u/imsecretlyabird

Just booked my first solo trip (25F) and my parents are terrified. I feel so guilty making them worry, but also don't think they have the best risk assessment of places (and they think the same of me). I'm not content to live my life based around where they think is safe and acceptable, but I do want to help reassure them.

Main issues are South America (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay) and a tour through Botswana and South Africa. I have travelled to Europe and Asia (Asia by myself and with a partner, Europe with family). I'm not "untravelled" but haven't done such a big trip alone.

All advice on reassuring parents and dealing with the guilt welcome! I feel like their fearmongering is getting to me, and I don't want that as I don't think it's an educated take.

Going insane - made sugar waxed and have attempted to wax my lower legs ~5 times now. Sometimes I get a clean pull, but overwhelmingly the hair is just snapping without the root being removed too. It's just like a really inconvenient shaving - I've stopped shaving as I want my hair to be long enough to wax, so I've just had rough and uneven legs for 2 or so months now.

As such, the hair is growing back like I'm shaving it and every so often I try a different technique but really not sure how to improve this. Physical exfoliation and I wax as parallel to my leg as I can, and have tried applying both with and against the grain - it is probably a technique issue but genuinely don't know what to change!! My hair is also very fine so not sure if that's contributing.

Any help appreciated