Gams. Stems. Getaway sticks. If hair is your crowning glory, shouldn't your foundation, namely your lovely legs, be equally as fabulous?

With summer beating down on most of the country, short shorts and barely-there sunny frocks have probably become your 2011 wardrobe staples - which means a set of smooth, hair-free and unmarred drumsticks move from the “would-be-nice” category into the “necessity” category. Whether you're fighting unwanted hair, cellulite or visible veins, lets take a look at some of the detractors of a great set of gams and dispel them, tout suite.

First and foremost, we harken back to our previous posts on unwanted hair. I've personally tried waxing and laser hair removal - with mixed results. So let's start with a beginners guide to hair removal, the well-loved razor. The pros are obvious to anyone who's wielded this implement of hair destruction before: quick, easy, pain free if you avoid the pitfalls of razor burn and nicks and cuts. Dermatologists suggest you moisten your skin first, choose a razor with multiple blades to get the job done with fewer strokes, and also shave in the morning when your legs are less swollen which ensures that more of the hairs length is exposed. The inevitable cons are obvious: the aforementioned razor burn, nicks and cuts, and dry irritated skin. The cons are not sexy, but a little patience, moisturizer and warm water should at least keep them at bay.

Of course, the more serious amongst us will put aside the razor and head for our nearest laser hair-removal joint. The latest and greatest hair-removal lasers are way faster and far less painful than the stingy technology of the past, using a vacuum head to gently stretch the skin closer to the light source. This provides a one-two punch to those unruly follicles - more energy from the laser hits the hair and your body is distracted from the usual sting by the vacuum sensation. Of course, it still takes about 6 sessions and intermittent touch-ups to officially eradicate the hair, but it you just can't manage a razor without looking like you took a cheese grater to your stems (someone pass the band-aids) - this might be a good option.



It's inevitable that as we age, at least 85% of us are going to experience the dumpy dimples we so-lovingly call cellulite. There is nothing -lite about it. No this is a very heavy, serious conundrum that the tabloids love to hone in on and exhibit center-stage (jerks). A recent issue of Prevention magazine offered up a few tips on making those bumps and dimples appear less prevalent - and while none of these is proven to actually reduce cellulite, we thought we'd put them out there anyhow and let you decide.

One fast fix (remember, there is really no hard evidence that these work) are lotions with diuretic agents in them, like theophylline and caffeine - which may temporarily plump up the skins surface so your legs will appear smoother. And there is always that go-to cosmetic camouflage, a tinted spray tan, which, if applied properly, can even out skin tone and temporarily disguise a lumpy texture. Prevention also recommends doing an inverted yoga pose, as doing so can drain excess fluid from fat cells and improve any puckering. (I'm doing this right now. Multi-tasking!)

If you're way more serious about your cellulite, a visit to your derm might elicit some possible solutions other than exercise, diet and old-fashioned genetics. Treatments that use high-energy pulsed sound waves are said to help smooth out bulges (as well as treat muscle injuries) - with a reported 75 to 80% improvement in six to eight sessions.



A great many of us ladies aren't big fans of the arachnid - and we like those tiny namesake veins splaying out over our getaway sticks even less. Spider veins are small, dilated blood vessels that appear too near the skins surface in a good 50% of us. We can place most of the blame on genetics (thanks Mom), but obesity and long hours of standing or sitting (another deterrent to a sedentary lifestyle) with crossed-legs can cause them too.

Of course cosmetic camouflage is one pseudo-answer. A tinted leg spray or waterproof body make-up, if you can bear even more warm weather application, can temporarily hide these imperfections. But if the purple, spidery veins are just too much for you, a visit to your trusty derm might be in order. Talk to them about sclerotherapy, a procedure where each vein is injected with a solution that will cause it to collapse and essentially 'disappear.' Your doctor may also recommend surgery, radiofrequency and laser ablation to rid you of those unsightly purple spindles. Again, ask your dermatologist for their best assessment.

Add to that the essentials: exercise (You'd be surprised what a little lunging can do!) and a proper diet (Goodbye French fries… I'll miss you.) and you'll be ready to bare it all (Well, almost all - let's leave some things to the imagination, shall we?), poolside or party.