Let’s face it, most of us have cancelled a plan or an outing with friends because we could see a light moustache when observed closely in a mirror. You pluck it, tweeze it, do whatever, but it grows back. Facial hair can be trickier than regular body hair for various reasons. Hair on the arms, legs or underarms can be concealed by wearing the right kind of clothes however there is not much you can do to conceal your facial hair. Also the face is an extremely sensitive part and hence not all methods of hair removal will suit a person. So you need to be quite careful when it comes to removing facial hair.
Let us look at some of the best options available out there to give you satisfactory results:
- Threading
A perfectly tried and tested method is good old threading. Commonly used to shape eyebrows and remove hair on the upper lip, it is also equally effective to use on forehead or chin. It is essentially using a cotton thread, by twisting and turning it in a manner that allows it cuts off the hair from the service. It is great for areas that require precision and the hair can be removed even at a short length. However since it does not remove the hair from its root, it starts growing back in 10 to 14 weeks. Hence in order to keep up with threating, you need to visit the salon once in every 2 to 3 weeks depending on your hair growth.
- Waxing
Though popularly used for body waxing more than facial waxing, it is a more lasting method of hair removal since this removes the hair right from the roots. Traditionally done by a trained professional, hot wax is applied to the area with a spatula and then pressed over by a cloth. The cloth is then pulled in the opposite direction of hair growth. There are also peel-off waxes available which allow you to apply the wax, let it dry for 2 to 4 seconds and then peel off the wax directly. The peel off kind are more common for facial hair removal.
- Shaving
A quick and easy way is shaving. It is great for removing that peachy fuzz some people get over their face and also to maintain your side-burns. There are special facial razors available in the market that are disposable and quite inexpensive. You may use it on dry skin without using any cream or gel to shave. However this works best only for lighter growth. Since this does not remove hair from its root, it grows back quite quickly and requires regular up-keep.
- Lazer hair removal
Another method that is getting popular day by day is laser hair removal. It essentially includes heat through laser rays that are directed to the particular body part where hair removal is required. The heat from the rays destroys the hair follicle and hence prevents it from growing back. This method requires a professional dermatologist and about 4 to 8 sittings of laser. It is being widely adopted for parts such as the upper lip that grow back quite frequently. It is on the pricier side but could be a good investment if facial hair removal is something you constantly struggle with. It does involve some degree of pain since the laser rays are of extremely high temperature, but with improving technologies, many new forms of laser have come up that make the process quite comfortable and bearable to an extent.
- IPL devices
IPL stands for Intense Pulse Sensation and the functionality of these devices is similar to that of a laser. They work on a similar principle which is killing the hair follicle through intense heat, however, IPL devices work through broad spectrum visible light. A few leading brands offer these at-home IPL devices which may be slightly heavy on the pocket, but compared to the money you might spend at the dermatologist getting multiple sessions, it can turn out to be quite cost effective. Most of these machines also have intensity settings which allows to make it from mild to strong. Depending on how mild or strong your setting might be, you can achieve the desired result in 3 to 6 sittings. Hold the light emitting part of the device over the desired part and do so till the timer on it goes off. Repeat over desired area and you will achieve hair removal over a few sittings.
- Epilation
Similar to waxing, this technique removes hair from the root. An epilator is a device that has a rotating head containing multiple tweezers that closely plucks out hair from the surface. It is safe, highly effective and can be done at home without any assistance. Various models of epilators are available in the market. Although a regular epilator can do the job just fine but there are also special facial epilators available that have a narrow head allowing you to have more precise hair removal.
- Depilatory Creams
Easily available at any pharmacy or drug-store, depilatory creams are alkaline based products that break down the protein of hair and help in their removal. They are quite inexpensive and can be used without much fuss or assistance. You need to apply it on the targeted area, leave it for 5 to 10 minutes and then wash it off with simple water or a washcloth. It is practically painless however you may experience a tingling sensation while the cream is working. The hair grows back quickly since these creams only remove hair on the surface level. One thing to keep in mind is that it contains certain strong chemicals and people with sensitive skin may have the best experience with it. So research properly before choosing which one to buy and do a patch test before applying it on the entire area.
Not everyone experiences facial hair growth, some lucky ones might never need to turn to any of the above methods. But for the rest of you, research well and see what method suits you the best.
