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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to hate hate hate my hairy chin.

140 replies

ihatemyhairychin · 29/01/2014 13:17

Namechanged for this as I'm so embarrassed.

OK - so I am nearly 40 years old, female and have facial hair.

It started about 10 years ago - just the odd black hair on my chin, but now there are bloody loads of them in small patches on my chin and underneath. They are thick & black and not like the little bit of fuzz I get on my upper lip. I shave my chin every morning (and sometimes in the evening too). Can't bear to leave it long enough for waxing or threading.

I paid for laser hair removal about 5 years ago and have had a course on the NHS as well, but they don't seem to have worked.

Do I have to deal with this forever? I can only imagine it getting worse as I get older and that is very depressing. Any other hairy folk out there with any advice?

OP posts:
GarlicReturns · 31/01/2014 13:15

We're all normal. I'm a nurse and most women I've looked after have had exactly the same trouble.....seen quite a few beards after ladies have been in bed and tweezer-less for 2 weeks. And that includes women in their 20s. Very few women don't have facial hair it seems.

Thanks Thanks Thanks

Thank you for this, Wanda!

Must admit I didn't have any beardy chin hairs until my early thirties, though I had a lot of blonde fuzz. It's carried on getting worse - or, I should say, more pronounced - and I've slowly come to realise it is actually normal. It's one of those female features that are always airbrushed out (in RL and certainly in photos!) Result: we think we're abnormal because we rarely see it on other women.

The PCOS may have made mine coarser and blacker than a more girly woman's chin hairs - but hers would be longer and waftier Wink

CrabbyWinterBottom · 31/01/2014 13:41

I treated myself to one of these IPL devices on Amazon's black friday deals. I got it for £114. I've found it very effective on facial hair so far, I'm thrilled to say.

uneedme · 31/01/2014 13:50

Anyone know the name if the cream u get on percsription. I got one beginning with v but never persevered with it

SoleSource · 31/01/2014 13:54

Inspired by this thread I have just booked a waxing appointment for 2.30pm today - PCOS cannot be treated by Electrolysis apparently but waxing helps. I went to a salon and was turned away as the hair was too thick...I shall l report back later today. PCOS here too.

£5 neck £5 chin £5 upper lip

poorincashrichinlove · 31/01/2014 13:55

Haven't heard about the carbs before. Worth a try...

JackNoneReacher · 31/01/2014 13:59

sole no. PCOS can't be 'treated' nor can the growth of new hair be stopped, but laser will permanently reduce the growth of unwanted hair. If the hair is thick and dark it is should respond well.

Waxing obviously removes the hair which is helpful but it is only temporary.

The place I had the laser offers a reduction for PCOS sufferers.

Mumtorobbie · 31/01/2014 14:03

There may be something in the carb thing.

I've been low carbing since may but put on a few pounds over xmas. I've noticed a definite increase in my chin hairs but its only just clicked reading this thread.

GarlicReturns · 31/01/2014 14:39

You got a good price there, Sole. Hope she's doing a nice job for you :)

Fakebook · 31/01/2014 14:56

I've recently wondered if facial and unwanted body hair may be a new thing? My mum never had it and had an absolute hair free body, with soft arms and legs and she had a pretty clean, fresh food diet. The carb thing seems to make more and more sense. I've also heard that fluoride in toothpaste may play a part in facial hair too. I don't know how true that is though.

TarteAuxRiz · 31/01/2014 14:59

I have a great device...not sure what it's called but it's like a long spring with plastic bobbles on each end and it kind of mass tweezers your chin. It's bloody brilliant! I'm rushing out now but will try and link to it tonight!

SoleSource · 31/01/2014 20:25

Jack thank you for you response, I have had laser treatment but it wasn't effective. I have often wondered if the machine was crap or not. I will PM you Jack

The price was very reasonable Garlic. I also had eyebrow waxing and a tint. The Beautician forgot to charge me I have realised. She only charged me for the waxing.

I need to go back and pay tomorrow don't I?

She waxed the majority of my hairs but needed to pluck too. The sot fluffy hairs are still there as they were too short to wax. I can still feel a few prickles.

I had plucked hundreds ,blush. of hairs before I went today. I'm the Yeti :(

I hate hairs!

rainraingoAWAYNEVERCOMEBACK · 31/01/2014 21:56

mum you said you noticed an increase, did you mean decrease?

Thanks for the article Fakbook...it also mentions saw pemento, whatever that is?

rainraingoAWAYNEVERCOMEBACK · 31/01/2014 21:57

tarte i think someone has already linked to this thing you speak of.....looks good.

rainraingoAWAYNEVERCOMEBACK · 31/01/2014 21:58

fluoride in toothpaste?

Also metal cans food is stored in, like soups I have heard has gender bending chemicals.

StatisticallyChallenged · 31/01/2014 22:07

Rainrain I'm thinking she means she noticed an increase over Christmas when she stopped low carbing?

JackNoneReacher · 01/02/2014 00:24

Don't think it's new fakebook. My grandma used to talk about the bearded lady at the circus... (that would be me without laser) but maybe all the refined sugar has made it worse.

WhereDoAllTheCalculatorsGo · 01/02/2014 00:41

I'd have a beard without the tweezers too, Jack. It's qute satisfying, plucking, but I'd rather not have to, obviously. Strangely the plucking is completely pain-free for me.

Dalaimama · 01/02/2014 01:02

I always pluck - have about 8 hairs. I can squeeze the little root out too when the black dot appears.(gross I know sorry!) i have a few blonde hairs too but am afraid to pluck in case they grow back black - is this true?

Secondly is electrolysis really permanent? My mum has been having it for 30 years on her chin. Surely this means it is not permanent? My frends are having it 15 or more years - always having to pop back to be zapped. I'd rather pluck than spend money on years of electrolysis.

Mumtorobbie · 01/02/2014 08:06

Sorry, yes I did mean that when I low carved I saw a definite decrease in my facial hair.

I also tried the Philips Lumea and wasn't that impressed. In fact I ended up selling it on eBay.

It was good on leg hair but totally ineffective on facial hair probably because mine is a result of PCOS.

Mumtorobbie · 01/02/2014 08:08

Low carbed even!

fifi669 · 01/02/2014 09:16

I've just read up about the spearmint tea and it really is recommended. Might have to stock up

RainYourRottingMyDhaliaBulbs · 01/02/2014 13:37

so...spearmint tea, saw pimento and low carbing for us PCOS ladies!

LEMmingaround · 01/02/2014 14:03

Thankyou for this thread - i sometimes feel like a bearded freak Blush:( I am really self concious about it - i made the mistake of shaving both my chin and upper lip so use more razors than dp now :( Then its like bum fluff on the rest of my face - and i get tricked too, one mirror doesn't show and i don't think it looks that bad but then i look in the bathroom mirror or a mirror in a pub/resturant and i look unclean :( It really affects my non-existent confidence and i feel that other people judge me on it.

I have tried those wax strips but i need loads, yet the wax strips for legs specify not to use on face, i did try some once, they were £1 at the chemist on some sort of clearance and i nearly ripped the side of my face off so i don't know if it was becaue they were old or because you genuinely shouln;t use on your face but those strips are shit. i did manage with a product from veet - some wax in a little tube that you heat in a cup of hot water, then use the little strips they give you - those are too small so i use pages from magazines Hmm works just as well. But they seem to have stopped making it.

I hate hate hate it

fifi669 · 01/02/2014 14:22

I always use the legs ones then chop them to size. I haven't had an problems. A lot cheaper that way too.

LEMmingaround · 01/02/2014 14:27

Thats good to know fifi - perhaps i just bought a duff pack - what make do you use?