If you’re looking to shape your eyebrows, remove stray hairs on your chin, or get rid of a fuzzy upper lip, you might’ve toyed with the idea of at-home facial hair waxing. And I get it! It’s cheap, it’s easy, and it’s convenient. But here’s what I don’t get: How people muster up the courage to wax their own bodies at home (next-level bravery, truly). But thankfully, unlike waxing your arms and legs, or giving yourself a DIY Brazilian bikini wax, facial hair waxing seems pretty simple, no? You don’t have to crane your neck to reach every last hair because the area you’re working with is, quite literally, right in front of your face.
But even if the process is less involved than hair removal on other parts of your body, we’re still talking about hot wax, your precious face, and ripping off hair from the root, so you want to be *extra* careful. To give you all the very best advice for DIY face waxing and a list of products to help the process be as pain-free as possible (hint: get yourself some Ibuprofen), I turned to the people who know way more about this topic than you and me both: board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD, and eyebrow expert and brand founder Joey Healy. Keep this article close by the next time you attempt to wax your face at home.
Is it safe to wax facial hair?
Dr. Kingmicrodermabrasion treatment
But just because something is safe doesn’t automatically mean it’s a good idea. If you don’t trust yourself to shape your brows with a pair of tweezers, maybe leave the waxing to a professional? Just a suggestion from someone who’s butchered their own brows before.
Which wax is best for face?
Generally speaking, hard wax (wax that doesn’t require an extra strip to remove it) is better for the face than soft wax (a hot, runny wax that needs a strip to remove it) because it’s gentler, better for sensitive areas, and can grab short hairs, according to Healy. Not only that, but hard wax isn’t as hot as soft wax (burning hot wax on your face? Yeah, no thanks) and is easier to control in smaller areas, like your brows or lip.
Healy’s other favorite at-home wax kits for facial hair are wax strips that are designed for the face and don’t require major heat. “You peel them apart similar to a Band-Aid,” Healy explains. “You apply it to the face without heat, so you’re not going to get burned. I love that they are small, so you can use them on your upper lip, sideburns, [and] brows.”
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What should I put on my face before waxing?
The day before a wax, Healy suggests a little light exfoliation and lots of moisturizer. But on the day of a wax, you want pretty much nothing on your face. Gently wash your face to make sure your skin is clean of any product and dry the skin thoroughly. “Clean, dry skin allows the wax to adhere properly,” Dr. King notes. Healy also likes wiping down the face with Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner because “it’s great for cleaning and prepping the skin. Its also alcohol-free so it is not drying.”
This is your second friendly reminder to avoid retinoid and retinol creams for five days before waxing and definitely don’t put one on before a wax. Seriously, the wax could actually remove skin along with it, so if there’s one thing you take away from this article, let it be that.
4 products to apply before and after your facial wax
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What is the best way to remove facial hair?
All hair removal methods have their pros and cons, but if waxing is your thing, here’s the best way to do it: Before waxing, make sure your hair is about ¼-inch long (about a month of growth). If your hair is any longer than this, trim it so the process isn’t as messy and painful. Once your hair is the right length, Dr. King highly recommends popping Ibuprofen and/or numbing the area a bit with ice packs to help reduce any upcoming discomfort. Then, pick your ~poison~ below, and follow the steps.
Facial hair waxing with hard wax:
- Prep. Once your face is clean and dry, warm the wax according to the instructions on the package. “Always test the temperature by applying a small amount to the inside of your wrist,” Dr. King says. “It should feel warm but should not hurt or burn.”
- Spread the wax. Work on one small section at a time, and spread the wax in the direction of the hair growth.
- Remove the wax and your hair. Once the wax is slightly dry and tacky, use one hand to pull your skin taut, and with the other hand, quickly pull the wax in the opposite direction of the hair growth.
Facial hair waxing with strips:
- Prep. Start with prepping your skin, then warm the wax according to the instructions on the package. With these strips, usually, the heat from the friction of rubbing your hands together will warm the wax plenty.
- Separate the strip. Peel the strip from the backing, like a sticker, then press it firmly against the area you’re waxing.
- Remove the wax and your hair. Holding your skin tight with one hand, use the other to grip the edge of the strip and quickly pull it in the opposite direction of the hair growth to remove the hair.
What should you not do after waxing?
If when you feel discomfort or stinging after facial hair waxing (sorry, but it’s gonna hurt a bit), Dr. King suggests soothing the skin with cold packs and a light layer of moisturizer, but avoid hot baths and showers (those won’t even feel good anyway). Healy also recommends wiping down the area with FUR Ingrown Eliminator wipes. “The lactic acid in them helps prevent ingrown hairs,” Healy explains. “They also have witch hazel and aloe so you're both cleaning and soothing post-wax.”
Is waxing facial hair better than shaving?
Shaving your face is ideal for removing light peach fuzz or vellus hairs, but if you are looking to remove thicker hair or want hair removal that actually lasts longer than a day or two, waxing is the way to go. Should you give it a try yourself? Just make sure to follow the above advice and—say it with me—no retinoids.
Brooke Shunatona
Brooke Shunatona is a contributing writer for Cosmopolitan.com.
