Having problems with unwanted facial hair? Women are becoming conscious to eliminate unwanted hair during the adolescence stage. In this age, having excess hair, particularly for women, means social embarrassment. Products today highlight the beauty of having a smooth, flawless skin. There are a lot of methods to remove them, each with its own pros and cons. Here are some facts. In almost cases, women have unwanted facial hair on the chin, above the lip, and on the sides of the face. Under the assumption that the main culprit for the unwanted facial hair is not genetics or hormones, consumers should make a choice what method should they use. What works for one will not on the other. Hormonal imbalance may be the cause of the abnormal hair growth.

How Hair Grows?

It is worthwhile to know how hair grows for us to understand how to prevent it from growing. Every hair strand is located inside a pilosebaceous unit, which comprises of the erector pili muscle, sebaceous gland, the hair follicle, and the hair shaft. Hair growth has 3 phases. The anagen stage is the growth period, the catagen phase is the transition state, and the telogen phase is the resting stage. Hair exerts a variable time period per phase and is determined by your genetic, hormone functions, and the body area. Hair during the anagen stage is more vulnerable to damage than the hair in telogen stage. With that, factors must be determined when picking the best hair removal method.

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal or "photoepilation" is a proven hair removal method based on many years of clinical experience and research. It is based on the "theory of selective photothermolysis", which states that a laser beam applied to living tissue will have different effects on tissue components (hair) depending on the absorption spectra.

Pros

Laser facial hair removal offers long-term removal of unwanted hair or a significant decrease in re-appearance to say the least. The procedure of laser facial hair removal is very safe.

Cons

The total cost of laser facial hair removal can be high. When the procedure is done incorrectly, skin will experience effects such as burns, permanent scarring, and infections.

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Thermicon Hair Removal

“Thermicon” involves a thermodynamic wire in transmitting heat to the hair follicles. Thermal transference is the key of having a painless hair removal procedure. This patented technology as well as the safety features enabled make this product the safest and most effective device in all of hair removal devices.

Pros

Hair is killed at the follicles so that it doesn’t grow back. This method costs much less than laser hair procedures and you save more in the long run.

Cons

Application of the thermicon hair removal method leaves a burning hair smell after. But don't worry because this is only temporary.

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Depilatories

How it Works?

Depilatories are chemicals in gel, lotion, and cream variant and they weaken the hair from its root, making it easier to eliminate when the substance is wiped off.

Pros

In the case of depilatory creams, it is easier to use and it dissolves unwanted facial hair at the hair follicle’s base.

Cons

They are suitable for legs and arms, but can bring problems when used on the face as it irritates the skin and will not remove the hair in its entirety. Add to that, it is a messy procedure.

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Threading

How it works?

Originated from the Middle East, threading involves a cotton thread twisted around the hairs then pulled out.

Pros

Threading, meanwhile, does not strip off the skin’s uppermost layer; thus, rashes and irritation are avoided.

Cons

However, the problem with this method is that it should be done by a certified professional; otherwise, results will be unsatisfactory. It will be costly as you will need several treatments to achieve the optimal results.

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Shaving

How it Works?

Shaving is one of the most common unwanted hair removal methods but it only removes the unwanted hair off the surface of the skin.

Pros

One of the advantages of shaving is that is relatively cheap compared to other methods. It only costs $1-$5 for disposable razors and $10-$15 for regular razors. It can be found almost everywhere and can be done in the convenience of your own home.

Cons

Shaving won’t make the hair re-growth thicker, faster or slower. The short hair shaft (the end product of shaving) will be more visible though due to the blunt tip instead of the tapered tip.

Quick Tip

Shaving must be done after putting some moisturizer to the skin to help the razor glide, without cutting or scraping the skin. Common examples of moisturizer include shaving cream, conditioner, body wash, and water.

Tweezing

How it Works?

With tweezing, you pluck hair follicles individually using metal forceps or popularly known as tweezers.

Pros

The advantage is tweezers are inexpensive (it only cost $3-$20). Tweezing is only recommended for those women who just have a few stray hairs that pop up occasionally. Results usually last for about a month to a month and a half.

Cons

But as we know it, this is not the most optimal remedy for the reason that repetitive plucking will cause hair follicle irritation and in some cases, it will lead to scars. Add to the fact that hair will return stiffer and thicker than ever once it is plucked.

Sugaring

How it Works?

Sugaring, meanwhile, works the same as the conventional waxing procedure. A caramel-like sugary substance is applied on the skin in the hair growth direction. When the hair embeds the sugary substance, a paper strip or a cloth is pasted onto it and pulled off rapidly in the opposite direction of the hair growth.

Pros

The advantage of this one compared to its conventional counterpart is the ease of cleaning. The water-soluble substance can be removed easily with water compared to normal wax.

Cons

Some of its disadvantages are similar to conventional waxing. It can be painful as the paper strip is pulled off quickly. If performed incorrectly, skin will be red and can get an infection.

Electrolysis

How it Works?

Electrolysis is a procedure of inserting a small needle into the follicle and applying electrical current to the root. The current actually “burns” the hair root. “Burning” it will stop the growth of the unwanted hair. It will time-consuming as each follicle must be treated one by one and it may take several sessions to finally destroy the hair follicle.

Pros

It is suitable for hair types and it offers the highest probability that permanent hair will be eliminated in the facial areas.

Cons

One of its disadvantages is that there are no standard guidelines for this procedure, making it tough to find experienced professionals who can perform this. It required 12 to 18 months of repetitive treatment for you to see the results. Side effects include hypo-pigmentation, hyper-pigmentation, pain, and formation of keloids (for sensitive skin).

There are a lot of hair removal treatments in the market today. It is the consumer’s responsibility to be wise in choosing a method that works perfectly for their skin and at the same time, won’t hurt their budget and skin type.