From barely there peach fuzz to dark and thick areas of growth, everyone has at least a little bit of facial hair to contend with. While it’s perfectly OK to leave the hair alone, it’s also OK if you’re uncomfortable with your facial hair and want to have it removed.
"The most important thing to note about hair removal for your face is that everyone can have a different preference for how and when to groom it,” says Hayley Wood, licensed holistic esthetician and resident skincare guru at The New Knew. “You can skip it all together, or you can make it part of your regular routine.”
The benefits of removing facial hair range from easier makeup application to a more uniform appearance to simply feeling more comfortable in your skin physically and emotionally. Facial hair removal can even help you look younger since it allows for more reflection of light.
Ahead, we’re outlining some of the most common hair removal options for your face to help you determine which methods are best for your needs.
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Dermaplaning
This hair removal technique removes the peach fuzz hairs—referred to as vellus hair—for a super smooth look at feel. Wood also says that this method gently exfoliates your skin. Depending on how quickly your hair grows, you’ll need to upkeep by dermaplaning every three to four weeks. You can have this professionally done, or do it yourself at home with a sterilized dermaplaning tool, like the Tweezerman Facial Razor ($19; Ulta).
Wood says, “Skip this type of hair removal if you're prone to breakouts or have sensitive skin. I also don't recommend this for thick coarse hair or for the shaping of facial hair like eyebrows.”
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Shaving
Shaving is very similar to dermaplaning, only it uses a typical razor with two to four horizontal blades versus a single sharp blade. As a result, it doesn’t get quite as close to the skin compared to dermaplaning “This provides a painless method of hair removal that lasts a few days before the hair grows in and becomes apparent again,” says esthetician Rachel Lee Lozina, owner and founder of Blue Water Spa in Oyster Bay, New York.
While easy and painless, downsides include higher frequency upkeep and, if the blade is dull, potential for ingrown hairs. If you choose this facial hair removal option, Lozina recommends using a brand new razor every time, keeping the skin taut, and shaving in a downward motion.
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Waxing
Waxing involves placing warm/hot melted wax against the hair grain, allowing it to dry, and then quickly tugging it to pull the hairs out from the root. “There are two types of wax that estheticians primarily use for hair removal: soft and hard,” Wood says. “Soft wax uses a wax strip to help remove hair, while hard wax has a thicker application, using the wax itself to remove hair.”
This is typically used to help shape eyebrows or remove unwanted hair from your upper lip or chin. It’s not really intended for all-over use. Since the hair’s removed from the root, the results last longer. Ingrown hairs are an issue, but daily exfoliation can help. You can hire a professional to wax your face—which may be best when shaping brows—or do it yourself at home.
Sugaring
Sugaring is very similar to waxing, only instead of melted wax/plastic beads, it utilizes a recipe of water, sugar, and lemon to create a warm and sticky paste directly to the area of unwanted facial hair. The process is either performed by a professional, or you can purchase a kit to use at home, like Sugardoh Sugaring Paste Hair Remover ($20; Ulta).
Christina Uzzardi, esthetician and founder of Cheeks+Co, says that sugaring paste is applied and removed in the direction of the hair grown, and that you’ll need to do it once every four to five weeks to maintain the results. A lot of people prefer this method over waxing because it’s natural, removes the risk of burning, and is considered less painful.
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Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is different from others on this list because it offers longer-lasting results. The upfront cost is higher and the initial removal process is more involved, but after your treatment series the upkeep is virtually zero.
“Fast laser light pulses are used to target and eliminate melanin in the hair follicle, damaging the follicle and preventing future hair growth over the course of many treatments,” Uzzardi says. “You should only get laser hair removal performed by a licensed professional. You'll typically purchase a package depending on their hair color, location and density, and return for multiple appointments.”
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Electrolysis
Electrolysis is a lesser-utilized method of hair removal, but it also provides permanent results.
“It works by using a thin needle that is inserted into the hair follicle and then an electrical current (DC current) is sent to the root of the papilla of the hair follicle,” explains Lozina. “This cauterizes the follicle lining so the hair can never regrow. This is amazing because it doesn’t matter how thin or blonde the hair is—it works on all hair types.”
She adds that it’s important to find someone highly skilled in the technique in order to see great results and minimize potential for scarring.
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Threading
With threading, a skilled practitioner versed in the technique holds a thread between their fingers and twists out hairs. It’s intended for shaping brows, but you can also use it to remove excess hair around the lips, jaws, and hairline.
“Threading is [arguably] the most painful facial hair removal process, but is great at removing very fine facial hair,” notes Uzzardi. She adds, “It is often the cheapest of all hair-removal techniques and worth having done professionally for a nominal cost, sometimes $10 for a full eyebrow set.”
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Epilation
Similar to threading, epilation pulls hairs out from the root. Only instead of a thread, it’s a device that basically acts like hundreds of tweezers working in tandem. Because you’re pulling the hair out from the root, the results will last longer compared to shaving, waxing, or sugaring. Typically, epilator devices—like the Braun Epilator Silk ($28; Amazon)—are used at-home and don’t require a professional.
“Look for a high tweezer head count—the more tweezer heads, the better because it takes less passes to remove your unwanted hairs,” Lozina says. “Using an epilator consistently to pull the hair from the root can reduce hair regrowth and it can also make the hair softer, finer and less abundant. Over time you can expect longer periods of time with no hair regrowth.”
