Despite what you might have gathered from looking at heavily curated and photoshopped images in fashion magazines, and on social media, facial hair is a fact of life for human beings of all genders. Some of you may want to flaunt it proudly, and others want to banish all trace of hair from their precious mugs.
If you’re in this position, then the good news is that you have several different fuzz banishing options available. Let’s assess a few hair removal treatments, first focusing on the most obvious and popular measure: shaving.
The Benefits of Shaving
Perhaps the most obvious approach is to remove hair in the same way that many men do: with the help of a razor.
Shaving your face will immediately remove that pesky facial hair. You’ll also achieve an exfoliating effect by getting rid of oil, dead skin, and other debris which might be blocking your pores. In that sense, it’s a win.
The Risks of Shaving
On the other hand, you risk a dodgy five-o-clock shadow, and slicing into any ingrown hairs. You might also have to deal with nicks, cuts, and razor burn. In some cases, the repeated presence of these cuts, any plasters you might put over them, will make it obvious that you’ve been shaving – which might not be what you’re looking for.
You can get around these problems by using the right razor and applying the right technique. This generally means replacing your blades regularly. A blunt blade is more likely to cause damage and irritation that a sharp one.
It’s worth also mentioning that there are a few purported downsides of shaving that are without merit. For example, repeated shaving will not cause hair to grow back faster, or thicker. It will simply look that way, because it’s easier to see growth in very short hair.
Alternatives to Shaving
If you don’t like the idea of shaving, then there are a few alternative approaches you might consider.
Depilatory creams can be applied directly to the area from which you’d like to remove hair. It’s safe and painless, but there are a few side effects, including an unpleasant odour. If you don’t like the idea of applying strong chemicals to your face, this might be a no-go.
Laser hair removal is another option. Despite what you may assume, this isn’t a permanent treatment, but the results are long-lasting. The treatment will prevent hair from growing, and leave hair feeling softer. However, you’ll need to pay for it – and there’s the risk of acne and scarring if it doesn’t go well.
Finally, there’s electrolysis, which works by inserting a fine wire into the follicle and then tweezing out the hair. There are two types of electrolysis: thermolysis, which uses heat alone, and galvanic, which uses chemicals to destroy the follicle. Electrolysis is permanent, unlike laser removal, but there’s a risk of infection and scarring.
Before undergoing hair removal treatment, you’ll want to think about your preferences, and your budget. It’s also worth getting the perspective of multiple professionals, and considering whether you really need to worry about hair removal. Body hair is, after all, just a fact of life that women have been living with for thousands of years – and it might be that you can accept it, too.
