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Beard hairs please help

39 replies

Enoughnow12 · 10/11/2019 00:57

I get thick, black hairs on my chin. I've plucked them for ages and I think it makes them grow back quicker. What's the best thing to do with them? Wax? I have no idea but they are making me feel so masculine and ugly.

OP posts:
PersonaNonGarter · 10/11/2019 00:59

Philips Lumea. Amazing.

Enoughnow12 · 10/11/2019 01:02

Just googled, I'd love one but so expensive Blush I can't afford that atm.

OP posts:
30to50FeralHogs · 10/11/2019 01:17

I would also advise an IPL machine like Lumea. Yes its expensive, but totally life changing. That's not an overstatement. Yes, you can get those springy things (epilator stick) for like 99p from eBay, but you'll still be worrying about it every day.

Beg borrow or steal the money to get one in the new year - its the only thing that's ever had long lasting results. I did it maybe 6 times in total, over the course of 6 months, since then they have all been gone for over 6 years!!!! I never have to even think about the hairs on my chin, top lip etc. I could never have imagined how liberating that would feel at the time!

I cannot tell you how much it increased my confidence to not have to self conscious about it anymore.

I've also done my armpits with it so never have to shave them any more, can go swimming or wear a vest without even thinking about it, and I did most of my legs, although I didn't manage to do them all over, so have the odd patches still on them Grin but even so, the hair is much finer there.

Please if you only do that one thing for yourself, save up and buy one. All the waxing, plucking, bleaching and electrolysis etc that I tried over the previous 20+ years were just wasting my time and money. The investment I made in the IPL machine is honestly the best money I ever spent. I actually bought one called Smoothskin Gold, which was cheaper than the Philips one, so have a look at those.

In order to make it work you need not to have pulled the hairs out by the root for a few weeks beforehand, so you have to shave the hairs in the meantime rather than plucking, but that at least gets rid of them all instead of having to leave them to be long enough to wax/pluck.

Zero79me · 10/11/2019 06:24

Sometimes the tweezers break the hair at skin leven not plucked from root and sometimes its another hair completely that just emerged not the same one.
Yes can wax but you may still need to check every day.

BitOfFun · 10/11/2019 07:18

Keep an eye out for Facebook offers. I bought a non-branded version for about £60.

catsandkid · 10/11/2019 07:22

I'm interested in this too - same prob as OP. I have some dark brown hairs and some auburn ones (dark auburn though - not blondy unnoticeable ones sadly). Would IPL machine work for those too? Also, what does it feel like?

Lizzy1980 · 10/11/2019 07:25

I'd love to try it too but it's out of my price range. I have the same problem. I just pluck at the moment but the hairs are really stubborn there and often break off with the tweezers. I know how you feel, feeling a bit unfeminine since I've started getting them

EmmiJay · 10/11/2019 07:58

Used mine on my sideburns (I must have been a wolf in a past life...?) Its on sale here atm www.justmylook.com/philips-lumea-essential-ipl-hair-removal-device-bri861-p13377

Skittlesandbeer · 10/11/2019 11:52

Another lumea fan here. I’m up to my 3rd treatment, and already 90% hair free. It doesn’t hurt (feels like giving yourself a flick with a fingernail) and works best on dark hair/pale skin people.

I know I’ll be selling my lumea on to friends, since it worked so quickly. I bet I’m not the only one, there’s sure to be some around. I can’t see there’d be any hygiene issue, barely any of the machine touches your skin, and it’s easily wiped clean.

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 10/11/2019 12:57

Would a cheaper non-Phillips one work as well? I've coveted these for ages but just can't afford it. Is it a case of 'you get what you pay for'?

BitOfFun · 10/11/2019 15:20

I hope not- I have taken up that option, but I've not been doing it long enough yet to say how effective it is.

It does appear to work in exactly the same way though.

Trewser · 10/11/2019 15:22

Lumea. All mine are gone. Sadly I also have quite a few white ones which I have threaded.

TempestHayes · 10/11/2019 16:53

I use a Lumea on my legs but it's no good for anywhere you won't want to shave - you have to shave the hairs and use the Lumea to zap the roots. I'm not prepared to shave anything facial - I have hair like a bog brush. You can pluck, then Lumea, but it doesn't work as you didn't leave enough behind to zap.

So, there's plucking and there's threading. I love threading as it gets the invisible ones I can feel but can't see.

30to50FeralHogs · 16/11/2019 00:25

I'm not prepared to shave anything facial - I have hair like a bog brush.

Why wouldn’t you shave it if it means you can zap it moments later and within a couple of weeks have no hair there? The idea that shaving is bad is so daft. Yes the hairs have a blunt end rather than a tapered end, but they don’t actually grow back thicker/coarser etc and by being able to zap them they will actually get weaker, finer, and less noticeable each time you do it (I did it about once a week for 6 weeks and it’s all gone - barely noticed it at all after week 3)

@MyGhastIsFlabbered my Smoothskin Gold was recommended on MN and was much cheaper than the alternative Lumea at the time. It’s worked amazingly everywhere I’ve tried it. I’m olive skinned and dark haired, typical Greek/Italian complexion.

QuestionableMouse · 16/11/2019 00:30

The spring epilator is torture. Avoid.

I have pcos so lots of hair and at the moment I'm finding a combination of plucking and an eyebrow razor is really helping to keep them in check.

NorthernGravy · 16/11/2019 06:48

I have a Lumea and it’s done nothing for my chin hairs. I suspect it’s because mine are related to my PCOS.

Winterwinds24 · 17/11/2019 20:05

Thanks everyone. Sounds like an epillator is the way to go. Possible Christmas present idea? Grin
I pluck them at the moment but they often break which leaves a black root and I feel like plucking them encourages them to grow.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 17/11/2019 22:43

I am tempted by a Lumea, but have read they are not suitable for people with epilepsy, or migraine sufferers, because of the flash. Does anyone know if this is right?

LesLavandes · 17/11/2019 22:55

Can you wax before using lumea?

30to50FeralHogs · 18/11/2019 10:08

Can you wax before using lumea?

no, because it works by sending a pulse down the hair shaft to the root, so the hair has to be intact and attached at the root for it to work. They recommend shaving so that the hair is still in place but just not visible above the surface.

Hairs grow in cycles, the last part of which they’re still in the skin but not attached, so you’re supposed to zap at 4 weekly intervals to make sure you get all of the hairs when they’re at the optimal stage of growth to kill them! I did mine weekly, presuming that they don’t all grow at the same time anyway, and it worked well.

It makes sense in a salon to wait for new hair growth, but when you’ve got the machine you can do it as often as you want!

Shaving feels like a scary thing for many women to consider, like once you start shaving your face you’re stuck with it. Truth is, after a few weeks those hairs will have grown and fallen out, replaced by new ones, so if ever you decide to stop the treatment you won’t be stuck with the shaved hairs forever, you can continue to pluck to wax etc as before to ensure no blunt regrowth on the new ones.

bohemia14 · 18/11/2019 10:40

I've been interested in a Lumea for a while but not sure if it would work for me. Facial hair is blonde with the occasional dark chin hair. Hair on my legs is blonde and underarms dark. Skin is fair and freckled. Am concerned from things I've read that it wouldn't work. Can anyone advise and is there a good alternative? Thanks

peaceanddove · 18/11/2019 10:51

Another one wondering if the Lumea will work if your hairs are fair and your skin is fair?

Trewser · 18/11/2019 11:34

It doesn't work at all on light hair.

blazingbags · 18/11/2019 11:39

Hi. Which is the best lumea and how
Much should I expect to pay please. Should I wait for Black Friday sales? Any good
Websites and what happens of it doesn't work in you. Is there a money back giaranteee please. As you can see I haven't
A clue about them but spend £20 every three weeks waxing facial al hair alone !

Trewser · 18/11/2019 11:55

I bought the cheapest one. I didn't want all the different heads. Mine has two heads but i use the body one on my chin.

It works really well on dark hair. It isn't permanent, if you stop doing it the hair will grow back. My underarms are bald in places now. It also stops itchy regrowth, for me anyway, not sure why.

It doesn't work at all on light hair.

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