It’s a sensitive topic, but one that affects every woman (yes, we’re talking
about you!).
Studio 5 Beauty & Style Contributor Holly Stone spills what your girlfriend is
not telling you; she shares options for facial hair removal.
It is early morning and you get ready in front of the bathroom mirror.
Taking one final look before you head for the door, everything checks out
ok. You get in your car, quickly glance into the mirror and gasp!! There it
is-hair on your face that seemed to pop out of nowhere. Or maybe it’s been
there a while and the sunlight makes it blaringly obvious. Or perhaps it
appears darker than your natural skin tone.
Dark or light, thick or sparse-facial hair is something EVERY WOMAN has to
a varying degree and it is nothing to be ashamed of. For some, it may begin
to sprout under your chin as you age. For others, it may be above your top
lip or on the sides of your face. While often times a delicate subject, if facial
hair is a bother, we are lucky to live in an age where there are several
options from temporary removal maintenance to permanent removal. Just
understand that facial hair is a natural part of being human and makes us
uniquely beautiful as women!
I’ve seen it all – from metal coils that grab and tug, to creams that
pulverize. Here are MY recommendations for the least painful and most
effective ways to get rid of facial hair.
Myth: Waxing, tweezing or bleaching facial hair will only cause it
to grow back thicker and darker.
Fact: Even if you continue to maintain the removal of facial hair,
it may continue to grow but at a slower pace unless you actually kill the
hair follicle.
Beware: While there are several options, anything more than
tweezing poses risk of irritation, scarring, rash, or skin damage. Proceed
with caution and do small patch tests before attacking large areas.
Essential Tools For Hair Removal Maintenance
Magnifying mirror
If you spend any time at all searching for those hairs to tweeze, a
magnifying mirror will save you time and effort. It zooms in and lets you
see exactly what needs to be removed.
Holly’s Product Pick: Magnifying Mirror, Target, $5-12
Moisturizer
Following all types of skin “treatments”, I recommend an application of
calming moisturizer rubbed gently into the skin.
Holly’s Product Picks:
Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Daily Calming Moisturizer, 1.7 oz Walmart,
$14.97
Proclaim Natural 7 Argan Oil, Sally’s Beauty Supply, $6.99
Brow Shaver
This tool is not for thicker or bigger patches of facial hair but is great to
gently remove small areas of “peach fuzz”. It is also ideal to clean up the
fuzzy hairs above and below your brow. Doing this creates a smooth
surface for eye shadow and creates a clean line at your brow.
Holly’s Product Pick: Brow Shaver, Dollar Tree, $1.00
MINIMIZE APPEARANCE
Bleach
If you aren’t quite ready to commit to hair removal but are ready to make it
less obvious, look to bleaching as an effective way to minimize unwanted
dark facial hair. This does not leave the area smoother but Peroxide
lightens the hair so that the contrast is not so evident. Results last
approximately 2-3 weeks.
Holly’s Product Pick: Jolen Creme Bleach, Walgreens, $10.49
TEMPORARY REMOVAL
Tweezing for small areas
Tweezing is the most accurate way to maintain random stray facial hair.
Needle tip are great for one coarse hair at a time. Slant tip is great for
brows or grabbing more than one hair at once. This is one tool you will
want to invest in. If you buy Stainless and ones that can be sharpened, one
pair is all you will ever need. Tweezerman will sharpen their tweezers for
life. Mail it to address on website, get it back and just like new 2-3 weeks
later
Grab the hair as close to the skin as possible and pull. This will give you a
hair-free surface for up to 2 weeks. Stubble will begin to grow back at a
slower pace.
Holly’s Product Pick: Tweezerman duo pack (needle and slant),
$25, Sally’s Beauty Supply or Sephora
Wax
Removes hair the exact same way as tweezing but is effective for larger
surface areas. For a quick touch up, these wax strips can clean up a brow
area, or smooth out an upper lip. Easy to use and fast too!
Holly’s Product Pick: Sally Hansen Hair Remover Wax Strip Kit for
Face, Brows & Bikini, Walgreens, $5.99
Depilatory cream
While these are available at most drug stores, (think Nair or Veet for face)
this is one over-the-counter product I cannot recommend due to its harsh
nature and unpredictable results. However there is a prescription cream
that you can use under the care of your doctor. While I have never tried this
personally, I have 2 friends who swear by it.
VANIQA is the first and only FDA approved prescription cream clinically
proven to reduce the growth of unwanted facial hair (UFH) in women.
Devices
All the rage thanks to convincing infomercials are the devices that remove
hair temporarily. The most popular is NONO Hair remover. Priced from
$100-249, this device claims to “crystallize” the hair and remove with heat.
While it does yield a fabulous smooth surface after using, the scientific
evidence for hair reduction is lacking. It is very easy to use and is PERFECT
for managing small areas of facial hair. I found it to be similar to using an
electric shaver only less painful. The hair will return after about 14 days
perhaps finer, but it still does grow back. Hands down this is favorite
option!
NO!NO! Hair Remover www.trynono.com/Special_
Offer
PERMANENT REMOVAL
The safest and most reliable permanent solutions are both done under the
care of a cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist. Seek recommendations from
friends or trusted sources before selecting a specialist.
Laser VS Electrolysis
Holly Stone is no stranger to business and the beauty industry. Starting as a
model at the age of 14 she decided that she preferred to be behind the
scenes rather than in front of the camera. She choreographed fashion
shows, selected models for events and assisted her agency with make-up.
Her skill for make-up artistry quickly became recognized and the demand
for her talent launched a career that would take her all over the country.
She received a bachelor’s degree, and took a position as VP of
Merchandising for Overstock.com. There she learned the business skills of
resourcing, buying, marketing, and negotiating. She moved on to train in
Los Angeles at AWARD, a leading make-up artist school in the west.
Today, with her business skills and her passion for the art of make-up, she
manages a successful career as an educator and a veteran make-up artist
of 16 years. She works in various media with actors/actresses, models,
brides, and photographers. She is a consultant to several cosmetic
distributors, spas, and salons where she teaches application and technique.
She is a nationally recognized educator of cosmetic application and is a
personal image consultant to people ranging from high position corporate
figures to the every day woman.
Holly is the owner of Re-Creation Studio, School of Media Make-up Artistry.
For information about her classes, visit www.learntodomakeup.com
.
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