what hair removal method do YOU use? and how are the results?

I have pretty thick, dark body hair, and I'm quite hairy for a girl. So I'm finding it difficult to deal with it properly. I can deal with it, but it's such a pain, so I wanted to hear how everyone else deals with their unwanted hair.

I probably shaved no more than 4 or 5 times in in my life, and each of those times made my hair nearly twice as thick as it was before. It also really makes me itch bad, and it grows back way too fast. So shaving doesnt work for me. It's made my leg hair nearly as thick as my bikini line.

For several years I used an epilation device thingie that plucked hair out. But with my legs, it was never very efficient, and caused lots of ingrown hairs. Works fine with my underarms though. Bikini line and pubic hair is way too painful this way.

So I've mostly stuck with waxing. The real kind, with melted wax and soft strips. Works alright but but my leg hairs grow back within 2 weeks, and cant be waxed for another 2 or 3 weeks after that, so I have to walk around for 2-3 weeks with hairy legs. no fun. Pubic area grows back in one week, and then again cant be waxed for 3 weeks. It all seems so inconvinient. So I've stuck with a system of both epilator device thingie and waxing, being very careful with timing (I've spent months with itchy, hairy legs just so that I could have a nice wax for one week of beach holiday).

So now, at 18, I feel the need to try different, more permanent methods. I am considering laser removal (for everything: legs, pubs, arms, armpits, face, back), and my parents even told me they would pay for it. However, I am about to move country and start university, so finding a proper place to do and the time for it might take a while.

I've also recently come across a cream (BIOXET, or BIODEL) which is supposed to reduce and thin hair over a long period of time. I will probably try that untill I can find a proper laser hair removal place in my new home. Applying the cream once or twice a day over a period of 3 months or so is apparently supposed to reduce hair by about 50%, and delay hair growth by about 45%, and the thickness by 30%. I dont know how accurate that claim is, but even half those results would make me happy.

Anyway, sorry for the long life story. What do YOU use and how has it worked for you? Whats most and least convinient, etc?

I prefer stress related alopecia. 

(Sorry.  I've been wanting to say that all morning.) 

lol. I guess I could always make a big change in my life by moving in with the family. I'm sure that would cause enough stress =p

If you can afford it and because you are dark laser hair removal would work perfect. However the cost is worth the end result of permanent removal.

You may want to consider a combination of electrolysis (for face) and laser.  Everyone is different, but it takes an average of 6 sessions for laser.  It would be very costly to do it all at once so you might want to pick the most troublesome spots and move forward from there. 

I am 26 and have been waxing since the age of 13.  I have never shaved (legs, underarms, bikini).  My hair has gotten a lot more sparse and takes a lot longer to grow back then it used to.  It also grows in soft.  The only thing I do not like is having to wait between waxes (thank godness my husband does not mind my furriness!).  I can now get away with 6 weeks between each wax.  I sometimes get it done professionally (which I would recommend to most people) but I do it myself on occassion (although I need to drink before I do it- to numb my nerves!!).
Waxing is great because over time you will get less hair- however if you are looking for a more permanent solution go with laser.  I would do it, but my hair is blonde and I do not have a lot of it left!

I use surgicream on legs and bikini area (maybe you could try between waxing?).  I'm prone to ingrown hairs, and they're just going to be a fact of life for me, but I don't have as much trouble when I use that stuff.  The prescription hair growth reducing creams, at least the ones I've tried on my face, seem to work and are definitely worth a try.