18 Things All Girls Who Attempted Teenage Hair Removal Will Never Forget

    The unholy stink of hair removal cream.

    1. Being like 12 or 13 years old and suddenly become aware that you have ~hairy legs~.

    2. Deciding you're going to take the plunge and shave them.

    3. Deciding shaving is horrible.

    4. Wondering if everyone at school will notice your shiny new pins after you first shave them.

    5. Covering your body in your mum's stinky hair removal cream and waiting 40 minutes for it to work.

    6. The messy nightmare of scraping it all off in the shower.

    7. Then discovering it didn't even take half your hair off.

    8. Running out of hair removal cream before you'd covered your legs.

    9. Being vaguely aware The Patriarchy exists and that you might hate it as you shave your legs for the first time.

    10. Figuring out exactly how little shaving you can get away with.

    11. Your first encounter with ingrown hairs.

    12. The eye-watering pain of plucking out your first eyebrow hair.

    13. Having a weird relationship with the hairs you successfully pluck (or gouge) from your body.

    14. Being disproportionately anxious about "missing a bit".

    15. Realising that it's not only dads that get stubble.

    16. The first time you get waxed professionally, and, oh god, the pain.

    17. Wondering why the hell you're going to all this effort anyway?

    18. When winter finally comes round again, and you can let it all grow out.