[Katrea]

I got samples of iTac2 for pole, the normal and extra strength and tried the extra on my chrome x-pole which I’ve had major slip issues with and oh my god, it was amazing. I like dry hands but I find I am constantly putting it on, doing a move, having to dry my hands on a towel, doing a move, and putting more on. The iTac seemed to last a bit longer and not come off on the towel as quick. I haven’t tried the normal yet. In saying that all the girls at my studio hate iTac and swear by dry hands or Tite Grip.
I love Light at times too, depending on the weather, in fact the main problem I’ve had with it – upside down in an invert and attempting to slide and realizing I’m glued to the pole…. Epic fail on the slide. But I stuck. Now the weather is warming up tho I’m finding it a little slippery.
Have never tried shaving cream but I know a few girls who love it.

[Katrea]

I have a Chrome X-Pole and I tried everything including rubbing alcohol to clean it (barely worked), a tiny bit of dishwashing liquid on a just damp cloth (worked for about 5 minutes), white vinegar (same affect as alcohol), patting it down with Dry Hands (works for a few minutes), heating the room and the pole up (didn’t seem to help much).
After trying all of that and just persisting using it on occasion, we had a nice warming day here the other day (I’m in Aussie Land and we’ve just hit Spring) and I went in, wiped it down with a microfibre cloth and rubbing alcohol and did a few climbs and all of a sudden less slippery, I think the slight humidity helped a little.
Also got my iTac2 samples today and tried them and oh my god, help on and just spun for ages, normally I would get half a spin and be sliding. Also a warm up on the pole seemed to help at times too, climbs, body rolls, just dancing around, the body heat seems to help more than anything.
Hope this helps on some way.

[Katrea]

Epilators look like and electric razor but Instead of cutting the hair they pull it out similar to waxing. I looked at one, tried it on my arm in the shop and decided an electric razor was a much better idea and much less painful.

I tried waxing my legs once and failed, I’m such a sook, I can wax my eyebrows and that’s the limit of what I can do. I dont mind pain but not the sort that comes from beauty treatments.

IPL sound great but too expensive for me. I have. A Philips Ladyshaver and it works beautifully.

Whichever you use tho I find it easier to pole with nice smooth skin, so I always make sure I shave the day or morning before a class.

[Katrea]

Being a corset maker, I agree with stormcat.
You will get what you pay for off eBay and there’s no way to tell what sort of steel boning is used. I use spiral steels almost everywhere except around the lacing where I use flat steels. The few steel corsets I’ve seen on eBay don’t specify and while a corset made entierly with flat steels is fine, it’s not my first choice as i find it tends to really curve in around the waist where as the spirals curve nicely around my already hourglass figure.
A well made corset will last. The few corsets I did by off eBay when i was younger were poor thin materials, and the boning in them was plastic and did mould to my body and bow badly very quickly and they never fitted well to begin with.
An off the rack corset is rarely going to fit very well unless you happen to have a perfect off the rack sized body, which most of us don’t.
There are sites which sell corsets for around $100 like these guys:
http://timeless-trends.com/
But to be honest, knowing what good materials cost I’m wary of even buying from them as my materials alone cost me $70+ depemding on fabric quality and style etc.

My suggestion, save up a little and buy a slightly better one from a site as apposed to a $25 eBay one and it will last you ten times longer and they often come with a guarantee.

[Katrea]

I have doble jointed hips and shoulders. It makes shoulder mount and anything requiring strength in these areas very interesting. I'm also super flexible and it does cause problems and weird interesting positions. 

Lots of strength building exersices in those areas to hold the joint in place better, its sliding around because theres very little muscle holding it in place so building that muscle and making sure anything you do you hold everything tight and controlled helps a lot. 

If you can get to a Personal trainer or even ask your dance teacher for excersises to help strengthen your legs and hip and you should start seeing results. I am now able to do soulder mount tucks without pulling my shoulder joint out after only a month of light practices every day slowly increasing intensity. 

[Katrea]

We have chrome pussy cat poles in the studio I go to and they are awesome, I’m still trying to wear my chrome x-pole in. I think the girls were saying something about being able to have them reskinned if you moved and resized, I’m not too sure. And I have seen them have trouble popping them into the top bracket on an odd occasions, but that’s only a hassle if your taking it down a lot and I assume you won’t be. Also they are quite heavy, I don’t think ours are quite 5 meters and they are heavy and awkward to carry on your own, but again only an issue if it’s coming up and down a lot.

[Katrea]

I was able to invert after only 2-3 months of pole, but it’s because I’m also a Kickboxer and do Jujitsu so I already had the the strength from other activities, I just needed the technique. And will that strength I still spent a few classes just practicing tucks in the correct position before going into the invert.
Take your time, build your strength and one day you will surprise yourself and be able to do it.