This woman stopped shaving her excess facial hair and she’s never felt sexier

Rose has stopped shaving after 25 years and says it’s a huge relief (Picture: Michael Sullivan/Barcroft)

For over 25 years, Rose Geil battled with her excess facial and body hair. Her life was a constant round of shaving, plucking and expensive laser treatments that didn’t work.
It took a huge emotional toll, affecting her confidence and her social life, as she hid her battle from friends.
But, eight months ago, she had had enough. The 39-year-old from Oregon decided to put down the razor and says she’s never felt sexier or more feminine.
Rose first became self-conscious about her facial hair when she was 13 and immediately started shaving.

Rose would wear long-sleeved tops and polo necks to hide her body hair throughout her teens and twenties (Picture: Michael Sullivan / Barcroft)

She soon found she needed to shave every day and so began an emotionally draining ritual that would last over 25 years.
She would wake up early to remove the hair before school and was unable to go to sleepovers with friends because she would wake up with stubble.
‘I didn’t realise the emotional impact until I was older. I just thought it was regular teen angst when I was young,’ she says, adding: ‘My friends did not know, I hid it very well. It was exhausting trying to keep it hidden.’

She would get up early to shave every morning so friends weren’t aware of her condition (Picture: Michael Sullivan / Barcroft)

Her mum was aware of what she was going through but didn’t really know how to help. She was put on the contraceptive pill and tried other medications to help reduce the hair growth, but none worked effectively.
She did have relationships, but found dating difficult. ‘I remember going to prom and my date kept stroking my face. I was so horrified that he knew my secret I broke up with him and left that social circle, so I wouldn’t be exposed,’ she says.
Although she has never had an official diagnosis, Rose believes the excess hair growth is due to a combination of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and genetics.

About Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a common condition that affects how a woman’s ovaries work.
Symptoms include irregular periods or no periods at all, difficulty getting pregnant, excessive hair growth – usually on the face, chest, back or buttocks – weight gain, thinning hair, and oily skin or acne.
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but it often runs in families. It’s related to abnormal hormone levels in the body, including high levels of insulin.
There’s no cure for PCOS, but the symptoms can be treated.

 

She got to the point where she stopped leaving the house.
Eight months ago, Rose had finally had enough. ‘I was emotionally drained from trying to hide my beard every day and feeling like I was failing miserably,’ she recalls.

(Picture: Michael Sullivan / Barcroft)

‘Growing my beard was an incredible experience. It was very difficult, daily emotionally and physically in the beginning because it was very uncomfortable, itchy and crawly. I had to fight the urge to shave.’

(Picture: Michael Sullivan / Barcroft)

Within six weeks, she had a full beard and she now says she wouldn’t dream of shaving it off.

(Picture: Michael Sullivan / Barcroft)

‘All of my friends and family are incredibly supportive – they really had no idea how much I struggled and how much it was affecting me,’ she says, adding that the reaction from strangers has been ‘either positive or neutral’.
‘I have had people approach me in public and wanted to meet me and shake my hand and tell me I’m brave and courageous and even an inspiration,’ she explains.

(Picture: Michael Sullivan / Barcroft)

And learning to accept herself as she is has been a huge emotional release.
‘I definitely feel womanly, sexy and sensuous. I feel more feminine and it has very little to do with my appearance; it comes from my attitude and giving myself the freedom to be who I am.

(Picture: Michael Sullivan / Barcroft)

‘I’ve finally accepted the real me.’

Source: Metro.co.uk