hair removal on face?

momoney11

wow lots of replies and advice thank you!

The PCOS is very probable but ive never had a firm diagnosis, I had a scan for cysts a couple of years ago and found nothing put me on the pill (which I stopped taking after a few weeks as it turned me into a loon) and that was the end of it. Hormones levels etc were never discussed but PCOS is in the family, my sister had a scan a few weeks ago and a cyst was found and my mother also had it. I think a trip back o the doctors to discuss this further is in order, its got worse in the past 18 months so maybe some more tests, is it a blood test they do?

Ive heard electrolysis can leave scarring and it doesnt work, perhaps thats down to the person doing it then?

Given me lots to look into the pro's and cons, but most importantly you've made me realise im not a freak and other women have to remove facial hair too so thank you so much for that!

Had a look round and as I live in a fairly rural area didnt think id find any places that do electrolysis, but found a place that does electrolysis and laser IPL and has the newest type of light thingy so may go for a consultation and see what the prices are.

If too expensive I will look into threading, even tho im very very nervous about going into a salon like you say they have probably seen all sorts havent they!

fatballs

I've tried it all, being a brown girl I have olive skin and black hair, especially where I don't want it. My chin is not so visible so I leave it, but my upper lip, well let me talk you through everything I've tried, in chronological order since I became aware of it at about 17 and my hairy-hormones fired up. I'm now 25:

Bleaching (eg Jolene) - bleached the hair ok, but also discoloured the skin a strange bluey colour for a day or so! And smelt bad, and stung if I left it on for too long so I'd have to do it in 2 halves over 2 days. Was weird seeing roots grow back in black.

Plucking - ouch, too much hair there, no way. I tried once, stood in front of the mirror with an ice pack, tears streaming down my eyes, telling myself it would get easier!

At-home wax strips - very effective but very painful and takes some guts, brings tears to my eyes. And very bad if you get it on your lips and then just rip! Lipbalm first!!!

Hair removal cream - really stinks, especially right under your nose. And to stay on long enough to work, it started to sting. Effects didnt last long enough and stubble was apparent.

Threading - very effective at getting every single last hair - and only £2 a month round SW London - but brings tears to my eyes even after going to get it done monthly for a year. I adjusted to the eyebrow threading and don't flinch, but the upper lip never got any less painful. Grew back slowly so there was no stubble right away, it could last a month between treatments, and it did grow back finer and less visible each time. It was convenient for me to do because I'd love to go and get my eyebrows threaded (nothing like a good eyebrow, and these girls really know what suits your face, happy to give a recommendation), and while I was in the chair already it made sense to get it done.

Threading tool - I bought this made in China thing off eBay which is a metal spring with pink handle on each end. You just roll it back and forth over the hairy body part and it does the same job of the thread in threading - catches the hair in the spring and pulls it out. Also hurts like mad, and even more because you're doing it yourself.

Epilation - I bought a mini epilator but it hurt too much to use it.

Electrolysis - I went for a test patch which was effective but I just didn't have the time to keep going back for so many appointments - because they can only do a patch the size of a penny at a time, and the each area would need to be done over a couple of times. Would have been at least 20 appointments and still no guarantee it's permanent.

Laser hair removal - I don't know what type of laser they used but you go for a free test patch beforehand, and it cost me about £150 for 6 + 1 free session, and then £22 for each top-up session, and (I plan on going for maybe one a year at the end of each winter). It does hurt but no more than waxing did, and any redness had gone down by the time I left the salon. They also did the inside of my nostrils for free! The salon is in SW London, PM me if you want a recommendation. But you can't go if you have a tan so I started the course in early springtime last year so it was finished for summer. You do need to wear SPF 50 at all times on the area treated (which I wear all over my face anyway because I think it's the best wrinkle-preventer there is). They gradually raise the strength of the laser with each visit until you can just tolerate it, which I was reluctant to do, and I'm convinced I'd have had better results if I had just grown a pair and let them whack it up earlier on in the treatment.

Shaving - I'd always been scared to try shaving because I'd heard it would grow back thick and feel like stubble. However, when I started this course of laser therapy, they said it was the only method of hair removal I was allow to use between treatments. Now I only get about 5-10 hairs each side (stubborn ones which resisted the laser!) and so I shave them once a week. Takes no time at all and if I knew shaving would be so problem-free, I'd have skipped past all these other methods and just done that all these years!

I'm glad I've done something practically permanent about my upper lip finally, and I can honestly say I've tried pretty much everything going! Any girl knows just how self-conscious having a moustache makes you feel and it's not cheap managing it.

fatballs

Oh and I forgot to mention the hair-removing mitt which is like a disc of sandpaper - what a pointless device! I ended up using it on the bumps on the backs of my arms just as an exfoliator because that's what it basically is doing!!

And don't feel self-conscious, I've come to the realisation that EVERY brown girl has hair where they don't want it, you just have to look into these salons to realise just how common it is! Even blonde white girls have this hair, you just can't see it on them *jealous*.

Don't be embarrassed, salons see hairy ladies every day, and some far hairier than you I'm sure. It's like going to your GP with a sore throat, they don't bat an eyelid.

M.Holloway

From what you've described it sounds like you're a 4-5 on the Fitzpatrick scale. If this is the case then in general Groupon laser wouldn't work for you as they mostly sell IPL, which is only effective on lighter skin.

You'd be best going for ND:YAG laser hair removal as this is effective for all skin types and is more penetrating (read more effective).

Prices start at £360 for upper lip, chin and sideburns for 6 treatments. Consultation is free. Also the consultation is done by a qualified nurse, not a technician/beautician. They also offer dermatologist consultations at a price.

You mentioned your hair has gotten thicker. The good news is this is more effective on thicker hair, due to the way the laser works.

krlyr

The silkymits won't have thickened the hair (but I guess it could have thickened over time). The most likely thing is that you're "sanding" the hairs flat and thus leaving a blunt end which looks much more prominent than fresh hairs growing through. You might find that if you wax/pluck/epilate the current hairs, the fresh hairs that growth through look much less obvious as they grow through with a natural tapered edge. Shaved legs tend to look more stubbly than waxed legs when regrowing for the same reason.

VfM4meplse

As this is facial hair, definitely thread. It's best to learn for yourself as a MSE option (google Youtube). Constant waxing - whilst effective - will loosen your skin so avoid it whatever you do. There is a licensed cream for hirsuitism but forget it as results are poor.

momoney11

Thanks for thr replies guys so so helpful!

Fatballs you sound exaclty like myself and only a few years younger than me, thanks for such a detailed reply thats really helped, especially the info about laser as ive always wondered if it was effective on brown skin.

M.Holloway thanks for the link thats given me more to consider as last night I did find a place that did laser near me which I was surprised about as I dont live in a city I live in a rural area thats abit behind with everything but thinking now they prob dont have the most up to date laser thats best for me, il have to look into this more.

I would really love laser but its just the price but im gonna look into it more as longterm this is the path id like to go down.

In the mean time I think threading may be the way forward, so many of you guys have suggested it and had positive results so think its worth a go, I have to silkymitt every 3 days and its just getting worse so being able to go even 5 days or a week between sitting would be progress for me! I wouldnt be able to do it myself I dont think so im gonna have to try and pluck up the courage to go to a salon needs must I guess!

VfM4 as you said waxing will loosen my skin and its already sensitive so dont really wanna put myself through that!

krylr I do pluck a couple of stray hairs around that area but they always grow back just as thick or ingrown, its a nightmare

Thanks each and everyone of you that replied you've really helped me feel alot better about this!

k66yla

I recommend threading. I normally get my eyebrows/top lip done monthly and my whole face probably every couple of months. Whole face treatment costs about a tenner. Well worth it.

Lunar_Eclipse

I empathise. I come from Italian heritage and have thick black hair. I'm hairy, but it could be worse (I'm grateful for my arms!)

I used to either bleach or wax (at a salon) my upper lip, before having laser hair removal a few years ago. (It's brilliant and possibly not as much as you think if you sign up to something like Groupon and get a deal. Less than £200 should remove it forever! Start saving :-)!)

I pluck any hairs I find on my chin. They are thicker than my eyebrows, but like eyebrows, maintenance doesn't take that long after the first plucking. Ultimately I'll opt for laser here too, but for now, I think it's the best solution. Have you tried it? I also pluck the odd hair on my upper lip and other stray ones I find in various places on my body. Regrowth is slow and it removes hairs from the root so looks better than depilatory creams/saving etc. It's just more painful, but I'd recommend it from my experience.

anguk

I'm dark haired but very fair skinned and have a problem with my top lip, I've tried waxing and creams but found them too painful and the creams burn my sensitive skin. I now swear by the Epicare wand, it works like threading and is so easy to do and you can use it every day. But don't buy the cheaper imitation wands on Ebay (normally from China) make sure you buy a genuine Epicare, it's so much better. Cheapest I could find was £10.99 including postage from Modern Gent.

http://www.moderngent.com/ariyancorp/epicare.php
http://www.facialhairremover.co.uk/