Introduction
Getting rid of facial hair is a cosmetic procedure. Almost everyone has facial hair. It is usually finer and lighter in colour than normal body hair. This is bothersome for certain individuals as they are prominent and change the look of a person.
Removing hair from the brows or chin is not so challenging or painful. However, one should take additional care while selecting the best way to remove facial hair because facial skin is very delicate.
Here is the information on each method of the top facial hair removal methods to get rid of the hairs on the chin, the growth between the brows, or the fuzz at the top of the lip.
Best ways to remove unwanted facial hair
Threading
Threading is a traditional method of shaping the eyebrows using threads to quickly pull and remove hair. The removal of hair is accomplished more quickly than with tweezers. Threading involves twisting two long cotton threads together to remove the hairs.
Threading is an alternative for places, like the eyebrows, where we need to maintain some hair and only get rid of the undesired hair.
Though much quicker, it is the same as plucking. Several hairs can be pulled out at once.
The results of threading may last for four to five weeks. It also depends on the hair growth of particular individuals.
It doesn’t irritate the skin much, making it suitable for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Threading doesn’t remove a large amount of hair.
It can make the eyebrows look uneven or result in ingrown hairs if done incorrectly.
- Dermaplaning
Dermaplaning is a facial procedure that smoothes and brightens the face by shaving off the top layer of dead skin and peach fuzz (soft, short hairs on the face). A certified esthetician can perform it in-salon using a surgical scalpel, or one can also use a dermaplaning tool at home. Performing it at home takes less than ten minutes.
- Tweezing
Tweezing is the fastest and most affordable way to get rid of facial hair. Tweezing involves pulling hair from the surface with a tweezer. It is frequently used as a method of maintaining neat and shaped eyebrows.
The uncommon chin hairs can also be removed with this method.
- Depilatory Hair Removal Creams
A depilatory is a potent alkaline product that dissolves the base of the hair, so it is easy to wipe off. Depending on the formula of the product and the texture of the hair, the entire process might take five to ten minutes.
Depilatories are quick and practical, but one should be careful while choosing a product.
Hair removal creams can burn the skin since they mainly contain strong chemicals, especially when used on the delicate skin around the face. Since the facial skin is delicate, specific products are to be chosen to remove hairs on the face.
Keep in mind that results only last a few days.
- Hair removal gadgets
They function by gripping hair directly from the root and resemble tiny Slinkies. Think of it like tweezing, except faster since one doesn’t have to grab each hair separately.
- Waxing
Waxing is the procedure done using wax to remove hair from the body. It sticks to hair and pulls it out by the root. This helps maintain smoother skin for a longer period by preventing coarse facial hair. In most cases, the wax is made of honey or other skin-friendly products.
Waxing can be a harsh exfoliation procedure with some undesirable after-effects, such as persistent redness, especially for sensitive skin. Salicylic acid, AHAs and other exfoliants should be avoided prior to the procedure.
Since the facial skin is softer than the rest of the body, use only creams or facial wax strips on this area to remove hair, as it could irritate it more.
While waxing at a salon, the specialist will use oil or lotion to calm the waxed skin. The procedure takes about 15 to 30 minutes.
- Shaving
One can’t see the hairs while shaving since the razor removes them from the skin’s surface.
Every body part can be shaved. Unlike waxing and laser hair removal, shaving is painless.
The results are short-term. Therefore, shaving has to be done daily or every few days.
The skin may be itchy on frequent shaving. Razor burns, nicks and cuts are common injuries.
Ingrown hairs might appear after shaving for certain people.
- Prescription creams
Women use these creams on the parts of their faces they desire to be hair-free. Eflornithine hydrochloride, the active component, aids in stopping the growth of new hair.
Consult a board-certified dermatologist with experience in prescription. For some people, this is not a viable hair removal method. A dermatologist can tell if this method is suitable for a person.
- Sugaring
Consider sugaring while searching for an alternative to waxing, as this is less painful and gentle to the skin.
Paste and gel sugaring are the two types. One can remain hair-free for up to six weeks using either method. The method involves using natural components like lemon juice, sugar and water to form a paste and use it on the skin to pull out the hair from the root.
Hair as short as 1/16 inch can be removed using traditional sugaring techniques, which involve paste. Sugaring is a cleaner and more durable alternative to waxing, requiring a minimum hair length of 1/4 inch.
- Coil removers
While coil hair removers may seem difficult to use, they are actually easy. Imagine them as a cross between a tweezer and a threading needle.
Place the coil on top of the skin and glide it against it, bending it into a ‘U’ by holding both ends. Roll the handles on the skin to remove hair.
To reduce the appearance of ingrown hairs, exfoliate the skin before using a coil remover, just like threading. Coil removers work best on the upper lip, chin and cheek hairs but not on eyebrows.
- Sugar Waxing
Sugar waxing gives results that last roughly three weeks by removing hair from the root rather than the skin’s surface.
While there are certain differences, body sugaring and sugar waxing are sometimes confused. Body sugaring has become more popular in salons, but since it is more difficult and messy to apply at home, it is not as popular as waxing.
Also, sugar waxing helps get bigger area coverage and target regions more specifically when compared to wax strips.
- Electrolysis
Since it is the only technique that the FDA has approved for permanent hair removal, it has the finest track record. Using this technique, an electrical current is passed through a hair follicle, damaging it and stopping hair growth.
This permanent hair removal technique requires numerous sessions because hair grows in cycles.
Moreover, kits are available to perform electrolysis at home. Kits don’t include injecting probes into the hair follicles like professional electrolysis does.
- Laser hair removal
Laser hair removal, commonly called strong pulse light therapy, is used for permanent hair removal. Lasers emit a particular wavelength of light specifically absorbed by the hair follicle. The heat produced when the light is absorbed damages the hair follicle.
The benefit of this method over electrolysis is that a greater area may be treated at once, whereas electrolysis removes each follicle individually.
The procedure is expensive and not a good option for people with light or fine hair. Moreover, it can take multiple sessions to completely remove the follicles.
Home remedies
- Oatmeal banana
This technique is really useful. Apply the paste to the affected regions by mixing two teaspoons of oatmeal with a ripe banana. Massage for 15 minutes and followed by a cool water rinse.
Antioxidants in oatmeal assist in reducing skin redness and make it a fantastic, moisturising scrub. This paste will offer bright skin in addition to shaving off the facial hair.
- Lemon and honey
A lemon and honey mixture are another way to replace waxing. Start by combining two teaspoons of sugar, one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of lemon juice. Heat it for about 3 minutes. If necessary, add water to dilute the mixture.
Apply corn flour to the face when the paste has cooled, then spread the paste in the direction of hair development. Then, pluck the hair out against its natural growth direction using a waxing strip or a cotton cloth.
This procedure is highly advised for individuals with dry skin individuals because honey helps to moisturise the skin.
- Egg white
Combine egg white with one tablespoon of sugar and one tablespoon of cornflour. Apply this mixture to the regions where you have unwanted hair, then peel it off when it has dried.
When combined with sugar and, cornflour, egg white, a sticky paste is formed. This is a thin film that sticks to the skin. Since egg white includes Vitamin A, which can cause breakouts, this procedure is not recommended for people with acne-prone skin.
- Lentil and potato
Combine five teaspoons of potato juice with one tablespoon each of lemon and honey. The lentils should be ground into a paste after being soaked overnight.
Combine all the ingredients, then apply the mixture to the affected area for around 20 minutes. When it is entirely dried, wash it off.
This paste forms a thin crust that aids in the removal of hair. Moreover, potatoes aid in hair whitening, which reduces their visibility.
Conclusion
There exist many options for getting rid of unwanted hair. It might be difficult to determine which choice or solution is best for an individual when there is a lack of information on each method.
Since facial hair is a natural biological phenomenon, most techniques do not permanently remove it. Even laser hair removal cannot permanently remove hair from the face. Only electrolysis can permanently get rid of facial hair. The permanent destruction of hair follicles with electrolysis includes using an electric current.
If the facial hair is growing out too quickly, consult a doctor. Excessive hair can also be due to a health issue, such as PCOD or PCOS. It’s important to treat the underlying condition for the best outcomes. Always consult a doctor in such cases.
