How to Remove Facial Hair: Home & Professional Options

Download Article

Get rid of facial hair and keep it from growing back

Written by Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, MD | Edited by Carmine Shannon

Last Updated: June 5, 2024 Fact Checked

Download Article

Removing Hair Manually

|

Cosmetic Procedures

|

Chemical Treatments

|

Video

|

Expert Q&A

|

Tips

|

Warnings

Facial hair can be an attractive feature on anybody, but if you’re longing for a smoother upper lip, there are many options available to you. The method that suits you best depends on your specific body—many different people struggle with unwanted facial hair, including those with hormone imbalances, certain medical conditions, and trans-feminine individuals. Your skin color, hair color, and natural testosterone levels all affect how well something will work, so we’ve made a list of all the best solutions for you to choose from!

This article is based on an interview with our board-certified dermatologist, Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, owner of Mudgil Dermatology. Check out the full interview here.

Things You Should Know

Remove hair manually by shaving, waxing, tweezing, or threading.
For long-term hair removal, get laser hair removal or electrolysis treatments from a certified physician.
Speak to a doctor about hair growth inhibitor cream if you believe you have a hormone imbalance.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Removing Hair Manually

Download Article

1
Shaving. Take a warm shower or wash your face, then exfoliate it. Apply a layer of shaving cream or conditioner to the area you’re shaving , then glide a razor in the same direction that the hair grows. ^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Use a fresh razor for the best cut. If you have a safety razor , change the blade after each shave. If you have a disposable one, replace it after it’s been used 4 or 5 times.
- Shaving is one the easiest, least expensive, and most painless ways to remove hair, and, contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t make your hair grow back thicker. ^{[2]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
2
Threading. Threading pulls your hair out by the root, but is gentler on your skin than tweezing, waxing, and epilating. ^{[3]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} If you’re doing it yourself, wash your skin to prevent infection and use cotton thread. However, consider getting it done professionally.
- The best way to reduce your risk of redness or infection is to go to a certified cosmetologist. ^{[4]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Alicia Ramos
  Skincare Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 12 June 2019.}
- Threading is a little pricey— tweezing facial hair can be a cheap alternative. However, tweezing can lead to inflammation and cause ingrown hairs. ^{[5]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
  - If you do pluck your hair, sterilize your tweezers before using them and pull the hairs out gently.
- Expect your hair to grow back in about 3 to 8 weeks.
Advertisement
3
Waxing. Apply warm wax from a home kit onto the area, wait for it to cool, and pull it off in the opposite direction that your hair grows. Use an ice pack to soothe the area afterward, and apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer . ^{[6]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
Go to source}
- Waxing pulls hair out by the root and can cause it to come back thinner, however, it can be painful and irritate sensitive skin. ^{[7]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  American Academy of Dermatology
  Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
  Go to source}
- Consider getting waxed professionally—the skin of your face is very delicate and can easily be damaged or infected.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cosmetic Procedures

Download Article

1
Laser hair removal . Laser hair removal treatments heat the root of your hair and kill the stem cells in the follicle, temporarily stopping growth. ^{[8]
X
Expert Source

Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist & Dermatopathologist

Expert Interview. 8 020.October 2} Laser hair removal usually requires multiple treatments for the best results, and works best on people with light skin and dark hair.
- Always go to an experienced, board-certified physician, or a certified technician who works under a doctor—especially if you have dark skin. Done incorrectly, laser treatments can cause burns and hyperpigmentation. ^{[9]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, MD
  Board Certified Dermatologist & Dermatopathologist
  
  Expert Interview. 8 020.October 2}
- Don’t pluck, wax, or thread your hair before your procedure. For the treatment to work, the root needs to be present. ^{[10]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, MD
  Board Certified Dermatologist & Dermatopathologist
  
  Expert Interview. 8 020.October 2}
- Laser hair removal is painful and expensive at first, but it can significantly reduce hair and save you money in the long run.
  - If you take estrogen for hormone replacement therapy, your facial hair can grow back significantly finer and lighter. ^{[11]
    X
    Research source}
2
Electrolysis . Electrolysis is the only way to permanently stop hair growth. Like laser hair removal, only ever go to licensed, well-reviewed medical professionals and people working under them. Providers use a small wire to deliver electricity to each hair root, which destroys the follicle. ^{[12]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Like laser treatment, electrolysis can require several sessions. Unlike laser, however, electrolysis works on white or blonde hair, as well as dark hair.
- Some insurance plans that include gender-affirming care will pay for this treatment. ^{[13]
  X
  Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Chemical Treatments

Download Article

1
Hair growth inhibitors. To reduce how much hair you grow, get a prescription for a hair inhibitor cream, like Eflornithine 13.9%. ^{[14]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} These products don’t remove hair but can slow down your hair growth and cause it to come back lighter and thinner.
- Apply the cream to the areas of your face where you want to reduce hair growth . Follow the instructions that accompany the product to determine the frequency of use.
- Hair growth inhibitors can be used in conjunction with other hair reduction methods such as threading, waxing, and tweezing.
- Results may take 4-8 weeks. ^{[15]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}
2
Depilatories. Depilatories are chemical products that dissolve your hair from under your skin. Spread the cream on your skin and follow the instructions to determine when to wipe it off. Rinse it off fully with water, and moisturize afterward. ^{[16]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Do a small patch test before using the depilatory cream . Some people find depilatories painless, while others may experience discomfort or burns.
- After using a depilatory, hair grows back faster than after waxing, but more slowly than after shaving.
- Depilatories often smell like rotten eggs.
3
Bleaching. Bleaching doesn't remove unwanted facial hair, but it can make it harder to see. Do a patch test beforehand, especially if you have darker skin. Bleach can irritate your skin if you leave it on for too long, so follow the instructions on the home kit . ^{[17]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- This method is best for light hair growth.
- Stay out of the sun for at least an hour after bleaching your facial hair.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How can you make your eyebrows look fuller?

Alicia Ramos
Skincare Professional
Alicia Ramos is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Smoothe Denver in Denver, Colorado. She received her license at the School of Botanical & Medical Aesthetics, with training in lashes, dermaplaning, waxing, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels, and now provides skin care solutions to hundreds of clients.

Alicia Ramos

Skincare Professional

Expert Answer

You can use eyebrow makeup. It helps to enhance the appearance of your brows temporarily. Another option is using a brow tint, which dyes your brows. It typically lasts for 4-6 weeks, making your brows appear darker and, therefore, fuller. Besides this, you can use a procedure called microblading, which is essentially a temporary tattoo under your brows that helps them appear both fuller and darker for up to 30 months.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 5
Question

Which hair removal method is more suitable for removing facial hair?

Alicia Ramos
Skincare Professional
Alicia Ramos is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Smoothe Denver in Denver, Colorado. She received her license at the School of Botanical & Medical Aesthetics, with training in lashes, dermaplaning, waxing, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels, and now provides skin care solutions to hundreds of clients.

Alicia Ramos

Skincare Professional

Expert Answer

The face is a sensitive part of the body. It is more prone to infection. So it is better to use laser hair removal instead of epilating facial hair.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 7 Helpful 11
Question

Wouldn't this make hair grow more?

Community Answer

If you stimulate the hormones, that will cause more hair growth. These are methods of how to pause that process.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 20 Helpful 82

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

Spearmint tea can lower your testosterone, so drinking it may help reduce the thickness of your facial hair. ^{[18]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
If your skin is sensitive to wax, try sugaring , which is a natural method similar to waxing.

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Waxing can be painful and may cause irritation and/or bleeding. Follow the directions provided with the home waxing kit you choose very carefully.

Thanks
Helpful 30 Not Helpful 32
See a doctor if you think you have a hormonal imbalance.

Thanks
Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
Patch test any cream before use to check for skin irritation.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

[1]

Trustworthy Source

Go to source

[2]

[3]

[4]

Alicia Ramos
Skincare Professional

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist & Dermatopathologist

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

Log in

How to Remove Facial Hair: Home & Professional Options

Things You Should Know

Steps

Removing Hair Manually

Cosmetic Procedures

Chemical Treatments

Expert Q&A

Video

Tips

Warnings

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Reader Success Stories

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories