Hair Removal

[AuroraLily]

With the summer just around the corner, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for hair removal. :sunny:

[Artichoke47]

Sally Hansen has a depilatory that is not tested on animals and I did check the ingredients and found no obvious animal byproducts, but I'll admit that I didn't check very closely because I don't even use it anymore. You might want to give that a shot or look on their website.

I've just been using cruelty-free razors. It's a pain and time-consuming, the effects don't last long, but oh, well.

Sometimes the depilatories leave a rash on your skin or irritate it.

[brownieB26]

I don't think hot wax is tested on animals, the kind they use in the salon? If you don't want to go that route I'd suggest shaving, even though like artichoke said its a hassle. Nair has urea in it, so beware!

[Erin_S2S]

Moom is vegan, but it is also messy. I had heard really good things about it, but was not impressed when I tried it for myself.
Epilators are vegan, but you have to let the hair grow to a certain length before using them. It basically pulls the hairs out - root and all. The pain lessens after a while.

[Vegankat]

Hot wax is the way to go. Last I checked, Sally Hansen's hot waxes and cold waxes were vegan... but don't quote me on that. I haven't used them in a while. There are lots of other brands out there, too.

[Cissy]

I shave :-/ My skin is way too sensitive for wax or depilatories. I'm having a hard time finding vegan shaving cream, but I do have one that is not tested - it's the WalMart brand.

[Epinephrine]

my skin is too sensitive too, plus i can't use creams or wax because i get the evilest ingrowns in the universe and there is absolutely no way to prevent them, i've tried everything.

i use schick silk effects.. i love it love it love it! there are little wires going across the blades that make it impossible for you to get niks and cuts.. and it shaves really well even though it's only 2 blades. anyway, that's my choice.

[OConfusedOne]

I never tried waxing or depilatories or anthing like that, because I'm a wuss. :p I definitely have considered wax more recently, though, especially because of evil ingrown bikini-line hairs. I dunno.

Right now I use gillete's venus and I love it. By far the closest shave I've ever gotten. I used to use shick silk effects but I could never get a close shave and so I had to press too hard. Once, that resulted in my taking off a huge trail of skin that left a scar about four inches long on my shin. *shudder* Anyway, I know somebody who uses shick intuition and likes it, so different strokes for different folks I guess.

[Cissy]

OCO - I use Venus too - it workes really well :)

[strawberry]

I agree, Venus is my favorite! I've tried Sally Hansen wax strips and they made me sore and did not get rid of the hair. :mad: I have been too scared to use any of the creams because I've heard about them giving people horrible rashes, so no comment on those.

[Galatea]

I hate shaving! :cry: My legs itch for DAYS after shaving. It's almost unbearable.

I've never waxed my legs, only gotten a Brazilian wax in my nether regions. :o I guess that's not vegan, but it sure was nice back in my non-vegan days.

[Bobsy]

I'm having a hard time finding vegan shaving cream, but I do have one that is not tested

If you have no luck, try using conditioner instead of shaving cream and see how that works out. Plus, it leaves your skin lovely and soft :)


. . . because i get the evilest ingrowns in the universe and there is absolutely no way to prevent them, i've tried everything.

Urgh, me too. *shudder*

[Alfiedog]

Is wax at the salons not vegan?

[Vegankat]

I use Venus razors when I shave. They're the best I've used so far. They have those new blades out, Divine, I think they're called, so when I use up this pack of blades I might try those, if they fit a regular Venus razor.

I just use conditioner as shaving cream. It makes me silky smooth.


One way to avoid ingrown hairs is to shave in the direction of hair growth, with a brand-new razor. I waxed my, uh... bikini line, and uh... stuff only once. Never again. Never. Again. :no:

[Artichoke47]

Are Venus razors vegan? I see many people here use them. I would like a closer shave than my vegan-store-approved razor, so if the Venus one is vegan, I would definitely give it a try!

[PigLover]

Are Venus razors vegan? I see many people here use them. I would like a closer shave than my vegan-store-approved razor, so if the Venus one is vegan, I would definitely give it a try!

I'm sure the razor itself is fine, but they're made by Gillette & Gillette tests on animals.

[IamJen]

If you're having a rough time finding vegan shave cream, you can substitute conditioner - works great, lives skin silky smooth.

[Cissy]

I'm sure the razor itself is fine, but they're made by Gillette & Gillette tests on animals.

Though I do believe they are currently observing a moratorium.

[PigLover]

Though I do believe they are currently observing a moratorium.

That's good news!

I forgot to mention- I just got a Hok2 razor from Vegan Mercantile and really like it. It's very flexible & curves with your body. They didn't have any refills, but there are some on ebay for four bucks for a package, which is a lot cheaper than getting them from anywhere else. So, I think I might just be getting some.

[Wanda]

I can't stand shaving. Hairs grow back way to quickly and it's never done!
I use an epilator by emjoi. You can use it on really short hairs and they now have one double the normal size.
Pain gets much less after a few uses and hair does come back a lot slower. At least I feel like I'm making an investment instead of just shaving without end.

[Erin_S2S]

I use an epilator by emjoi.
That is the brand I have. I think mine is called "Gently Gold Caress". Have you ever had it catch your skin? Mine did once on my lower leg. I guess I wasn't holding the skin taught enough.


Pain gets much less after a few uses
This is true. So if you fear an epilator because of pain, just stick it out. It gets better.

[Blue Plastic Straw]

Though I do believe they are currently observing a moratorium.

I was so pleased when Gillette decided to go this route. I bought a Venus razor and I love it. I sent Gillette a letter telling them how much I like their product and that I hope they make their animal testing moratorium permanent so I can continue to purchase their ridiculously expensive razor blades (ok maybe I didn't include that last part ;) ).

My very favorite shaving lotion is Kiss My Face's Moisture Shave. That plus the Venus = silky smooth.

[Wanda]

That is the brand I have. I think mine is called "Gently Gold Caress".
I have that one (and still use it for my armpits), but also bought the "Optima" for my legs. Goes so much faster!


Mine did once on my lower leg. I guess I wasn't holding the skin taught enough.
Yes once. That was sooooooo awful.
But it does teach you to be more careful for the rest of your life. :)

[ceryna]

I also have a Venus razor. I hope Gilette keeps up the moratorium, because I've gotten the best shaves ever with it.

I very rarely shave in fall/winter, so a can of shaving gel lasts me for a long time, and I have some non-vegan shaving gel I'm finishing up. (When I first went vegan, I concentrated on food and obvious stuff like leather shoes first and some non-vegan personal care products slipped through the cracks, unfortunately.)

Jason has a really nice vegan shaving cream that I bought as a gift for someone once, and that person really enjoyed it.

I think I'll try the conditioner idea, I never go through conditioner at the same rate that I go through shampoo because I use far less and I don't condition every day.

[Christy]

ceryna, I like the Alba Botanica (http://www.avalonnaturalproducts.com/main/product-l2-AVL.asp?BrandID=20&categoryid=8) stuff, especially pearberry. I'm not sure if it's vegan, though.

ETA: lanolin?