The Best Facial Hair Removal Methods for all Skin Types

Facial hair is a concern for nearly every woman who gets it. Many women suffer from the problem of facial hair with growing age. Pretty much all of the women facing this problem try to find a way to get rid of it that actually works without damaging the skin. If you're also noticing hair on your face, then here are some methods that you can follow to help get rid of your facial hair. These facial hair removal methods work without damaging the skin and should be carried out by experts.

In this method, a laser is used to focus on areas of hair growth on the skin. The roots or hair follicles are destroyed beneath the skin, which prevents hair from growing. This method of facial hair removal is suitable for both dark and light coloured skin. Laser hair removal might require more than one sitting in the clinic. The number of sittings for laser hair removal treatment also depends on your present hair growth.

This is a long-term facial hair removal method and is also suited to be used on delicate areas including the face and other parts of the body. You just need to trim the facial hair before you go for a laser hair removal treatment. The experience might be a little painful but at the end the effect is wonderful. The only disadvantage of laser facial hair removal is the time taken as there's a gap of 3 weeks between each sitting.

Intense Pulsed Light technique or IPL is very similar to laser hair removal. In this method, various light waves are used to block hair follicles on the skin. In a laser hair removal treatment, only 1 single ray is applied to the skin, whereas here multiple rays of lights are passed at the same. IPL has a reduced risk of burning or skin pigmentation.

One of the key advantages of this method is the permanency of the procedure. After a few sessions, hair may not grow back on the skin again. It's more suitable for darker hair and lighter skin and IPL kits are easily available in home versions so that you can discreetly remove facial hair from the comfort of your home. The home IPL or laser kits are especially designed for sensitive and small, tricky areas like upper lips.

In this method, warm wax that's resistant to the skin is applied with a spatula. A clean fabric strip or tissue cloth is then applied to pull off the hot wax. As the hot wax is removed from the skin, the unwanted hair also comes out. After 1 complete waxing session, you can have no facial hair for almost a month, but the regrowth differs from person to person. Some individuals may find tiny hairs within 2-3 weeks of waxing while in some cases there will be no signs of regrowth until about 4-5 weeks.

Waxing can be done at the salon or at home but only do so when you master the art as facial skin is sensitive. If the wax strip isn't pulled off correctly, it can lead to major nerve problems. As an option, waxing for facial hair removal is cheap, quick and the wax is readily available at shops or salons across the country. It's ideal for finer hair but one of the main concerns for facial waxing is that the hair must be ½ cm long before you can wax them off.

The depilatory or facial hair removal cream is applied on to the face, left for a few minutes and then removed with a spatula. The chemicals present in the depilatory cream dissolve the keratin in the hair structure causing the hair to come off when the depilatory cream is removed.

It generally takes a few days or up to 2 weeks for hair regrowth. This is a very cheap, quick and easy method of facial hair removal that can be done privately at home. Although, one of the disadvantages of this method is that the hair may grow back slightly rough and thick.

Originated in the Middle East, this is an ancient and natural method of facial hair removal which has become increasingly popular in Britain. The practitioner forms a series of knots by manipulating the cotton thread, which pulls hair out from the root when it’s run over the skin.

It's very suitable for short hair and one of its key advantages is that the process actually damages the hair follicle, making its future growth limited. Threading can be a little painful and is best done by a professional because if the wrong hair is pulled out, the damage cannot be reversed until the hair regrows. The process may even lead to a cut or bruise to the skin if the knot pulls the skin instead of your hair.

This method of facial hair removal involves giving ‘electric shocks’ to the hair using a sterile, fine needle that’s inserted into each hair follicle. This is an effective method since it cuts off the oxygen and blood supply to the hair, therefore, killing it permanently.

You may need several sessions of electrolysis to get facial hair removed. Compared to all the methods of facial hair removal, electrolysis is the most expensive and safe when performed by experts.

Whichever facial hair removal method you choose, there are some precautions you need to take to avoid skin problems. Here are some handy tips for safe facial hair removal:

• If you have sensitive skin, breakouts, old burns, varicose veins or suffer from frequent migraines or diabetes, speak to your doctor or salon expert before opting for any facial hair removal process.
• Women who are pregnant or on contraceptives should also take professional advice before opting for facial hair removal as the skin is very sensitive during this period.
• Don't take a shower immediately after hair removal to allow the skin and pores to calm after the process. You can take a cold or lukewarm shower 2-3 hours after the procedure. Hot showers, using a loofah or scrub and harsh soaps must be avoided.
• Conduct a patch test before you choose your facial hair removal process to check for any allergies. Using all natural or herbal creams and products for facial hair removal can help solve the problem of side effects.
• Your facial hair must be at least 0.5cm in length before you opt for facial hair removal procedures except for laser treatments. Very short hair may increase the risk of breakouts or cuts to the skin while waxing or threading.
• Swimming, sunbathing, or using a tanning bed must be avoided immediately after using any of the above facial hair removal methods.

Like it or not, facial hair demands a call to action because it's often considered a taboo topic among women. Before you choose a particular facial hair removal method, it's a good idea to study up its pros and cons. The hair removal process doesn’t just end in 1 step. You also need to care for your skin by using natural and high-quality lotions or gels formulated for use after facial hair removal.