As a brand that sells and researches hair removal techniques, trust us when we say this: facial hair is totally normal for women. Every adult woman will have some form of facial hair, whether it's a peach buzz on the side of their cheeks, hair on the upper lip, or few stubborn strands on their chin. It's natural to feel a little bit self-conscious about your facial hair, but there's no reason to be ashamed of it.
That being said, if facial hair removal is something you're after, we've got you covered. We'll breakdown everything you need to know about facial hair in women, what can cause excessive hair growth, and methods you can try to remove your facial hair:
Why do women grow facial hair?
Same reason as men, it's all down to genetics and hormones. However, there is no way to determine what is normal for women. Some may have lighter and finer facial hair, while others may have darker hair. Dark facial hair can be prevalent for women of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and South Asian descent. In contrast, lighter and finer hair is more common for women of Northern European, Southeast, and East Asian descent.
However, women who experience excess hair growth on their face, whether coarser, longer, or darker, may be a telling sign of hormone imbalance. Hirsutism is a medical term to describe women with excess body hair growth due to increased androgen and testosterone production. Often, hirsutism is a result of conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and other related conditions that may cause hormone imbalance and isn't usually a life-threatening issue. If you have concerns or think you may have hirsutism or PCOS, be sure to consult with a medical professional.
How to deal with facial hair for women
Facial hair can be removed through standard techniques like shaving, waxing, and laser hair removal. While there is no right way to do it, it all comes down to personal preference and conditions:
Shaving
Shaving is usually a popular option since it's a painless method. However, if you are planning on shaving, make sure you use a separate razor for your face rather than using the same one for the rest of your body. Our face tends to be more sensitive and reusing a shaver that's been used on other parts of the body can lead to breakouts and irritation. Some women may opt to use a separate derma shaver to help shave off the peach fuzz on their cheeks rather than a razor since it's gentler and hygienic.
Waxing
Another option is to wax the hair off your face. This method will require pulling the hair, which to some can be a painful process. However, unlike shaving, waxing can delay hair regrowth, which means you can enjoy smooth skin for longer. That being said, if you have particularly sensitive skin, make sure you run a patch test with the wax you plan on using. This is to make sure the wax used doesn't cause any breakouts or irritation.
Tweezing
Like waxing, this method will require hair pulling and a lot of patience. Tweezing works best if you have a few straggling strands that can be easily removed, like eyebrow hair. However, unless you happen to have a lot of time on your hands, tweezing can be tedious, especially if you're dealing with excessive hair growth.
Threading
Other than shaving, this is another popular option when dealing with facial hair. Threading will take some practice since there's a specific technique to it. Still, you can visit salons and professional threaders if this is a method you would like to explore. One of the benefits of threading is the ability to pull an excess amount of hair quickly. Threading is also another excellent option for those who may be allergic to wax.
Laser hair removal
Laser hair removal is an excellent option for slowing down facial hair growth, especially for women with hirsutism and dark facial hair. Laser hair removal was designed as a semi-permanent solution for hair removal on most body parts (including the face) and can delay hair growth. For women experiencing excess hair growth, this method is one of the most reliable effective in hair removal. However, in-clinic laser hair removal can be costly and require several trips before achieving complete hair removal. So be sure to keep that in mind when thinking about this option.
Laser facial hair removal at home
As mentioned above, laser hair removal is an excellent option for women with hirsutism who want to manage their excess facial hair growth. This can be arranged at a laser hair removal clinic or at home with a personal laser hair removal handset.
When it comes to in-clinic and at home laser hair removal, the main difference, other than cost, is that laser hair removal in clinics will use a different form of light energy than at-home handsets. Personal handsets will use an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), which like laser hair removal, will target the root hair follicles to prevent the production of new hair.
Usually, both laser and IPL hair removal are perfectly safe on the face, as long as the targeted areas are a safe distance away from the eyes. IPL devices will also target the melanin in the hair follicle and are best used for those with darker hair and a light/medium skin tone. To learn more about whether you may be a suitable candidate for IPL hair removal, click here.
Facial hair removal is one of the main reasons why many of our customers come to us for a solution since it can be an embarrassing issue to deal with. However you choose to manage (or even embrace!) your facial hair, just know that you are not alone in this.
To learn more about our best-selling IPL handset and other hair removal devices that can help with your facial hair removal, click the button below to view our full range of products.
