Removing facial hair? This is how to get rid of it permanently

Facial hair bothering you? In women? Yes, unfortunately, this is more common than you think. And it's such a topic that almost no one starts talking about out loud, but surprisingly many women deal with it. Those few dark or blonde hairs on your upper lip, a fuzzy haze on your cheeks, or suddenly that dark hair on your chin that you swear you didn't see yesterday. Uh hello, where did you suddenly come from?

But, facial hair is actually very normal. Yes, even in women. In fact, everyone has hair on their face. For some, it's barely visible, for others, it's a bit darker, coarser, or more stubborn. And whether you want to do something about it? That's entirely up to you. But if you'd rather be rid of them, there are fortunately good solutions. From quick and temporary to long-lasting smoothness.

Removing facial hair: where do they come from?

Excessive hair growth on the face can have various causes. Heredity plays a role, but hormones or the use of certain medications can also have an impact. Sometimes you suddenly notice that more hairs appear in places where you'd rather not see them, such as your chin, upper lip, or jawline.

There are actually two forms of excessive hair growth: hypertrichosis and hirsutism. Hypertrichosis refers to more or coarser hair in areas where hair normally grows. Think of your legs, arms, or bikini line. Hirsutism is something different: it involves excessive hair growth in women in areas that you more often see in men, such as the chin, upper lip, chest, or abdomen. This can be related to a higher level of male hormones, androgens, or increased sensitivity to them. PCOS can also play a role here; The home doctor mentions a lot of hair on the body as a possible symptom of PCOS.

Removing facial hair: temporary hair removal

Shaving, plucking, waxing: these are all really good options if you want quick results. They are easy to do at home, relatively affordable, and work immediately. Ideal if you have an important appointment tomorrow morning and that one hair on your chin just today.

The downside? You have to deal with it regularly. Shaving your face gives quick results, but the hairs naturally come back quickly. Plucking and waxing last a bit longer because you remove the hair with the root, but that's also temporary. For those who just want to keep it in check, these are very nice interim solutions.

Removing facial hair with laser hair removal

If you're looking for a more long-lasting result, you'll soon come across laser hair removal. That's why it's one of the most popular treatments for removing facial hair.

Laser hair removal works with light that targets the pigment in the hair follicle. The laser heats the hair follicle, damaging it so that new hairs can grow less easily. About two weeks after the treatment, the treated hairs fall out on their own. Exactly what you want.

Okay, what can you expect? Often a hair reduction of about 85 to 90 percent. The hairs that may remain are usually thinner, lighter, and grow slower. On average, six to eight treatments are needed, depending on your skin, hair color, hormones, and the area being treated.

Which hairs can you remove with laser?

An important condition for laser hair removal is that the hairs contain enough pigment. Brown and black hairs are therefore the most suitable. The laser “sees” the pigment in the hair and uses that to heat the hair follicle.

Gray hairs cannot be treated well with laser because they contain too little pigment. Very light blonde or red hairs are also more difficult. If you're unsure whether your hairs are suitable? Then an appointment with a skin therapist is wise. They can assess your skin and hair and honestly tell you what you can and cannot expect.

Removing facial hair with hormonal hair growth

Do you suffer from hormonal hair growth, for example due to PCOS or fluctuations in your hormones? Then laser hair removal can still be very helpful, but it sometimes requires a bit more maintenance. Think of one to two maintenance sessions per year, depending on your situation.

That may sound like a hassle, but compared to plucking, waxing, or panicking in a magnifying mirror every week, it's not too bad. Moreover, your hair often becomes much less and softer through laser treatment, making you deal with it much less in daily life.

A skin therapist can guide you in this and determine together with you what the best treatment plan is. So are you in doubt? Just make an appointment. Really, you're not the only one dealing with this.

Which laser is suitable for your skin type?

Not every laser is the same. And that's actually very nice because there is a suitable option for different skin types and hair types. The 755nm alexandrite laser is often used for lighter skin types and works very effectively on pigment in the hair follicle.

Do you have darker skin? Then the 1064nm Nd:YAG laser is often a safer and more suitable choice. This laser penetrates deeper into the skin and is less focused on the pigment in the skin itself. Therefore, the risk of pigment problems is smaller when the treatment is performed correctly.

An extra advantage that many people do not know: with the Nd:YAG laser, treatment can sometimes also be done during sunnier periods.

Removing facial hair: what suits you?

The best method depends on your skin type, hair color, sensitivity, budget, and how much patience you have. Do you want quick results for now? Then shaving, plucking, or waxing is fine. Do you want less maintenance in the long term? Then laser hair removal is probably the most interesting option.

But, the most important thing: make sure you get really good advice. Especially on your face, where your skin is often more sensitive and you really don't want to experiment with devices or treatments that don't suit your skin. A good skin therapist looks at your skin, your hair.

Image: paulastrausa