How to get rid of facial hair?

If you have hair on your face, don’t worry, almost everyone has some facial hair. But since facial skin is delicate (and often the first thing people see!), you’ll want to take extra care picking a removal method that’s right for you. From plucking to lasering, here’s what you need to know about each possible way on how to get rid of facial hair.

1. Shaving

Shaving is one of the fastest and easiest ways to remove hair and continue your day. Whether you’re using a disposable shaver or an electric shaver, both have a built-in blade that lifts and cuts hair at the skin’s surface. But wait — what about that old wives’ tale about hair coming back thicker if you shave?

“It’s just a myth that your hair will grow coarser and more densely after shaving,” explains Dr. Krishnan. “The follicle gets cut in half so it feels pricklier, but it’s not any thicker.”

If you feel most comfortable with a razor, just be sure to take precautions so you can get the smoothest, least irritated finish. However, the results aren’t permanent or long-lasting. Your face will remain hair-free for one to three days, and then you’ll have to re-shave.

2. Tweezing

Tweezing is another effective and inexpensive way to remove facial hair. This method works slightly differently than shaving. Instead of removing hair with a razor blade, tweezers are designed to pluck or pull hair from the roots. Just make sure you’re diligent about cleaning them.

Tweezing is better for smaller, localized areas like your brows and chin. Tweezing works on any facial hair. It’s particularly useful when shaping the eyebrows. Typically, the results of tweezing last longer than shaving — up to three to eight weeks.

It can cause slight discomfort, but it’s not usually painful. If you have pain, rub an ice cube over the area to reduce redness and inflammation.

3. Threading

Threading is another option for shaping eyebrows and removing unwanted facial hair on the upper lip, side of the face, and chin. This method uses a thread, which pulls and twists unwanted hair until it lifts from the hair follicle.

Unlike using tweezers, threading is much trickier to try if you’ve never been trained in it, so head to a salon with a professional who specializes in it for the best results. Threading also doesn’t involve chemicals. So, there’s no risk of a skin reaction, although you may experience minor pain or discomfort as your technician removes hair from the follicles.

Threading might not be an option if you have acne, as it can cause bumps to rupture.

You can also read this: “How to get rid of dead skin?”

4. Epilation

Epilation is another option for removing facial hair. This technique can eliminate hair for up to four weeks, which might be a better choice if you’re busy and don’t want to regularly shave or tweeze.

Epilators work similar to tweezing and shaving. The difference is that epilators eliminate facial hair by grabbing multiple hairs at the same time and removing them from the root. Because hair is removed from the root, it takes longer to grow back. Sometimes, epilation results in hairs growing back softer and finer. Strands may become less noticeable.

You may only think of epilators when removing hair from the legs or from larger areas of the body. But epilators come in multiple sizes, making them ideal for eliminating hair on all parts of the body.

The process can be painful, but going slow can reduce discomfort. If you have tenderness afterward, apply an ice cube to painful spots to reduce swelling and inflammation.

5. Laser Hair Removal

If you want something much more permanent, you can try laser hair removal, also known as intense pulse light therapy. “Lasers shoot a certain wavelength of light that’s specifically absorbed by the hair follicle itself,” says Dr. Krishnan. When that light is absorbed, it’s converted into heat which kills the hair follicle. The advantage this route has over electrolysis is treating a larger portion at a time, while electrolysis (elaborated on below) is individually ablating one follicle at a time — think waxing versus plucking. The downsides: This isn’t an ideal route for those with light or fine hairs, and the cost is high, with sessions ranging from $50 to $300. Plus, you may need several sessions to fully destroy the follicles.