The 1 Way to Finally Get Rid of That Pesky Chin Hair For Good

No one really likes to talk about it, but many women are pained with long, dark chin hairs. And sometimes that hair just won't go away, and you'll continue to see a pesky strand in the same spot. It can make wearing makeup, taking a selfie, or having someone near your face (re: snogging) uncomfortable.

There are three reasons that could cause a hair to keep coming back: your genes, your hormones, and the way you're removing it.

"Our hair growth patterns at the beginning are hereditary," NYC-based electrologist Ronni Kolotkin (who I have been seeing for hair removal since my teens) told me. "You might have lots of chin hairs, even more than your brother. This is because you probably inherited this problem from your father. Hair growth is also hormonal. Often when you go off of the pill, you will notice new growth. The three times woman naturally grow facial hair is during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause."

She warns you not to tug at the little guy, no matter what. "If you pull those hairs out, they will never go away on their own. You start a whole chain reaction of stimulating dormant follicles to produce noticeably darker hair. Waxing is the worst. Threading and tweezing are also very bad. The more you pull, the more hair you will see."

Though there are many ways to remove facial hair, including shaving, tweezing, threading, and laser (which offers permanent hair reduction but not removal), electrolysis is the best and only way to get rid of it for good. And I have personally had amazing results. In my early 20s, I removed chin hair via electrolysis. I did not have to get it again until I turned 30 and my hormones changed, causing me to grow some new hairs. This happens. It doesn't mean that the electrolysis did not work; it just meant that new hair emerged.

"Electrolysis is the only method of hair removal that is permitted to say 'permanent' by the FDA," Kolotkin said. "It's a process. It's not a magic wand. It's not an instant fix. And if it's taken to the end, it will be permanent for the rest of your life."

She explained how it works: "Electrolysis is a process that, when done correctly, will eliminated unwanted hair forever by sealing the root. A tiny little needle — that's finer than a hair — goes into the follicle. A slight bit of current travels to the tip of the needle, and it seals off the root. It might take up to three treatments, but once that root is sealed off it will never produce another hair!"

Yes, it hurts. But it's tolerable if you've ever had waxing or laser done. Your dermatologist can also prescribe you a cream, such as Lidocaine, to numb the area. Ice also works effectively at numbing the skin. Learn more about electrolysis here.