Spray-On Nair: The Worst Product Ever Invented
In the world of hair-removal, only a few options exist: shaving, waxing, depilatory creams (like Nair,) and Epilady (assuming they still make the Epilady.) Now, for years I have defended Nair. It works for me. It's longer-lasting than shaving, cheaper and less painful than waxing. Today, though, I tried out a new Nair product for which I shall never forgive the company. Nair "pretty," a spray-on foam.
Why would they make a spray? one might ask. Good question! I suppose it's for two reasons: 1. For hard-to-reach places, and 2. To assure a thick enough layer of depilatory coats the skin. Only the latter of these two reasons makes any sense, because if you can't reach a spot, you shouldn't be Nair-ing it. The foam indeed coats the skin, but the downside far outweighs the up.
Firstly, one can't control every droplet of foam. So tiny particles of it are now scattered all over my bathroom, waiting to be touched accidentally and burn a hole through my kids' skin. Second, one can't control every droplet of foam, and some of it drips down the legs and onto the feet.
Imagine– You're standing in a bathtub covered in spray-foam. Now, Nair contains a thick rich moisturizer. Y'know– to counteract the fact that it eats away the top layer of your skin. So as the foam drips and spreads, it coats your feet. So, now you're standing in a bathtub (or shower stall) with slippery crap on your feet. You can't wash it off for 4–10 minutes because you're waiting for it to scald off your body hair. And you're trying like hell not to slip.
Even were you to decide to attempt to sit, you'd risk slipping, spreading Nair to places you don't want it, and wiping the foam off the places you do want it. I made it 80% of the way through the process without falling in the bathtub, but only because I'm a healthy young woman who regularly does yoga. When I reached for a washcloth, I slipped, and fell cursing into a slick pile of stuff that strips away the outer layers of human cells.
Spray-on Nair is a stupid, stupid product. Mind bogglingly stupid. Honestly, someone may sue the company.
What does this have to do with writing? I suppose I should come up with a corollary. How about this: Just because something is an idea does not mean it's a *good* idea. There are a million stories one could write, and they'd waste your time and resources as badly as this spray-on endeavor wasted Nair's. So, next time you decide to write a story (ie develop a product) consider running the idea by a few people. And not just people who know you're an awesome writer and will read anything you put together. Ask some random people in your neighborhood or twittosphere if your idea makes sense or is too f*cking stupid to live. You're unlikely to make people break a hip falling in the bathtub, but why risk it?
