Ever wish for a magic 8-ball to appear when you need the more difficult questions in life answered? You know, a safe, private source where you can spill your guts without even the slightest chance of judgment -- and more importantly, where you'll get the guidance you're looking for? For most women, hair removal probably falls into the need-an-8-ball category. Because let's be real -- we all have questions that are too out-there, too taboo, too TMI to admit to, even to our best girlfriends.

To the rescue: this go-to guide. We polled women across the country about their top hair removal questions and put together an A-team of experts to provide the answers. Consider this your beauty 8-ball. You're welcome.

There's good news and bad news about laser hair removal. Let's start with the good news: Just think of all the time (and band-aids) you'll save from not needing to shave everyday, and the money you'll save on monthly waxes! As for the bad news: "Even if you had the most successful laser session ever, you'll still have to run a razor over the slightly fuzzy parts once a year," says Pamela Bunte, facialist to the stars and owner of Skin Spa in Hollywood, Calif.. To get the best possible results, she recommends being really diligent about going to the sessions according to your hair growth cycle, which minimizes the chance of hair re-growth.

Every woman gets an occasional hair on her face -- so for most women, this is really nothing to worry about, says Bunte. "If you spot a stray, coarse hair, pluck it and forget about it. However, if you have excessive chin hair growth -- say, 40 or more hairs on your chin -- it could be a hereditary issue," she says.

You may want to make an appointment with an endocrinologist (a doc who specializes in hormones), since hair growth patterns are linked closely to hormonal changes in the body, adds Dr. Joshua Zeichner, M.D., a dermatologist at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City. There's a possibility you have hirutism, a condition that's caused by an excess of male hormones in the body, which manifests in male hair growth patterns on the face, chest, and back. Another possibility? Polycystic ovary syndrome, which is signaled by excessive breakouts, excess facial hair, irregular periods, or abnormal weight gain. A good rule to remember for this or any other issue that concerns you: "When in doubt, get it checked out," says Zeichner.

When patients see New York City dermatologist Dr. Heidi Waldorf, M.D. for laser hair removal, she says they often mention how embarrassed they are that they didn't shave their legs or "trim" their bikini area. "But it doesn't even faze us," says Waldorf. "I think people are self-conscious about having hair in general [these days]."

If you wouldn't consider letting even your doctor see you "down there" without at least cleaning up a little, here's some info that'll make you think twice: if you pluck the hairs before you get laser hair removal, you remove the root of the hair, which is the target for the laser. Therefore the laser treatment won't be effective," says Zeichner. "The ideal candidate [for laser hair removal] is someone who is light skinned and dark haired," he says. "People with dark skin or people who have light or white hair are not great candidates because the laser cannot detect a contrast between the hair and skin."

If you're expecting, or you're trying to get pregnant, now isn't the best time for a laser hair removal, says Bunte. Women experience a hormone surge after giving birth, which often results in an increase in hair growth. That means you may see some hair growing back after your time-intensive (laser hair removal can take up to 6 months to complete) and costly (it typically ranges anywhere from $150 to $1,200 depending on the body part) procedure.

When it comes to waxing, it's typically safe during pregnancy. "Most waxes are naturally-based and will not absorb into a woman's bloodstream," says celebrity aesthetician Scott-Vincent Borba. Because the wax doesn't go deeper than the subcutaneous layer of your skin (the lower most layer of your skin), there's no risk to your baby during any of the three trimesters of pregnancy.