Ha! Hysterical as I was going to come and ask about waxing this very day (in Bitches, though). I never have but I have a beach trip coming up and am considering it for that (no full on wax, just bikini line). Those what have waxed, how long does it last? Do you still have to do any sort of razor maintenance?

Depends on your state of hairiness. Some One friend is super hirstute; it lasts like three days (I mean she has a hormone-imbalance hirstute.)

Other friends, it's pretty smooth for a couple of weeks.

Hmmm, yeah I can't decide whether to try it or not. When I'm in a bathing suit, I must shave every day. PITA. But does that mean a wax won't last? It's kind of like LASIK - I don't want to do it if I still need contacts (or shaving in this case), you know?

ETA: I am lol at the thought of the Buffista guys reading this convo. Sorry, dudes!

And if any under-30 Buffista wants to pipe up and reassure me that these in fact were a bunch of nutbars and that most sane under-30s don't in fact equate nude goolies with handwashing and flossing, I'd be much reassured.

okay, not under 30, but weighing in anyway. If you want to wax, fine. Just don't do it because you feel that you have to. I don't wax (except for that one time and I will NEVER do it again, the itching from the regrowth almost drove me mad), I trim it neatly, but that's for hygiene purposes and once an errant hair got caught between the vaginal lips and rubbed quite unpleasantly, and I was not in a position to take care of it (white font for gross TMI).

I shave my pits, not because I feel like I have to, but because I sweat less, I use less deoderant and therefore don't stain shirts as much.

I think that the difference is that I make that choice without expecting others to make it too and without thinking I am "dirty" if I don't. Plus? I think hairy boy parts deserve a chance for waxing too. Dammit.

I think this is the key, and likely what made the girl keep wanting to do it. Especially if she had STDs which I'm sure she was told she got because she was a filthy slut.

You know, I think this over/under thirty waxing divide explains an argument I had recently with a costume designer and actress, bit of whom were under thirty. The girl was playing an older, slatternly woman who lived in a trailer in texas in the 1980's. They both though she would be waxed completely bare, and I thought that this woman would never do that

I've been saying "Dude, I'm fucking 40" to myself an awful lot. Not that I am 40. I'm just warming up.

Ha -- I just told my mother I was 35 last night. And then admitted to 33.5. She pointed out that I'm too old to count in half-years. My overall point was that of course my several-years-older cousin is older than 35.

Do you still have to do any sort of razor maintenance?

No. I mean, eventually you have to do something else, but not within the next week or so. Unless you have a Problem like Erin's friend.

in the 80's, people didn't wax, did they?

Though I still kinda feel someone ought to punch them all in the face.

I'll totally do it. Just line them up along the Embarcadero while I'm taking my run. Run, punch, run, punch. Best workout EVER.

it's totally ungirly to volunteer for pain to make yourself more attractive.

HAHAHAHA! That's some funny shit, right there.

Never waxed, probably won't. Ingrowns are too bothersome.

Oh, and I have a waxing maintenance tip -- for your general upper-leg waxing, not the actual goolie waxing (I'd guess!) -- anti-acne astringent helps reduce ingrown hairs and etc.