Let's Talk Midlife Crisis Podcast
Hosts Ashley & Traci are creating a community and empowering women going thru midlife and aging, exploring the topic of midlife crisis an all its complexities. This is a space where we can come together to share our stories, our experiences, and our perspectives on this pivotal moment in our lives.
Whether you're going through a midlife crisis yourself, going through menopause, dating in midlife or just interested in learning more about this fascinating topic, we invite you to join us for insightful conversations with experts, personal stories from real people, and practical advice on how to navigate this challenging time.
Our goal is to create a community where we can support each other through the ups and downs of midlife, and help each other find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the second half of our lives.
So buckle up and get ready for an engaging and thought-provoking journey into the world of midlife crisis. We can't wait to share this adventure with you!
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Let's Talk Midlife Crisis Podcast
Managing Midlife Chin Hair: Tips, Tools, and Solutions
Struggling with those pesky chin hairs appearing out of nowhere? We explore the ins and outs of managing midlife chin hair growth and share expert-approved tips for safe removal. With personal anecdotes and professional insights, we tackle the effectiveness of laser hair removal and the challenges faced, particularly if you have lighter hair. We also shed light on how menopause affects hair growth and grooming routines, and how to handle accompanying symptoms like heat flashes.
Looking for the best hair removal solutions for your unique needs? From waxing woes to the convenience of the Finishing Touch Flawless Rose Gold Electric Face Razor, we compare various methods suitable for women with dark, thick hair. We also discuss the practicalities of the Rose Skin Company IPL hair removal handset, especially for frequent travelers and those without easy access to spas. Tune in as we break down the costs, effectiveness, and accessibility of these options, ensuring you find the perfect fit for your lifestyle.
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Hello and welcome to let's Talk Midlife Crisis with your hosts, ashley and Tracy. Pull up a chair for your seat at the table as we talk about chin hair in women and how to remove it safely according to experts. According to experts. So this is funny. Maybe not so funny, because I feel like I've been living this for the last couple months and I was finally tired of it.
Speaker 1:So I called the place where I had my laser hair removal years ago and occasionally will have to go back for maintenance throughout the years. But my chin hairs and my mustache is just out of control. Out of control, you know. I went from plucking a hair to now shaving and feeling like I have a razor stubble. But fortunately, because I had gone through laser hair removal years ago, I'm kind of grandfathered in, so I can go back in for maintenance treatments and it's 19 a month and it just depends you can go. You're not committed to any length of time. You can just go for however long you need to go. Um, I, I think I was just trying to recall and I think this is my third time coming back for maintenance.
Speaker 2:Okay, so how long did the initial treatment take?
Speaker 1:the initial um laser hair removal treatment took about a year and a half. Okay, so you go about every six weeks, yeah, so I I did it for a short time.
Speaker 2:Well, I did it for about a year. Um, I won some drawing and got this. You know free treatment, and I think at some point you know it only allowed me like so many visits or something like that at some point I did have to pay a little bit of money. Um, and I did my underarms and my bikini line and you know I've talked to a lot of people who it's been very effective for. Unfortunately for me it didn't really stick and they warned me going in.
Speaker 1:Because you're very blonde.
Speaker 2:Yes, my, hair follicles are very light. And so the laser really has a hard time like finding them, yes, and so, after a year, I wasn't really showing any progress, and I was like, okay, I'm just going to stop, but I've heard it works for a lot of people, right. If you are, though, a blonde or lighter hair color, it might not work Right, and I think they all warn you of that going into it.
Speaker 2:There's a lot of places you can get this done that cater specifically to laser hair removal, or I know a lot of dermatologist offices will do it. So there's a lot of places you can go. Always, obviously, you know, talk to your doctor before you do it. Just let them know what you're thinking of doing. And this is crazy, because you're kind of are you totally out of?
Speaker 1:menopause. You know, every time I think I am. So for the last month or two I think I've told you that I've been having. We'll just call them heat flashes, because I don't know what else. How else to you know describe?
Speaker 1:it or contribute it to, other than it's. You know, 120 degrees outside in the desert here, but other than that I don't go outside. I'm in the desert here, but other than that I don't go outside, I'm in the air conditioned. So, but and I can always tell, because my head just gets so hot, like I feel, if I touch my hair it's just on fire and then, you know, the sweat starts pouring. But that's been happening for the last month or two, so I thought I had already passed through everything the last month or two. So I thought I had already passed through everything. Um, the heat flashes themselves initially seemed to be more mild than I've been experiencing recently, so it was just maybe my head right, but the last month or two it's been my whole body. So, um, it's just absolutely gross feeling I would take several cold showers a day.
Speaker 1:I mean, I would wake up in the middle of the night and my sheets are just soaked yes, I would get up from my desk to go to the restroom and my underwear and my clothing is just soaking wet, so I would jump in a cold shower and change again, but I was doing this a couple times a day for like the last 60 days.
Speaker 2:And, thank goodness, you work from home.
Speaker 1:Yes, thank goodness. I work from home and nobody can see me sweat Right. But on top of that, so to answer your question, I thought I was through with it. From what I hear, it goes on to infinity.
Speaker 2:Right, that's not comforting.
Speaker 1:I know, I know, I know, but I don't know. Like I said, I had the more mild symptoms before and then they kind of dissipated and I thought you're done Right, and so I'm not sure what's been happening lately. But in addition to that, my facial hair has been. It's funny we were talking about this earlier Because we're getting ready to hit the pool, but I barely have to shave my legs.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't have to shave mine as often as I used to already yeah. So and I'm in my late forties, so I'm already seeing a difference there. Yeah, but like you are also seeing, a difference in the amount of facial hair that I have, and I personally do dermaplane. Uh-huh of facial hair that I have and I personally do dermaplane. Um, and I know some people can't like you, we've talked about right Like broken capillaries. So it's not recommended for people that have broken capillaries in their skin.
Speaker 2:Um, so fortunately, I'm able to do it, and I do it, I would say, every about six weeks by the time it's time to get it done. I'm definitely ready. There's definitely a great amount of peach fuzz right it's all over my face it's not, you know, any specific area.
Speaker 2:It's pretty much all over um, and that really has helped a lot. I like it too, because it's also kind of like um. You know, it gets all the dead skin off. So it's almost. Yes, I used to have it done and I did enjoy it yeah, it's like a new skin, right.
Speaker 1:It's kind of like exfoliating, but better.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I really like it.
Speaker 1:But you know, some people can't do that. But I wonder if that procedure alone in itself has an effect on more hair growth. Right, I've?
Speaker 2:heard different things about that. Basically, they're using a straight edge razor Right, so it's like shaving your face Exactly, and I've heard if you shave it, it's going to grow back thicker and darker.
Speaker 1:Right, but I've also heard.
Speaker 2:no, that's not true, that is absolutely not true, I don't know. Yeah, mine definitely hasn't come in darker at all, it's still very blonde. Yeah, I think to most people they can't see it unless the sun's hitting me just right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I can see it and I can feel it.
Speaker 2:And I definitely notice a difference when just putting moisturizer on my face.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:I you know my skin. It kind of sits on the peach fuzz when it's time to do derma again. After I've done derma I can feel my skin actually absorb the moisturizer. So it's definitely, um, you know something that bothers me and you're not necessarily visible to most people um, so you know there's pros and cons to having lighter hair.
Speaker 1:I can't do laser treatment, right. Right, and you know, stay with us because we're going to talk about a couple of um ways to remove it safely without laser hair, right? But because I have an appointment on Monday, today is Sunday. We're talking about it today because it's I don't even know how to describe the feeling and it's not a good feeling.
Speaker 2:I'm sure men could relate. Maybe they could, but I mean especially men that don't that have to shave every day? Well, that's true. Twice a day, some morning and night, yeah. But um, I mean, especially men that don't that that have to shave every day Well, that's true, twice a day, morning and night.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but scruff on a man is very different right it's rugged. It's sexy, but you know, and sometimes for me, when you're like I can't see it every now and then I would find like this super long hair this super long hair and it's like, oh my gosh, like nobody said anything but anybody I do have.
Speaker 2:In fact, I can feel it right now I have one hair that grows on the bottom of my chin and it's black right, it's just the. It's the only one that's dark right and then, when I can start feeling it, it's like, oh god, where are the tweezers?
Speaker 1:yes, yes, and I've gone beyond tweezers. I haven't had any maintenance done since before COVID so I finally, you know, blocked out some time and made the call. So I'm back in for Monday and I'm super excited. I think it just makes me feel bad. I just feel almost nauseous, honestly, when I touch my chin and if I now I shave because there's just so many, it's out of control, but it feels like a soft beard and it's almost nauseating.
Speaker 2:Well, I can't see anything. Well, because I shaved.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay, I shaved because I'm going for laser hair and you have to shave right before you go.
Speaker 2:So there's definitely. I mean, we know that you know, based off.
Speaker 2:you know the information that's out there and you know doctors that we've talked to that it is because of menopause, hormone changes, things like that. There's a lot of other causes for hair that's not just on your face, anywhere on your body that you notice is excessive or not wanted, and there are a lot of different things that could be causing that. So if you're having any other, you know side effects or any symptoms that you know are concerning or may not really make sense when it comes to menopause or aging.
Speaker 2:Definitely reach out to your daughter, because it could be something a lot more.
Speaker 1:Right, right.
Speaker 2:But for the most part it's caused by hormonal changes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, but, as you mentioned, there are other causes. Yeah, yeah, but, as you mentioned, there are other causes. So if you're younger and not even you know close to that stage, or maybe barely in you know perimenopause then definitely talk to your doctor just to make sure, because there are other things that could cause facial hair growth besides aging, which is, I think, where I'm at right now, and also know that if you are taking hormones, it when I think one of the first times that I went back for maintenance after the initial laser hair, because that was, you know, far before, um, you know, perimenopause- or menopause for me, um is when I started trying testing out hormones.
Speaker 1:and trying hormones, I mean it was horrible. I had literally sideburns that I could pull away from my face with my fingers. It was just, I was like what yes?
Speaker 1:And I was like, oh my gosh, what is happening? So I went back and had the laser hair on my whole face, so basically ear to ear, and it worked. So now I think it's because I'm not doing hormones anymore, but I'm aging, so I think it's just the aging and, like I said, it's not coming out my legs anymore, it's coming out my face. But if you're taking hormones and you're wondering what's happening, that is a definite direct correlation absolutely to hair growth. So there's a lot of different ways. Um, laser hair, as ash mentioned, it isn't for everyone and not even if you're open to it, but even if you're able to it can be painful.
Speaker 2:Benefit from it doesn't feel good. I didn't think it was all that painful.
Speaker 1:I, I don't know maybe I have a high tolerance certain areas oh yeah, certain areas that it would hit yeah.
Speaker 2:And I guess the best way to describe it is like a really intense feeling of have you ever had someone hold like a rubber band against your skin and like flick it?
Speaker 1:Oh right, and it hits your skin Right.
Speaker 2:But that times 10. Right, you know, it was just kind of and it's quick, right, but some spots were really painful for me, I think, depending on the areas, yes, and the sensitivity.
Speaker 1:Again, I'm going for the face right now. Maybe my eyes will tear up, we'll see Right See, I did my underarms and my bikini line.
Speaker 2:So there were some areas around my bikini line. It wasn't too bad but mostly under my arms, because skin never sees the sun really like it's pretty sensitive.
Speaker 1:It's very sensitive and that's where I experienced most of the pain. Yeah, yeah and bikini.
Speaker 2:I did so it's not. I'm not trying to tell you guys, I'm a baby like I can handle pain right right, that's true, that's true.
Speaker 1:Um so you would know, I've heard that tattoos are like a razor cutting you and thinking why would anybody want to do that? Oh it's so worth it addicting right.
Speaker 1:But how to remove hair, chin hair? Laser hair removal is one way. The place I go to is called simplicity laser hair removal. It's not um all across the country. It's sporadic in a couple states, but I know that there are a lot of places out there, so you know google something in your area if you're interested. Prices have definitely went up since I've done it, but I highly recommend it. Highly recommend it if you have darker hair. So my hair is now blonde, but it's bleach blonde. I am of the? Um italian, german descent, so I have dark hair, thick hair, coming on to my body, um, not necessarily on my head, but um through my body. So it works well for me and I'm excited about it to get rid of that. But, um, there are other ways. There's, you know, creams, there's, all kinds of things a lot of people do waxes have you tried waxing?
Speaker 1:I have on your face yeah, I, you know.
Speaker 2:It really seemed to work for a little while when I was younger, but then as I got older, you know how the skin around your eye socket gets pretty thin, and the last couple of times that I did wax, the wax actually took off some of my skin. Oh, snap and it looked almost like a scrape you know when it was healing, but it was just enough skin to actually be red and get a little bit of a scab, and that happened the last couple of times.
Speaker 1:And I just stopped, I just yeah.
Speaker 2:And it was nothing to do with the people doing it. I think they did a great job. I was going to a European wax center, which is great.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Had been going to the same girl for a long time. Products weren't changed, nothing happened.
Speaker 1:Been going to the same girl for a long time and products weren't changed. Nothing happened. I think it was just your skin.
Speaker 2:Yeah, your skin changes, and so for me it just wasn't worth. You know, obviously I didn't want to get scarring or anything like that so it wasn't worth continuing that, so I just decided to seek other options I had never done before my um, my laser hair treatments.
Speaker 1:I had done a little bit of a couple times I did waxinging, but um and that's it, but never on my face. I was always afraid of my face and I would never shave it. You know I've again with that, having that Italian, you know, in my background, yeah, um, and just, uh, you know Eastern Europe, uh, it, just, I have that dark. I have a mustache. It's like I could compete with men. I have such dark, I have a mustache, it's like I could compete with men, I have such a mustache, but I was always afraid to shave it because you know the old wives don't like it.
Speaker 1:It's going to grow back. You know more, but now I am shaving it again it's like, oh, that's just so gross. But there are other. You know ways. Revlon has a hair removal tweezer that you can get at Amazon or Walmart or Target. That works really well. So if you're just having that one pesky hair that keeps coming back, you know.
Speaker 2:Those are great tweezers to grab really well and hang on to it, Because if you get cheap ones, they'll just slide. The hair will slide right through it and grab it.
Speaker 1:And for those of you who perhaps don't want to do laser hair and have to shave your face, For those of you who perhaps don't want to do laser hair and have to shave your face, there's actually a Finishing Touch Flawless Rose Gold Electric Face Razor with an LED light. These are pretty cool. I've seen these. Have you seen them?
Speaker 2:It looks like about the size of a lipstick. Yeah, so they're really small and the tip of it looks. You know the men's razors that have like the three flat heads that look kind of like coils. It's kind of like that it's just one and you rub it across your face and it does. It's like. You know, I would sometimes in between derma use it um I.
Speaker 2:I do it more regularly now because when I was younger I didn't have to do it as often and I would just do my own touch-ups, right. Um, if they do work pretty well. Again, derma is with a straight edge razor. It's actually pulling your hair from the roots and also getting you know dead skin on the face, so it lasts longer. Using these at home remedies probably won't give you that amount of time in between treatments but, it.
Speaker 2:Can you know if you don't have a lot or you just need to do something in between treatments, it does work well and.
Speaker 1:But the funny thing is is when I have traveled abroad, um, I've looked for spas and unless you're in a resort that offers them, if you go on the street I think people think that you know the different kind of massage parlor you're looking for um, but I've had a difficult time with translation trying to find you know, a masse, a masseuse or you know to get a facial when I'm traveling, unless it's within the hotel and resort.
Speaker 1:So maybe I'm thinking some of our global listeners might not have easy access to a spa because we have spas almost on every corner.
Speaker 2:Arizona's full of them, yeah.
Speaker 1:Or US, right, yeah, that's true, we indulge in that kind of stuff, yeah, or us, right like we are. Yeah, we indulge in that kind of stuff, and um, but I just think it's funny when I've traveled that it's like they look at me like what are you talking about, right? Um, so, but it's at 15 for this. Um, electric face razor at walmart and um, it's good, it's also portable right.
Speaker 2:So if you're traveling, yeah, a lot of. I think some might be battery operated, but most of them, I think, are just rechargeable. They have a cord.
Speaker 1:Amazing, amazing. And there's also a Rose Skin Company IPL hair removal handset. Oh, that looks cool and that's available at RoseSkincom. It's a little more spendy, at $169. I might try the $15 one at Walmart, you know, and just to get a pulse of that's something that works for me. Yeah, absolutely, before I spend that kind of money, because I honestly think $169 is a little expensive. Yeah, but these items are also found on Women's Healthmagazinecom, so, and that link will be in our description, uh, at the bottom of, uh, the podcast for you guys for easy reference. But and then there's also, do you remember Nair Nair? Oh, my gosh, that is crazy, that is still out there. Nair facial hair removal Removal Cream for Women. I love it, I liked it back then. It was the thing. The smell was atrocious.
Speaker 2:I've heard that I've never tried it.
Speaker 1:No, you've never tried it. I've heard the smell is terrible.
Speaker 2:And I've heard some people. I guess if you leave it on too long it can kind of burn. Yeah, yeah, but yeah, it's just like a cream, right, yeah, like a cream, yeah, or even a foam maybe. But yeah, and then you just wipe it off.
Speaker 1:Yep, and it kind of foams up, okay and yeah, and then you just shower it off. So it's been around a product that's been around forever.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And I am curious now to know about the smell. So if you, um, let us know, yeah, reach out to us on our social channels and let us know if they've changed the smell at all or if it's still that. Remember permanence too. Maybe that's what it was. It was like that old smell. There was just something not right about the smell. But, um, I did use it. And, of course, nair, you know, facial hair removal cream is available at amazon walmart, ulta and it's reasonably cheap. You know you can probably shop it around for eight dollars at amazon walmart ulta and it's reasonably cheap. You know you can probably shop it around, but eight dollars at amazon and thirteen dollars at ulta. So not too bad and check this out. There's also a chic hydro silk exfoliating derma planing tool for women.
Speaker 2:Yes, so these are they have. There's a lot of different brands of these. You you can find them pretty much anywhere. I've even seen them like at Marshall's. So they usually come in at least like a three pack, sometimes I think a six or a nine or a 12 pack. They're just individual. It just looks like a handle and it has a little razor on it. It's pretty small in length, or short in length, I should say, so you can fit, you know it, around your nose, around your lips. It's easy to get those areas. My daughter actually uses these. She's a starving student living on her own and can't afford to do dermaplane very often so she will do it herself with these what she has found.
Speaker 2:I personally not use them, but she has told me most of them that you get have little ridges in the razor blade. You can find straight edge ones. Oh, the ridges will actually pull. It'll snag on your hairs sometimes and pull, yeah, and she said it's really painful. She has found some. I can't remember the brand now, but she has found some that are more like a little straight edge.
Speaker 2:And she likes the comfort of those much better. So if you're looking for something like that and you want to, you know, just so you know, there is a difference between the one with the ridges and the one without, good to know, Again. Anytime you use anything like this, you know razor on your face. You want to be very careful.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, but they're relatively inexpensive $15 to to be very careful. Yes, so yes, but they're relatively inexpensive 15 to 20 dollars, amazon, walmart, um. So check it out. That's could save 100, absolutely 200, from the spa treatment you're essentially doing your own dermaplane, exactly you know exactly. Um, and then we have another product that is highly recommended, which is sally hansen hair removal or hair remover wax strip kit. So do it yourself waxing, I don't know about that one um seven dollars at amazon.
Speaker 2:My sister-in-law buys, so hers is not the facial strip kit, it's like a body. So the the strips are much bigger and she uses it on her legs.
Speaker 1:Okay, and she loves it it reminds me of the friends episode when they, um, go to wax their legs and yeah, and it's funny, and then the guys do it and they're like, who would do this? And it's just hilarious. I haven't waxed in a long time and sally hansen is a is a well-known brand that's been around since, you know, the beginning of my time, yeah, um, so it's not expensive. I'm sure there's many different brands out there, so if waxing is your thing, it's probably honestly better than shaving, um definitely definitely um.
Speaker 1:So if your skin is, you know not even if it's sensitive.
Speaker 2:Some people you know that have sensitive skin have a hard time with shaving. They'll break out.
Speaker 1:Right, my daughter has some issues.
Speaker 2:Yes, Um, and I I, my sister-in-law, I know use it uses it because she, like you, has darker, coarser hair. Yeah, and when she waxes her legs it lasts back.
Speaker 1:She has to shave. She feels the stubble yeah.
Speaker 2:So she found that waxing lasts a lot longer.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, and I think there's a lot of different ways out there. So, if you have, how are you removing your facial hair? I don't know. Interestingly enough, we should have pulled. I should have pulled stats on how many, that's true.
Speaker 2:Who uses what?
Speaker 1:how many women have facial hair? I think that there's a pretty good percentage of us right of aging women. Oh yeah, that's separate from facial hair. It's got to be higher than anything.
Speaker 2:I would venture to think it's in the 90s so I would love to look at the age group and what they're using, like who's using waxing more? Than right derma plane, or you know we'll follow up with that because we need to follow up on your appointment.
Speaker 1:Yes, we do need to follow up on my appointment. My first one is tomorrow and I can't wait, so excited I think that's good, sweet, yeah. And that just about wraps it up for today. Thank you for joining us on let's Talk Midlife Crisis Embrace the change.
Speaker 2:Join the conversation on our website at letstalkmidlifecrisiscom, or our Facebook or Instagram and YouTube channels. We'd love to hear from you guys.
