None of us enjoy having hair grow in places where we don’t want it to grow. And while we manicure, shave, and remove hair from all parts of the body, when it’s growing unwanted on our face, it’s even worse.
The good news is that there are lots of effective hair removal products on the market. The bad news is that unless you remove the hair permanently, it will always grow back.
Not sure which hair removal strategy is right for you? Here are seven proven methods for facial hair removal — and they all work.
Table of Contents
- What Type of Facial Hair Do You Have?
- DIY Methods You Can Do at Home
- Permanent Hair Removal Options
- Permanent Hair Removal vs. DIY Hair Removal
What Type of Facial Hair Do You Have?
Deciding how to remove your hair often depends on what type of hair you want to remove.
Most men shave or trim their beards and mustaches at least every few days. Women often pluck their eyebrows, wax their upper lip, and use an epilator to remove those fine hairs and soft peach fuzz from the face.
And both men and women tend to reach for a trimmer to minimize nose hair, sideburn growth, and overgrown eyebrows.
Depending on the type of hair you want to remove, you probably have a preferred at-home method. But is the method you’re using the most effective one? Are you tired of doing it over and over again only to have that hair grow back?
Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of every popular facial hair remover:
DIY Methods You Can Do at Home
Before you grab your facial razor, wax strips, tweezers, or other hair removal device, you should know the benefits and drawbacks of each hair removal method and if it’s safe to use on the face.
Shaving
The benefitsshaving
But there are some downsides.
It’s not a one-time thing. If you want to maintain your facial hair, you need to shave on a regular basis. The worst part is that shaving can also cause ingrown hairs, which can be painful.
Waxing
The best part about waxing is that it’s extremely effective. When done properly, a waxed face can stay hair-free for weeks. But there are some drawbacks as well.
For starters, some people think waxing is quite painful. Like shaving, it too can cause ingrown hairs, and if you have sensitive skin, it’s not a good option.
The biggest drawback? Hair needs to be at least a quarter-inch long for the wax to grip effectively, so you’ll have to endure a small amount of regrowth before you can wax again.
Related: Waxing vs. Laser Hair Removal
Tweezing
Tweezing is a practical method because you can target the exact hairs that you want to remove. But, the hair-by-hair removal method is time consuming.
Like shaving and waxing, it has to be done repeatedly, and it can also cause ingrown hairs that can become red, unsightly, and painful.
Depilatory Creams
The benefit of using a depilatory cream is that it lasts longer than shaving. And unlike waxing, it’s painless.
But hair removal creams have a tendency to cause redness on the skin, especially if your skin is sensitive.
Why? Because they are full of all sorts of chemicals!
Before you use a facial hair removal cream, be sure to do a patch test to see how your skin reacts.
Epilators
Epilators are a quick and efficient way to remove hair, especially from larger areas of the body.
Unfortunately, the results don’t last long, and you’ll have to do it frequently to maintain flawless skin. Depending on the product you use and your threshold for pain, they can sometimes cause discomfort.
Permanent Hair Removal Options
While at-home DIY methods work, none are permanent solutions. If you’re tired of having to groom and remove hair on a regular basis, it may be time to consider a permanent hair removal method instead.
Laser Hair Removal Provides Long-Term Results
The laser hair removal process involves the use of laser light technology. Lasers emit pulses of light directly into your hair follicle, destroying the hair at the root so it cannot grow back.
Learn more about our laser hair removal services!
Pros and Cons of Laser Hair Removal
One of the biggest benefits of laser hair removal is that it’s very easy.
On small areas, such as the upper lip or between the eyebrows, the entire process only takes a few minutes. However, multiple treatments are necessary to see optimum results.
Preparing for laser hair removal is easy. The most important thing is that you stay out of the sun. Your skin needs to have its natural pigment for the process to be most effective.
It’s also crucial that you don’t wax your skin before treatment. You can shave, but you’ll need to have some amount of hair growth for the laser to target your follicles.
Some people experience some minor redness in the hours immediately following treatment. But a moisturizer with aloe is usually all that’s needed to minimize that discomfort.
For some people, the biggest con of laser hair removal is that it’s not 100% permanent. Depending on your skin type and hair type, you may have to go back for follow-up treatments.
Some people see excellent results, with no growth for months or even years, while others may need an additional treatment here and there. At the very least, laser hair removal will significantly slow hair growth, though it may not remove every unwanted hair forever.
Read more here: Laser Hair Removal FAQs
See Permanent Results With Electrolysis
Electrolysishair
Here’s how it works:
A small needle is inserted into the skin to deliver an electrical current directly to the hair follicle. That current destroys the follicle and prevents hair from ever growing back. Unlike laser hair removal, which targets multiple hairs at a time, electrolysis targets each follicle one at a time.
Pros and Cons of Electrolysis
There is one pro to electrolysis: it is permanent. Once the hair follicle is completely destroyed, the hair will not grow back. And while the method is effective, the cons far outweigh the pros.
Electrolysis involves needles. And we don’t mean one needle to numb the skin. Depending on the area of the face, it could require dozens or even hundreds of needles.
Each needle gets inserted one at a time to destroy every single follicle and remove every strand of hair. Unless you love needles, it’s painful. It’s also extremely time consuming. The larger the area of hair you want to remove, the longer it will take, and the more pain you can expect to endure.
For more information on the pros and cons of electrolysis, check out our Laser Hair Removal vs. Electrolysis comparison article.
Which is Better: Permanent Hair Removal or DIY Hair Removal?
When it comes to hair removal, there is no permanent method that’s safe to perform at home. Yes, waxing kits, razors, and epilators can provide a smooth finish, but no matter how many times you use them, the hair will grow back. With an at-home method, you’ll never be completely hair-free.
If you’re tired of waxing, shaving, and plucking, it’s time to consider laser hair removal. It’s a faster, less painful process than electrolysis. And though touch-ups and follow up treatments may be required, they’re quick and easy.
Just remember this:
For laser treatment to be safe, it must be performed by an esthetician or certified laser technician. You should never attempt to use an at-home laser treatment method, as you can do permanent damage to the skin.
And if you’re worried about your forehead hair specifically, check out our article about forehead laser hair removal.
DIY hair removal methods work well, but you’ll have to repeat them over and over and over again. If you’re ready to remove your unwanted facial hair forever, laser hair removal is the easiest, quickest, and least painful route to go.
When in doubt, consult with a professional dermatologist.
Looking for laser hair removal services in Colorado? We have locations in Fort Collins, Lakewood, Westminster, and Colorado Springs!
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