How to Reduce Unwanted Facial Hair

Get rid of facial hair and keep it from growing back

Facial hair can be an attractive feature on anybody, but if you’re longing for a smoother upper lip, there are many options available to you. The method that suits you best depends on your specific body—many different people struggle with unwanted facial hair, including those with hormone imbalances, certain medical conditions, and trans-feminine individuals. Your skin color, hair color, and natural testosterone levels all affect how well something will work, so we’ve made a list of all the best solutions for you to choose from!

This article is based on an interview with our board-certified dermatologist, Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, owner of Mudgil Dermatology.

[Edit]Things You Should Know

• Remove hair manually by shaving, waxing, tweezing, or threading.
• For long-term hair removal, get laser hair removal or electrolysis treatments from a certified physician.
• Speak to a doctor about hair growth inhibitor cream if you believe you have a hormone imbalance.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Removing Hair Manually

1. Shaving.{endbold} Take a warm shower or wash your face, then exfoliate it. Apply a layer of shaving cream or conditioner to the area you’re shaving, then glide a razor in the same direction that the hair grows.^[1]
   
   • Use a fresh razor for the best cut. If you have a safety razor, change the blade after each shave. If you have a disposable one, replace it after it’s been used 4 or 5 times.
   • Shaving is one the easiest, least expensive, and most painless ways to remove hair, and, contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t make your hair grow back thicker.^[2]
2. Threading.{endbold} Threading pulls your hair out by the root, but is gentler on your skin than tweezing, waxing, and epilating.^[3] If you’re doing it yourself, wash your skin to prevent infection and use cotton thread. However, consider getting it done professionally.
   
   • The best way to reduce your risk of redness or infection is to go to a certified cosmetologist.^[4]
   • Threading is a little pricey— tweezing facial hair can be a cheap alternative. However, tweezing can lead to inflammation and cause ingrown hairs.^[5]
     • If you do pluck your hair, sterilize your tweezers before using them and pull the hairs out gently.
   • Expect your hair to grow back in about 3 to 8 weeks.
3. Waxing.{endbold} Apply warm wax from a home kit onto the area, wait for it to cool, and pull it off in the opposite direction that your hair grows. Use an ice pack to soothe the area afterward, and apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer.^[6]
   
   • Waxing pulls hair out by the root and can cause it to come back thinner, however, it can be painful and irritate sensitive skin.^[7]
   • Consider getting waxed professionally—the skin of your face is very delicate and can easily be damaged or infected.

[Edit]Cosmetic Procedures

1. Laser hair removal{endbold}. Laser hair removal treatments heat the root of your hair and kill the stem cells in the follicle, temporarily stopping growth.^[8] Laser hair removal usually requires multiple treatments for the best results, and works best on people with light skin and dark hair.
   
   • Always go to an experienced, board-certified physician, or a certified technician who works under a doctor—especially if you have dark skin. Done incorrectly, laser treatments can cause burns and hyperpigmentation.^[9]
   • Don’t pluck, wax, or thread your hair before your procedure. For the treatment to work, the root needs to be present.^[10]
   • Laser hair removal is painful and expensive at first, but it can significantly reduce hair and save you money in the long run.
     • If you take estrogen for hormone replacement therapy, your facial hair can grow back significantly finer and lighter.^[11]
2. Electrolysis{endbold}. Electrolysis is the only way to permanently stop hair growth. Like laser hair removal, only ever go to licensed, well-reviewed medical professionals and people working under them. Providers use a small wire to deliver electricity to each hair root, which destroys the follicle.^[12]
   
   • Like laser treatment, electrolysis can require several sessions. Unlike laser, however, electrolysis works on white or blonde hair, as well as dark hair.
   • Some insurance plans that include gender-affirming care will pay for this treatment.^[13]

[Edit]Chemical Treatments

1. Hair growth inhibitors.{endbold} To reduce how much hair you grow, get a prescription for a hair inhibitor cream, like Eflornithine 13.9%.^[14] These products don’t remove hair but can slow down your hair growth and cause it to come back lighter and thinner.
   
   • Apply the cream to the areas of your face where you want to reduce hair growth. Follow the instructions that accompany the product to determine the frequency of use.
   • Hair growth inhibitors can be used in conjunction with other hair reduction methods such as threading, waxing, and tweezing.
   • Results may take 4-8 weeks.^[15]
2. Depilatories.{endbold} Depilatories are chemical products that dissolve your hair from under your skin. Spread the cream on your skin and follow the instructions to determine when to wipe it off. Rinse it off fully with water, and moisturize afterward.^[16]
   
   • Do a small patch test before using the depilatory cream. Some people find depilatories painless, while others may experience discomfort or burns.
   • After using a depilatory, hair grows back faster than after waxing, but more slowly than after shaving.
   • Depilatories often smell like rotten eggs.
3. Bleaching.{endbold} Bleaching doesn't remove unwanted facial hair, but it can make it harder to see. Do a patch test beforehand, especially if you have darker skin. Bleach can irritate your skin if you leave it on for too long, so follow the instructions on the home kit.^[17]
   
   • This method is best for light hair growth.
   • Stay out of the sun for at least an hour after bleaching your facial hair.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• If your skin is sensitive to wax, try sugaring, which is a natural method similar to waxing.
• Spearmint tea can lower your testosterone, so drinking it may help reduce the thickness of your facial hair.^[18]

[Edit]Warnings

• Waxing can be painful and may cause irritation and/or bleeding. Follow the directions provided with the home waxing kit you choose very carefully.
• See a doctor if you think you have a hormonal imbalance.
• Patch test any cream before use to check for skin irritation.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Pluck Facial Hair

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/want-a-smooth-safe-shave-every-time-try-these-10-tips/
2. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-shaving-make-hair-thicker/
3. ↑ ​​https://health.clevelandclinic.org/eyebrow-threading/
4. ↑ [v161045_b01]. 12 June 2019.
5. ↑ ​​https://health.clevelandclinic.org/eyebrow-threading/
6. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/how-to-wax
7. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/how-to-wax
8. ↑ [v161589_b01]. 8 020.October 2
9. ↑ [v161589_b01]. 8 020.October 2
10. ↑ [v161589_b01]. 8 020.October 2
11. ↑ https://transcare.ucsf.edu/article/information-estrogen-hormone-therapy
12. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/8306-electrolysis
13. ↑ https://transhealthproject.org/resources/health-insurance-medical-policies/views/permanent-hair-removal/
14. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16408139/
15. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11376395/
16. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/depilatory-cream-hair-removal
17. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14523-hirsutism
18. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19585478/