Unwanted Facial Hair: What’s a gal to do?

May 13, 2008 Author: Jen Hill | Filed under: Exfoliators, Hair Removal, Skincare, Skincare Solutions

This is my facial hair dilemma.

As a younger woman, I dealt with thick eyebrows and upper lip facial hair. Now, those hairs aren’t as prolific, matter of fact, my eyebrows are thinning and graying. Come back my thick, dark eyebrows, come back!

Chin hairs are my biggest issue nowadays. I almost daily pluck these obnoxious stray hairs on my chin. The amount of hair isn’t enough to warrant waxing or shaving (thank goodness), however, they keep coming back, and sometimes the the plucking causes an irritation or inflammed bump around the hair follicle.

I looked into a laser hair removal treatment of my chin and upper lip hair, and it isn’t cheap. The hair removal clinic also informed me if the hairs are light that the laser will not be effective. And since about 50% of my facial hairs are blond or gray, and I wonder if the cost would still be worth it and would achieve the desired result.

In general, laser facial hair removal works best in those with dark hair on lighter skin, however newer technologies have made the procedure safe and effective in those with darker skin as well. Blonde, red, or gray hairs are generally less responsive to laser hair removal treatment. Coarse hair (terminal hair) responds much better to laser hair removal treatment than fine hair or “peach fuzz” (vellus hair). – Vaniqa website

I have also wondered if anyone here has used Vaniqa with any success? Vaniqa is the prescription strength cream that was developed to remove unwanted facial hair.

VANIQA (eflornithine HCl) Cream, 13.9% doesn’t remove hair like other products you may be using. Instead it actually reduces the growth, and complements your current method of hair removal, which you should continue to use.

The Vaniqa site also suggests a slight improvement in permanent hair removal if you use this cream in conjunction with the laser hair removal treatments. Makes sense to me, but between the cost of the cream and the laser treatments, I bet it will end up costing about $500. Ugh! I would rather try one, and see if the other is still warranted. The question is, which one?

I would love to hear about your experiences with facial hair removal. Any successes or horror stories are welcomed.

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63 Responses for "Unwanted Facial Hair: What’s a gal to do?"

tracy m May 13th, 2008 at 3:09 pm 1

I read this this morning, and came back this afternoon hoping to have a ton of comments to help me- but alas! So, I will start…

I hate this horrid little secret that begins to creep in as the dark side of the thirties roll around. Once upon a time, way back when I was in my twenties, I had a roomate in her thirties. She told me once I hit my thirties, sure enough, those random little hairs started sprouting. Dang! She was right!

Now, at 36, every morning not only do I check my eyebrows, but I have to check my chin, too. I HATE IT!!

I thought about trying Vaniqa, but the doc said I had to be done reproducing, becauce of a specific birth defect it causes- not really my cup of tea.

So, instead, I have my little magnifier mirror and my trusty tweezers. I wish I could solve it once and for all, but I’ll probably never shell out $500 for laser removal.
tracy m May 13th, 2008 at 3:10 pm 2

WAIT! I made myself older! I will BE 36- for now, I’m still 35!!!
jen38 May 13th, 2008 at 5:10 pm 3

Tracy you are too funny, and I love that “dark side of 30″ statement. Hold on to 35 as long as you can!

I wouldn’t mind the plucking, but it is those nasty ingrown bumps I get sometimes! Grrrr!
Critty May 13th, 2008 at 6:06 pm 4

Ugh, I found a chin hair yesterday and am not very happy about it! Is this what I have to look forward to???
Meredith May 13th, 2008 at 6:07 pm 5

This is one of those little secrets no one tells you about. I would love to have laser hair removal too, but it’s not in the budget this year (laser eye surgery is first!). Not only do I have to check my chin, but suspicious hairs are popping up on my neck too! And the only thing that helps (but doesn’t completely cure) my ingrowns is salicylic acid. I’d love to hear if you find something to resolve your unwanted hair issue, though!
Whitney May 28th, 2008 at 7:09 am 6

Lordy, I’ve had random chin and neck hairs since I was, oh, 16 or so. I’m 27 now, and they’ve gotten a bit more prevalent, but it’s something I’ve always fought with. Then again, I have naturally jet-black hair that is very thick and coarse, so I have unwanted hair pretty much everywhere. If, every two weeks or so, someone could just dip me into a vat of Nair up to my nose, that would be wonderful.

My husband has become accustomed to our evening routine of sitting on the couch, with me tweezing my chin, neck, and upper lip as we watch “The Daily Show.” Yes, kiddos, the honeymoon is officially over.
jen38 May 28th, 2008 at 7:14 am 7

So true! Poor guys have to put up with a lot of weird beauty rituals from us.
Cat June 16th, 2008 at 1:37 pm 8

I had laser hair removal with six sessions which kept the hair away for about a year and a half. It’s all come back and just as bad as ever. Then I tried Nair. My hair laughs at it. So I’ve resorted to shaving, as plucking was doing horrible things to my skin.

Was reading about a home remedy online I’m going to try next. Here’s the recipe: we’ll see. I’m desperate.

Home Cure for Hair on Chin and Neck

For an effective method to remove facial hair especially on the chin, neck and cheeks take a teaspoon of gram flour, one teaspoon of honey, one teaspoon of refined wheat flour, a pinch of freshly ground turmeric powder, and one teaspoon of fresh lemon juice. Mix this preparation well till it appears gooey and thick. Apply a generous paste on the areas where you notice excessive hair growth. Let it stay for about five minutes. Slowly start rubbing the area with your fingertips in a circular motion. Keep doing so for the next 15 minutes. Wash off first with slightly tepid water and rinse the face with cool water. Use this application on a daily basis for a week. After a week use this preparation only on alternate days during the second week. On the third week, apply it just three times that week, on the fourth week apply it only on two occasions and on the final week use it just once. You will gradually notice the difference in the weeks that you make use of this application. You will notice less and less hair growth and it will eventually reduce to a great extent in the months to follow.
jen38 June 16th, 2008 at 4:26 pm 9

Hey Mom,
I love you so much!
Have a great day!
Peace, Love, Party!

<3Amanda
jen38 June 16th, 2008 at 5:54 pm 10

Thanks Cat for your home cure recipe. Sounds interesting and please us know how things go. I am wondering how this paste will work, it sounds like it will exfoliate the skin.

Best wishes and sorry for your hair removal woes.
Xina, Nature's Parlour August 8th, 2008 at 6:39 am 11

Thank goodness!! Someone who openly discusses this rather embarrassing issue. I’ve been tweezing for way too long now. I believed that the repeated tweezing would reduce the growth of the hairs eventually (weren’t we all taught that somewhere along the line?).

If this is the case then I think waxing is supposed to be the best measure along with some chemical that retards the regrowth of the hair. The only thing is, I’m REALLY suspicious of such chemicals and wonder what (if any) the long term damage might be. I’d really

If that kind of thing doesn’t worry you too much, it might be something to look into because waxing is fairly cheap and so are the products that are supposed to retard and eventually stop the growth of the hair.

For me? I think I might one day retire the tweezers and go for either electrolysis (which is risky because it can leave scars on dark skinned people like me) or good ol’ waxing.
Jen Hill August 8th, 2008 at 7:01 am 12

Thank you so much for contributing Xina, and I am so glad we can talk about this too. Aren’t blogs great!?

I am still plucking, but have noticed less ingrown hairs since using the Baby Quasar LED device. I am hoping this will continue. Electrolysis worries me too, after a session my MIL developed a horrible case of shingles. As much as I would love to get rid of the hairs, I wouldn’t want to risk any scarring either. The chemical route or waxing sound like the best alternatives.

Best wishes!
Latha August 21st, 2008 at 3:18 am 13

I tried Laser treatment. 5 sittings. I dont see too much of a difference except for the fact that there is a very slight reduction in the thickness of the hair. I am tired of trying all forms of treatment. Did the home made remedy work for anyone??
Jen Hill August 21st, 2008 at 6:51 am 14

Oh wow Latha! That is a lot of money and pain to go through without good results.

I will write up a follow up question about this post and see what comes up. So nice to hear from you today.

Best to you!
Latha August 21st, 2008 at 11:04 pm 15

A few more additional points i would like to mention regarding facial hair. The reason most ladies have facial hair is because of higher levels of testosterone. And according to what i have seen, most of these people have some sort of problem related to irregular periods, pain related to periods and in most cases these people will also have PCOD (Poly Cystic Ovarian Disorder). I have PCOD as well. The normal course of treatment for PCOD is a contraceptive tablet for about 6 months. But that is not a very healthy thing to do. Homeopathic treatment is supposed to have cured 90% of cases of PCOD. and once PCOD is set right, the facial hair also reduces from 80 to 95%. The only drawback is its a long course of treatment lasting from 6 months to 2 years. I am currently undergoing the same treatment and the doctor has promised me a very gud reduction in facial hair and also adviced me to stop going for further laser treatment sittings. The doctor at the laser clinic told that i would need another 15 sittings atleast… That means about 1800$.

Another friend of mine has a very fair complexion but she has hair along her cheeks and chin thicker and darker than the hair on her head… It was really embarassing for her cos every 2 days she had to go through tweezing as the hair would be very visible for her fair complexion. She went through laser treatment 6 months back. Now the hair thickness has reduced greatly for now. Not sure if its gonna surface back later.

Some doctors give a course of hormonal tablets to reduce testosterone levels. If that is taken for 3 to 6 months, a lot of hair growth in the whole body reduces over 50%. Also a natural remedy to reduce testosterone levels is spearmint tea.
Use one spoon of dried spearmint leaves to one cup of water while making tea. Take this twice daily. It is supposed to help.

This is all the findings i have done. (That shows how desperate i am to get rid of the stupid facial hair and live a comfortable life.) I have gone to an extent where i dont like ppl looking at my face as it makes me feel very very conscious and irritated. I will keep posting on how well the homeopathic treatment is helping. I plan to start the home made remedy mentioned on this page starting monday. Phew… That was a lot i wrote.. Hope no one gets bored reading it.
Latha August 21st, 2008 at 11:08 pm 16

Also can you put up a link to the follow up post. I could not find it through search.
Jen Hill August 22nd, 2008 at 6:04 am 17

Thank you so much for sharing your experience Latha. I am sure it will help many individuals who are suffering with the same issues. I hope between treating the PCOD and the home remedy you will have some success.

Please keep us posted. Best to you!
Jen
beautybonus August 23rd, 2008 at 6:11 pm 18

After I had my daughter 5 years ago (I’m 37 now) I noticed unwanted facial hair both above and below my lips. I found this thing online called an “epicare” its a little metal coil thing (sorry, not the best description) and its $17 bucks and its sort of like threading. It hurts a teeny bit but results last for about a month. I’ve been using it for a couple of years now and I highly recommend it!
JustMe September 23rd, 2008 at 7:14 am 19

I second what Latha said… get your hormones checked. However, it is normal for older women (not sure how old you are) to get some stray hairs.

I have familiar hirsutism (facial hair runs in the family). My hormone levels are normal but antiandrogens will still help. It’s not terrible but it’s enough to worry me. I’m young by the way, in my early 20s. The hair is mostly on the chin and that part between the chin and neck. I’ve had some laser treatments and the hair just get growing back. I’ve been doing electrolysis and I love it. It’s cheaper for smaller areas of the body (mine charges for example 10 bucks for 15 minutes). Instead of waiting 4-6 weeks with laser, you can go every week or really, as often as you feel necessary. You also don’t have to wait for the hair to fall out, she plucks it out for you and you never see the hair again. I hope that helps.
Jen Hill September 23rd, 2008 at 7:53 am 20

Thanks for sharing your experiences beautybonus and JustMe. I am sure these posts will benefit many others with the same issues.

I’m still plucking these dang chin hairs of mine. I need to take action asap!
NurseExec November 13th, 2008 at 2:51 pm 21

I also have the Epicare. I started out liking it VERY much, but my opinion has changed a bit lately. The problem is this–it IS a lot like threading, or plucking, or waxing, and I have extremely large follicles. Pulling the hairs, even with tweezing, often leaves me with a painful blemish. So, I’ve gone back to shaving, everyday–which sucks, don’t get me wrong. Nair and similar products burn my skin, so I feel somewhat screwed, LOL! I’m going to check back here–if you find something that works, I sure as hell want to know about it )
Jen Hill November 13th, 2008 at 3:07 pm 22

Will do NurseExec! I am thinking of trying the Vaniqua cream because it seems like the best option for me. I just need to schedule that trip to the Dermatologist!

I hate Nair too, nasty, terrible stuff!
Sidies November 20th, 2008 at 12:48 am 23

Hi Ladies,

I am 28 and desparate to get rid of my sideburns and upper lip hair permanently. I used to wax my face but would then end up with regrowth stubble all over it. Then i resorted to threading which has been great but its almost feels like shaving at times because the hair grows back so prickly. I am going to try the spearment tea and tumeric paste combo someone mentioned earlier. I just wish there was tablet i could take that would make it disappear overnight and not stuff around with my hormones or create unwanted side effects. I think at the end of the day it comes down to genetics which is what will determine whether or not these remedies will work. My sister has really really bad facial and body hair..the poor thing is only 17.
Dominique December 1st, 2008 at 5:42 pm 24

I’ve had facial hair since I was about 16. First the upper lip, then out of nowhere, the chin, and then I began to notice the neck! Now the upper lip hair is almost non-exsitant…thank goodness. Don’t know how that happened but happy all the same. I shave my chin everyday, it’s just become part of my morning routine, right after brushing my teeth. it’s so exhausting to do though. In ‘05 I tried laser but the lady said the hair was fine and becuase of my complexion (i’m african american,but light skinned) It may not be as effective. I tried it anyway, went for a second appointment but they forgot I had an appointment and asked me to reschedule. Needless to say I never went back. I guess they didn’t take a 20 year old black girl who looks 12 serious. I’m glad i saved the money too. I think I will wait until I’m more financial stable. For the past two days I’ve been plucking but my friend said it leaves an ugly scar so now I’m scared!!!! Plus I’m worried about ingrown hairs!!!!
Jen Hill December 2nd, 2008 at 9:37 am 25

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with unwanted hair Dominique, such a trial! I am jealous that you look so young too.

My sister recently told me that daily shaving is something that a lot of us have to do, and although exhausting, isn’t expensive and gets the job done. I have also had my hairs removed by dermaplaining, which is like buffing off the hairs with a file and it exfoliates your skin as well. Dermaplaining is a controlled scraping of the skin’s top layers using either a scalpel or electric razor-like instrument. Just be careful because sometimes this file can knick your skin or lips.

Best wishes and please let me know if you have any success with anything else you come across.

Jen
dkw December 16th, 2008 at 5:42 pm 26

Wow, so many of us who dislike the way we look! I have very pale & freckly skin, so the nasty black hairs on my chin & neck stand out. I am also 36 … is this the year our bodies turn on us? Electrolosis is working for me. Although I initially thought Iwould do the electrolosis and then I would be “blackie free”, but I am resigned to the fact that new ones will grow and electrolosis will just be part of my life, just less frequent.

Don’t you wish it was just socially acceptable? I mean how many times have you worn long trousers in summer or not gone swimming, just because you haven’t spent hours ‘tidying up’. And how many men would have burning needles put in the sensitive parts of their body, just to get rid of some hair? What a crazy world we live in.

When I see another lady with wild hairs poking out of her chin, be they black or white, I empathise and feel proud of her for not hiding away! Bearded ladies unite!!

Any way, time to get the epilator out and do my left leg, as I only had time to do my right earlier in the week.

Good luck sisters!
dkw
HisWifey December 18th, 2008 at 4:13 pm 27

Wow- although it is upsetting that we as women have to go through this, it feels kind of good to know that I am not alone in this. I am 36, and until 2 months ago, was pretty happy in my skin. I have always been a little hairy (controlled with waxing) but I have noticed this dark line above my upper lip that won’t go away with waxing. Went to the Dermatologist and in her wisdom, she diagnosed me with Melasma and prescribed me with a bleaching cream containing Hydrogquinone (spelling?). I was hesitant to use it as I have read not so good things about it. Well, I caved and finally used it. What a mistake! All it did was lighten the upper lip area, making the dark hair below my skin more visible than before! I am devastated and not to mention extremely depressed. Makeup helps it but I just want my skin back. It is embarassing to say the least.

Thank God that I have a Husband who loves me unconditionally. What a Blessing! My next step is to see my Dr. and have my hormones checked because the hair seems to come back rather quickly in comparison to before. It also seems coarser than before. I think I will ask for a prescription for Vaniqa to see if that will help reduce the amount of re-growth. I am an african american female with a light complexion so I am afraid of laser treatments as well as electrolysis. I don’t want scarring or further discoloration.

Well, that’s my story. I am glad that this forum exists as a means to exchange information. I will share any information that I come across that may be of help to any of us. Let’s try to keep our heads up ladies! We are ALL BEAUTIFUL!
Gaby December 27th, 2008 at 1:49 pm 28

thanks God IÂ´m not alone against chin hair!!!! IÂ´ve noticed the hair on my chin has grown thicker with the tweezers, so I want to stop using them.
IÂ´ve read something about “Verseo ePen Professional” which is supposed to be very effective against facial hair removal. Has someone tried it yet? would you recommend it?
Jen Hill December 28th, 2008 at 1:15 pm 29

Hi Gaby and so wonderful to hear from you. You certainly are not alone on this issue! Like I wrote before, using tweezers usually results in an in-grown hair or bump for me, it really stinks!

I haven’t heard about the “Verseo ePen Professional,” but will be sure to check it out and share any information I can find about it.

Best to you! Jen
Morning Glory January 1st, 2009 at 2:04 pm 30

My sister has PCOS, and since we are still living in our parents’ house sharing a room, her hormones are affecting me. i have irregular periods and facial hair.
i hate it. i have this tiny moustache, and i feel like i can’t look nice no matter what i do. people try to tell me ‘it’s not that noticeable’ but that’s just a polite way of saying it could be worse. yeah, i know it could be worse but it could be a lot better too.
i don’t know what to do. i definitely don’t want to wax and i don’t have the budget for expensive stuff… so bleach seems to be the way to go… but i’ve read stuff about the chemicals darkening your skin! ugh. this is just plain shitty. i am so lost here.
Karen January 2nd, 2009 at 4:59 pm 31

I actually have been using vaniqa for about 4-5 months now and it does slow the regrowth of hair but, when u stop using it the hair grows back. I also have PCOS and i take oral contraceptives to regulate my hormones. I tried the spearmint tea but did not take it long enough to wait for the results. Vaniqa so far works but u still have to pluck, shave or nair , to get rid of the re-growth. however I still recommed it. I did see another add for permanent hair removal reductace, i think that is how u spell it, and it claims to be all natural and to permantely reduce unwanted hair. Good Luck
Jen Hill January 4th, 2009 at 9:10 am 32

So great to hear from you Morning Glory and Karen!

We’ve been waiting a long time to get someone who has actually tried Vaniqa and what results they found while using it, thank you! I have recently resorted to shaving my upper lip and chin areas, and it isn’t a horrible alternative. If I have a stray hair “straggler,” I pluck it. I also find using a toner with salicylic acid is helping reduce the chances of ingrown hairs (my biggest pet peeve with all hair removal)!

Many thanks and best wishes for 2009!
kelsey January 12th, 2009 at 5:34 pm 33

Wow! So many stories…in my family, there’s a couple of cousins (including myself) who all have more facial hair than the rest of the family. (It’s a mix of Mediterrean and Mexican bloodlines, and we’re the lightest skinned of the bunch.) I had a small patch of hair (where the bump of an Adam’s apple would be if I were male) when I was really little–I had my first waxing when I was 7! After age 9, I never got waxed again, and just shaved the spot every couple of days. These days, I use a combo of threading for my eyebrows every few months (did I mention unibrows run in the family?), plucking every other day to keep the shape, and shaving the rest of my face (upper lip, neck patch, sideburns, and sometimes my cheeks). I’m trying to figure out what to do with my nose, since I can’t shave or pluck any tiny hairs that look like blackheads on my nose. When I would bleach my face, they would be taken care of, but that stuff was really harsh on my skin. I would have to bleach on a Friday night (when I was in school) just to have the redness down by Monday morning.
I did notice when I eliminated animal protein from my diet, my periods regulated (I might have had PCOS, but not sure) and the hairiness decreased. I’m going to try the tumeric remedy on the neck patch, and on the upper corners of my mouth where there always seems to be little hairs. Maybe it’ll work on my nose too!
Jen Hill January 12th, 2009 at 9:52 pm 34

Kelsey, thank you so much for sharing your personal experiences with unwanted facial hair and how to have dealt with it. Starting at such a young age, you have accumulated a lot of wisdom to share about this topic and we appreciate your voice here!

Best wishes and come back often! Jen
gardenia girl January 15th, 2009 at 1:04 pm 35

Hi all,

Well, I am so happy to find women here helping each other with this. I have always had a little facial hair since I was a teen. Over the last five or six years, however, it has become worse and worse (I am 33 now). I have found something that works pretty well that I have been dying to share with anyone that has this problem. Two things: Hair Off, and Smooth Away. They both work by buffing away the unwanted hair. I first bought Hair Off for my face, and I was so happy with it that I decided to get Smooth Away for my arms (not thick hair, but long and abundant on arms). My facial hair seemed to just be getting thicker and darker, and the more I dug at my face with tweezer the more often the hair would settle below the surface where I could see it, but couldn’t get to it. This buffing method has worked well because it has also taken off all of that thick dead skin that I got tweezing. I do this daily, and the hairs, if one does get long enough to tweeze over night, seem much thinner and easier to pull out.
I too tried everything; I’ve plucked, waxed, electrified myself, and used creams, but this has been the only thing that has worked for me. If you have very thin or sensitive skin, I could see this being a problem, but, otherwise, I would think it would work for anyone. Your skin will feel slightly raw on the first go, but not after that. The best part: it’s cheap! Hair Off (for the face only) is $5.99 for three smoothing pads (CVS), and Smooth away is $9.99 for five large pads for the body, and five small for the face (Bed Bath and Beyond). It seems like the pads need to be replaced about once every week and a half or so with daily use.

Good luck, and all my best, ladies!
zena January 20th, 2009 at 10:42 pm 36

hi my name is zena, i been struggling with acne and facial hair for 2 years know. I tired everything and dont kow what to do anymore. im 28 and married with a son and want answers please anyone help
Grishma February 5th, 2009 at 8:00 am 37

Gosh… I am sick and tired of my facial hair… I have tried every treatment there is on this earth. Nothing seems to be working. I am 25 and it is so odd when people start staring at my face. I now wax is regularly… But the waxing thing seems to break out my skin… The red bumps stay for a week and a few of those turn to pimples as well. Mine is not a pimple prone face but waxing surely brings those pimples on my face for the 2nd week.. and by the 3rd week there is hair all over my face… so i kinda need to choose which is the better option.. red bumps or pimples or hair… no make up helps to conceal any of the three.. Laser treatment did not work for me. it was just a waste of money. I have now decided to try home electrolysis cos the professional people think there is way too much hair on my face for them to do it as it would take years to do it. So i thought i will do it on my own. With all these problems and things not working out, i have enough patience to do it myself. Can someone suggest which is a good kit. Actually before that can someone tell me if electrolysis surely works. If it does i dont mind going through the pain and spending time money and energy. i am getting really really desperate to get the stupid hair off my face.
dkw February 12th, 2009 at 5:48 pm 38

Grishma,

I had electrolysis on my bikini line years ago and it did work. However, I was going every fortnight for about a year. So it does take a long time. Each hair needs to be zapped numerous times and that can take a lot of time. The upside is, it doesn’t cost too much each session, so it is easier to deal with the cost. It is probably best not to think about how much it costs overall!

I have been getting electrolysis on my chin/neck for the past year, but I live in a different place now and the clinic is 30km’s away, so I have not been able to get there regularly enough (only once every couple of months.) I think the hairs are thinner but the blighters still keep growing back!

I don’t think home electrolysis works, I would only rely on a professional with a commercial machine.

Good luck! I can certainly empathise with the hairs v’s red bumps dilema. After wax cream helps with the red bumps. Nad’s make a nice after wax cream.

dkw
dkw February 12th, 2009 at 5:55 pm 39

Gardenia girl, what sort of shop do you get the Hair Off, and Smooth Away from? Chemist, supermarket, specialty store? I live in Australia and am keen to find them. I suppose I could search the net, but the postage would probably double the price!

Are they like fine sandpaper? I remember using something similar years and years ago called Silky Mitt and it was at good alternative to shaving, but didn’t last as long as waxing.

Has anyone heard of or tried “No No”?
It seems to be like a home electrolysis/laster type device to use at home. It is recommended for legs & underarms but not on face, I think because the face is a lumpy shape. I reckon I would give it a go on my neck if it actually works. Could it be worse than electrolysis??

dkw
Jen Hill February 16th, 2009 at 11:00 am 40

Hi dkw! I will pass on your comment to Gardenia girl!

I have never used the No!No!, but here is a good review of it on Miss K’s Blog: http://aromaleigh.wordpress.com/2008/05/23/reviewing-the-nono-hair-removal-system-nono-or-yesyes/.
gardenia girl February 16th, 2009 at 2:26 pm 41

Hi Dkw,

I get “Hair Off” at what, I believe, would be the Chemist to you. Here, it would be the Drug store. And “Smooth Away” I could only find at a store that sells housewares, like towels, candles, fancy kitchen items, etc., but they also sell a lot of “as seen on T.V.” type of items. So if you have a store there that generally carries those “as seen on T.V.” type of things you may be able to find the smooth away. You are right they will not last as long as waxing–not even close. My chin, I do daily, and my lip I do generally every other day. This is because it is just sanding down the hair, rather than removing it at the root. Having said that, I have to tell you that even using them so frequently I have had any problems with irritation. Yes, they are like small mounted pieces of sand paper. I have toyed with the idea of trying super super fine sand paper, but I am not brave enough! I think these are cheap enough, and fit nicely into my cosmetic bag
Kate Simon February 16th, 2009 at 4:48 pm 42

Those facial hairs are too stubborn to go away. I have worked on them for 15 years and they still come back and sometimes ingrown. I still pluck them daily to keep them at bay mainly on my chin and upper lip. I’d rather have the occasional blemish that the hair.
Kate
Christy February 18th, 2009 at 9:21 am 43

I am 29 I have been fighting with facial hair for the past 5 years. I have tried everything. I started with the tweezing which I started noticing that more and more hairs were popping up. I resorted to bleaching, but then the hair got lighter than my skin and again stood out. I bought one of those little facial hair electric razors, it worked on my upper lip so i decided if it worked there it would work on my chin, neck sideburns. I think that is where I messed up after that I noticed the hair was coming in more coarse and darker. So then I decided Im gonna fool the hair, yea im smarter than the hair, yea right I bought the removal cream, nope didnt work yes it removed some of the hair after burning my skin, but it was back by the end of the day and the coarser hard was still there so I tried the coarse hair formula still didnt remove it. By the way everything I tried gave me ingrown hairs. So now I shave with a razor, sometimes twice a day, I think i can grow a beard thicker and faster than the males in my family, Its embarrassing!!! I do not know what else to do to get rid of my problem I cant take it anymore. I dont want to do the laser thing i dont want any scares i have damaged my skin enough. I thought about those smooth away pads but didnt know exactly what they would do. I guess i have sensitive skin and i already get ingrown hairs i dont need anymore. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
chloe February 24th, 2009 at 5:49 pm 44

i am the worst !!!!!!!
im 16
&& i have hair all over my body everywer u sayy there will be dark hair && if i remove it with creams it just comes back thicker && i also have fast hair growth so if i remove the hair of my legs with veet cream etc i wil get spikes back the next day i hate it
i no girls who go for like 2 months without doing their legs but i am continously bleeching the hair as i cannot remove it wat can i dooo
Grishma March 12th, 2009 at 2:22 am 45

I am as sick and tired as you chloe.. There is hair all over my body… Nothing seems to work. I just made a list of natural remedies. I am yet to try these. Not sure if it helps. But here it is.

Here are a few herbal facial treatments that can be done at home to remove facial hair and slow down re growth. These are effective if done regularly, say every week and require patience and pre testing. Test the mask on the back of the hand for example to check there is no adverse reaction before proceeding.

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Mix 30 grams of sugar with 10 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice in 150 ml of water. Mix well and then apply it on the face in the direction of the hair growth. Leave it on for 15 minutes. Then rinse with cold water, rubbing the facial area gently. The granular sugar and lemon mixture will act as a gentle exfoliating agent and remove facial hair. The lemon juice will act as an astringent and natural anti septic. Repeat once every week to find an improvement.
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Another face mask that can help in reducing hair growth on the face and remove unwanted hair is easy to make and use every week. Squeeze 10 ml lemon juice into 40 ml honey and prepare a mixture. Take a cotton swab and rub this mixture in the direction of the hair growth. Rinse after 15 minutes. Repeat twice a week for 2 weeks and then use it every week to find an improvement in the facial hair condition.
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An easy to use facial mask to help remove unwanted hair is to squeeze 10 ml lemon juice into a cup of water (150ml). Add 30 grams of Gram flour into this mixture and mix thoroughly. Apply this yellow mixture on the face. Wait for 15 minutes and then scrub your face in the direction of the hair growth to remove unwanted hair.

Hair Removal has been a common problem for men and women. By using different methods of hair removal from time to time it’s hard to tell which will be your best choice for removing hair.
After trying so many products and researching to find a better solution to this matter I’m sure you’ll give this a try. The natural way.

Before trying these methods make sure you clean your skin before any treatment taken place.

Natural ways to remove your unwanted facial hair

Ingredients:

Egg White
Sugar
Corn flour

Procedure: Blend the egg white with sugar and corn flour. Blend it well until it becomes a sticky paste. Apply the mixture to your face. When it dries up gently slowly peel it off. Repeat this 3-4 times a week. You will notice a difference in your facial hair as it will reduce time by time.

Gram Flour Facial Hair Removal

Ingredients:

Gram Flour (Besan)
Turmeric

Procedure: Place 1 tablespoon of gram flour in to a small bowl, add half a teaspoon of turmeric and add enough water to make it a paste. Mix all together and apply on the facial hair. Leave for 20 minutes, when it hardens tap a little water on the skin and gently rub circular motions upwards for 5 minutes. Wash off completely with lukewarm water.This will help remove excessive facial hairs.
Another natural hair removal (waxing) which is the best:

Ingredients:

Fresh lemon juice
Sugar (white or brown optional)
A cloth piece

Procedure: Get a little pan or even a small pot, place on cooker on simmer gas. Add two teaspoons of sugar wait for 20 seconds to get heated. Then add one table spoon of fresh lemon juice, stir slowly with a spoon for one minute until you get a sticky liquid paste. Once you have let it cool down then apply on your unwanted hair, once applied use a piece of clean cloth (cotton, polyester) and place it on the pasted hair. Once placed give it a few rubs up and down with your hand. Then pull the cloth from bottom to top fast as possible and see the surprise yourself. This is best for all types of your unwanted hair. Can be used on face, body, arms and legs.

Please Note: Avoid using deodrants or frangranced lotions for 12 hours on any area’s that have been waxed. Also avoid the sun, sunbeds and hot showers for 12 hours.

Hair Length For Waxing:

Hair lenghth for Body, legs and Arms should be minimum of 2cm. Shorter hair will not be able to capture the wax with the cloth piece. If you are removing hair by wax it’s best to keep the hair long before waxing. The longer the hair is ready to be removed the better results you will see. For facial hair the length is less than a cm to be removed.

Waxing Benefits:

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Slower Growth
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Finer Hair
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Permanently Removes Hair (if you wax time by time your hair follicle totally gives up)
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Removes Dead Skin
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Clearer & Smooth Skin
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All Natural

Hair growth are usually effected by the hormones. If they are unbalanced then its most likely that more hair growth will appear in certain places most commonly on the face area.

Tip to balance hormones: Eat a few of roasted kidney beans daily. Also massage both feet with a good oil for 10 minutes. You need to keep your body in balanced so make sure you have a good diet planned in what you take in.

You may have tried creams, threading, electrolysis and may have left a slight may have left slight marks on your skin. Well throw away them methods try to it the natural, easy,. fast and effective way. The No 1 secret for hair removal is by removing it by it’s root again and again as the hair follicle will get fed up and will never grow back again guarantee!

Lighten Facial Hair

Facial skin lighteners which sell in markets and shops bound to have harsh chemicals which can cause problems to your skin. That is why your first resort is trying to lighten your facial hair naturally.

Tip: Before going out in the sun, slice a fresh lemon and gently rub on your cheek area where the hair is. The sun is the key to lighten your hair. Go out in the sun in the back garden may do and let the sun hit you for 20 minutes. Come back in and rinse off with warm water. Doing ths procedure time by time thsi will gradually lighten up your dark hair. If you have sensitive skin make a mixture of fresh lemon juice and rose water, equal quantity and apply with cotton wool.

Tip: Slice a fresh tomato and gently massage on your cheek area (dont worry about the seeds). Leave on for 20 minutes then rinse off with warm water.

Please Note: Plan to wax any facial hair the day before a date or special event, just in case you end up with a bit of redness.
Simple and Easy 1-2-3

1: Wash your face with water, tap dry with towel
2: Apply any of the two methods
3: Rinse off the access off your face, apply a moisturizer if needed.
4: Also you may apply hair inhibitor after hair removal from the root, this cream will stop and reduce the hair growing back again as it will appear less noticeable.

A natural way of removing facial hair would be to rub a paste made up of turmeric powder and milk on that part of the body.

It is also said that a mixture of lemon and sugar also helps a great deal in getting rid of facial hair. After the application of such mixtures, it should be removed from the face after 10 to 15 minutes.
kristina March 15th, 2009 at 10:13 pm 46

im 16 and have the same problem, hair all under my chin and my ’side burns’. its dark and thick. its very annoying and hard to hide. recently i’ve been bleaching its a bit less noticable. i just want to go outside one day with my hair up and wind in my face with out worrying what people think. i just read that spearmint tea can help. the article said “The hair grows because they have abnormally high levels of the â€˜masculinisingâ€™ androgen hormones.” it also said by brewing the tea for ten minutes and drinking 2 cups a day it can make the hair less visible,
hopefully it works =)
BlackRose March 19th, 2009 at 1:21 am 47

It’s so nice to know im not alone! I’ve had hair problems since I was a child. I always had a mustache. It was rather thick, but I didn’t mind. It never stopped any guys from talking to ME!!! Anyway all was fine in hairy land till the chin and neck hairs started when I was like 16! (im
now 24) I tweeze, and now shave my mustache. My fiance even helps! (talking bout working together!) Anyway I get crazy ingrown hairs and of course that means scarring! I am a black girl and I know how hard it is to find make up that covers scars on our skin. I just wanted everyone to know that Dermablend works WONDERS!!! All you need is a little and your skin looks great! I even tested it on my tattoo, and I couldn’t even see it at all! I got mines at Macy’s. I hoped I helped. Oh yea they have it in a tube so that you can cover scars all over your body!
missy March 26th, 2009 at 9:01 pm 48

As a child I always had hair, but it was in my arms and legs. Now at 25, I notice hair onside my sideburns and upper lips a;ong with my breast. I hate the way I look at times and truly wish I was not going through this. I have hair all over my body. Like others I tried products that work for only a limited of time. Having hair over my bosy takes away from having me feel sexy. Unlike most girls I can not just put shorts in and go. I’m on birth control (pill) but I’m scared to get off because of the hormones. I heard about a pill to decrease the male hormone does this work. I guess that I’m worried about having more problems than now for when I get older. My father is a very hair man and my mother is not so I guess I’m in between. I just want to feel Like a lady and not a man. Please someone hear my story and give me some encouragment that things will be better. I went the begining of my life shaving, plucking, waxing, and buffing and I’m tired. I do not want to go through the rest of my life being worried about unwanted hair. What can I do to be hair free.
Beauty Bubble: Hair Removal 101 - Mythbuster Beauty April 9th, 2009 at 3:17 am 49

[...] One of the most frequently visited posts at Mythbuster Beauty is on theÂ topic of unwanted facial and body hair:Â Unwanted Facial Hair: Whatâ€™s a gal to do? [...]
Lauren April 9th, 2009 at 11:46 pm 50

I’m very fair and unfortunately have been cursed with very dark, coarse hair on my chin, jawline, and neck area, due to both heredity and PCOS. At first, I was just plucking, but it got worse and worse, to the point that I was literally shaving every morning. I finally gave up and had laser treatments. It’s both painful and expensive, though I was lucky enough to get a “buy one area, get one area free” deal at the medispa that I went to, and “only” had to pay $750 for 6 treatments to my cheek/jawline area and chin. It’s worked incredibly well on me. I saw pretty dramatic results after just the first treatment, and after finishing the series and having a couple of additional treatments, I don’t have ANY dark, coarse hairs anymore, just normal peachfuzz. I do go in for touch-ups every 4-5 months, but they’re not badly priced (at least, compared to the original price of the treatments).

I definitely recommend it to people that are fair and have very dark, coarse hair. It’s been well worth the money and pain for me.

One word of warning, though: definitely look into getting numbing cream/gel. I have a very high pain tolerance, and I was wishing I’d gotten some during some of the visits. It wasn’t so bad during the first few visits, but then my medispa upgraded to a new laser system. The original one was a “dry” laser, where they don’t put anything on the skin, just picking the laser gun up, putting it on a new spot, and pulling the trigger. The new one was a “wet” laser, where they put a lubricant jelly on your skin and slide the laser around with the laser shooting constantly. With the first type, you get a “breather” between snaps. With the second, it’s constant and can get VERY painful.
Sue April 12th, 2009 at 10:55 am 51

I’m of Asian Indian heritage and so I, too, have alot of facial hair, esp. on my upper lip & chin. For the last couple of years, I’ve been using the Bellabe facial hair remover which I really love!!! Do a google for it and you’ll find it. Hope this helps!
theresa April 16th, 2009 at 6:45 pm 52

i read threw everyones comment and i too am going threw this chin hair thing. i am begining to feel like there is no cure….plucking does scar and shaving is just to me overboard because once you start that you have to continue it. someone please help!!!!!! i just want back my clear hairless complection.
Jen Hill April 17th, 2009 at 8:40 am 53

Sorry so Morning Glory about your facial hair woes. Bleaching is something I did for years, then waxing. A few years ago I tried a method called dermaplaning (that’s a controlled scraping of the skin’s top layers) just think manual exfoliation, and you’ve got the idea. A Dermatologist or Aesthetician will use either a razor or scalpel to scrape off surface skin and hairs and it works pretty nicely. I recently signed up for a series of laser hair removal for my chin and upper lip, dang it is expensive! My first session went okay, but I did end up breaking out in little bumps all over my upper lip and chin areas, ugh!

I did read AFTER my treatment that it is best to keep the areas that have been lasered clean (no makeup), and not to use any harsh products with Alpha Hydroxy Acids (Glycolic, Mandelic, Lactic…) or BHA (salicylic) or Retinols for the first couple of days, which of course I DID both and that might have been the trigger of the breakouts. So… if you opt for the laser hair removal method, keep it clean and use only basic cleanser and moisturizer, and keep your fingers crossed! 5 more treatments to go!
miguel April 19th, 2009 at 2:34 pm 54

so, this is possibly the best part of my day. i am a dude and i just randomly thought- what it i pluck all my facial hair- moustache and chin… so i googled it and found this. after reading every single posting, i find myself a bit more aware or at least intrigued with this battle with facial hair.

so, unlike y’all- i have a full moustache and beard. and i am wondering if i was to wax or pluck the hairs, what would the down fall be…

i know this is a random question for women, but damn… there is at least one guy on your side and wants to join the battle against facial hair.

thanks.

-M
Jen Hill April 20th, 2009 at 7:25 am 55

Thank you so much for contributing Miguel! Best wishes and come back anytime!

Jen
iha May 15th, 2009 at 7:49 am 56

iv always had facial hair , i started waxing at the age of 13 and since then once a month i get my face waxed ,i have to wait for the hair to grow back big enough to be waxed , its horrible,they grow back just the same way.
iam 24 and feel that its about time a soloution is found .

i would deff try the home remedies , thanks for sharing them.
Jen Hill May 16th, 2009 at 8:48 am 57

Hey iha! Thank you so much for sharing your hair removal struggles with us. Best wishes with some of these suggestions and please let us know how things go for you.

Jen
Carly June 2nd, 2009 at 4:10 pm 58

Okay you ppl are all older than me, you see i am only 13. I have some facial hair above my upper lip and i bleach it like every 4 days. It made my hair look a little lighter, but still VERY noticiable. So my mom bought me one of those “smooth away” products, you know where u like rub the hairs away. Again the hairs are lighter then before but still VERY noticable. No one at my school has this problem, im the only one and i feel so ugly
Plus, sometimes ppl say something like OMG u have a moustache! I just look away, but secrectly cry so much when i get home! I am sick of this….please i need help, what can i do????? comment back soon plz, thx

-Carly
Hair Removal Woes: Let’s help Carly out! | Mythbuster Beauty June 8th, 2009 at 10:39 am 59

[...] Unwanted facial hair woes keep popping up, literally!Â Let’s give Carly some good facial hair removal advice. Okay you ppl are all older than me, you see i am only 13. I have some facial hair above my upper lip and i bleach it like every 4 days. It made my hair look a little lighter, but still VERY noticiable. So my mom bought me one of those â€œsmooth awayâ€ products, you know where u like rub the hairs away. Again the hairs are lighter then before but still VERY noticable. No one at my school has this problem, im the only one and i feel so ugly Plus, sometimes ppl say something like OMG u have a moustache! I just look away, but secretly cry so much when i get home! I am sick of thisâ€¦.please i need help, what can i do????? comment back soon plz, thx -Carly [...]
Skin Care Products Spa » Hair Removal Woes: Letâ€™s help Carly out! June 25th, 2009 at 2:53 pm 60

[...] Unwanted facial hair woes keep popping up, literally!Â Let’s give Carly some good facial hair removal advice. [...]
celi June 25th, 2009 at 3:12 pm 61

im sorry carly but i have no remedy for you i feel your pain.
i swear im crying right now as i do every week because of this unholy facial hair. I’ve had this problem since i was 9 im now 18. The only time it stopped was when i was 13-14 due to anorexia…which i went through because of teasing i was fat and hairy with low self esteem and it caused so many changes to my body including a constant ringing in the ears that never goes away even now. I have hair on my chin neck side chest to lower belly…i m so worried and miserable that i might have something wrong with me. i want to feel feminine. i feel like im going crazy
Sia August 19th, 2009 at 8:40 pm 62

Hi all..Thanks for sharing your experiences. I recently had laser and that triggered acne and also it made my finer hair coarser.

Will using epicare make my facial hair coarser and turn skin darker? Did anyone have such problem with epicare. Please share.

Thanks in advance.
Sia.
St September 3rd, 2009 at 11:52 pm 63

I have PCOS, which is mostly under control, and have been dealing with facial hair for at least 15 years. Here is my history and my future plans. It’s long, but maybe it will help someone.

Electroysis on the chin/upper lip to address dark coarse hairs–Did not work for me. Process was incredibly painful because my hairs were “resistant,” and the lower half of my face would swell up and feel like it was on fire. I would have to use ice packs for hours afterward. I would have handled the pain/inconvenience better if there had been any results over my weeks of treatment.

Laser treatments on the chin to address dark coarse hairs– This has worked pretty well, with lots of the hair either disappearing or growing out much thinner. Still have chin lasered a couple of times a year with intermittent plucking/shaving when I feel it is needed. The technician applies numbing cream about 15 minutes before she starts, and the laser wand also blows cold air. No significant pain.

Waxing upper lip to address dark coarse hairs–The laser technician at my dermatologist told me that lips often don’t get good results. That was definitely my case so I now wax my upper lip myself every 3-4 weeks using Poetic Wax in a small salon-style wax melter (melting wax in a microwave or on a stovetop just doesn’t work well for me). It is somewhat painful, but it is so quick I can handle it. I do sometimes get a couple of little bumps, but they go down in a day or two.

Because I am getting older, the fine blonde hairs on my cheeks are beginning to get pretty long. My dermatologist told me I have 3 options to get rid of them:

1. Threading
2. Vaniqa (although it doesn’t get rid of hair, just reduces/slows down its growth)
3. Spironolactone

I am going to do a combination of 1 & 2 for now because I am on an estrogen patch (from hysterectomy) and I’m concerned how spironolactone will interact with that. However, my dermatologist did say that the birth control Yaz has a component that is an analog to spironolactone (so some of you may want to consider that).

I also wax my own legs and bikini line. I’ve done this for so many years that large areas on both don’t grow hair anymore. My advice is to watch a video or get it professionally done the first time. The first time a friend tried it she left the wax on too long (or something) and ended up with great bruises; however, after I showed her how to do her leg, she was a convert.

Hope that helps someone!