The 7 Best Ways To Get Rid Of Unwanted Facial Hair

Although facial hair is pretty normal, that doesn't make it any less annoying for many women. Fortunately, there are many ways to get rid of unwanted facial hair, some of which are even permanent, and below, we've rounded up the best methods based on your individual needs.

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1. Dermaplaning

Best for peach fuzz and eyebrows.

Dermaplaning is a method of exfoliation and hair removal that uses a sharp, sterile razor to sweep dead skin cells and peach fuzz from your face. This procedure is best done by an esthetician due to the high-quality razor used in a professional setting, but it can also be done at home with an eyebrow trimmer or a dermaplaning tool.

By removing facial peach fuzz and the buildup of dead skin cells on the skin's surface, you will reveal a brighter, glowier layer of skin from underneath and get a smoother application of complexion products such as foundations and concealers.

The only downside of dermaplaning is that it can’t be done on active acne and other inflammatory conditions that appear as pustular spots on the skin, such as rosacea.

Facial peach fuzz usually takes around four weeks to grow back, which is why dermaplaning once a month is enough to keep your skin smooth. Eyebrow hair, on the other hand, can grow back a bit quicker, so you may need to trim it every two weeks instead.

Product To Try: Stacked Skincare – Dermaplaning Tool, $75

2. Tweezing

Best for eyebrows and chin hairs.

Tweezing is a classic hair removal method that involves using small, pointed tweezers to pluck individual hairs from the root. This technique is best for small areas with sparse hairs, such as the eyebrows or chin.

Tweezing is a great way to achieve precise hair removal, which is why it's often used to shape eyebrows or to remove a single hair that grew on an odd area on the face, such as those two to three hairs you get on your chin every couple of weeks. It's also a relatively inexpensive hair removal method since you only need a pair of tweezers.

The main downside of tweezing is that it can be time-consuming and kind of painful, especially when tweezing the eyebrows. It's also easy to overdo it and tweeze too much, resulting in sparse, patchy brows.

Depending on the area you tweeze as well as your genetics and how fast your hair tends to grow, tweezed hairs can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks to grow back.

Product To Try: Anastasia Beverly Hills – Tweezers, $28

3. Waxing

Best for eyebrows, upper lip, and chin.

Waxing is a method of hair removal that uses a combination of materials such as beeswax and rosin to adhere to the skin and remove hairs from the root. This technique can be done at home or in a professional setting and is best for areas such as the eyebrows, upper lip, and chin.

Waxing removes hairs from the root, resulting in a smooth, hair-free complexion that lasts for weeks. It's also a relatively inexpensive hair removal method, especially if you're waxing at home.

Waxing removes hairs from the root, resulting in a smooth, hair-free complexion that lasts for weeks.

The most obvious con of waxing is the pain. Since waxing is a method that essentially rips hair out from the root, it can be quite painful, especially for people with sensitive skin. Another downside of waxing is that it can't be done in areas where you have pimples because it will cause them to rupture and spread bacteria around.

Waxed hair takes around two to four weeks to grow back, although it can sometimes take up to six weeks, depending on the thickness of your hair.

Product To Try: Nads Natural – Facial Wax Strips, $7

4. Sugaring

Best for eyebrows, upper lip, and chin.

Sugaring is a method of hair removal similar to waxing that uses a sticky paste made from sugar and lemon juice to adhere to and remove hairs from the root. This technique can be done at home or in a professional setting and is best for areas such as the eyebrows, upper lip, and chin.

Sugaring is an excellent alternative to waxing for people with sensitive skin as it's gentle, made of natural ingredients, and less likely to cause irritation and allergic reactions. It's also inexpensive, especially if you're sugaring at home.

Just like waxing, sugaring can also be painful, especially for people with sensitive skin. Another downside of sugaring is that it can't be done in areas where you have pimples, as this will cause them to pop and enable bacteria to be spread around.

Much like waxing, sugared hair takes around two to four weeks to grow back, although it can sometimes take up to six weeks, depending on the thickness of your hair.

Product To Try: Nads Natural – Natural Sugar Wax, $13

5. Threading

Best for eyebrows, upper lip, and the entire face.

Originating from Eastern cultures in India and Iran, threading has been a way for women to remove unwanted hairs and create immaculate eyebrow shapes for many years. This hair removal method involves using a thread to loop around and pluck hairs from the root, and while it's popular for shaping the eyebrows, it can also be used to remove hair from the upper lip and entire face.

Threading is an excellent alternative for people who don't enjoy the sticky mess that comes with waxing and sugaring. It's also quick and easy to do, and you can even learn how to thread your own eyebrows at home with just a little bit of practice. Additionally, and unlike waxing and sugaring, you could theoretically do threading even while you have active acne.

Threading is an excellent alternative to waxing and sugaring, and can be done on active acne.

Much like waxing and sugaring, the downside of threading is the pain that comes with removing the hair from its root. Although cleaner, quicker, and easier, threading is no less painful than other hair removal methods, so many people avoid it for this reason.

Threaded hair takes around one to three weeks to grow back, although this can differ depending on the thickness of your hair.

Product To Try: Vanity – Extra Soft Eyebrow Thread, $5

6. IPL Hair Removal

Best for the entire face.

IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light, is a method of hair removal that uses flashes of light to target and damage the hair follicles, which prevents future hair growth. This hair removal method is usually used on larger areas of the body, but it's safe to be used on the face.

IPL is an excellent alternative for people who want long-lasting hair removal results without having to commit to waxing and sugaring every couple of weeks. It's also less expensive than laser hair removal and can be done in the comfort of your own home.

The main downside of IPL is that it can trigger more serious side effects such as burning, blistering, or scarring. This can happen if you’re exposing your skin to the sun without using adequate protection on the days before or after your IPL treatment. Additionally, another significant downside of IPL is that it doesn't work for all skin tones, and it's particularly not recommended for darker skin tones. This is because melanin pigments aren't just in our hair – they're also present in the skin, too, and since dark skin has denser melanin compared to fair skin, the IPL could transfer heat energy onto the skin cells, causing discoloration.

IPL hair removal is a semi-permanent method, meaning that the treated hairs won't grow back for a significant amount of time, although the exact length of time will differ from person to person.

Product To Try: Rose Skin Co. – OG - IPL Hair Removal Handset, $130

7. Laser Hair Removal

Best for the entire face.

Laser hair removal is a permanent solution to unwanted facial hair and involves using concentrated beams of light to target and destroy the hair follicle. This method is the most effective way to achieve long-lasting results, although it can be quite expensive and time-consuming.

Laser hair removal can be done on the entire face, and most women with normal hair growth will need between four and six sessions spaced four to eight weeks apart to achieve their desired results. For women with hormonal hair growth, such as coarse hair on the face, 10 to 12 sessions may be required.

Most women with normal hair growth will need between four and six sessions of laser hair removal.

Laser hair removal is a permanent method of hair removal, meaning that the treated hairs will never grow back. However, there may be an exception for those dealing with hormonal conditions that cause hirsutism or abnormal hair growth, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). While laser will definitely help, the hair might come back until the internal issue is resolved.

The pros of getting laser hair removal include silky smooth, hair-free skin that lasts indefinitely, but laser hair removal comes with a couple of significant downsides, including its price and the potential side effects it can trigger. Similar to IPL, laser hair removal can also cause redness, burns, blistering, and scarring in some cases, especially if you expose your skin to the sun without using adequate protection right before or after your treatment. This is why laser hair removal is only recommended to be done in winter when we’re typically not spending as much time outdoors.

Laser also has the same issue as IPL regarding not being compatible with dark skin. So if you have dark skin, you should consult with a certified laser technician beforehand, as professional lasers are very different from at-home lasers, and some newer technologies are finally improving this issue.

Product To Try: Tria Beauty – Hair Removal Laser 4X, $500

Facial Hair Removal Aftercare

Chances are that after using any method of facial hair removal, your skin will become a little red, irritated, and sensitive. This is why adequate aftercare is essential to speed up the healing process and help you avoid any complications.

There are a few things you can do to take care of your skin after hair removal:

• Apply a cool compress to the treated area to help soothe any irritation.

• Avoid touching or scratching the treated area.

• Use a light, unscented moisturizer that contains soothing ingredients such as panthenol, zinc, and shea butter.

• Avoid sun exposure and wear sunscreen if you must be outdoors.

• Avoid wearing makeup for up to 48 hours post hair removal.

These aftercare steps are important for helping you achieve the best possible results from your hair removal treatment with minimum downtime.

When Not To Remove Facial Hair

While facial hair removal is generally safe, there are certain times when you should avoid it altogether, namely, if you have inflamed skin, sunburn, or any other kind of skin irritation. It’s best to wait until your skin has healed. You should also avoid removing facial hair if you have moderate to severe acne, as some hair removal methods, such as waxing, can rupture the already stretched skin and cause bacteria from the pimples to spread around.

Lastly, it's not recommended to wax, sugar, or get laser done on your face if you’re using retinoids or any other type of prescription medication (such as Accutane or antibiotics) that causes your skin to become sensitive, as this can lead to skin irritation, redness, burns, bleeding, and uneven skin tone.

Closing Thoughts

There you have it, everything you need to know about facial hair removal methods as well as their pros and cons. As you can see, there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to facial hair removal, so it's important to choose the method that best suits your needs, preferences, and lifestyle!

Do you have any questions or comments about facial hair removal? Let us know below!

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