Vanity, vanity, all is-- ouch!

[klwilliams]

Today, my big outing for the day was to the beauty shop, to get a haircut, get my fake nails filled, and get my eyebrows and lip "done". Most of you know that I've never really been the sort of woman who pays that much attention to those sorts of details, but since I've lost a lot of weight I'm endeavoring to look a little nicer. Also, I'm tired of biting my nails. What I've discovered is a whole new world of pain.

The way to get nice, new fake nails is to have someone run a drill bit that's made out of metal sandpaper (I don't know what the real name is) on your bare nails to rough them up. The nice Vietnamese lady (they're usually nice Vietnamese ladies) will usually miss running over your skin, though today she had come in on her day off and dug a hole in my right ring finger. Next she paints wet glop on your nails that will harden up in a moment to become the nice new fake nails, which she will run over with metal sandpaper a few times until it's nice and smooth. Then she gets out the emory board to shape the nails, which involves digging into the edges of your fingers again. When done, I look nice, and my fingers hurt.

Waxing also hurts. Waxing the tenderest part of your face, such as your upper lip or the area right under your eyebrow, hurts a whole effing lot. First, nice warm wax falling softly on your face, then-- riiippp! Comforting warm wax-- riippp! But at least no one has called me "sir" for the last month or so.

Comments

[darcyjavanne.livejournal.com]

Ouch, you poor, lovely thing!

I've been doing my chin, upper lip, and eyebrow (note the lack of plural) for a few years now. The pain, alas, does not seem to lessen with time.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I am ever grateful that I'm basically pretty hairless, except for my meager hank on my head. I would never be able to wax--total wimp is me. And ditto letting anyone do =anything= to my nails. Shudder.

[kahnegabs.livejournal.com]

Ah yes. All of the above is why I gave up on being 'beautiful' a long time ago. What you see is what you get. It's just not worth all that misery it to me. You're young though, so more power to you... if you can stand it!

[patsmor.livejournal.com]

My nail person is really good; I told her I wouldn't see the people in the shop who hurt me, and so I get her most of the time. Or, got -- I can't afford to go at this point unless I have a job. Catch-22. ;-)

Amusingly enough, when i was getting facials (and microdermabrasion!) I would fall asleep during the treatment. I don't know why, even tho it's not always comfy. But very soothing.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

What is microdermabrasion? Does it do anything useful?

[patsmor.livejournal.com]

It's essentially sandblasting the skin, getting the top level of old skin off. For those of us with sun damage or older skin, it helps get a fresher look, fewer age marks, etc. They can do it on the "decolatage," too, for those places you always forget to put sunscreen on. And hands, for age marks.

It can also help (and the reason I did it) get rid of large pores, stubborn blackheads, and other blemishes (not pimples). I had blackheads that I think have been since 10th grade, just sitting there getting older and deeper, and on my jaw line, at the corners of my mouth, and on my nose have pores the size moon craters.

It worked well; it takes 4-6 treatments to be most effective, and you have to continue having regular facials every 3-4 weeks afterward to keep the effect up. I liked the way my skin looked, but I can no longer afford to keep the ritual going. I liked it. I know, I'm vain, but... There are a lot of women up here in the High Country that look like their skin is turning into aligator leather. I don't intend to be one of them.

My condolences.

[lifeofglamour.livejournal.com]

Heh, I generally refuse to get manicures or pedicures for that very reason. I will, occasionally, get a manicure in dire circumstances, for example if I'm being a bridesmaid and the bride demands it. But nobody better come at my feet with any of those implements of terror!
I've solved the waxing conundrum by plucking, because the last few times I got my eyebrows waxed the process actually ripped chunks of skin off of my face! That didn't heal for over a week. Nothing pretty about that, let me tell you. Sadly, I spend a lot of time plucking now because I'm fairly hirsute. Oh well.
Always makes me think of something Marguerite likes to say in her haughtiest Southern belle accent: "Stand up straight ladies, pride feels no pain."

Re: My condolences.

[(Anonymous)]

Plucking is death by a thousand cuts. I'd rather have lots of pain all at once than lots of little tiny pains over and over. :-)

[aastg.livejournal.com]

Waxing sucks rocks. I had bikini wax done once--ONCE--when I was teenager. I can't imagine wax on my face - shudder! No, it's tweezers for me. Besides, tweezing is a thoughtful, contemplative activity. It gives you real, substantive "me" time, and the steady rythmn of poink-OW, poink-OW, poink-OW is really very soothing spiritually.

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

I get a fair amount waxed on a regular basis: it doesn't become any less painful, but it does discourage hair growth over time. It also depends, apparently, on where one is in one's hormonal cycle as one is more sensitive to pain at particular stages.

I pluck my own eyebrows and at the moment, do my own nails (this is because I keep forgetting to book a manicure). But I love facials.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm hoping that the hair will get discouraged by being ranked out. I know I would be. :-)

Facials are wonderful.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

That was me.

[patsmor.livejournal.com]

The hair on my face has gotten discouraged by waxing. There's not a lot left except right under my eyebrows and one lonely chin wisker. And what is is now back to peach-fuzz stuff.

[sfmarty.livejournal.com]

I am letting my breath out. I could never so that, never.

[ermine-rat.livejournal.com]

hehehe
you should all send your hair karma to me!

No wax for me!

[dame-cordelia.livejournal.com]

The mere thought of putting wax on my legs or underarms is enough to have me run for the nearest exit. While it is a reasonable alternative to shaving or bleaching and lasts longer than either, I am not into that much pain.

Fortunately I am not a very hairy person, and the eyebrow shaping I did with tweezers has pretty much held over time.

Glue-on nails can be done at home for far less pain and expense. Ask Collette what she uses.

[galeni.livejournal.com]

While I don't do any of those things, I do rip the hair from my legs (although after 25 years of doing so there's hardly more than 20 remaining per leg) on a regular basis.

All hail to the beauteous warrior maid! Society sets dreadful standards, but to get ahead one must conform or, like you, exceed those standards. I stand in awe.