By Andi Douglas, nwaMotherlode beauty buzz editor and mama of 3
Happy Mother’s Day, Mamas! I hope you all had a wonderfully relaxing day, or a relaxing 15 minutes, at least, if you still have little ones at home.
I received a brand new coffee maker because everyone knows keeping mommy well caffeinated is money well spent.
As I was reflecting back on the days when I became a mommy three times over, one thought kept running through my mind, “Dang, that really hurt.”
So on that note, here are a few popular beauty treatments that hurt almost as much as *childbirth {and are almost as rewarding}:
1. Microblading is a semi-permanent treatment for reshaping, repairing or filling in sparse eyebrows. Different than permanent eyebrow tattoos, microblading lasts up to three years with just an annual touch-up, and has a much more natural look.
During the two-hour process, the technician will use a special microblade (kind of like a tiny exacto knife) that deposits color close to the surface of your skin leaving fine and crisp hair strokes, as opposed to the broader strokes of a traditional tattoo needle. At $300 and up, it may seem a bit extravagant, but the closest alternative would be eyebrow extensions that can cost around $200 and have to be maintained regularly.
I have seen countless before-and-after pictures and they look amazing! I have not seen it in person, but in photos you can not tell it’s not real hair.
* A topical numbing cream should decrease the amount of pain, so on a childbirth scale, I’d say it’s about equal to delivering with an epidural; you know what’s going on but it’s all good.
2. Permanent makeup, or cosmetic tattooing (ranging from $300-$1000), can be very beneficial for minimizing your daily routine or as an alternative for people with allergies to cosmetics.
Because of the delicate nature of the tattoo, the pigmentation is deposited close to the surface of the skin so it can fade over time, but is still considered permanent because it can not be removed easily. So, be sure it is what you want.
Lip, eye, and eyebrow tattooing are the most common applications, but the technique can be used to cover scars or redefine facial features. A friend of mine recently had her eyeliner tattooed on both the upper and lower lash lines with a very fine line that helps define her eyes. She loves it and has no regrets, but did warn that it hurt A LOT. Her appointment definitely would have a language warning if televised.
* I’d say it’s like the first time you have to poop after having a baby: the fear is the worst part, it seems to take forever, but a huge relief when you’re done.
3. In relation to talk about waxing, you may picture eyebrows or even the extensive leg area, but for the purposes of this article, I’m going to focus on the big kahuna, a Brazilian wax.
For around $60 you can have a stranger clear out your bikini area…all of it…seriously…yeah there’s hair back there, too. Now the good news is, the more frequently you get waxed, the less it hurts and the less your hair will actually grow back.
I like to think you have scared it into submission. Since I am not a character on Sex in the City, I’m going to go ahead and leave it at that.
* But I can rank this beauty treatment on my super scientific scale as having a baby in the car on the side of the highway: You just close your eyes, grit your teeth and try not to think about who’s seeing what. At least it will be over fast.
Okay, ladies, if you are woman enough to try one of these techniques, just remember your Lamaze breathing and look forward to that happy time afterwards when you totally forget how awful it was and decide to give it another go.
It took me about a year after each kid; hopefully I won’t wait as long between waxing.
Have a question for Andi, beauty blogger and fellow mama of three? Andi welcomes your questions and feedback to Beauty Buzz. E-mail her at mamas@nwaMotherlode.com.
Yikes. The things we do.
Ha! Ain’t that the truth, Talya 🙂