h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There are very few people on whom a Band-Aid could be described as 'flesh-coloured', and that's just the 'white' ones. Over here in the UK there is no such thing as a 'flesh-coloured' plaster for black / coloured people. What's the situation in other countries?

And then there are blue Band-Aids. These are used in situations where you want to be able to spot quickly whether a plaster has fallen off. For example, in a kitchen or anywhere else where food is prepared.

As for removing a plaster, we prefer Elastoplast, because it's less likely to come adrift before you want it to. Many's the time I've seen Richard (my hirsute husband) gently picking at the edge of a plaster, trying not to remove half the hairs from his hand / arm / wherever. With a complete lack of sympathy I say, 'Stop being a wimp', grab the plaster and remove it with one swift tug, to an anguished yell from Richard. I don't know what he's complaining about. After all, women don't scream when they wax their legs, do they?

I don't know, since I've never had the 'privilege' of being invited to see this event take place. But wouldn't the heat from the wax act as a counterpain?

As for flesh-colour, I probably should have said "flesh-coloured, if you happen to be a caucasian cartoon character". I'm sure sticking plaster manufacturers in the States would've cottoned on to the potential market in non-white plasters by now. Or at least they would have been made aware of the market by the various minority rights groups. Here in NZ, we also have a variety of skin pigmentations, but the only bandaids I've seen are those already described.

Except for the see-through ones, of course.

I guess the see-through ones are Band-Aids attempt to get round the 'flesh coloured' problem. After all, they'd have to produce at least two shades of brown to cater for coloured people. Then there are people from the Far East, people with tans, the list goes on.

As for waxing, it's not something I do but I understand that the wax isn't that hot. You can also get waxing preparations that are applied cold, and pre-waxed strips that just press onto the legs and are swiftly peeled off. I did try waxing once using the pre-waxed strips and it isn't that painful a process. However, I did see a program a year or two ago where a man had his chest waxed. He reckoned the process was somewhat unpleasant and said he would never think of girls as wimps in future.

Or at least, those whohave had their chests waxed.