It is but natural for humans to have facial hair – so a missed salon appointment or lack of time to remove it need not mean the end of the world. However, we understand it can make for a monthly menace if you choose to tread the hair-removal route. Whether you’re new to the practice or hoping to ditch time- and money-consuming methods, below are the best ways to safely remove facial hair at home.
We’ve listed (in our order of preference) four easy techniques you can consider. Trust us, your skincare products will absorb way better, and your makeup application will be super-smooth. Read till the end for post-hair removal care for a fuzz-free face.
Face Razor
Pocket-friendly, easy to use, and a zero on the pain scale – meet your new bestie, the face razor. Using these nifty little tools, designed to reach tricky areas, is one of the safest ways of removing facial hair by yourself. There’s a variant made especially for the eyebrows, too. Given the small size, you can stash one in your carry-on for travel days (don’t let a last-minute ‘razing’ requirement bum you out). We recommend the Facial Hair Removal Combo by Carmesi so that you can cover your entire face, including your eyebrows.
How to use:
- Cleanse your face thoroughly
- Apply a thin layer of shaving or aloe vera gel
- Hold your skin taut and glide the razor gently in the direction of hair growth
- Keep cotton balls or tissues handy to wipe the blade clean after every few strokes
Mini Epilator
For those of you with qualms about operating sharp objects on and around your face, this is the next best option: a mini epilator. Essentially, an epilator has tweezer-like plates, spring coils, or rotating discs that pull out the tiniest hair as they move. A face epilator would give you longer-lasting results when compared to other methods, as it (literally) uproots the hair from its follicle. Bear in mind that you may experience the slightest pain when using this tool, but it’s not as bad when compared to threading or waxing your face. Post-epilating care is also highly recommended (more on it later) for a smooth, bump-free result. We recommend Braun’s Face Mini Hair Electric Remover owing to the 5k+ positive reviews from customers (4.3/5).
How to use:
- Cleanse, exfoliate, and pat-dry your face
- Pull your skin taut with one hand and hold the epilator in a natural grip (keeping it perpendicular to your skin) with the other hand
- Glide the device in the opposite direction of your hair growth or move in circular motions
- You can also move perpendicular for areas like the jawline
- Once done, clean your device as per the instruction manual
Tweezer
Technically, you can remove hair from the entire face using tweezers, but mind you, it will take ages, so we don’t recommend it. Instead, opt for this method only if removing eyebrow hair or a few sparse ones here and there is on the agenda. Fairly less painful compared to the conventional methods, the best kind of tweezers are ones with a slant tip that makes it easy to hold and remove hair. This is why we recommend this one by GUBB – it has the perfect tip and a brow comb on one end, and can also be used to apply falsies. With a stellar customer rating of 4.1/5, you cannot go wrong with this one.
How to use:
- Start by putting a warm washcloth on a clean face to soften the skin and open up the pores
- Sit or stand in front of a well-lit mirror and begin plucking out extra hair around your eyebrows
- Use the brow comb to determine which hairs to remove or keep to get the desired shape
- Clean the tweezers under running water and wipe it dry before storing
Wax Strips
Using wax on the face – or anywhere else on the body, for that matter – comes with considerable pain and a whole lot of icky mess. However, wax strips make for a more bearable and mess-free experience of hair removal. Formulated especially for the face, you can cut the strips depending on the size of the area you need it for. This technique is best suited to those who only get the satisfaction of hair removal with wax and don’t have sensitive skin on their face. We recommend using HipHop Facial Wax Strips, as they come with argan oil-infused wipes for added nourishment. Also, as it’s a pack of 10, it’ll be sufficient to cover your entire face and under-the-chin area.
How to use:
- Cut the strip into smaller pieces if required (if you only need it for your upper lips or chin area, for instance)
- Rub the strip between your palms to heat the wax
- Pull apart the strips and apply them to the area, gently rubbing in the direction of hair growth
- Firmly hold a corner and, in one swift motion, pull it in the opposite direction of hair growth
- Clean any wax residue left behind using the argan oil wipes
Post-Facial Hair Removal Care
- Wash your face with plain water and follow up with a hydrating moisturiser or serum after using a face razor.
- If you use an epilator, you may notice some red bumps or ingrown hair a few days later. Use ice cubes for a few minutes to soothe your skin.
- Avoid stepping out in the sun immediately after facial hair removal as your skin might be sensitive for a few hours.
- Use a cooling gel, like aloe vera, for any redness you may experience.
Finding an easy, affordable, and sustainable way to remove facial hair can be life-changing. Once you experience the liberation that comes with achieving a hair-free face at home without pain or having to spend excessively, you’ll never need to book another salon appointment!
