pubic epilation
Antonia
Summary
This note explores the ancient practice of genital depilation and discusses
practical methods. Curiously this a topic which does not figure
significantly in discussion of Body Modifications such as genital piercing,
yet some might feel that rings or other adornments are somewhat wasted if
concealed by a pubic forest !
Our objective is to promote discussion and disclosure of the experience of
others.
We concentrate on female depilation, considering that the female form,
generally lacking hair, can be visually enhanced by complete absence of body
hair, while the generally hairy male body looks more than slightly
ridiculous, if not grotesque, when a denuded pubic region is surmounted by
a forest of abdominal hair ! Doubtless, this is a matter of individual
taste.
We note the general problem that visual appeal is rarely matched by tactile
appeal or comfort : few can afford the luxury of permanent removal by
electrolysis or laser, even if we could find a compliant specialist. Some
40 hours of treatment over 2 years, as well-illustrated in BME "Nullo" would
cost around £3,200 in the UK ( $US 5,120).
We can find no references to the success or otherwise of products advertised
to inhibit hair growth : doubtless, the Newsgroup would welcome "customer
reports"
History
One can readily find historical references to body depilation in Ancient
Egypt some 4,000 years ago. How widely the practice spread outside the
ruling classes is less clear, but for Pharoes and courtiers it was clearly
the "norm". Cited methods included strange concoctions including crocodile
dung and natron. Whether these potions dissolved hair or were constituents
of a sticky substance to pull the hair out by the roots is unclear.
In more recent times, the sugar-based substance used in the Arab world to
epilate the body by means of "sugaring" was first marketed in the West under
the title, "Egyptian Gold".
Jumping forward to the 16th and 17th centuries AD, visitors to
Constantinople comment on the "Mussulman" habit, illustrations of the harem
depict clearly hairless women and one writer noted:-
"…..the Turkish consider it a great sin to retain hair about their private
parts and hurry to the baths when they feel it coming …"
In contemporary times, a Tunisian woman who successfully marketed her
depilatory "sugar" in Britain, declared in a Press interview that, as was
the custom:-
"….complete removal of body hair is a joint social activity between the
women of the family and, according to custom, she was fully depilated before
marriage……."
Pubic depilation for women appears to be commonplace amongst women of the
Moslem faith ( we understand, as one of the adornments approved by the
Prophet ) and references can also be found relating to parts of Japan and
in India, outside the Moslem population.
Perhaps readers of the Moslem faith will wish to comment further on the
question _ it seems that they may have a long experience of the practice
and may have practical tips to offer.
Current methods of hair removal
Few options are available, shaving, plucking, ripping-off with wax or
"sugar", depilatory chemicals, electrolysis or laser treatment.
Shaving suffers the disadvantage that bristles are evident almost
immediately and making love to a hedgehog is far from erotic, however
attractive it may appear from a distance ! Some people claim that the act
of a partner shaving is in itself erotic. Others find it a damned nuisance
to be endured rather than enjoyed. Shaving suffers the inherent
disadvantage that it can only be safely undertaken shaving in the direction
of hair growth, thus leaving an immediate "sandpaper " effect. Shaving in
the opposite direction , to achieve a smoother finish, invariably lifts nibs
of skin around each follicle, which are scraped by the blade, giving the
discomfort and unerotic phenomenon of "Razor Rash".
Plucking?waxing/sugaring all attempt to remove hair by the roots, which some
claim eventually reduces or stops further growth. It is an extremely
painful process, at least for the first few occasions, and few women have
the determination to continue the process for themselves. How many salons
are prepared to undertake such an intimate process is unclear. Our
experience has been to be greeted with horror at the very suggestion.
Perhaps attitudes are changing since the current issue of "Cosmopolitan
( UK edition) advertises that next month (August) they will publish , "
Bikini Wax Wars - How Bare do You Dare ? ". However, these methods appear
to be favoured and routine in Middle Eastern countries, recent references to
Jordan, Turkey and Egypt having been noticed.
We have never had the bravery or persistence to determine whether or not
hair growth is eventually suppressed, but the methods , like shaving, can
lead to extreme irritation as the hair regrows and some seeks passage
through the skin rather than the follicle (ingrown hair). While a
delightfully smooth effect may be achieved for a couple of weeks, there is
an awful interregnum between about week 4 and week 8, when the emergent
hair is too short for a repeat process and the same hedgehog/bristle problem
exists, as in shaving.
Chemical Depilatories
Some people are allergic to use of any of these products on a very sensitive
skin area and suffer unsightly and uncomfortable "chemical burn", possibly
more severe problems requiring medical intervention.
All these products appear to be based on Thioglycolic Acid or one of its
salts, which dissolve the hair at , or marginally below skin level. They
may give a nice smooth effect for a couple of days but thereafter the
bristle effect arises and the treatment cannot be safely repeated until
about day 7.
The original depilatories were generally based on Calcium Thioglycolate,
more recently, Sodium Thioglycolate has come to the fore but in our
experience the best results and least irritation are provided by Potassium
Thioglycolate, which is used in "IMMAC DUO PLUS" (the British tradename)
apparently formulated in France.
References have been noted to applying growth inhibitors to delay hair
regrowth. They seem rather expensive and we can discover no evidence that
they actually work. Whether marketed in USA or UK, they appear to emanate
from Switzerland.
One inhibitor advertised on the Internet is, "Ultimate Hair Away", from
Victoria Bodyworks (http://www.vantage-point.com/~hairaway/ or,
hair...@islandnet.com ). We would dearly like to know whether it works as
claimed, before disclosing our interests to a nosey Postman, collecting
whatever Duty might be levied on a product from Canada !
Electrolysis and laser methods
We have no experience to report on these possibilities, save to note that
enquiries made of British beauticians left us thoroughly embarrassed and
feeling as though we were people from Mars !
BME Extreme, shows the progressive results over a period of two years,
incurring about 40 hours of treatment and a cost which we estimate as beyond
the reach of most people at about $US 5,120.
We have found only one practitioner specifically advertising her services on
the Internet ( ra...@bihair.com). Her illustrations of depilated penises/
scrota reinforce our own views on the inappropriateness of partial
depilation of the male body !
An apparently new technique was spotted in Australia in Autumn 1996. By
chance, it was commended in the Australian edition of "Vogue" for October
1996 which we found on the aircraft home. It is "Epiljet" which claims to
banish any large area of hair for ever. Practitioners can be found on the
Internet in Brisbane and Perth and the illustrations leave no room for doubt
that they are treating the pubic/genital regions of both men and women. We
telephoned the advertiser in Perth, who had absolute confidence that she
could happily remove all traces of female genital hair permanently.
Unfortunately, the treatment requires repeated visits at monthly intervals
and a cost which is similar to electrolysis. Again, we would be interested
to see reports of experience, even if the technique is not available in all
countries.
Laser techniques seem to be coming to the fore but it is probably too early
to be certain as to whether or not they lead to a permanent result.
It is a little curious to sense that requests for permanent hair removal by
women for their own or their partner's pleasure is treated with some horror,
while the same experts are happy to treat male transexuals. A strange old
world, particularly with the historical background of female depilation and
its apparent acceptability/normality in cultures other than West European/
American !
Hygiene Aspects
Some people aver that absence of female genital hair is conducive to
hygiene. Perhaps permanent removal has such effects, but our experience of
less permanent removal suggests that the appeal lies in areas other than
hygiene!
Hairy labia tend to part when sitting/squatting to urinate, leading to clean
passage of urine, with little contamination of labial hair. Depilation of
the labia, on the contrary, seems to cause the labia to stick and not part
so readily for the process.. In part, the problem may result from the
considerable irritation of opposing labia when hair removal is incomplete or
is regrowing, leading to slight abrasion of the opposing tissues.
It is a little curious that so many "girly" magazines depict models with
depilated labia but a bush above. If for cosmetic or erotic purposes hair
in the area is to be reduced, little difficulty arises from areas away from
the labia and one must presume that the models concerned either have some
secret which we have not discovered, or they suffer discomfort for some
weeks for the cause of their "art" !
Epilogue
We find absence of genital hair erotic but somewhat impractical within the
techniques available. It is also somewhat embarrassing for the female half
to visit the Doctor in a denuded state, which does not appear to be the norm
in West European culture. Quite simply, "nice girls" do not interfere with
such parts as may seem improper.
Perhaps this review will prompt others to report their experiences and
suggest methods which they have found effective.
Antonia W.
Lan
females can? Oh, let me guess, they can remove their pubic hair but not
that from the rest of their bodies. Right ok STUPID one.
--
For all the things you tried to make us forget, and for all the
things you did to me to stop me from getting where I am now.
Truth is a monster.
http://falcon.nji.com/~vera
interesting site by someone else. Email: Anti-chaos. ICQ: 26027485