Quote from: Oriah on July 26, 2013, 11:09:09 AM
It works quicker/better if you pluck or eppilate or wax.....but it isn't necessary.  The paste should be applied after whatever hair removal means you use, so if you shave, apply it after shaving, not before

Okay, I did it wrong. Have to do it again after shaving.

Quote from: Oriah on July 26, 2013, 02:39:15 PM
Laser would be quicker and probably better and more convenient, but ifor one transitioning balanced on a dime (like me), it works in a pinch

Since I'm blonde, laser is out of scope unfortunately.

Quote from: oneprettywoman on July 26, 2013, 10:17:19 PM
i  have  removed   three fourth  of  my  beard  by plucking,  using   diamond  tip  tweezers.
It  only hurts  a  little,  do it fast.

Since I'm very algesic (I told ya), I'm keeping that as backup.

Quote from: Oriah on July 26, 2013, 06:09:40 PM
I hope all goes well with your laser!

I know what you mean about beard shadow....I present female about 95% of the time, but I'm always freaking out.....everybody tells me I look fine and my makeup is pristine, but I almost always seem to see phantom beard regardless.....I suppose we're our own worst critics.

We are are own worst critics! BTW, that blush trick def works. I got hit on a lot more yesterday lol I am sure the plucking helped too but that trick def disguised some of the remaining shadow and eased my discomfort. But yeah I dream of laser as I will feel so much more comfy once this horrid hair is gone. I really don't have much but it is enough to look horrid if I don't do something.

Quote from: oneprettywoman on July 26, 2013, 10:17:19 PM
i  have  removed   three fourth  of  my  beard  by plucking,  using   diamond  tip  tweezers.
It  only hurts  a  little,  do it fast.

Remove them  in  a  random pattern,  and let  the  skin  heal   between   twee-zing.

Yeah I just have regular tweezers but the diamond tipped ones prolly work like a charm. I got half of my chin and lip hair (the only place I grow facial hair other then my neck but u can't that) yesterday and tomorrow I'm going in for the kill. Hopefully I'll be shadow free for a couple weeks and then my financial situation will allow me to get laser...and skin resurfacing...and a juverderm shot in my nose to straighten and lift it. If I could do all that, I would be so so so happy--and pretty!

So can any of you tell me if you had any success with the turmeric facial hair removal??

@Oriah: Thanks for the turmeric tip. I apply 2 tbsp salt + 3 tbsp ground turmeric + 4 tbsp milk*, and keep it on for 30 minutes every day. I have been doing it for 20 days, snapping photos along the way. Aiming for a total 90 days, and will then post my results. How have your results been?

Also transitioning on a dime, but if 3 months of turmeric don't get me noticeable results, I'm off the wagon and will try papaya. Do not want to mix them so as not to confound the variables.

Good luck to all in fighting your hair

*that's actually a 4-day serving

No use continuing for a whole 3 months. Comparing my photos from a month ago and today (PM me if you want them, not a fan of posting my hairy mug), I have to conclude that turmeric hair removal for androgen-driven hair is bollocks (note to self: make before and after pictures with a couple of days growth, otherwise it's hard to compare). I haven't seen myself shed a single hair, and I highly doubt it would just vanish in thin air (leaving the other hairs around it intact). Not a single hair shed either with the scrub/mask itself, or in the shower. No change in vellus/terminal ratio. Same hair pattern.

In other words, no real hair growth changes at all within 30 days. I don't buy the "keep at it" argument, our time is finite and most anything gives you visible results after a month. Eg building muscle is a slow and arduous process, but you're bound to see results after a month of daily 30-minute workouts, innit.

However... I had a blooshot spot on my face for a couple of years, which I thought was unremovable. Within the 4 weeks (I think I noticed it around the 2.5 weeks mark) of applying the turmeric face mask for a half an hour daily, the blemish faded and is hardly distinguishable from the area around it. The minimal number of days is is probably way lower (I would keep the mask on only until it dries, not for a full 30 minutes), but that's not what I was testing, just a side-effect. The gist of it: although it does not work for androgen hair removal, if you want cheap and safe blemish removal, do try turmeric. It will give you very good results at least in the short term (I have not yet been able to check the long term effect). In my opinion, that's why turmeric's included in Hindu skin medicines.

However, I've found proper research about liquorice and its epilatory effect (on rats), inspired by hair removal customs from Turkmenistan - the photos after 3-6 days might make your jaw drop:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262016270_Topically_applied_glycyrrhizic_acid_causes_hair_removal_in_rats
In case the link dies, look for Zaper et al Pharm Biol 2014.

According to the paper, liquorice works within days, at least mixed with ethanol and urea and heated up, then cooled down. I will probably just grind it, mix it with milk and slap it on, though. The rats were female, however - so it still might rain on our parade. A monthly test commencing next week, have a great weekend everyone!

Results of the liquorice root test: no noticeable changes after a month of daily 30-minute facial masks. Screw this, I'm getting electro. Do not waste your time like I did =)