13 Ways to Get Rid of Female Facial Hair - wikiHow (2024)

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Co-authored byAlicia Ramosand Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA

Last Updated: September 28, 2023Fact Checked

Tweezing

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1. Tweezing hair is easy and inexpensive. You simply pluck out the hairs you want gone. Grasp each hair with your tweezers and pull it out in the direction the hair grows to avoid irritation. Keep in mind that tweezing can cause irritation, and if you're prone to ingrown hairs, there's a chance that tweezing could cause a few.^[1]

   • Results from tweezing usually last for 3 to 8 weeks.
   • Your hair may grow back thinner and finer after tweezing.
   • Always sanitize your tweezers with alcohol before you use them so bacteria won’t get into your hair follicle.

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Epilating

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1. Epilators pluck several hairs at once for maximum convenience. An epilator is an electronic device that grabs onto hair and pulls it from the follicle. It's like tweezing multiple hairs at once.^[2] To use an epilator, you just glide it slowly over the hair you want to remove. While they’re super useful, an epilator often causes discomfort, and you could get ingrown hairs.

   • Results usually last for as long as 4 weeks. Additionally, your hair may grow back thinner than it was before.
   • You can purchase an epilator online or at a department store for about $30 to $100.

Threading

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1. Threading also removes several hairs at once.^[3] With threading, it’s best to make an appointment with a professional. During the procedure, an esthetician will twist a string over the unwanted hair. The string will grasp the hair and pull it out. It’s a quick and easy procedure, but you might experience some discomfort.

   • Your results should last up to 6 weeks.
   • Threading typically costs about $25 to $35 per session.
   • Unlike other methods, threading rarely causes ingrown hairs.

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Depilatory Creams

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1. Depilatory creams dissolve hair to remove large patches at a time. These creams contain a chemical that dissolves your hair so you can simply wipe it away. Slather the cream onto the hair you want to remove, let it sit for a few minutes, and then remove it with a washcloth. Just make sure you buy depilatory cream labeled for use on your face. As a downside, the cream might cause redness, tingling, and irritation.^[4]

   • Depilatory creams usually last for a few days up to 2 weeks.^[5]
   • You can buy depilatory creams at a department store or online for under $10.

Waxing

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1. You can do waxing at-home or go to a salon. At-home kits usually come with either strips that you warm up between your hands or a container of wax that you heat up. You apply a waxed strip to your unwanted hair and then pull it off, removing the hair. Keep in mind that you’ll probably experience mild pain during waxing, as well as redness, bumps, and irritation.^[6]

   • Waxing results usually last for 3 to 6 weeks.
   • You can get a waxing kit for as little as $10.
   • Over time, you may notice less sensitivity with waxing, so it may eventually be painless for you. Additionally, your hair might grow back thinner.

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Sugaring

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1. Sugaring easily removes your hair while also exfoliating your skin.^[7] Like with waxing, you slather a sugar paste onto the hair you want to remove. Then, you pull the paste off quickly to rip out the hairs. You can do this without a strip, but it’s easier to remove the sugar paste if you press a strip down onto it. As a trade off, you may experience discomfort and skin irritation after sugaring.^[8]

   • Like waxing, results usually last for 3 to 6 weeks.
   • You can find waxing kits online or at a department store for as little as $13. You can also make your own.

Shaving

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1. Shaving is easy, inexpensive, and painless. Contrary to popular belief, shaving your facial hair won’t cause it to grow back thicker or darker. For best results, use shaving cream to soften the hairs and shave in the direction your hair grows. On the downside, shaving may cause ingrown hairs and could cause nicks or cuts.^[9]

   • Shaving results last about 1 to 3 days.
   • You can buy a razor for under $10.
   • Look for a razor labeled as a face razor. Most facial shavers for women have a straight-edge razor that’s easier to use on your face. If you have thick hair, you might use a face razor labeled for men. Regular women’s razors aren't ideal because they're often larger than facial razors.

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Bleaching or Dyeing Your Hair

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1. Dyeing facial hair to match your skin tone makes it less noticeable. Plus, coloring hair is easy and painless. You can buy bleaching and facial hair coloring kits at your local drug store. Pick a product that’s made for your skin tone.^[10]

   • Most people bleach their hair every 2 to 4 weeks.
   • You can buy a facial bleaching or hair dye kit for as little as $10.

Dermaplaning

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1. Dermaplaning is very effective and works for all skin and hair types. In this treatment, a doctor or esthetician uses a small scalpel to scrape away the top layer of your skin, which takes the hair with it. Your procedure will last about 30 minutes, and you’ll immediately have smoother skin. Anyone can get dermaplaning, but you might experience redness and irritation after the procedure.^[11]

   • Dermaplaning results usually last for up to a month.
   • Although dermaplaning often costs under $100, it can cost more depending on how much your local professionals charge.
   • As an added benefit, dermaplaning also minimizes scars and wrinkles.

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Laser Hair Removal

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1. Laser hair removal is a semi-permanent way to remove facial hair. During laser hair removal, a dermatologist uses light pulses to destroy the root of the hair. It doesn’t automatically remove the hair but does cause it to fall out over time. It works best for those with dark hair and light skin, but an experienced professional may be able to treat other skin and hair types.^[12]

   • Laser hair removal is semi-permanent, but you’ll likely need a touch-up once a year.
   • Treatments typically cost several hundred dollars per session. You’ll probably need 2 to 6 treatments to remove all of your unwanted hair. For facial hair, these treatments are usually spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart.
   • You can buy an at-home laser hair removal kit, but they typically don’t work as well.
   • Common side effects of laser hair removal include redness and swelling, as well as pigment changes. You’re more likely to experience skin lightening if you have dark skin or don’t stay out of the sun before the procedure.^[13]

Electrolysis

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1. Electrolysis is the only way to permanently remove your facial hair. During electrolysis, a technician will insert a small needle into your hair follicle to destroy the cell that grows hair. After the treatment, your hair falls out and never grows back.^[14] As a drawback, you might experience discomfort, redness, scabbing, or scarring.

   • Electrolysis results are permanent.
   • For facial hair, an electrolysis procedure usually takes about 4 to 10 hours.^[15] Usually, this will be broken up into several 30-minute sessions that cost between $30 and $200 per session.

   Expert Answer

   Q

   Is it OK to remove female facial hair?
   

   

   Karina Villalta

   Certified Esthetician

   Karina Villalta is a certified Esthetician and Owner of Oh Sweet and Sugar and Shears, a skincare and hair removal service located in Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. With over eight years of experience, Karina specializes in eyebrow shaping, a hair removal technique called sugaring, and organic facials. Karina started her career and was trained at Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bar. Since opening her own business, Karina ensures her clients are educated about their skin and helps them implement personalized skincare routines.

   

   EXPERT ADVICE

   Answer from Karina Villalta:

   Totally! If you want to get rid of your facial hair, go for it. If you want to let it be, that's totally fine too. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to your beauty practices. So long as you're happy with the way you look, you're doing it right!

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Vaniqa Prescription Cream

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1. Vaniqa reduces or stops hair growth as long as you’re using it. It’s a prescription cream that you use twice a day, so you’ll need to see a doctor to get it. Before you apply your cream, you’ll need to use one of the other hair removal options, like shaving or waxing, to remove your hair.^[16] While the cream can help, you could experience skin redness and irritation.

   • Your results will last as long as you continue to use the cream. Generally, it takes about 4 to 8 weeks for the cream to start working.^[17]

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