Facial Hair removal - thoughts?

[elanorh]

Women in my family tend to have facial hair -- both Grandmas and I seem to have inherited from both sides!

I'm trying to figure out what would be the best way to deal with it (and permanently would be ideal).

I've tried Nair (as a teen - it made it come back worse, and all those nasssty chemicals!!).

Facial hair bleach (avoid the sun 24 hours, it's still there and obvious, just light colored).

I did electrolysis monthly for about 1 1/2 years. I don't know that it made a huge difference - maybe some, but there's still a lot of chin hair and mustache hair too. I quit when pregnant with Ina (5 years ago) and haven't done it since; I don't know if it's safe for while breastfeeding and I know the electrolysis woman was nervous about doing it on me while I was pregnant.

I just had my eyebrows groomed/waxed a bit at my last hair appointment, less than a week ago. She said that in her experience, if women do it long enough eventually they grow less hair there .... Any experience with this?

I know laser hair removal is an option. I had heard that it wasn't permanent (lasts 3-5 years) -- and given its cost, figured that electrolysis was the way to go for permanent removal.

So -- any suggestions? Is laser more permanent now? Is electrolysis safe while breastfeeding?

For the past few years, I've been shaving -- I think we could afford for me to have my facial hair waxed for awhile, and then resume electrolysis when I'm done being pregnant/breastfeeding; or I could resume electrolysis (if the lady who does it still works here) .... What are the suggestions out there?

[marlyninla]

Have you considered threading? It works like waxing but I think it is more effective for facial hair.

[WhaleinGaloshes]

Laser hair removal, in general, is not permanent the way electrolysis is. I believe it's quicker and somewhat less painful, but some regrowth at minimum tends to occur. I also believe (although I'm no expert, but I've looked into it) that the dirty little secret about laser hair removal is that it doesn't work particularly well on hormonally driven hair growth. Which yours probably is.

I can't point to anything particular to prove that, and none of the literature seems to address it, but anecdotally the women I've seen with the most complaints have been women trying to get rid of facial hair or have had regrowth after big hormone-shifts (like weight loss, pregnancy, menopause.) And that makes sense to me; those hormones are strong stuff. It's something I'd ask pointedly about if you go for a consult, anyway.

Threading is a good option; it's more gentle on your skin than waxing. It's what my dermatologist recommends for sensitive skin.

[His Own]

You might find that using an epilator would do the trick. Yes it plucks the hair out, but if you have waxed and lived to talk about it, I don't imagine that epilation would hurt any worse. Plus you don't need messy wax or any other chemicals. Lots of people claim that if you pluck long enough, some (and maybe eventually all?) of the hair gives up and doesn't grow back any more. Braun makes really good epilators; maybe one of those would work for you.

Now that I think about it, there must be some truth to the less hair coming back in tale. My Mum used to pluck her eyebrows regularly. When she decided she was making them too thin, she tried to let them grow back, but they wouldn't return. So if it is hair you never want back, maybe it would happen for you too.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. I hope you find something that works well! :

[elanorh]

Thanks all!

I hadn't heard of threading, I'll ask about that at my next hair appointment. Or waxing appointment, if I decide to continue waxing my brows.

It sounds to me like I'll want to keep trying electrolysis; when and as I have the opportunity. I think that the first electrolysis tech I had, did a better/more thorough job than the one who does it in my current location.

I know I don't have PCOS, so I don't know how hormonally tied my facial hair is. I suppose there's still some correlation ....

[Teenytoona]

I've been waxing/plucking for years now and it does grow back, but no differently than before. I've been told the "it grows back lighter" thing too, but I think that's a myth.

What's threading?

[nwmamas]

Threading is pretty much taking a thread between two hands, like tooth flossing, and removing hair with it. Maybe look up a video online as it's hard to explain. My DP LOVED it for a couple years and then she found out (someone told her? I don't know how accurate this is), that it slackens and wrinkles your skin terribly and prematurely. Who knows.

There are 2 kinds of electrolysis so maybe you could try the one you didn't have before (galvanic, thermo-something, and there's also a combination of the two).

Anyway, I was going to add that I absolutely love doing electrolysis at home. Home kits are always galvanic, which is more likely to kill the hair permanently. Plus, for $20 on eBay or $30 on Amazon or a drugstore online, you can do it forever. I personally found it totally empowering and satisfying, sort of like plucking but better.

Here's how I found out about it:
http://www.tsroadmap.com/physical/hair/zapdiy.html

(It's a transgender page, in case that's not for you. I figured, if people successfully do this for all those hairs for hundreds of hours, I could definitely manage).

[A_Random_Phrase]

I got one of those home hair removal kits some years ago and it didn't work at all. The only thing I found was a good electrologist. I had one, at one time, who wasn't so good. The hair not only came back, it came back slightly curled. Another one would pull the hair before it was thoroughly zapped and it would hurt to have her pull it out and of course it came back again because she was really just plucking. But two electrologists were good. I have some facial hair left but not so much that I'm completely embarrassed. And, yeah, Nair makes the hair grow nice and long. Yuck!

[dbsam]

I did electrolysis for many years - probably ten - and went often (and spent a fortune). The first place I went to, for less than a year, caused a few scars. The second place was better but I still have a lot of facial hair so I'm not sure if it did nothing or if it would be even worse if I did not do electrolysis.

[A_Random_Phrase]

Yeah, the first poor electrologist I went to made a lot of scars. They don't seem quite as bad now, but I learned a hard lesson about being careful who you go to. I think they've got to really "kill" the root with their zapper. If you can feel them pulling the hair out of the pore, then they didn't zap it enough.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I just bought one of those $6 battery operated tweezer gizmos. It does hurt but not nearly as much as tweezing out a single hair at a time. I was also able to use it with a lot less pain on my breasts : I also got a heavy dose of the hairy gene along with hormones still being totally fudged right now.

[phatchristy]

I use a natural "honey wax" and I tweeze. It's pretty quick and inexpensive. I've been waxing for a long time...I can't even remember how long, for way over a decade. At this point on my upper lip I have mostly really fine hairs that you can't see much of and maybe 6-8 dark black ones. So, I don't seem to grow the thick dark hairs that I used to at least.

I have one of these as my tweezers...significantly less painful, though my DH complains it's loud!

[Ruthla]

Electrolosis will permenantly stop those individual hairs from growing back, but they won't prevent NEW dark hairs from growing- so I don't think electrolosis is really a long-term answer.

I tweeze my chin hairs, and wax or shave my upper lip. I occasionally tweeze my eyebrows but often don't bother, as I wear glasses and my brows just aren't that visable.

[triplefun]

Lazer hair removal worked great for me. I had it done about 6 years ago in my bikini zone area. I never have to shave. I had to have the required touch ups evey so many months the first year or so. Then after about 3 years I had another touch up and nothing since then. Its wonderful. I also had some done on my face, but its harder to get rid of if the hair is not dark. the lazer works on dark hairs. I didnt have as much work done on my face, just a few treatments, so I have some new hairs that have come in, so I should really get another treatment done on my face for that.

[jenmichelle99]

If you are considering waxing, I would definately recommend considering an epilator instead. Same result, it's a little more painful since waxing takes care of entire sections in one rip, and this is a bit slower. It DOES get less painful after a few uses.

You can buy one for about 50 bucks, so its more of an initial investment but waxing adds up quickly.

It also has the advantage of being available anytime you need it, no need to worry about making an appointment or being too busy. AND you can use it on any other body part that you want longer-lasting results. (Legs...ouch, but if you can grit your teeth and do it, it beats the heck out of stubble and frequent shaving.)

I love my epilator! And the hair does grow in thinner/less after a while. (Might be a long while though...)

[ContentMom]

Unfortunately, I get peach fuzz on my face -- those little super-light blondish hairs. I can't stand them, so I use Sally Hansen Hair Remover Wax Strip Kit. They are little strips of plastic that have wax between them. You simply rub the strip together in your hands for 15 seconds or so; the heat from your hands melts the wax. You pull the strip apart, so you get 2 wax strips from each one. Then press the wax strip down in direction that the hair grows. Then pull off quickly in the opposite direction. It comes with a little bottle of azulene oil to put on afterwards to remove any waxy stuff and soothe the skin. I usually don't find this painful at all -- only certain times of the month when my skin is more sensitive. I get great results! They are easy to use, and inexpensive. They cost about $4 to $5 a box, but there is always a $1 off coupon included. Although this product is easy-to-use and inexpensive, I would like to find something greener. Until then, I will use this.

[rugbymom]

I have been waxing for about 15 years (my hair has yet to stop growing in as thick). I just bought an at home wax kit from a Frontier co-op. The brand is Parissa. You put the wax in the microwave & then apply like they do at the salon. It is absolutely perfect for lip/chin areas. I think I am going to try to maintain a line on my eyebrows after I get them professionally done, but it will be a little difficult (just to get it perfect). It was only about $8 and will last years at the rate I'm going.

[A_Random_Phrase]

Originally Posted by ContentMom

Unfortunately, I get peach fuzz on my face -- those little super-light blondish hairs. I can't stand them, so I use Sally Hansen Hair Remover Wax Strip Kit. They are little strips of plastic that have wax between them. You simply rub the strip together in your hands for 15 seconds or so; the heat from your hands melts the wax. You pull the strip apart, so you get 2 wax strips from each one. Then press the wax strip down in direction that the hair grows. Then pull off quickly in the opposite direction. It comes with a little bottle of azulene oil to put on afterwards to remove any waxy stuff and soothe the skin. I usually don't find this painful at all -- only certain times of the month when my skin is more sensitive. I get great results! They are easy to use, and inexpensive. They cost about $4 to $5 a box, but there is always a $1 off coupon included. Although this product is easy-to-use and inexpensive, I would like to find something greener. Until then, I will use this.

I tried those little wax strips and they didn't work at all. But then I have more than peach fuzz. I guess I needed something stronger.

[ContentMom]

Originally Posted by A_Random_Phrase

I tried those little wax strips and they didn't work at all. But then I have more than peach fuzz. I guess I needed something stronger.

A couple times they didn't work for me, but I realized that I had already put a moisturizer on my face earlier that day. If your skin is moist at all prior to using them, then they don't work very well. Along the same line, they don't work as well right after a shower -- even after you dry off.

So my tip would be to use them before you start your skincare routine for that day.

[A_Random_Phrase]

Originally Posted by ContentMom

A couple times they didn't work for me, but I realized that I had already put a moisturizer on my face earlier that day. If your skin is moist at all prior to using them, then they don't work very well. Along the same line, they don't work as well right after a shower -- even after you dry off.

So my tip would be to use them before you start your skincare routine for that day.

Thanks for the tip.