Guest contributor: Jenna Nicole Levine

I am going to come right out and say it, I hate shaving my legs. There is this literal feeling of dread as I approach my morning shower on the days I am going to wear a dress (during the summer is just about every other day). Not only does this beauty ritual take me away from an additional 15 minutes of The Today Show, but the nicks, burns, and missed spots are quite irritating.  I have tried products like Nair, which doesn’t remove my hair as much as creates an unflattering rash. Waxing can get extremely expensive and hurts like fire. Laser hair removal sounds totally appealing if only the process didn’t take six sessions at $500 a pop. (Read this 101 guide to spa shaving alternatives to exhaust all your options.) So where does this leave us as women who want to stay smooth longer while keeping our bank accounts out of the red? I’ll tell you, it leaves us one option… shaving.

I have researched far and wide to find a low cost way to extend the life of a shave and came up with three products whose ingredients and reviews back up their claim. The best part is that all of these products can be found on Drugstore.com for under $15.

Aveeno Positively Smooth Shave Gel 7 OZ. $4.99

This Aveeno product received the coveted Allure Editor’s Choice Award and a striking 4.5 out of 5 stars when reviewed by numerous consumers. What this gel claims to do is ‘minimize the reappearance of unwanted hair with continued use so you can shave less often.’ The secret ingredient is soy (that’s right another win for soy products!) which when applied to the skin can slow hair growth. The trick is to use this product EVERY TIME you lather up. Not only will this gel reduce the amount of times you need to shave per week, but has the additional benefit of preventing those pesky shaving nicks!

The perfect complement to a hair minimizing gel is a razor that gives a close shave. There are dozens of razors are the market that claim to be the best, but actual the winner for best overall best razor goes to…

Gillette Venus Divine $11.79

This razor is strong enough for a dude, but made for the hairiest of women. Gillette has created the perfect hair destroying storm by combining three comfort blades of awesomeness with multiple lubricating strips. When used in conjunction with the Positively Smooth Shave Gel you are giving your legs the best shot at a hair free week.  This Gillette razor is rated 4.1 out of 5 stars by consumers and is ‘best reviewed’ according to ConsumerSearch.com.

Now that we have discovered the optimal shave gel and razor it’s time for the best after shave lotion.

Nivea Sun-Kissed Beautiful Legs Gradual Tan Moisturizer 6.7 OZ. $9.99

For those of us with white legs, Nivea has created a product that diminishes the look of hair while adding a gradual tan with daily use. This patented formula is made to kill two birds (tanning and hair minimization) with one moisturizing stone.

The trick to making this entire regiment work is exfoliating your legs twice a week. I recommend Giovanni’s Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub with Crushed Cocoa Beans $14.99. This scrub smells like a chocolate sundae (and who doesn’t love bathing in chocolate), and will leave your skin soft to the touch and shave ready.

If you would prefer to wait for a great deal on waxing or laser hair removal don’t forget to check Spa Week monthly for great deals near you!

Stay smooth my friends!

Image via sunny-drunk on flickr

Jenna Nicole Levine is a native New Yorker turned Washingtonian who loves experiencing everything the city has to offer. When she isn’t writing about ways to save you cash on your favorite beauty treatments, you can find her reviewing D.C. restaurants, clubs, and events. To read more from Jenna Nicole please visit Woman Around Town, or just stop by and say hello on her twitter @Jenna_Nicole.

Did you know that the average woman shaves approximately 7,000 times in her life?  That’s equivalent to about one full month of shaving if you did it 24 hours a day/7 days a week. I’ll let that marinate for a second.

Unless you’re in the family of the beast above, throughout the course of history – body hair (or the lack thereof) – has always been something on the forefront of women’s minds when it comes to beauty ideals.  The concept of being hairless and “smooth to the touch” fuels the fire that not only created new technologies to help erase unwanted hair, but it sees many people looking to the past – to some of the world’s most ancient traditions – to achieve the ultimate baby soft skin, hairless chins and sculpted eyebrows.

During the summer, the pursuit is even greater. Here is your 101 guide to getting out of your hairy situation smoothly. Also, check out this month’s spa deals for local spas offering discounts on hair removal, like the highlighted deals at the end of this post.

Waxing is one of the most popular methods of semi-permanent hair removal today.  The method involves applying a thin layer of wax or resin to the chosen area.  The wax will adhere to the hair follicles, and will be pulled out by the root. Results last 3-4 weeks. Bikini Glamour additions: Vajazzle: (application of Swarovski crystals), Vattoo (application of a body-safe airbrush paint).

Threading, also known as Khite (Arabic) or Fatlah (Egyptian), is an ancient beauty treatment that began in the Middle East and India centuries ago, and is now a popular service throughout the modern world. It’s a unique hair removal technique that is touted to be the most accurate way to remove unwanted facial hair, and is considered to be less painful, more precise and longer lasting than waxing.

Sugaring is an ancient method for hair removal developed by the Egyptians.  Like, threading, this method is also considered to be a less painful method of hair removal than waxing because it removes hair in the same direction as the hair growth.  Sugaring uses a unique paste that sticks to the hair without attaching to the skin, unlike the resin used in waxing.  Results from sugaring can last up to 6 weeks to 2 months. 
Laser hair removal is a modern method of semi-permanent hair removal that uses a laser — an intense, pulsating beam of light — to remove unwanted hair. The laser beam passes through the skin to an individual hair follicle. The intense heat of the laser will damage the hair follicle, thereby inhibiting future hair growth. It typically takes several laser hair removal treatments to provide an extended hair-free period. Periodic maintenance treatments may be needed as well. For more info, watch this Live Spa TV laser hair removal video at completely bare along with Q&A.

Electrolysis is a method for permanent hair removal that involves inserting a fine needle into individual hair follicles and applying an electric current to the root. The procedure actually burns the root, which then prevents it from producing more hair. Each hair follicle must be treated individually and may take several repeated treatments for up to 12 to 18 months to see optimal results. Although it is one of the more painful methods to get rid of unwanted body hair, once the series is complete, body hair would never be an issue again.

Current waxing and laser hair removal deals:

Full Leg Wax with Bikini Wax or Brazilian and Brow Makeover Combo for$42.50, normally $85 at Princeton Center for Plastic Surgery & Medi Spa in Princeton, NJ - 609.921.8854

Microdermabrasion with Mini-Facial and Brazilian Bikini Wax for $79, normally $158, or Full Body Wax and Shellac Manicure for $89, normally $144 at Vada Spa & Laser Center in New York, NY - 212.206.1572

Purchase Spa Manicure and Pedicure and receive a Free Eyebrow Wax, or receive15% off Brazilian Wax at Zina’s Skin Care in Alexandria, VA - 703.927.8186

Laser Hair Removal Brazilian Bikini 6 treatments for $350 or Laser Hair Removal Underarms 6 treatments for $250 at Allure Skin and Laser in Queen Creek, AZ - 480.888.1223

Buy 4 Sessions of Laser Hair Removal for any body area and get 2 sessions free. For an even better deal, make your purchase before July 14 and get 4 sessions free. Lunaris Medspa & Weight Loss Center in Lawndale, CA - 310.371.9900

Thanks to Helder on Flickr for the hair beast shot. Other images via a, b, c , d, e, f, g

This story was originally posted on September 30th, 2010, and updated with new deals for June.

Ring in the new year with a smooth, hairless bod! Yes, there IS such thing as a free wax.

Starting today, Tuesday December 21, 2010, completely bare will offer its renowned waxing and laser hair removal services  at the all-new outpost within the Upper East Side Sports Club LA 330 East 61st Street (btwn 1st & 2nd ave) NYC.

Completely bare is my favorite wax in town… you BET I already made my appointment! It’s a hair removal spa as luxurious as it is professional, and home to all the authentic Vajazzle, Vatoo and Bum/Bikini Facial services you know and love. Also a favorite among celebrities, socialites, fashion designers, and beauty editors, completely bare has been featured in virtually every major women’s publication including Vogue, In Style, Allure, Lucky, Glamour, and Marie Claire as the hair removal experts.

They would like to invite you to experience their waxing or laser hair removal… for FREE!  From Tuesday December 21 through Friday Jan 7 2011, the following services are free:

Women’s Waxing and Laser Hair Removal Treatments:

• Basic Bikini
• Brazilian Bikini
• Lip
• Chin

Men’s Waxing and Laser Hair Removal Treatments:

• Neck
• Shoulder
• Upper Back

Book your appointment online at www.completelybare.com or call 855.366.6060. Hurry!

Limit 1 per person. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer Valid at the Upper East Side Sports Club LA location only.

The Little Luxury: Completely Bare’s Bikini Bump Blaster

Nickname: Smooth Criminal

Relationship status: We got to third base.

What’s So Special About These Pads? It’s not so much the pain of the Brazilian Wax I mind. As long as it does the trick, I’m fine with it. It’s only a problem if said wax causes ingrowns, which are never cute. This product is designed to treat AND prevent that. I have fairly sensitive skin and have tried a few other serums and creams over the years, and nothing worked as promised. Right after mentally resigning to my ingrown status quo, I discovered le Blaster.

How do you use them? Just like you’re taking makeup off your face, rub these textured pads on the area in question every morning and night. Be diligent!

How do they work? It’s all in the active ingredients. They’re dipped in glycolic acid combined with the acne defying agent, salicylic acid which blocks bacteria by reducing sebum production in pores. Other ingrown remedies contain some of the same ingredients, so I have to think that the texture of the pad, as opposed to smoothing a cream onto your skin, also contributes to the success.

If at first you don’t succeed… Seriously, post-wax and shave nuisances are avoidable with the right products. Whether it’s ingrown cream, deodorant or allergy medicine, never take no for an answer… sometimes you just need to keep searching to see what works for you. In this case, it didn’t hurt to use products straight from the pioneers of modern hair removal.

How much: $32.00 at CompletelyBare.com

Hot Stone Scale: 6 out of 6

This Little Luxury Report was brought to you by: Michelle Joni Lapidos

Celebrity Suspect: Hilary Swank

Case: A night off from jet-setting on a world wide promotional blitz for her highly anticipated murder mystery, Conviction, Hilary Swank confidently strolled Elle Magazine’s Women in Hollywood Gala upholding her mega watt smile, with little care in the world. A stunner in a gold Calvin Klein, with little knowledge that she would be committing a major red carpet felony: hairy armpits. 

Spa Treatment Sentence: After winning not one but two Oscars and knowing the ropes of the industry, this infraction is unforgivable. We are sentencing Hilary to Serene Max Laser Spa in New York City for Geniune Laser Hair Removal. If you find yourself in a similar bind you could book the treatment for an extended $50 Spa Week Special up until October 31st.

Images Courtesy of the Daily Mail UK