Getting Rid Of

Unwanted Facial Hair

Beyond thin, wing-shaped eyebrows, any hair on a woman's face is by definition unwanted. Nevertheless, many of us are cursed by our genetic heritage with hair, whether we like it or not.

Put Your Best Face Forward

Your face is what people see first, and when you're making an effort to put your best face forward, unwanted facial hair can be embarrassing and discouraging. The eyebrows, the chin, the upper lip, the hair inside the nose, and the hair that covers the face can all be problematic, particularly for women with dark hair and fair skin.

The degree to which facial hair is bothersome, is really a subjective experience. Popular standards of beauty in western cultures are either a curse or a blessing for all of us, depending on the physical attributes that are ours from birth. For some of us, unwanted hair that exceeds an arbitrary social standard can cause low self-esteem and perceived problems with social acceptance.

What Can You Do?

So, what is the best way to remove unwanted facial hair? There are a number of choices, depending on the size of the area and certain aesthetic considerations.

Shaving

Shaving is the cheapest, fastest and easiest way to remove facial hair. It is the time-honored method of choice for most men, but for the average woman, a 5 o'clock shadow is unacceptable. The effect of shaving is brief, anywhere from a few hours to several days at most. Shaving can cause skin irritation and cuts, and for some, it causes ingrown hairs (especially in women's bikini area and African-American men's facial hair).

Depilatories

Depilatories are inexpensive, fast, and often painless. You'll find a selection of depilatories at your closest drug store, and you can use them at home. These products use a chemical to dissolve hair at the skin's surface. The effects lasts only a short time -- anywhere from a few hours to several days. Dark-haired, light-skinned users may notice a visible "shadow" of dark hair under the skin. Depilatories often require use every 2 or 3 days. Extreme care must be taken when using these products on the face, because they can irritate and even burn facial skin, and can be a severe eye irritant.

Waxing

Waxing usually works well, and is often the method of choice for women and men alike. As with tweezers, waxing plucks the hair from its root. This method doesn't damage the actual hair follicle, so new hair will continue to grow. But unlike depilatories, new hair growth after waxing won't appear on the skin surface as quickly -- usually not for several weeks. And, if you're brave enough, you can use waxing to remove facial hair at home; however, many people prefer to have someone else perform this procedure. The benefits of waxing can sometimes last up to 9 weeks, but it is considered a temporary treatment.

Electrolysis and Laser Treatment

Laser Treatments and Electrolysis are both considered permanent methods of removing facial hair. They work by damaging the base of the hair follicle so that hair can no longer grow. These options are both expensive, and multiple sessions are usually necessary to remove all the unwanted hair. But, considering the relatively small surface areas to be treated, many people feel they can justify the cost and the discomfort involved.