What should I do about my increasingly obvious facial hair?

[beardedlady]

I'm 40, and in the last year or so have found that I no longer just have the odd dark hair on upper lip/chin, but lots, so much that plucking out the odd one is a losing battle!
I would really appreciate advice about differnet options: I don't want to spend a lot of money butI think I really do need to do something about it.
I 've never really been a makeup wearer or had facials or anything and this feels scary. Also, if you remove hair from upper lip does it make the ones on the rest of your face (light hairs on cheeks) look more obvious?
Help please, I will be so grateful

wax it or, as long as there's not too much of it, bleach it. But if you are particularly hirsute be careful with bleaching as you just end up looking like a german lesbian (sorry no offence intended)

Sykes?

I remove the hair from my upper lip regularly with cream.... I'd never thought of it making the rest of the hair more obvious! I don't think it does though. >mental note to self... must check<

I have black hair (distant Italian origin) and so my body hair is very black and coarse, so I sympathise with this.

Try a patch test with the cream first on your inner arm, coz I know of a very embarassing situation where a girl developed an allergy and had a scabby top lip for weeks!

I'd go for waxing as the more you have it done the finer the growth will be!!

Absolutely

Oh thought you meant she had lots of facial hair (sorry sykes!! )

Waxing - I used to grow a moustache when on high doses of steriods (v sexy) and waxing is the only way. Don't do it just before going out as you get red lip! I used to get it done at 5pm and skulk home with hood up then stay in that evening.

Or you can buy little strips at the chemist. Not so good and hurt like buggery!

Ha, bloody ha. Off to Pilates.

sykes why are you expert?

I think because of the lesbian comment?

Thanks all. Looks like waxing might be the thing. The hairs are quite long so bleaching would only half solve the problem: katierocket I know what you mean.
So do you wax yourselves or pay to get it done? Countessdracula sounds like you gave up on doing it yourself?
M2T good advice re testing.
Dont know why I find this whole thing so embarrassing. Its good to be able to ask you all, rather than my 'real life' friends. Thansk!

Not embarrassing. Much more embarrasing to look like Chewbacca and do nothing about it than to have hair removed IMO.

Is sykes german lesbian then?

You are probably right Countessdracula. But do you really not mind having it done? Do you go for other treatments too?

Yes, legs and once armpits (never again!), massage, pedicure etc occasionally.

I really don't mind, minded having moustache a lot more. Fortunately no longer on steroids so don't have one any more!

You can buy electrolysis machine to use at home these days too apparantly.

All I meant by that was, are you used to having people give you facials, leg waxing etc? I just have never gone in for that, too stingy. But this feels very necessary now. All I ever have done is a haircut!

Posts crossed, you knew what I meant.

Anyone tried home electrolysis?

Oh Jah, traurig.
Babel Fish Translation
ich wußte nicht, daß sie ein Freund von Dorothy war

Cool those weird b things came out

Blimey what's going on?

Do you know why your facial hair is becoming more obvious? If it's a hormone imbalance you might be able to use a herbal remedy like Agnus Castus to ease the symptoms.

I was prescribed Dianette (combined pill) a few years back for skin problems and period pain. It's also supposed to be prescribed for excess hair - all linked with excess Androgen production apparently. My skin condition improved sooo quickly it was fantastic stuff. Worth asking about?

ein freund von dorothy? is that where that phrase comes from?

Thanks bobsmum and bran. I hadnt thought of it being something I could treat, rather than just remove. MY Mum has quite a bit of facial hair although fair so she just looks 'furry' rather than hairy iyswim! But I dont think it started as early as 40.