Almost all parts of the body have hair including the face. Hair on the face is particularly annoying to women. It may make them feel unfeminine, unattractive, cause stress and loss of confidence. It is normal for the face to have fine downy hair. When this hair growth is coarse and thick, the problems start. This excessive hair growth may be due to hereditary factors, hormonal imbalances or as a reaction to certain medicines.
The various methods used to remove facial hair are detailed below. The method chosen will depend upon the intensity of the hair growth, the concentration of the hair growth and the will and desire of the women concerned.
Bleaching
Bleaching is a common method of disguising and camouflaging facial hair. A peroxide solution is used to lighten the color of the facial hair. As this is a chemical process, it is important to take due precautions and pre testing is advised strongly. If this is done wrongly, it may leave burn marks on the face.
Plucking
Plucking of facial hair with tweezers is suitable for removing isolated hairs on the chin or between the brows. It is important to remember to disinfect the tweezers and the area of the skin to be plucked before the start of the process. This can be done with a a mild astringent or a antiseptic liquid. It is not advisable to pluck hair growing from a mole or hair on the upper lip.
Threading
Threading can be used for shaping eyebrows and for removing fine hair from the face and the area above the upper lip and along the hair line. To avoid skin irritation and redness, it is recommended that a little zinc ointment be applied after the process. Threading should normally be avoided in conditions of acne as it can cause the problem to intensify and spread.
Electrolysis
If the facial hair is dark and coarse and a source of major embarrassment, a lady may look at the option of electrolysis. The diathermy method is quite popular. In this method an electric current is passed through a fine needle, which is inserted into the hair follicle and this cauterizes (burns) the hair root. This prevents re growth. This is an expensive procedure that takes a lot of time and multiple sittings separated with a gap of two weeks. Too frequent a session, can cause scarring. In the hands of a novice or an non-professional. this process can cause facial scarring. Hence, it is most important to take due care and do a lot of research before settling on this process as an option. In extreme cases, re growth of hair has also been known to occur, so it is important to understand all the pros and cons of the process before submitting to it.
Laser Hair Removal
This new method of hair removal is gaining importance. However this is not for everyone. One important requirement is that one's hair should be darker than the surrounding skin. Lasers can cause localized damage by selectively heating dark target matter in the area that causes hair growth while not heating the rest of the skin. It is cheaper than electrolysis but depends upon skin and hair tone and color to be effective. Treatment of skin with lasers is gaining in popularity but requires great care. It is very important to understand the treatment, understand the suitability for the skin type and find the right place to get it done. It also requires multiple sittings and has to be done by a professional.
Perma Tweeze
This is also a relatively newer method of hair removal. In this procedure a tweezer, that is electrically operated, is used to pluck hair from the root. It also requires multiple sittings. It is expensive and does not normally carry the risk of scarring. The texture, and amount of hair growth will normally decide if this treatment is to be recommended and if it will be effective.
The above will give an idea about the treatment available commercially for facial hair removal. However there are also many face masks and beauty aids that can help delay the formation of facial hair, loosen facial hair naturally and slow down and prevent hair growth. It may be important to consult a trained doctor or a beautician to get the right treatment.
Here are a few herbal facial treatments that can be done at home to remove facial hair and slow down re growth. These are effective if done regularly, say every week and require patience and pre testing. Test the mask on the back of the hand for example to check there is no adverse reaction before proceeding.
Mix 30 grams of sugar with 10 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice in 150 ml of water. Mix well and then apply it on the face in the direction of the hair growth. Leave it on for 15 minutes. Then rinse with cold water, rubbing the facial area gently. The granular sugar and lemon mixture will act as a gentle exfoliating agent and remove facial hair. The lemon juice will act as an astringent and natural anti septic. Repeat once every week to find an improvement.
Another face mask that can help in reducing hair growth on the face and remove unwanted hair is easy to make and use every week. Squeeze 10 ml lemon juice into 40 ml honey and prepare a mixture. Take a cotton swab and rub this mixture in the direction of the hair growth. Rinse after 15 minutes. Repeat twice a week for 2 weeks and then use it every week to find an improvement in the facial hair condition.
An easy to use facial mask to help remove unwanted hair is to squeeze 10 ml lemon juice into a cup of water (150ml). Add 30 grams of Gram flour into this mixture and mix thoroughly. Apply this yellow mixture on the face. Wait for 15 minutes and then scrub your face in the direction of the hair growth to remove unwanted hair.