Hair Removal

We spent a couple nights at Geneva on the Lake, Ohio. It's a great place to visit if making a day out of hitting wineries is right up your alley. I highly recommend the wine shuttle offered at The Lodge at Geneva on The Lake.

I visited The Spa at Lakehouse Inn in the area and got an eyebrow wax ($19) and 60 minute Cabernet Massage ($89) which includes a glass of wine and small cheese plate.

Many of the retail shops, cafes and have that old-town feel and look a bit run down too. However, The Spa at The Lakehouse Inn was very modern and clean. The staff was extremely nice and had an extra warmth that the average spa doesn't.

When filling out the paperwork for new clients I was extremely impressed they had their own form just for waxing. I can't remember every detail of it, but it did list potential side effects and had me initial a couple places that I hadn't been tanning recently or using powerful exfoliators on my skin. While this should be standard protocol for any facility performing waxing- unfortunately it's not- even for those that have it as their specialty (See: Waxing Precautions.)

My massage was wonderful. The technician made sure I was always comfortable. A nice touch was heated towels place on my eyes and under my neck when she was finished with my upper body. When she had me flip over and was working on the back of my legs, she place a large heated towel on my back. Ahh!

Next up was my eyebrow wax. The tech used Satin Smooth Wax (which I'm a big fan of) and it hardly hurt. I'm extremely leery with other people shaping my brows. It's not because I'm ultra picky but like them as thick as I can, but I have issues with the sides thinning.

I told her I wanted them just cleaned up. They turned out a little thinner than I like, but they were even and had very clean lines.

She asked if I wanted a make-up touch up and gave me a very natural look. The wine and cheese plate sitting outside was the icing on the cake.

Apparently professional laser hair removal on the toes for men has become quite popular in the UK (see article). I don't like toe hair on myself, but didn't know it bothered many guys that much.

For those who don't want to spend professional prices, you could always look into a home laser or IPL device (see systems).

If you're after just getting rid of the hair temporarily, waxing and sugaring are two other good options that can easily be done at home. They both remove hair from the root when done properly and you won't have to see the hair for weeks. Shaving is quick and easy for sure, but stubble on your toes is not the way to go.

Whether you choose to keep toe hair or not, don't forget about grooming your feet in general. In my opinion long or raggedy toe nails, dry skin and cuticles, and thick callused heels are much more unattractive than some hair. Get a pedicure if you need some hefty work done.

I love the fact that there are some natural beauty products that I can make on my own or use a natural alternative. For example, I use organic jojoba oil or olive oil dabbed on some cotton with a little water to remove my makeup. I've experimented making my own perfume with essential oils and jojoba oil. Not only does it save money, but I can pronounce all of the ingredients and know what I'm putting on my skin.

Ingrown hair and razor bumps can be lessened or fought off by opening your cupboard and making something yourself with ingredients like salt, sugar, oil and aspirin. Yes, you read that right- aspirin. Learn more about ingrown hair home remedies.

Waxing at home isn't easy. But I know many of you do so to save money. Another product for home that recently came out is Smooth and Silky Electric Roll on Wax Kit.

Wax roll ons have never been my favorite, neither have they been for my assistant Nicole.

She tells us if it was easy to use, the differences and similarities to professional wax- including the drawbacks of the kit. Check out her review to see if she was really left smooth and silky. Like all of our reviews, we welcome your rating as well. If you've tried it, leave your thoughts on the page!

I've read in women's magazines from time to time to apply eye drops for red eyes to calm red skin from waxing. It basically would say that the ingredient that takes the redness away in eyes works for the skin as well.

I had never tried it, but was curious to see if eye drops may work. After waxing a couple of days ago I applied a drop or two of Visine to one half of my lip. Wow, did it burn! When checking on it about a half hour later the side that got the Visine was really red and the other side was normal. Go figure!

I would stick with the tried and true, like aloe vera gel and professional post-waxing products.

Learn more: How to Calm Skin after Waxing.

If you've ever seen threading, I'm sure at the very least you were intrigued. This ancient hair removal technique using a string to uplift the hair very quickly had me amazed from the moment I heard about it.

Threading seems so daunting to learn. I've heard that it's really not, except when it comes to putting in the eyebrow shape.

Recently my assistant Nicole tested out Helix Thread Ease Hair Removal Kit which uses a hand held device to do the job. See how long it took her to get the hang of it, if it hurt, how it compares to another threading device and more- all in her review.

Many love the look of a professional eyebrow shaping, but not the price. It can be hard to follow the exact line of the shape weeks later on your own. To save money or time from salon trips, every couple days tweeze any hair out of the line after you get out of the shower. It really can be done anytime, but the steam helps make the skin's pores more relaxed so the hair comes out with less pain and it's easier to remember once you're in the routine.

The home IPL hair removal system Silk'n SensEpil is 30% off at skinstore.com (buy direct). It retails for $499, but is on sale for $349.30 on their daily special which ends Sunday 5/19/13 at 11:59 PST.

If you've never had a bikini wax, I'm sure you want just the right amount taken off from the sides. To make it easy on the technician (and you), shave the area you want gone two weeks before your appointment. The hair will grow back long enough to get waxed and it will be simple for the tech to follow the line.

The system has three settings: low, medium and high. Instead of stamping each section for a treatment, it's glided over the skin like you would to shave. Mē smooth sells for $395 (buy direct) and replacement cartridges with 6,000 pulses cost $50.

Use code MePower10May for 10% off. It expires May 31, 2013.