How to Remove Facial Hair
If you’re bothered by the hair that grows on your face, 5-Minute Crafts will show you 5 popular methods to get rid of it.
5. Shaving
How it works: by cutting the hair off at the surface of your skin, leaving its root and follicle untouched
Areas: fine hair all over your face
Pain level: low
How to do it:
- Clean your face, then apply a layer of soap or shaving cream to make the surface smooth and prevent any cuts.
- Pick a razor that has at least 2 blades.
- Glide the razor in the direction of hair growth.
- Don’t pass over the same area several times in order not to irritate the skin.
- Once you’re done shaving, apply moisturizer to soothe your skin.
The results last: 1-3 days
Possible side effects: ingrown hairs or blunt edges on your hairs that can make them look thicker
4. Depilatory creams
How it works: by penetrating the top layer of your skin (epidermis) and breaking down the structure of the keratin in your hair so that it can be easily wiped away from its root just below your skin’s surface
Areas: large areas of hair like the cheeks, forehead, and upper lip
Pain level: low
How to do it:
- Take depilatory cream designed specially for facial hair. Apply a layer of it on the unwanted hair of your face.
- Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes.
- Gently wipe the cream off with a damp cloth or using a spatula.
- Rinse your face with warm water.
The results last: up to 7 days
Possible side effects: allergic reactions because of the chemicals the cream contains
3. Waxing
How it works: by sticking to your skin and hair and then pulling your hairs out along with their roots
Areas: sideburns and cheeks
Pain level: high
How to do it:
- Wash and exfoliate your face.
- Heat some soft wax until it reaches a tolerable temperature.
- Holding the skin taut, apply the wax to it.
- Wait for a few seconds for the wax to cool down.
- Then quickly remove the wax in the direction of hair growth.
- Once you’ve finished, remove the leftover wax with baby oil, then moisturize your skin.
You can choose either wax strips that should be warmed between your hands before applying or wax that should be melted and then applied to the skin with a stick.
The results last: up to 4 weeks
Possible side effects: acne, ingrown hairs, skin irritation, and allergic reactions
2. Tweezing
How it works: by pulling out separate hairs from their roots along with the hair bulbs (the base of the hair follicles)
Areas: eyebrows, occasional chin hairs, and wiry hairs
Pain level: low to medium
How to do it:
- Rub an ice cube over your face to numb the area and reduce inflammation.
- Hold your skin taut and pluck one hair at a time.
- Always pull the hairs in the direction of hair growth.
Wipe the tips of your tweezer before and after every use with rubbing alcohol to disinfect it.
The results last: up to 3-8 weeks
Possible side effects: ingrown hairs
1. Epilation
How it works: by grasping multiple hairs at the same time and then uprooting them completely, leaving the hair follicle empty
Areas: large ones that don’t need a precise touch like the cheeks and chin
Pain level: medium to high
How to do it:
- Holding your skin taut, move an epilator in the direction of hair growth.
- The epilator should be placed at a 90-degree angle with your skin.
- Don’t press the epilator too hard against the skin.
- If you feel pain or swelling afterward, apply an ice cube to the painful areas to reduce inflammation.
To make your skin softer and reduce the risk of ingrown hairs, exfoliate your face a couple of days before epilation.
The results last: up to 4 weeks
Possible side effects: ingrown hairs, skin irritation