The Best Way to Get Rid of Unwanted Facial Hair

The Best Way to Get Rid of Unwanted Facial Hair
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The best way to get rid of unwanted hair depends on a few different factors. Gender is probably the most influential of these components, but hair density, skin sensitivity and even skin tone can play roles in your options for hair removal, especially when it comes to professional methods. For some people, cost and time are other factors that can influence the decision. In the end, it's up to you to decide which method best suits your hair removal needs.

Step 1

Pluck stray facial hairs with a sterile tweezers. Results typically last around 3 to 8 weeks, according to Teens Health.

Step 2

Shave unwanted facial hair with a razor and lubricating shaving gel. Results can last anywhere between one and three days.

Step 3

Wax the unwanted facial hair. Warm wax is applied over the unwanted hair and then a strip of fabric is adhered to the wax. When the fabric is pulled off of the skin, it takes with it the embedded hairs. Like tweezing, results can last about three to six weeks.

Step 4

Apply a depilatory to areas experiencing unwanted hair growth. The chemical in the product interacts with the proteins found in your hair, causing it to dissolve. You can expect hair-free skin for roughly two weeks.

Step 5

Slow the regrowth of unwanted facial hair with eflornithine. When applied to the skin twice a day, this topical prescription treatment inhibits the enzymes needed to produce hair, and thereby slows the growth cycle of treated follicles.

Step 6

Talk to your doctor about anti-androgenetic medications. Birth control pills, progesterone, estrogen and spironolactone can all be used to reduce the level of male sex hormones in a woman, which can combat unwanted facial hair growth.

Step 7

Damage the follicles growing unwanted facial hair with laser hair removal. When laser light energy is administered to the skin, it generates an intense level of heat within the hair follicles and damages them, explains the Mayo Clinic. Treated follicles cease producing hair for 12 months.

Step 8

Undergo electrolysis to get rid of unwanted facial hair. Electrolysis delivers an electrical current or radiofrequency directly into the follicle, destroying it and stop hair growth forever, advises the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Tips and Warnings

  • When tweezing facial hair, always pluck in the direction of hair growth. Shaving is often best suited for men due to the shadow cast on the skin from the growth of shorn hairs. With shaving, always guide the razor in the direction of hair growth. It's also important to minimize the number of times the blade passes over the skin. Multiple passes can irritate the hair follicles and lead to ingrown hair growth.
  • Laser hair removal may cause discomfort, swelling, redness and blistering. When done incorrectly, electrolysis can cause infections, skin damage and scarring.

References

Article reviewed by Elizabeth Slough Last updated on: Sep 28, 2010

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