Ready to talk about facial hair removal?

While it’s nothing to be embarrassed of (after all, we all have it), many people want to know what the best method is for eliminating unwanted hair on the upper lip, cheeks, and chin.

If this is you, you’re going to want to keep reading. We’ve got the scoop on all the options, plus all the pros and cons you need to understand to choose what’s right for you.

Dermaplaning or Shaving

The Pros: Shaving your face isn’t just for guys. Using a razor to remove facial hair has become increasingly popular in recent years, and actually has some benefits for gently exfoliating the skin as well. Whether you opt to get a professional dermaplaning treatment from an esthetician or carefully use a tool at home, this can be an effective method to remove unwanted peach fuzz and that leaves the skin baby soft and makes makeup go on more smoothly.

Here are the facial razors I have used for years.  Do not use a dull razor, be gentle, pull the skin tight, and shave in a downward motion.

The Cons: Because this method only removes the hair at a superficial level, it does require regular upkeep. You’ll need to shave about once every 2-4 weeks, for maintaining that hairless feeling and appearance.

Hair Removal Creams:

The Pros: Hair removal creams have been around for decades, and have proven efficacy for dissolving unwanted hair. Because you can easily control the application, they work well to spot treat small areas. With proper application, they can be relatively quick, as well as painless to use.  (I tried this as a teen on my arm and got an awful rash).

The Cons: The downside to depilatory creams is that they tend to be formulated with harsh ingredients, which can irritate or even burn the skin if not applied and removed correctly. They also tend to have a strong and unpleasant scent that lingers long after treatment.

Waxing or Sugaring

The Pros: Unlike the options we’ve previously discussed, waxing or sugaring is a method that removes hair at the root, meaning results last longer and can even lead to diminished re-growth over time. It’s great for grooming, such as for shaping and grooming the brows, as well as eliminating small patches of hair, such as for the upper lip.

The Cons: As hair removal methods go, ripping hair out from the follicles tends to be the more painful way to go. Additionally, in order to avoid getting burned by hot wax or ending up with ingrown hairs, you’ll most likely want to seek out a professional for this service, as at-home methods can be more likely to result in injury to the skin and inconsistent results.

Tweezers

The Pros: If you just need to clean up a few stray hairs, plucking them with tweezers is usually a good bet. Similar to waxing or sugaring, tweezing is able to remove hair at the root, meaning the hairs will stay gone for weeks at a time. It’s also helpful in situations where precision is required, since you can use tweezers to pluck individual hairs, one at a time.

The Cons: For larger areas, tweezing tends to be very painful and time consuming, making it a fairly inefficient procedure, compared to the alternatives.

Threading

Pros: Threading is a technique that has been around for centuries, ensuring that it is tried and true. By using a thin thread or floss to entrap individual hairs, threading can be used either to shape the brows or address patches of hair from the upper lip and face. It’s versatile, affordable and removes hair at the root.

Cons: Similar to tweezing, threading can be painful, and cause lingering redness, especially if you are new to the treatment or have sensitive skin. It can also cause breakage of the hairs if not properly performed. For this reason, you should always seek out a trained professional and avoid DIY-ing.

Laser Hair Removal

The Pros: One of the most effective solutions, laser hair removal works by targeting hair at the root and causing the follicles to cease growth. With just a few treatments, lasering can essentially lead to permanent hairlessness, making it an ideal option for anyone who is tired of having to keep up with shaving, waxing or any of the above methods.

The Cons: Because it requires a professional practitioner and a high-tech device, laser hair removal can be costly, and can require multiple sessions to achieve the desired results. It’s also only really effective for certain types of hair that are darker and thicker, meaning it won’t work on blond, vellus, or other fine hairs commonly found on the face.