How to Remove Facial Hair Without Shaving: 12 Methods That Work

One of the best self-grooming tips to instantly make yourself look prettier and boost your confidence is having clear, hair-free skin. This is especially important for the skin on the face, which is visible 24/7. So, the question is, what can you do to effortlessly get hair-free skin? 

You want to remove facial hair, right? There are several methods of doing so. Shaving is one of the top choices, as it helps with gentle exfoliation of the skin. However, the catch about shaving is that it does not suit all skin types. 

Are you one of those people with sensitive skin looking for a safe and efficient method for removing facial hair? Well, we have an article on 12 effective methods other than shaving. 

So, how about we learn about and try them? 

Table of Contents:

• Part 1: Why Look for Hair Removal Methods Other Than Shaving?
• Part 2: 10 Hair Removal Methods Other Than Shaving That Works for Facial Hair Removal
• Part 3: Conclusion

Why Look for Hair Removal Methods Other Than Shaving? 

There are several factors related to shaving that make one look for a different hair removal method. Some of such factors are given as, 

1. Appearance of Hair Regrowth 

In shaving, the sharp razor blades only cut the hair at the level of the skin. This leaves a straight end of the hair behind. Immediately after shaving, skin appears clear and hairless. 

However, the straight and blunt end of the hair grows in a few days and makes the hair appear darker and thicker than they actually are. Also, hair might twist under the surface of the skin causing ingrown hair. 

2. Transient Results 

Facial hairlessness after shaving the skin correctly stays for 3 to 5 days with 7 days at maximum. Even during these days, a few strands become apparent on the skin inciting you to do another session of shaving. 

So, shaving is not the right method of hair removal when you want long-lasting results. 

3. Not Suitable for Sensitive or Acne-Prone Skin

The use of razors on the skin is not one of the most gentle methods of hair removal as it can cause micro-tears in the skin. Additionally, there is a risk of bacterial invasion into the skin. As a result, shaving has the potential to cause acne and skin irritation. 

So, people with acne-prone and sensitive skin must avoid it. 

4. Shaving Burns and Skin Irritation 

Shaving your facial hair once in a while is safe. However, shaving too often can damage the skin. Here are the side effects of shaving, 

• Immediate redness of the skin 
• Shaving burns if you use a blunt blade
• Skin itching followed by skin irritation 
• Risk of micro tears and razor cuts
• Ingrown hair
• Acne 
• Bumps on the skin

5. Risk of Uneven Skin Tone

Shaving leads to the development of hyperpigmentation in some areas while hypopigmentation in others. This is due to inflammation, skin irritation, and razor burns. 

Thus, the ultimate effect of the side effects of shaving mentioned above is an uneven skin tone. 

10 Hair Removal Methods Other Than Shaving That Works for Facial Hair Removal 

Do not worry if you cannot shave the facial hair as hair removal options for the face are endless currently. So, here are the options you can consider

1. Natural Hair Removal Remedies 

For women wanting a natural yet efficient hair removal method, DIY home remedies are worth a try. Here are some options you can try,

• Gelatin and milk peel-off mask 
• Gram flour, curd, and turmeric facial scrub 
• Rose water and alum powder face mask
• Egg white and cornstarch peel-off mask 

The good thing about DIY remedies is that, 

• All ingredients are easily available allowing you to do hair removal at any time
• They all glow on the skin 
• You can use these at home

However, you have to be,

• Patients as these remedies take time to show results 
• Consistent in prolonging the results 

2. Waxing or Sugaring 

To wax facial hair 3 types of waxes can be used, 

• Hard wax 
• Soft wax 
• Sugaring

Let us discuss the details of all three types, 

• Hard wax is easier to handle, less painful, and requires no strips 
• Soft wax is the traditional type of wax in which waxing strips are used. It might be a little messy. But pre-made waxing strips are available to make it mess-free
• Sugaring is a  natural substitute for commercial wax and is suitable for sensitive skin of the face

3. Plucking with Tweezers 

Facial hair grows according to the hair growth cycle. 80% of the hair that is removed in the active phase takes 2 to 4 weeks to regrow. However, the rest 20% becomes visible on the skin within 1 week. 

You cannot wax the whole face to get rid of that 10 to 20%, right? Therefore, plucking the hair with a pair of tweezers works well for stray facial hair. 

Different types of  tweezers are in the market and  are given as, 

• Slanted tweezers for any hair
• Straight tweezers to remove a few stray hairs
• Pointed tweezers for broken hair strands and fine hair 
• Splinter tweezers for ingrown hair 

4. Threading 

Any hair removal method has an impact on the skin and might not be compatible with sensitive skin. Thus, threading is the way to go as it pulls the hair by twisting it between two pieces of the cotton thread without touching the skin. 

Additionally, here are some points to note for threading, 

• You need to practice a little before threading directly on the face 
• It is useful for shaping the eyebrows
• In case of any carelessness, it can damage the skin as well 

5. Hair Removal Creams

The strength of chemicals used in body hair removal creams is reduced to make depilatory creams safe for the delicate skin of the face. Moreover, hair removal creams formulated for the face have ingredients like, 

• Shea butter 
• Aloe vera
• Essential oils 

These ingredients moisturize the skin. Therefore, facial depilatory creams are a pain-free and effortless method for facial hair removal. However, they can cause, 

• Thick hair regrowth 
• Chemical burns 
• Hyperpigmentation 

6. Electric Depilatory Devices

Are you saying goodbye to shaving because of the risk of cuts and razor burns? Well, you can shave the face while avoiding such side effects by using an electric depilatory device. 

For example, flawless facial hair removal cuts the hair from the surface of the skin without any,

• Cuts
• Burns 
• Irritation 
• Redness 

It does so by pulling the hair upwards and then removing it. 

7. Epilation 

For women finding waxing messy and plucking/threading time-consuming, epilation provides a way to remove hair from the roots. Electric epilators come with rollers and blades. 

They grab the hair and then push it out of the follicles leaving smooth skin behind. However, remember that, 

• Buy an epilating device specified for small and delicate areas like the face
• Be careful as epilation can cause bumps on the skin 
• Epilate in a well-lit room to ensure that you remove all hair 

8. Prescription Creams 

Temporary results are the major drawback of most hair removal methods mentioned above. To prolong the results of temporary hair removal methods, you can use prescription creams.

These creams have eflornithine that inhibits enzymes involved in hair growth. Also,

• You must use the prescription creams regularly to get the expected results 
• The results of the prescription creams last as long as you keep using them 

9. IPL Hair Removal 

Using a prescription cream on every alternate day is a hassle and this can interfere with your skincare routine as well. To avoid this, you can use an IPL hair removal device like the Ulike Air 10 IPL hair removal handset. It is useful because, 

• It ensures that you can semi-permanent results within a few weeks without needing a session every other day
• Its results last for up to 6 months
• Follow-ups with Ulike are convenient 
• It is nearly painless and completely safe for at-home use 
• It allows you to continue your regular skincare within 12 hours of your hair removal session 

10. Laser Hair Removal 

Laser hair removal is a light-based technology to annihilate the hair follicles. Its differences with IPL hair removal include, 

• Laser is more precise because of its mono-spectrum beam of light 
• Its results last for a few years while that of IPL lasts for half a year 
• Laser hair removal experience can be uncomfortable and painful 
• It is much more expensive 

11. Electrolysis 

One hair removal method that you can trust for permanent results is electrolysis. It does not only put the hair in a dormant phase but also enables it to activate ever after. However, even the results of electrolysis can be compromised in the case of, 

• Hormonal imbalances 
• Incomplete destruction of the hair follicles 

12. Bleaching 

Bleaching is a way to deal with facial hair without removing it. It works by decolorizing the hair strands to a color that matches the tone of the skin. Thus, hair becomes invisible. 

But, the problem with bleaching is that it makes hair golden and they shine in sunlight. This shine looks awkward and pleasant. 

Conclusion 

You do not have to worry about what to do to remove your facial hair if you cannot shave it. Rather, choosing the right method to get rid of undesired hair is more challenging. 

Out of the uncountable hair removal methods for facial hair, we have discussed the 12 most effective ones in this article.