Adventures in waxing

Two words sum up my 'look': low and maintenance.

Like most of you, I don't have a huge amount of time or money to spend on a beauty regiment. So, in the past I have given myself highlights, sprayed on my own fake tan and yes, waxed my own eyebrows.

Before waxing, I tried one of those crazy contraptions advertised as "eyebrow trimmers." In my case, "eyebrow erasers" might have been the more appropriate term for that little experiment.

A traumatized boyfriend rushed into my bathroom after hearing me shriek "I look like freakin' Tammy Faye Baker" (may she rest in piece).

It took me 6 months to grow my right eyebrow back. And well, here's the thing. If you mess up one eyebrow, you must choose: Do I leave the other eyebrow alone? Or, do I "erase" the left one, too so I don't look like I lost a bet?

I gave into the Golden Rule: do unto others as you have already done to yourself. Whack! And, the left brow also vanished.

After recovering from that incident I started tweezing again. Eventually tiring of the excrusiating pain that comes with tweezing, I gave into the call of the wax.

Here's what I can without a doubt tell you:

1. Veet "salon line" of Ready to use Wax Strips are the best on the market in my opinion. The strips are under 5 bucks and come with soothing "finishing wipes." All you have to do is rub the strips in your palm, separate, apply to the appropriate area and tug unwanted hair away.


2. Sally Hanson Sugar Wax Hair Remover Kit for Face is cumbersome, but comes with a "relief lotion" that rocks. My problem with this product is you have to heat the wax container in water. Get the water too hot and kiss your flesh goobye; too cold and the hair clumps together on your face ... not the removal strips.


3. You will always get better results at a salon. Pay the $8-$10 to get your brows professionally waxed if you have a big event coming up. You don't want to have to paint your eyebrows on with a pencil for your sister's wedding.


4. Don't waste your money on eyebrow stencils. They DON'T work.


5. Never ever use a razor on your brows. Trust me, they will Never ever look right again. Ever!