I was thinking of getting my legs waxed a few days before I leave, since I'm assuming it will be difficult to find a place in hostels to shave. Is it? Like are showers big enough or really tight? I'm thinking waxing before will be good so I won't have to worry about it for a while? Any thoughts?

if you have the cash - why not?

one less thing to worry about on the road... and less to carry - not much, but even still.

Agree w/ Joan. I took a razor w/ me b/c it was part of the whole roughing it out idea, to stick to the basics and do what needed to be done. Actually, I don't have that much hair, plus it was winter, so I didn't need to shave that often. But if you have more hair, and if it's gonna be spring/summer and you wanna show your legs more, than why not, so long as you can afford it? :cheers:

I didn't have a problem shaving in hostels. But then again it doesn't really matter if I don't shave. I'm blessed with blonde hair on my legs and I don't have that much of it. So therefore even if I don't shave you can't really see the hair. i've never waxed my legs before, but like the others said if ya got the dough go for it. You'll have smooth legs all summer.

I'm also blessed with Blonde Hair on my legs so I didn't shave that much either... but yeah go for it and wax... cause sometimes no matter how big the showers are you don't wanna go touching the walls of them too often.. and bending over to shave I often find myself keeling over and trying franticly not to fall against the walls... EWWW.

but wow can waxing hurt! I had one bad experience and now they can stay away from my legs that is intended to RIP hair from the root. :wacko:

I say... unless it's a special occasion GET HAIRY :taz:

This sounds bad, it's not like I'm a furball or anything, just thinking that it will be one less thing to worry about...
what about the hair on your head...this may sound really snobby (stupid) of me but i use a hot iron hair straightener, I know hostelling is supposed to be roughing it, but if I brought it along, is there a place to plug it in, for special occaisions?

Hey Faith! Good questions!

I've been doing my own waxing for ten years now, so it's pretty cheap for me to do it and I have almost no hair left (I'm not pretty hairy anyways...), and it doesn't hurt at all...But waxing should be the best option, it will last a few weeks, your skin will be smoother and you won't have to worry about it for a while...But since a razor is pretty small, you could bring one in case you stay long enough to need it...I never had any problems shaving in hostel showers or at worst you can still use a sink to do it...

About the iron, I don't see why you couldn't use it (unless the plugs don't fit, don't forget to bring an adaptator (adaptor?))...There are plugs available everywhere...Personally I wouldn't bring it to save space and if I know I'll use something like 1-2 times, it's not a vital item ;) But I don't really need it so I don't know how necessary it can be, I let my hair do what it wants. :cowboy:

don't forget you'll probably need a currency converter too, which will set you back about $20 or so.

I am also debating about waxing before I go. I usually wax in the summer anyway, but right now I'm being cheap. It's about $35-40 at a salon for the lower legs only, at least here in Seattle that's about what it costs unless you want to get your skin ripped off with the hair. I've tried waxing at home but I always end up hurting myself, so I'd just rather have a professional do it! lol And that goes double for bikini area. I'll gladly cough up the $60 for a brazilian instead of attempting anything in that area myself.

Moc, you are a brave, brave woman. B)

Heh, I've had the same problem. I've nearly broken my neck trying to shave in hostel showers without touching the walls. Imagine the phone call my parents would get?

Just let me jump in and add a little "man advice." (end of chauvanism)

I'd strongly suggest NOT bringing high wattage hair straighteners, hairdryers, and other heating-coil type of things. The reason is while plug converters will change the form-factor of the connection to the wall and voltage converters will change the voltage and number of cycles from the European standard to ours, almost every single voltage converter in the world cannot handle the high wattage of this kind of item. For example, you might have a hair dryer that uses 1800 watts of power. The MAX voltage converter I can think of would only handle 1500 or so- most are a few hundred up to 1200. You would blow your converter, then possibly the whole circuit, the first time you tried to use something like that. Better just to buy an extremely cheap one over there and be assured of it's working. If you did try, you might end up with some extremely pissed off hostel owners.

I love a good chuckle in the morning... :lol:

HI, I get waxed. I am not that hairy but it is easier to go in every eight weeks or so than try to shave my legs myeslf. It is something you can get done almost everywhere and waxing seems makes hair lighter and thinner anyway. Stings a bit but heaps less than the dammage I could do to myself with a razor blade! :crybaby:

I even do my own 'brazilian bikini'...It's as clean and smooth as it gets! Hahahah! It's not about being brave, it's all about the right technique. :blink:

gotta agree with moc - at home waxing is all about having the right technique. i do my own waxing because all my cash was going to the salon!!

i say go for it faith - just a few things to keep in mind...

- it'll only last a few weeks if this is your first wax
- if you have sensitive skin, you may have a bit of a reaction, like red skin/bumps, so get waxed a few days before you leave
- if you decide to go for it, apply lots of lotion the couple of days before you wax. makes the waxing go a little easier.
- don't go for the cheapest wax. you will get what you paid for.
- it hurts. be prepared.

cg

Moc I want your advice on this subject... what are the tips and tricks of the trade? What kind of wax do you use? I've never done it at home... well never done it period! But I'm determined to get it done before I go... I'm planning on being in warm weather and not wanting to wear to much. ;)

ash, and others who are in the market -

i use 'no tweeze'. you can buy it at most beauty product stores. it's cheap and works really well. and after spending waaay too much just to get a good wax, i'm really picky about wax - a bad wax can really f**k you up!! had a few bad experiences myself - don't ask... :no:

cg

I use an electric plucker. It's like a men's electric razor, but has gold plates that quickly plucks your hair. It hurt like the devil, yes, the devil, the first time I used it, but I'm used to it and use it everywhere....