How to Get Rid of Female Facial Hair

Co-authored by Alicia Ramos and Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA

Last Updated: November 18, 2022 References

It’s totally normal to have facial hair as a female, and how much you have depends on hormones and genetics. Although it’s natural, you might prefer to remove unwanted hair. You have several options for banishing facial hair, including natural and at-home methods. Best of all, removing your facial hair won’t make it grow back thicker, and some methods actually thin it out. Keep reading for a comprehensive guide for getting rid of female facial hair.

1

Tweezing

Tweezing hair is easy and inexpensive. You simply pluck out the hairs you want gone. Grasp each hair with your tweezers and pull it out in the direction the hair grows to avoid irritation. Keep in mind that tweezing can cause irritation, and if you're prone to ingrown hairs, there's a chance that tweezing could cause a few.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Expert Interview. 19 August 2020.}
- Results from tweezing usually last for 3 to 8 weeks.
- Your hair may grow back thinner and finer after tweezing.
- Always sanitize your tweezers with alcohol before you use them so bacteria won’t get into your hair follicle.

2

Epilating

Epilators pluck several hairs at once for maximum convenience. An epilator is an electronic device that grabs onto hair and pulls it from the follicle. It's like tweezing multiple hairs at once.^{[2]
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Research source} To use an epilator, you just glide it slowly over the hair you want to remove. While they’re super useful, an epilator often causes discomfort, and you could get ingrown hairs.
- Results usually last for as long as 4 weeks. Additionally, your hair may grow back thinner than it was before.
- You can purchase an epilator online or at a department store for about $30 to $100.

3

Threading

Threading also removes several hairs at once.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Expert Interview. 19 August 2020.} With threading, it’s best to make an appointment with a professional. During the procedure, an esthetician will twist a string over the unwanted hair. The string will grasp the hair and pull it out. It’s a quick and easy procedure, but you might experience some discomfort.
- Your results should last up to 6 weeks.
- Threading typically costs about $25 to $35 per session.
- Unlike other methods, threading rarely causes ingrown hairs.

4

Depilatory Creams

Depilatory creams dissolve hair to remove large patches at a time. These creams contain a chemical that dissolves your hair so you can simply wipe it away. Slather the cream onto the hair you want to remove, let it sit for a few minutes, and then remove it with a washcloth. Just make sure you buy depilatory cream labeled for use on your face. As a downside, the cream might cause redness, tingling, and irritation.^{[4]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Depilatory creams usually last for a few days up to 2 weeks.^{[5]
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  Research source}
- You can buy depilatory creams at a department store or online for under $10.

5

Waxing

You can do waxing at-home or go to a salon. At-home kits usually come with either strips that you warm up between your hands or a container of wax that you heat up. You apply a waxed strip to your unwanted hair and then pull it off, removing the hair. Keep in mind that you’ll probably experience mild pain during waxing, as well as redness, bumps, and irritation.^{[6]
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Research source}
- Waxing results usually last for 3 to 6 weeks.
- You can get a waxing kit for as little as $10.
- Over time, you may notice less sensitivity with waxing, so it may eventually be painless for you. Additionally, your hair might grow back thinner.

6

Sugaring

Sugaring easily removes your hair while also exfoliating your skin.^{[7]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Like with waxing, you slather a sugar paste onto the hair you want to remove. Then, you pull the paste off quickly to rip out the hairs. You can do this without a strip, but it’s easier to remove the sugar paste if you press a strip down onto it. As a trade off, you may experience discomfort and skin irritation after sugaring.^{[8]
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Research source}
- Like waxing, results usually last for 3 to 6 weeks.
- You can find waxing kits online or at a department store for as little as $13. You can also make your own.

7

Shaving

Shaving is easy, inexpensive, and painless. Contrary to popular belief, shaving your facial hair won’t cause it to grow back thicker or darker. For best results, use shaving cream to soften the hairs and shave in the direction your hair grows. On the downside, shaving may cause ingrown hairs and could cause nicks or cuts.^{[9]
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Research source}
- Shaving results last about 1 to 3 days.
- You can buy a razor for under $10.
- Look for a razor labeled as a face razor. Most facial shavers for women have a straight-edge razor that’s easier to use on your face. If you have thick hair, you might use a face razor labeled for men. Regular women’s razors aren't ideal because they're often larger than facial razors.

8

Bleaching or Dyeing Your Hair

Dyeing facial hair to match your skin tone makes it less noticeable. Plus, coloring hair is easy and painless. You can buy bleaching and facial hair coloring kits at your local drug store. Pick a product that’s made for your skin tone.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Expert Interview. 19 August 2020.}
- Most people bleach their hair every 2 to 4 weeks.
- You can buy a facial bleaching or hair dye kit for as little as $10.

9

Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning is very effective and works for all skin and hair types. In this treatment, a doctor or esthetician uses a small scalpel to scrape away the top layer of your skin, which takes the hair with it. Your procedure will last about 30 minutes, and you’ll immediately have smoother skin. Anyone can get dermaplaning, but you might experience redness and irritation after the procedure.^{[11]
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Research source}
- Dermaplaning results usually last for up to a month.
- Although dermaplaning often costs under $100, it can cost more depending on how much your local professionals charge.
- As an added benefit, dermaplaning also minimizes scars and wrinkles.

10

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is a semi-permanent way to remove facial hair. During laser hair removal, a dermatologist uses light pulses to destroy the root of the hair. It doesn’t automatically remove the hair but does cause it to fall out over time. It works best for those with dark hair and light skin, but an experienced professional may be able to treat other skin and hair types.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Expert Interview. 19 August 2020.}
- Laser hair removal is semi-permanent, but you’ll likely need a touch-up once a year.
- Treatments typically cost several hundred dollars per session. You’ll probably need 2 to 6 treatments to remove all of your unwanted hair. For facial hair, these treatments are usually spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart.
- You can buy an at-home laser hair removal kit, but they typically don’t work as well.
- Common side effects of laser hair removal include redness and swelling, as well as pigment changes. You’re more likely to experience skin lightening if you have darker skin or don’t stay out of the sun before the procedure.^{[13]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}

11

Electrolysis

Electrolysis is the only way to permanently remove your facial hair. During electrolysis, a technician will insert a small needle into your hair follicle to destroy the cell that grows hair. After the treatment, your hair falls out and never grows back.^{[14]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Family Physicians
Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities
Go to source} As a drawback, you might experience discomfort, redness, scabbing, or scarring.
- Electrolysis results are permanent.
- For facial hair, an electrolysis procedure usually takes about 4 to 10 hours.^{[15]
  X
  Research source} Usually, this will be broken up into several 30-minute sessions that cost between $30 and $200 per session.
Expert Answer

Q

Is it OK to remove female facial hair?

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Karina Villalta is a certified Esthetician and Owner of Oh Sweet and Sugar and Shears, a skincare and hair removal service located in Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. With over eight years of experience, Karina specializes in eyebrow shaping, a hair removal technique called sugaring, and organic facials. Karina started her career and was trained at Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bar. Since opening her own business, Karina ensures her clients are educated about their skin and helps them implement personalized skincare routines.

EXPERT ADVICE

Answer from Karina Villalta:

Totally! If you want to get rid of your facial hair, go for it. If you want to let it be, that's totally fine too. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to your beauty practices. So long as you're happy with the way you look, you're doing it right!

12

Vaniqa Prescription Cream

Vaniqa reduces or stops hair growth as long as you’re using it. It’s a prescription cream that you use twice a day, so you’ll need to see a doctor to get it. Before you apply your cream, you’ll need to use one of the other hair removal options, like shaving or waxing, to remove your hair.^{[16]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Family Physicians
Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities
Go to source} While the cream can help, you could experience skin redness and irritation.
- Your results will last as long as you continue to use the cream. Generally, it takes about 4 to 8 weeks for the cream to start working.^{[17]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}

How Do I Safely Epilate My Facial Hair?

Expert Q&A

Question

How can a woman get rid of facial hair permanently?

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Karina Villalta is a certified Esthetician and Owner of Oh Sweet and Sugar and Shears, a skincare and hair removal service located in Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. With over eight years of experience, Karina specializes in eyebrow shaping, a hair removal technique called sugaring, and organic facials. Karina started her career and was trained at Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bar. Since opening her own business, Karina ensures her clients are educated about their skin and helps them implement personalized skincare routines.

Karina Villalta

Certified Esthetician

Expert Answer

There are laser treatments out there that use electricity to keep hairs from growing back permanently, but outside of that, you're just going to have to regularly maintain your hair removal regimen.
Question

How do I figure out what brow shape would look best for me?

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Karina Villalta is a certified Esthetician and Owner of Oh Sweet and Sugar and Shears, a skincare and hair removal service located in Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. With over eight years of experience, Karina specializes in eyebrow shaping, a hair removal technique called sugaring, and organic facials. Karina started her career and was trained at Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bar. Since opening her own business, Karina ensures her clients are educated about their skin and helps them implement personalized skincare routines.

Karina Villalta

Certified Esthetician

Expert Answer

I'd really recommend reaching out to a trained esthetician for this. There's a technique called brow mapping, and they'll be able to identify the best shape and location for your brows based on the location of your eyes and nose. It's pretty tough to figure this one out on your own.
Question

How do I get rid of female facial hair cheaply and permanently?

Community Answer

There are dozens of homemade hair removal products you can learn about on YouTube. They don't necessarily work immediately, but over time you should see less hair. The most common method is to use turmeric powder.

Warnings

If you have sensitive skin, removing your hair can cause a lot of redness and irritation. You might try doing it less often so your skin has time to recover, or you could try another method.

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Most methods of hair removal can cause ingrown hairs, which happen when hair grows under your skin. Ingrown hairs cause uncomfortable red bumps that look like pimples.

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