Ann's Answers

Written by Andrea Halbach

Wednesday, 04 February 2009 18:04

Q: I have thick, dark body hair. I am really self-conscious about the amount and color of my body hair. What can I do to ‘hide’ my hair and my self-consciousness?

A: Well, to begin with, you should realize that you are a great person on the inside no matter how much hair you have or what color it is. That said, there are several options to reduce the visibility of your hair ‘problem.’

An obvious one is to shave. Invest in a good razor (a few dollars can make a big difference in this department) and some shaving cream. If you don’t like shaving cream, use a cheap conditioner, instead. To get a close shave, use an exfoliant beforehand.

Also, check into depilatories. Depilatories are typically applied like lotion, left to sit for a few minutes and then wiped off. This is a great method for hard to reach places or places where you don’t want stubble, such as your arms and back. Check to make sure you’re not allergic to any of the ingredients before purchasing any product.

Another option is to dye your body hair. Dyeing your body hair is a good option for stubborn hair that you don’t want to shave such as upper-lip hair and arm-hair. Up-keep can be a bit of a pain, but it is certainly a possibility.

Adjust what you wear to reveal less bare skin. I don’t mean cover up and wear turtlenecks with long pants. Try to wear more sheer materials such as lace. These materials still show your assets (cleavage, etc.) but help ‘hide’ unwanted hair, blemishes, etc.

Also, remember healthy hair and skin always looks better. To improve the appearance of your hair (and skin), use lotion, conditioner and exfoliants.

If these suggestions don’t cut it, talk to your doctor. There are several permanent hair removal techniques, but these can be painful and risky, not to mention expensive. Most excessive body hair can be controlled simply through daily maintenance.

Q: I am broke, but I want to take this girl I really like out on a date. What could we do for less than $10 that wouldn’t make me seem cheap?

A: Well, your options are limited because of weather, but there are possibilities.

Consider inviting the lucky woman over for dinner and a movie. If she accepts, start cleaning. Clean your dwelling from top to bottom!

Next step is the menu. If you live in the dorms, it may be a bit more difficult to cook a nice meal than if you live in an apartment.

So if you live in the dorms, ask a friend if you can borrow their kitchen for a bit to make some amazing food for an amazing girl. Offer to provide them with dinner as a thank you. A few cheap meal suggestions: chili, homemade soup (if you need a recipe send me an e-mail), pot roast, enchiladas and homemade pizza.

Depending on what you decide to make, there are several ways to ‘spice it up’ a bit. If you want to make pizza, make it together.

This will require some prep time before she gets to your house, though. Go grocery shopping, then chop, dice and shred the ingredients so that when your lucky lady arrives, she just has to help sprinkle toppings.

Also, consider eating your meal picnic-style. Spread out a pretty blanket, sheet or tapestry on the floor (preferably in an area with carpet for comfort). If you don’t want to sit on the floor, eat a romantic candlelit meal at the table.

DO NOT eat your meal in front of the TV. It’s too much of a distraction, and you won’t get to know each other if you’re engrossed in an episode of CSI.

Now for the movie. Check out the public library’s movie section for a free movie to watch. Another inexpensive movie option is through RedBox. RedBox has only a select number of titles to choose from, but the price is only $1 per movie per night.

University of Wyoming students and staff are also invited to check out movies from Coe Library. The A/V department in the basement of Coe is one of the best-kept secrets at UW.

If you’re really nervous about picking out a movie, have your female friend do it. Just say, “Would you mind bringing a movie for us to watch? I didn’t have time to go get one.” Also, it’s okay to choose from your own collection of DVDs, and again, it’s okay to have her pick it out.

Another cheap date idea is to go roller or ice-skating. The ice rink is just off of Grand behind Blockbuster. Prefer rollerskating? The rink is at the extreme south end of 15th Street.

Another cheap date is to visit the Wyo Theatre, where seats are only $3. Make a trip to the dollar store to get cheap movie snacks before picking her up. When you get to the theater, pay for her ticket and then let her choose your seats.

After the first date, you’re going to be broke, so don’t screw it up. There are lots of free activities available on campus, and you could always go walk around downtown together.

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