattle area, if so?)