Nearly a quarter of women in North America have excessive or unwanted facial hair. This proportion gets even higher when you consider only older women, or specific ethnic groups. Most people have at least a vague idea of what to do about the problem, and understand that plucking is longer-lasting than shaving, for instance—but there’s still a lot of misinformation out there. Let’s have a closer look at the best ways to get rid of that pesky hair!
Shaving vs Plucking
There’s a common myth that shaving hair causes it to grow back coarser or thicker, but it has actually been shown that shaving doesn’t make any difference to the growth rate, texture, or color of hair. (Because shaving cuts the hair in the middle, it may feel coarser while it grows back—but rest assured, this isn’t permanent!)
Plucking hair removes it at the root, which means that it takes longer to grow back than shaved hair. For that reason plucking is generally the preferred option between the two. It’s more time-consuming than shaving, but you don’t need to do it so frequently. It’s also a more precise method for nuanced projects such as eyebrow shaping.
What About Waxing And Threading?
Waxing can be performed quite easily at home. It involves the application of soft wax to your skin; when the wax dries, it can be pulled off, taking your unwanted hair with it. The problem with waxing is that your hair strands need to be quite long (about 1/4 of an inch) for the wax to take hold. If waxing is your favored treatment, then you may need to endure periods of having visible facial hair while waiting for it to grow to the necessary length.
Threading is an increasingly popular method of facial hair removal. Most often performed at a salon, it is much faster than plucking and is a good option for people with sensitive skin. The main downside to threading is that it’s very difficult to perform at home, and the lifelong expense of regular trips to the salon can be off-putting.
How Can I Avoid All This Hassle?
If you’re frustrated by the ongoing hassle and discomfort of the options above, then it’s worth considering something more permanent. Lasers are by far the most effective treatment for long-term hair removal. After a certain number of laser treatments (typically 6-12 over the course of two or three months), you may hardly ever have to worry about facial hair removal again.
Dr. Siegel uses the LightSheer® DUET™ Laser from Lumenis®. This laser can be used without any topical anesthetic, and is faster and more comfortable than many other lasers. Side effects are rare, and almost always minor—such as temporary redness or swelling.
Dr. Siegel is a specialist facial plastic surgeon, and his expertise makes him highly sought-after for facial hair removal. He can also remove problematic body hair. To find out more about laser treatment and whether it’s right for you, contact his office today!