There can't be that many surfers, particularly around the British coast, that are silly enough to brave the elements of British waters without a wetsuit. The wetsuit has been a godsend for those surfing fanatics who are not content with only participating in their sport for the 2.6 weeks of summer that this country gets.
Wetsuits have opened up the whole sport to something that you can do for pretty much the whole of the year. They have come a long way from the constrictive, skin ripping garments of a few years ago and now consist of neoprene panels stitched together to form a super stretchy barrier that traps a thin layer of water against the skin. The body quickly heats this water to body temperature and leaves you with a liquid blanket that keeps you snug as a bug in a rug, or at least a little warmer than no wetsuit at all.
The panels of the wetsuit are stitched together and some are glued to form a suit with virtually no seams. This means more comfort and less chance of leakage and this also applies to the more pricey suits. The more you can afford to splash out on a wetsuit, the more likely you are to get a good one of quality that will keep you warm and last for a good few years.
The wetsuits are often held in place with a zip up the back. Those who have attempted to get in and out of one of these straight jackets of the surfing world will know how inconvenient a back zip is. Once in, whilst still dry, movement is somewhat restricted so trying to reach behind yourself to grab and secure a zip is very difficult.
Once you have finished surfing for the day, trying to get out of that wetsuit with the back zip is nigh on impossible. After much huffing and puffing, you reach behind you and eventually manage to get a grip on the zip pull. Ok, so you may have undone it but unless you have a neoprene style can opener that suit isn't coming off for love nor money.
A wet wetsuit will love you and stick to you and want to stay with you forever. You will grapple, struggle, pull, grunt, moan and sweat but it still ain't going anywhere! In the end, you resort to getting a few mates on the end of your legs to pull at the suit. This will often be enough to shift it to the point where you can climb out but expect to lose a layer of skin in the process.
Skin removed via a wetsuit can be a painful experience. That said, it is one method of hair removal so far untapped. Not your conventional method and more painful than a bic razor but effective nonetheless.
The development of the wetsuit has meant that surfers can now continue with their sport for much of the year, particularly if they own a 6mm suit. This is pretty thick and effective at keeping out the cold. I used one of these in eighteen degree water in October and, after the initial shock of cold water down the neck, it did the job.
Today's wetsuits for those that can afford the top end designs, are now made of material that is so stretchy that they can be accessed through the neck leaving no awkward zips or itchy seams or chances of water leakage. I wouldn't fancy trying to get out of one of these things!
Friction - Friction is not a very popular method of hair removal although some people find it effective on fine hairs of the legs and arms. In this method, a rough surface, like a mitt or a pumice stone, is used to rub away hair on the skin's surface. A mitt with rough strips on a smooth surface is often used. Friction is inexpensive, fast, basically painless and can be done at home. This also exfoliates and smoothes the skin. Most say this method is good for fine hair on the legs while others use it between shaving or waxing sessions. The effects last a short time, a few hours to a few days and a pigmented area often called the dark 'shadow' is often visible. This can also cause skin irritation if rubbed too hard and is not for use on sensitive areas like the face, arms or bikini area.
Threading (Khite) - This method is called khite in Arabic and fatlah in Egyptian. It's not a commonly used method in the West but it is primarily for removing hair at the root and is used mainly on facial hair, especially in the eyebrow area. Rows of three to five stray hair strands are pulled out with twists of cotton thread. Traditionally, the practitioner holds one end of the cotton thread in his teeth and the other end in his left hand. The middle part of the thread is looped through the index and middle fingers of the right hand. The practitioner then uses this loop of thread to lock in a series of unwanted hairs and yank them by the root from the skin. There are also devices made that can hold the thread during the procedure. A more modern procedure eliminates the use of the practitioner's teeth. Threading is inexpensive, neat, accurate and fast. This method is considered a little less painful than plucking or tweezing for many people. Threading is deemed good for cleaning the eyebrows and facial hair. Similar to plucking, results can last up to two to four weeks. Unfortunately, you cannot do it yourself and it is a little difficult to find a good professional practitioner outside urban areas. Many states call for a licensed cosmetologist to do hair removal like threading. Threading can result in pain and itching. In some cases, this results in side effects which include folliculitis, which is a bacterial infection of hair follicles causing reddening or puffiness of the skin and changes in skin pigment.
Rotary Epilators - Rotary epilators are devices that are akin to electric razors. The difference is that, instead of a cutting blade on the rotary head, the epilator has rows of tweezers which yank hairs out by the root. This tool is good for the hair on legs and arms. The hair-free effect can last from several days to a few weeks. However, this device can be hard to use on the backs of legs. Others become sore, especially on the body's sensitive areas and the epilators often prove to be difficult to use on fine hairs. Also, the hairs to be removed must be grown long enough so that the tweezers can grasp them. To aid in this procedure, the skin must be pulled tight to avoid pinching. Like plucking, this can also result in irritation and ingrown hairs.
Both Shaun Parker & Michael Russell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Shaun Parker has sinced written about articles on various topics from Online Marketing, Auto Insurance and Wedding Bells. Shaun Parker is a leading sportswear expert with many years of experience in surfing. Find out more about at. Shaun Parker's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.
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