Women and
Unwanted Facial Hair

Unwanted Facial Hair

If you’re a woman struggling with facial hair that is unwanted, you’re not alone. In fact According to a recent study conducted by Bristol-Myers, over 20 million American women shave, wax or otherwise work to remove unwanted facial hair every week. If you’re one of those 20 million women, you may already know the toll that facial hair can have on a woman’s self-esteem. Luckily there are a number of fast, effective and discreet methods for removing unwanted facial hair.

Little Problems vs. Big Problems

Solutions to the unwanted facial hair problem range from fast and inexpensive temporary fixes to permanent and more costly methods. Are you bothered by a few stray hairs here or there every few days? Then simply plucking them might be the best route for you. If your problem is too big to be tweezed away, then you may want to look into the causes of your facial hair before deciding if a temporary or permanent removal method is for you.

In most cases, developing chin or upper lip hair is age-related or hereditary and therefore completely normal, especially for women with darker, courser hair. Ask your mother, aunt or grandmother if she had the same problem you’re experiencing. Chances are she’ll say yes.

For a smaller percentage of women, however, sudden development of significant facial hair can be a sign of a serious underlying medical problem like polycystic ovary disease, so it’s always a good idea to see your doctor if you have any concerns.

Temporary vs. Permanent Solutions

Most women are familiar with temporary hair removal methods like shaving, waxing, depilatory creams and epilators. These are all good choices for dealing with facial hair because they remove or destroy the whole hair at the root rather than cutting or dissolving it at skin level. Shaving your face can soon leave you with thick, prickly razor stubble that’s more troublesome than the hairs you started with.

If you decide to try waxing or a depilatory cream at home, please remember that your facial hair is far more sensitive than the skin on your arms or legs. Try a little patch at first to see how your skin reacts, especially when using chemical removal creams. It’s also a good idea to choose a time, like right before bed, when any skin irritation that does occur will have a chance to resolve before you need to be out and about.

The two most common permanent or semi-permanent hair removal methods are laser hair removal and electrolysis. Both methods work by destroying the hair follicle itself so hair won’t grow back, and both are extremely effective. Each method is will require more than one treatment however, and each treatment can be expensive. Rates depend on your geographical location and the type and amount of hair to be removed.

A word of caution: If you’re thinking about permanent hair removal, be sure to talk to your doctor or get a referral to a reputable clinic first. Lasers and electrolysis can cause scarring when done incorrectly, and you’ll want to know from an experienced provider if you’re a good candidate for either procedure.