The Top 7 Ways to Remove Facial Hair Ranked

Methods to remove facial hair for smooth skin

Facial hair is a natural occurrence for everyone, regardless of gender. And if you’re someone who feels more confident and comfortable with less facial hair, there are various methods to achieve that clean, smooth skin.

We’re here to rank the top ways to remove facial hair in order of least effective to most effective, assessing each method based on effectiveness, duration of results, and ease of use. Whether you’re looking for a temporary fix or a more permanent solution, here’s what you need to know to make the best choice for your skin and lifestyle.

8. Shaving

Shaving is one of the most traditional methods for removing facial hair. It’s quick, painless, and convenient for both men and women. However, it offers the shortest duration of smooth skin, typically only a few days, as it cuts the hair at the surface rather than removing it from the root. Regular shaving can also lead to razor burns and ingrown hairs.

7. Tweezing

One of the easiest and cheapest methods of removing facial hair, tweezing is commonly used to groom eyebrows and those occasional chin hairs. Because tweezing removes the entire hair from the follicle, hair won’t grow back for up to six weeks. But tweezing has a few cons — it can be painful and isn’t suitable for removing more than just a few hairs at a time.

6. Depilatories

Depilatories remove hair using an alkaline product to break down hair, so it’s easy to wipe off. While depilatories are painless and easy to use, they don’t remove hair below the skin or the hair root. This means that hair grows back within a few days. Be careful when choosing a product. Many depilatories often contain harsh chemicals that can burn your skin, especially around the delicate area of the face.

5. Electrolysis

Electrolysis permanently gets rid of hair. How does it work? Electrolysis involves inserting a small needle or thin metal probe into the hair follicle. A low-level electrical current then passes through the needle or probe into the skin and destroys the follicle. Hair is unable to grow back in the area where the follicle has been destroyed. The major pro with Electrolysis is that results are permanent. The drawback? Electrolysis is often painful, time-consuming, and expensive — hair has to be treated follicle-by-follicle.

4. Waxing

Waxing works by removing the hair from the root with results that last for up to a month. You can go to a salon to get a professional wax or purchase an at-home kit. Compared to other hair removal methods, it provides longer-lasting results and is easily accessible. However, waxing can result in redness and irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. Not to mention, many find waxing to be painful.

3. Sugaring

Like waxing, sugaring removes facial hair by pulling the hair from the root. There are two types of sugaring — paste and gel. Both consist of natural ingredients, and results last up to six weeks. Compared to waxing, sugaring is a gentler and less painful process. However, there are a couple of cons — it may leave some coarser hairs behind and increase your risk of experiencing ingrown hairs.

2. Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning is similar to shaving, but it involves removing the top layer of skin — and hair along with it — using a small exfoliating scalpel. Results last a couple of weeks on average. You can either get dermaplaning done professionally by an esthetician or do it yourself at home. Because dermaplaning exfoliates the skin, it makes makeup application easier. There are a few drawbacks, however. Dermaplaning is typically more expensive than other hair removal methods, and the results might not be as long-lasting as other hair removal methods.

1. Laser hair removal

An FDA-cleared method of permanent hair reduction, laser hair removal uses laser light pulses to destroy hair follicles by targeting their color selectively. After a series of sessions, this results in up to 80% permanent hair reduction. Laser hair removal can be safely used on areas of the face, such as the eyebrows, upper lip, and chin. Though it can be a long process, laser hair removal offers permanent results and is safe and effective on almost all skin and hair types.

Laser for the win

Nothing beats laser hair removal when it comes to removing unwanted facial hair. It’s gentler on the skin than other hair removal methods, results in permanent hair reduction, and greatly reduces the risk of ingrown hairs. While laser hair removal is a financial investment and commitment upfront, it will save you time and money in the long run. Want to learn more about laser hair removal? Visit LaserAway, the nation’s leading aesthetic dermatology provider.