Whether you're a man grooming your beard or a woman trying to tame unruly eyebrows, you have a number of methods at your disposal for removing facial hair. The best choice for you depends on the results you want to achieve, the type of hair you're trying to remove and the method you're most comfortable with. Most methods require regular repetition to maintain a neat appearance.
Wet Shave
Wet shaving delivers a smooth, close shave. Moisture helps soften the beard and makes the hairs easier to cut close to the skin. A sharp blade, whether a safety razor or an old-fashioned shape razor, also ensures a close shave and decreases the chance of painful nicks. Shaving is most suitable for shaving the beard.
Dry Shave
Dry shaving is usually done with an electric razor, which cuts hair by means of rapidly rotating blades shielded from the skin by a mesh or metal screen. Dry shaving is quick and convenient, but may not offer as close a shave as wet shaving.
Plucking
When you only need to remove a few stray hairs, such as to shape the eyebrows, plucking the hairs with tweezers offers precision control. You can grasp a single hair with eyebrow tweezers and pluck it out. Plucking can be painful, and isn't practical for removing large patches of hair.
Threading
Threading to remove hairs originated in India and Asia and has become popular in the United States. A skilled threading practitioner wraps a thin cotton thread around individual hairs and pulls them out. The procedure is fairly pain free, fast and precise. Threaders shape eyebrows and can remove hair from the upper lip.
Waxing
If you have heavier eyebrows or can't stand plucking or threading, you could remove facial hair with wax. Place small wax strips over the hairy area. The hair gets caught in the wax. When you rip off the strip, the hair comes with it. Look for wax strips sold specifically for removing facial hair. This method is usually used for eyebrows and above the lip.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis kills the root of the hair with electrical current, permanently removing hair. Electrolysis takes time and can be expensive, but it works on pale or fine hair as well as darker, coarser hair.
Laser
Laser hair removal is most effective on dark, coarse hair. A tiny laser beams heats the hair follicle, damaging the follicle and preventing hair re-growth. It can take several laser sessions to completely destroy all the hair in an area. These can cost several hundred dollars per session, according to Dr. Eric Bernstein. You may need to return periodically for maintenance sessions to ensure the hair doesn't grow back.
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