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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to ask if anyone has any advice or can recommend something?

53 replies

echelon · 09/08/2016 21:43

This is really affecting my confidence.
I have PCOS and have always suffered with excess body and facial hair.
For the last two years the hair on my chin is growing longer and is prickly and coarse.
I tried wax strips which did nothing. Tried hair removal cream which lasted about a day.

A few months ago, out of desperation I took my husband's razor and shaved my chin until it was smooth.
It only lasted until that evening and the hair grew back, awfully prickly and coarse again.
It's been there ever since and is thick and long. I've (stupidly) taken my razor to it several times and each time the hair grows back even pricklier. And it grows back even faster.
I feel like crying every time I feel it. I feel like a bloke.

Luckily I'm very fair, and the stubble isn't noticeable.
What do I do? The products I've used (Veet, Superdrug, Boots creams and waxes)aren't working and aren't stopping the hair growth.

OP posts:

Claireabella1 · 09/08/2016 22:47

Have you tried tweezing it? Maybe look into laser hair removal? I do feel for you, it's not the same thing but I had stress related hair loss a few years ago, big bald patches. It's awful to have something like this that you can't cover with clothes or make up.

JagerPlease · 10/08/2016 09:28

It's definitely worth visiting your GP. I was given laser treatment on the NHS (although it didn't work for me, clearly it does for many people).

My default is shaving and I have found it much easier discussing it with my wife and just making sure I always have a razor with me. It's not ideal but it's cheap and instantly fixable

OutToGetYou · 10/08/2016 09:35

I would have thought there would be a hormone solution to this - isn't there any treatment for PCOS that can help prevent the hair growth? I think it's too much testosterone isn't it?

What has your GP said?

FlyingElbows · 10/08/2016 09:39

It's shit isn't it. I'm fat, beardy and rapidly going bald! If anyone has a magic cure I'd love to know what it is. I'm a fan of very good tweezers and I'll shave on the very rare occasions that I go anywhere.

BorpBorpBorp · 10/08/2016 09:44

Shaving won't change the nature of the hair. It seems like it comes back faster/pricklier because you're cutting the hair off so what you feel come through is the thick bit of of hair, whereas when you pluck, you remove the hair and when it grows back you feel the fine end of the hair.

For day to day, an electric razor is a very good solution. Long term, I would really recommend electrolysis (search BIAE to find a good electrolysist near you). Medication can help stop the hair getting worse, too.

AdmiralCLingus · 10/08/2016 10:12

As a pp said the nono system has a very specific set of people it is suitable for. My aunt has the same problem, she gets very stubbly and at the moment just shaves it but I know how much it gets her down. We looked into the nono for her but it wasn't suitable. She's had a couple of laser treatments that she said were fantastic but expensive and she couldn't keep them up due to the price so the hair is back again. I'm hoping to save up and treat her to a home ipl system as I know she would really love one but can't justify the expense. If you have the funds to do it, then I would go for the laser removal

summerskittles91 · 10/08/2016 10:40

the nono thing never worked for me. I also spent 3k+ on laser. I'm currently shaving my chin and jaws.

Threading works best for me, but when i don't get time to get it done i resort to shaving. I hate it too, just cant deal with trying to find an alternative.

FiddleFigs · 10/08/2016 10:46

I don't have PCOS but after I had a baby, my chin just went nuts with the chin hair! I'd recommend trying threading - there are lots of YouTube videos that will show you how to do it yourself. I tried electrolysis, but it wasn't for me (you need to wait for the hair to be a certain length - I couldn't bear the stubble).

AgentProvocateur · 10/08/2016 10:53

All these people recommending laser - does this work on fair hair? If so, you may have changed my life!

h0rsewithn0name · 10/08/2016 10:57

I tackled this head on about 3 years ago. I decided to throw money and time at it. I found a salon with a really knowledgeable beautician, and she's been brilliant.

i started going once a week for a laser session (£24 a time). After 6 weeks, she moved to a combination of electrolosis and laser (same price). This targeted those really thick black hairs. When I was 12 weeks in I moved to fortnightly sessions and stopped the laser.

Three years later I go every 6 weeks. I have a combination of electrolosis and threading. I don't need to pluck in between, unless I've got a special event coming up. I've been left with fine, downy hair which can be quite long and noticeable when the sun shines.

I hope you find something that works for you. I would find a salon that does all three (laser, electrolosis, threading) and ask them for a treatment plan. It won't be cheap, but it has changed my life!

elelfrance · 10/08/2016 10:58

If you're very fair, laser won't work (it targets the pigment in hairs, so doesn't work on blond hair on fair skin)
I have the same issue, i use wax strips once a week or so
Am going to look into electrolysis too, at some point

ABloodyDifficultWoman · 10/08/2016 10:59

Agent I have an idea that it's not suitable for fair or grey hair but I could be wrong.

Amelie10 · 10/08/2016 11:01

Agent my sister is dark haired and so am I and laser worked brilliantly. Hth.

AgentProvocateur · 10/08/2016 11:02

Thank you. That's what I thought. The OP said she is also very fair, so it won't work for her either

Thecatgotmytongue · 10/08/2016 11:25

I use an epilator. I have very dark hair and used to pluck it, but now there's too many so I just run the epilator over my chin and upper lip once a week approx.

I bought this one from Amazon .. So cheap, nothing to lose if you try it. I've had mine 3 years now, it's great!

TiverMeShimbers · 10/08/2016 11:26

I have had this problem for about 15 years now (I'm 42).

Initially I tweezed...until there were too many of the blighters. I have used various creams, wax strips, epilators and have had 2 courses of laser (one private, 1 NHS - neither made much difference).

Now I shave every morning. And sometimes in the evening if I'm going out. Everyone I tell is absolutely shocked that I have to do this - they have never noticed any problem.

Like myownprivateidaho, I have learned to live with it and it doesn't bother me as much as it used to. I keep meaning to go for electrolysis, but don't have a lot of free time so have never got round to it.

I am heartened to know that facial shaving has been very popular practise in Japan for many years (google kao sori) and that some people think it encourages collagen growth so keeps you younger looking for longer.

I do occasionally dread what would happen if I ended up in a coma (but I guess then a hairy face would be the least of my worries).

EatsShitAndLeaves · 10/08/2016 11:35

I bought a No No - I wouldn't recommend it.

It's just burns off the hair. Doesn't get the root. The smell as it burns the hair is rank.

I didn't buy it for my face though, so can't say how it would fare there - but it's not a great product imho.

Cel982 · 10/08/2016 12:55

I've had laser all over my body, including my face. While it worked brilliantly on bikini line and underarms, it was never as successful on my face where the hair is finer.
From what I've read, electrolysis really is the best for facial hair. It's expensive and it takes a long time, because each hair has to be individually treated, but it should work.

FedUpBetsy · 10/08/2016 14:39

Hi op. I bought a silk n sens epil for unwanted hair (both on body and upper lip) ad it's amazing (or it was before I dropped it and Smashed the thing). It's like an at home laser, u shave first and then use the laser over the top. It takes a few weeks to notice a difference but u really will notice! It's been around a year since I broke mine and the hair on my body is still very sparse in places (obviously it's best to keep up with the use). It's quite expensive but I figured it was worth it the amount I was paying on waxing strips, razors etc. I think u are only supposed to use it once a week or something but I used it a little more with no ill effects. Hope this helps somewhat and good luck x

Original poster

echelon · 10/08/2016 16:05

Just read all your comments, thanks everyone for all your advice and tips! Really appreciate it.
Thanks thecatgotmytongue for recommending that also. I'm liking the look of that.

The shop where I work sells the Braun epilator, I might try it before looking into salon treatments - 20% off with my staff discount.

Slightly off topic but kinda related. - can anyone recommend a really good concealer?
Due to the shaving, I have angry red spots all under my chin and along my jawline. I suppose it's a stubble rash.

My concealer is just not cutting it right now (I'm using a liquid Rimmel one in a tube.)

OP posts:

CattDamon · 10/08/2016 16:12

Ask your GP to refer you to an Endocrinologist. They will be able to help by way of creams/medication.

wonderpants · 10/08/2016 16:14

Ive struggled for years and found a weekly blast of a lumea has made a difference! I still shave every day, but it is finer, less noticeable and not noticeable if I miss a day, where as I had proper stubble mid afternoon before.

Sciurus83 · 10/08/2016 16:29

Adult acne sufferer here, concealer i can help with! The best high street concealer you can buy for a budget is the Collection lasting perfection IMHO, it's a beauty blogger hidden gem favourite and is around a fiver. Revlon colorstay is another good high street one for coverage and longevity. If you have more money to spend then Estee Lauder doublewear is great, benefit boing is a nice creamy more solid one that stays in place, benefit erase paste is super high coverage but I haven't tried that myself to recommend. Laura Mercier secret camouflage is very high coverage but I find it can be a bit difficult to work with. My favourite that I go back to again and again is clarins instant concealer because the finish is lovely and sometimes other formulas can look cakey if you put it over broken/rough skin but the clarins never let's me down. Go and try a few and see what feels right. Hope this helps X x

Original poster

echelon · 11/08/2016 12:05

Thanks Sciurus

Is that the Collection 2000 concealer? (are they still called that?)

OP posts:

Sciurus83 · 11/08/2016 20:51

That's the one, just called collection these days x

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