Unwanted Lip Hair

Unwanted Upper lip hair is a problem many women have to deal with.

I had a request from one of my readers to give some advice as to what can be done to remove/prevent this.

There are a number of different methods out there to remove and disguise unwanted facial hair, unfortunately unless the hair is dark and suitable for laser hair removal it is impossible to permanently remove it.

Below I have listed the most popular options. Some of these you can do yourself at home, others should be carried out by trained professionals.

Bleach Method

Choose a cream bleach for facial hair. Cream bleach is appropriate for lightening hairs that are not completely black, just dark. It lasts for up to 2 weeks. Be sure to only choose bleach that is recommended for use on the face; since the skin here is so sensitive, you have to be extra careful to avoid irritation.

If applicable, choose a cream that suits your skin type (ex. dry, oily, etc.).

Always spot-test the cream on your skin. Apply a small dab to a sensitive but safe area (such as the skin of your inner wrist) to make sure you don’t react. Leave on for the recommended amount of time, wash away thoroughly, and wait at least another 10 or 15 minutes to make sure you don’t itch or turn red.

Wash your face.

Apply the bleach to your upper lip area. The cream should come with an applicator, but if it doesn’t, put on gloves and use a finger. Be very careful not to get it on your lip itself or near the delicate skin in your nostrils, which can cause your skin to react.

Wait most of the recommended time, then wipe away a small amount to test if it has worked. Use a cotton pad to wipe the cream away (wipe away from your nose/mouth, not toward them) and check to see if the hair is light. If not, wait a little longer.

Ideally, bleaching cream should not be used on the skin for more than 10 minutes because it’s so hard on the skin. If your cream recommends more time than this, test it at the 10-minute mark anyway; if it has worked, remove the rest.

Wipe away the remaining cream. Again, use cotton pads or something similar to wipe up the cream and don’t get it on any sensitive areas.

Thoroughly rinse your skin. Rinse more than you think you need to so that no residue will irritate your skin.

Wax Method

 Ideally you should always visit a trained professional for waxing, it is very quick and you know they are going to do a good job.

 But if you would prefer to do it at home, here is some advice:

Choose a wax that is appropriate for facial hair. Waxing removes hair entirely. You can either get spreadable wax and strips or ready-made strips that already have wax applied (which is the tidier option for home waxing if it's your first time).

Waxing is only possible if the hairs are long enough for the wax to catch on. If you aren’t willing to let your hairs grow long enough to do this, either look for a short-hair wax (some claim to be able to wax as little as 2mm of growth) or use another option listed here (such as bleaching).

Heat up the wax if necessary. Most waxes must be warmed up, but wax strips are sometimes the exception. Read the instructions on your box for details.

Spread wax over the upper lip area. Use the applicator that comes with the kit to spread it carefully, avoiding the delicate skin on your lips.

Apply a strip over your mustache area. Start on one side and smooth it firmly over the entire area, avoiding folds and air pockets.

Quickly rip the strip off on one motion. It will take the wax and your hair with it, but be warned that it will hurt the first few times you try it. Don’t rip it off slowly or in several motions; this will make things worse.

Thoroughly rinse your skin. Make sure not to leave any residue.

Manually pluck any hairs you missed. If your upper lip is still sore from the waxing, you may want to wait a while before doing this.

Depilatory Cream Method

Choose a depilatory cream that is appropriate for facial hair. Depilatory creams painlessly cause hair to fall out from the root, but because the chemicals involved in this process are harsh, it’s best to select a cream designed for delicate facial skin.

Spot-test the cream. Apply a small dab to a sensitive but safe area (such as the skin of your inner wrist) to make sure you don’t react. Leave on for the recommended amount of time (read the box for instructions), wash away thoroughly, and wait at least another 10 or 15 minutes to make sure you don’t itch or turn red.

Spread a thick coat of cream over your upper lip. You can do this with gloves if you prefer, but since the cream needs time to take effect, you can also use you bare hands and then wash thoroughly with soap and water.

Wait most of the recommended time, then wipe away a small amount to test if it has worked. When possible, it’s better to use it for less time to prevent your skin from becoming irritated. If it’s not ready, wait a little longer.

Wipe away the remaining cream. Use cotton pads.

Thoroughly rinse your skin. Rinse more than you think you need to so that no residue will irritate your skin. If some hairs do not come off easily, just try rubbing them gently with water. If that doesn't work, take a bath. The steam coming from the bath should make tough hairs come out on their own.

Manually pluck any hairs the cream missed.

Epilator Method

Choose an epilator that’s appropriate for facial hair. An epilator is a hand-held device that pulls hairs up by the root when moved across skin. The plucking heads on a body epilator will be too big to use on the upper lip, so you’ll have to shop around for a slim model designed for facial hair.

Epilating is only possible if the hairs are long enough for the epilator to catch. If you aren’t willing to let your hairs grow long enough to do this, use another option listed here (such as bleaching).

Hide your lips by pressing them together. This will not only make the skin above the lip easier to access, but also keep your delicate lip skin away from the epilator.

Slowly run the epilator over the skin above your upper lip. Unless you’re very used to plucking these hairs, be warned that it will probably hurt. You will get used to this with time, but in the beginning, it will be uncomfortable.

Start with the slowest speed. Until you get the hang of epilating. Manually pluck any hairs you missed. If your upper lip is sore, you may want to wait a while before doing this.

Electrolysis or Laser Removal Method

Weigh the benefits of each method. Both of these have the potential to be permanent solutions (after enough treatments) and can help people whose lip hair is due to hormonal imbalances, for example.

During electrolysis, a tiny needle is inserted into the hair follicle, where it creates a current that kills the root of the hair. It’s a tedious, one-hair-at-a-time process – that needs to be repeated many times – but since the upper lip is a tiny area, this won’t matter as much.

During laser-hair removal, a laser is used to zap many hair follicles at once and kill hair at the root. You need fewer sessions than with electrolysis, but it’s significantly more expensive. Because the lasers are best at targeting dark hairs that stand out against light skin, it’s not ideal for dark-skinned or light-haired people.

Carefully research locations, practitioners, and prices. Some places have better machines, more qualified specialists, and happier reviews than others. Never choose a location based on their testimonials.

You nedd to have realistic expectations. While laser hair removal and electrolysis can have permanent effects and work wonders for some people, they can also be painful and are not guaranteed for everyone. Also the treatments can be painful and expensive. If possible, talk to other people who’ve had it done for their advice or call in to your local salon for a consultation. Most salons offer free consultations.

Tips

Don't go in the sun for 24 hrs after waxing to prevent your upper lip from getting a pigmentation.

The best time to get rid of your upper lip hair is before bed. That way your skin has all night to get over any redness, irritation, swelling, etc.

Threading is a great alternative for those with sensitive skin, as it won't leave your skin red and blotchy for days. The best way to do this is to go to the salon as this is a skill very hard to master yourself.

Warnings

Depilatory cream does not work on very thick hair.

Don't do this on the day before a big date or an event!! Give your skin some time to recover.

Never use cream for longer than directed, as this may cause severe burning of the upper lip.

Don’t shave your upper lip. Because the hairs all grow back at the same length, the result not only feels stubbly, but also gives the illusion of having grown back thicker (just like a new haircut makes your hair look thicker because all the ends are bunched up next to each other).

Be careful of certain products for hair removal. Many cannot be used on the face because they might cause side effects. Some that can be used on the face will still irritate your skin.