Excess facial hair in women is a condition called hirsutism. Some women have androgen or hormonal imbalances that lead to excess facial hair, and some women just naturally have more facial hair than others. There's no medically necessary reason to remove the excess hair, but many women find it to be inconvenient or embarrassing. There are several methods for removing excess facial hair, both temporarily and permanently. It's important to rule out underlying medical conditions because in some cases, if the medical problem is not addressed, hair will grow back, even after some permanent hair removal procedures.
Step 1
Consider bleaching your excess facial hair. Make sure you use an over-the-counter hair bleach specifically designed for facial hair, to avoid skin damage. Bleaching treatments lighten your hair and make it less noticeable.
Step 2
Have your facial hair sugared or waxed. Apply a sugar solution or warm spa wax to your facial hair, then apply a cloth strip on top. The sugar or wax grabs the hair and the strip. Remove the strip and pull out the hair at the root. You can purchase these products at a drugstore or have the treatment done in a spa or salon. Results last for two to eight weeks.
Step 3
Get a threading treatment. Have a threader remove excess facial hair at the root by trapping it in twisted cotton thread. Threading is gaining popularity in spas, malls and department stores.
Step 4
Shave or pluck your facial hair. Use slanted-edge tweezers to pull out each hair one-by-one, or use a sharp razor to cut the hair off at skin level. Tweezing is good for a few stray hairs but not for large patches. Shaving may need to be done daily as it doesn't remove the hair at the root.
Step 5
Use a chemical depilatory. Apply the cream to areas where you have facial hair. Allow the cream to sit for the recommended amount of time. Carefully blot away, then gently wash the area. Pat dry, and you should notice the hair has been chemically dissolved.
Step 6
Have a series of electrolysis treatments. Consult your doctor about whether you are a candidate for these treatments, and then visit a licensed practitioner. Electrolysis works by damaging the hair follicle with a small amount of electricity so that hair doesn't grow back. It can take several treatments.
Step 7
Try a surgical laser hair-removal technique. Health-care professionals can permanently remove hair with medical lasers that target the hair follicle in ways similar to electrolysis. Follow up with your provider as these treatments may also need to be repeated.
Step 8
Talk to your doctor about prescription medications. There are currently only a few of these creams on the market. They work to slow or stop hair growth by blocking chemical and hormonal messages to the follicle. First use another method of hair removal that targets hair at the roots, like waxing or tweezing, then apply the cream. Expect these products to take weeks or even months before you achieve full results. Be aware that prescription creams stop working as soon as you stop taking them.
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