Ladies; A couple of questions.

[CPchick]

I have a couple of questions regarding 'girly-ish stuff' and CP. If you wouldn't mind sharing your personal experiences, that would be great.

First of all, how do you guys shave your legs? I have asked my mum every time I've needed to, but I don't want to ask forever, ya know? I would like to have enough independence to do it myself. I know my mum would probably freak if she saw me do it, but it's my life after all. The thing I'm most scared of is my feet slipping when I'm doing it (I sit on a shower seat), if that happens I'll cut myself. Also some areas of my legs are kinda sensitive to touch. Do you guys face similar issues like this? I mean, if I startle while doing it I'll take a whole chunk out of my leg! :eek: I was talking to some girl-friends with CP the other day, they have been doing it for awhile, but I'm not confident to try yet.

Next question is, do you guys wear make-up, and if so how do you apply it? I'm getting to 'that age' where I don't want to look so 'plain' and since most girls do their make-up, it would give my independence a boost. Obviously, I don't want to apply so much I look like a clown but still!

Answers to these questions would be very much appreciated. Sometimes I wish I was a guy. :rolleyes:

[Fran]

Hi, I don't mind answering girly stuff. I use cream that I get from Avon in Australia and it is very good put it on and wash it off in the shower I don't know if you can get it over there I'm assuming your in America
Cheers
Fran:)

[purplegrrl]

Hey Fran... what part of Oz are you from? I'm in Melbourne :)

I usually get my legs waxed. I've tried shaving, but I HAVE taken (small) chunks out of my legs. (An electric razor would probably be safer). I'm pretty hairy tho, and I'm in the pool a lot. Would have to shave every couple of days, and I can't be bothered. That's why I go with the waxing (took me a while to find positions that would work for me, but I've my beautician trained now!)

Not much for makeup, only on special occasions (like a couple of times a year). Otherwise, tinted moisturiser does me.

Bane of my existance, tho... nice necklaces with fiddly clasps! I'm living alone at the moment, so there's nobody to help me with them. No matter how much I like them, I can't wear them... there's no point even buying them. (At least I designed a nice jewelly set on camp last weekend... bracelet and choker necklace on elastic, matching earrings too. And I've got some nice long-enough-to-go-over-my-head stuff. But I see sooooo many things I like, and can't possibly do up myself... *sigh*)

[NJenn]

I can't believe the number of Aussies and Kiwis on this board... so cool.

Shaving your legs. Hmmm... I tend not to spasm when I do this. I sit in my shower bench and just bend down and do it. I've been doing it for years and the more you get used to it the less you'll spasm, startle, etc. If you don't want to use a razor, why not try a dipillitory cream? In the states, Nair is the popular brand. Or there's always Nad's or some other type of wax. You could go to a salon and have them waxed every 6 weeks or so. Seriously though, the more you shave them, the better you'll get and the easier it will be. Yeah, you'll nick yourself but everybody does in the begining. Just give it a try.

Makeup-- just remember every girl has to practice with this, so you're not alone. I suggest cream eyeshadows and blushes that you can put on and blend in with your fingers. They are very forgiving. Skip the eyeliner all together. And go with a non-waterproof mascara in brown. You can wipe away any mistakes easier with that. Less is definitely more. My typical makeup routine (and I work in an office and have to look presentable everyday) only takes 5 minutes. I use a good tinted moisturizer, a little bit of powder, cream eyeshadow in a pen that glides on easily (Revlon EyeGlides is my fave), mascara, a bit of blush, and a little bit of lipgloss.

And practice, practice, practice!!!

[swiftuk]

I use cream or wax (I also find it easier to sit somewhere supported with a couple of old towels and a bowl of water, and do it over an hour or two if it's for a special occasion and I want it decent).

***
Swift
PS I'm not really a makeup person, so I can't comment - have got cream foundation (or possibly combination of foundation + something else...shows how much I know(!)).

[wheeliebird]

I get other people to shave me with a Bic razor since I need assistance with showering. I used to do it myself by putting my leg on the comode seat (with the lid down of course :eek: ) but once I cut myself so bad I thought I hit an altery in my leg, talk about scary, after that NO MORE, I started getting help!! LOL

With the makeup issue, I used to wear it in my younger years until once I was applying mascara and I jumped and I litterly poked my eye out, OUCHIE!!!! :eek:

[skigirl1689]

I use an electric shaver. I have problems w/ putting to much pressure on things so I ruined a bunch of women's screens that go over the blade (like one every two weeks, which was not good). To solve this problem I got a men's shaver with the 3-ring flexible head and have had no problems since. They are expensive, though I've had mine for over three years and have not had to replace a thing. If you go this route, be sure to get a rechargable one, it makes life so much easier.

As for make-up, I don't use it but I do agree with Nikki, get stuff that you can apply with your fingers.

[Michelle]

I started shaving my legs at 11. Since my mom forbade me (because of my age,) I made my older sister do it (Boy, was my mom pissed at us!) Anyway my sister continued to do it until I was probably 13.

I had to do a lot of experimenting at first: I tired an electric razor and I didn't like it at all, my mom got me Nads and my legs bruised like mad, and for some reason all my female relatives are against using stuff like Nair, so I never tried.

I found the only way I could shave safely was by sitting on the bed/floor with a towel and a bowl of water like Swift said. My razor of choice is the Venus one, it's big with a nice rubber grip and it's easy for me to hold on to. I still cut myself, when I'm not careful but that is usually only when I'm trying to go too quickly.

I would do as Nicki does, except I've got a transfer bench (it's easier for me to just sit down and get my feet in that way) and my feet don't reach the bottom of the tub and I feel like I'm going to fall face first off my seat if I do that. I recently tried sitting putting my feet up on the edge of the tub under the faucet and my foot slipped and I got a nice cut. I'm just going to stick with what works for me.

As for make up, I've only done it 3 times in my life, once for homecoming, once for prom and a very tiny amount for my senior pictures. Maybe if I wasn't so clueless about it I would do it more often.

I just started plucking my own eyebrows recently... it took a lot of figuring out and I am still working at being perfect. It's funny, the process we go through learning how to do these "girlie" things when so many people just do it without too much thought.

Good luck to you, Erin. :) You'll be fine.

[blackbelt1997]

I started shaving when I was 11 or 12. My mom bought a battery operated razor for me. I now have an electric rechargable one. Both of these are wet/dry models. I usually shave my legs on the bed. I tried shaving in the shower a few times, but almost fell.
I didn't start wearing makeup until recently. I cannot wear mascara because I shake so badly. I'd be afraid of gouging out my own eye! I have worn mascara a few times. My mom had to apply it for me. I hate the feeling of it. I use a tinted moisturizer and cream concealer and eye shadow that I can use my fingers to apply.

[CPchick]

Thanks everyone, you give great advice! Yes, we can get creams, but I find they are a pain to put on.

Last night, I finally thought "I'm going to give it a go" in regards to shaving my legs. I just used a standard razor & avoided any cuts! It feels great to be able to do this sort of thing without help.