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Original poster

Facial hair becoming harder to hide. Plea for help. Pic included!

92 replies

Palomadoves · 27/10/2021 07:50

I've always had difficult facial hair but managed it over the years... however I caught sight in a photo of how bad it's become and vowed to change what I'm doing and fix it Blush

I've always lived with the creeping in hair around the edges- don't know if that's a big problem (although the kids make fun of it at school/work). But the stubble is showing badly on my upper lip and chin and that's what I'm most self-conscious about. Plucking doesn't last any time and the ones I pluck most are the thickest. Shaving leaves them growing stubble by afternoon. Is the answer IPL? Many thanks for any advice!

Facial hair becoming harder to hide. Plea for help. Pic included!
OP posts:
Original poster
Palomadoves · 27/10/2021 08:19

Re. the waxing, yes I'm apprehensive about that as my mum has very similar skin/hair type and waxed/plucked all her life. She's in her 70s and still going after 50 years of it. They're dark and thick and it doesn't seem to have been a method that paid off.

OP posts:
Inacountrygarden · 27/10/2021 08:26

I use both a little Flawless shaver and Phillips Lumea.

Threewheeler1 · 27/10/2021 08:27

@Palomadoves

That one soevifically was to Freewheeler, but all suggestions greatly appreciated. If I had the time alone I would love to get professional laser treatment but can't do that right now. I could get a Lumea though. Good to hear it could be a game changer Flowers
My sister had one and persuaded me to do it. Over the years I literally had hairs popping out everywhere! Was sceptical at first but had it 2 years now and it really works. The hairs eventually die off. Such a bloody relief! Reckon I'd spent a fortune on removal over the years. Comes with different size heads for small/ large areas. Just a weekly zap for maintenance which takes about 30 seconds, can't recommend it enough! x
PrivateMum222 · 27/10/2021 08:27

Do look into derma planing, it's been a game changer for me. I bought a set online for a few pounds and do it myself every couple of weeks. Skin feels so soft and smooth afterwards. Although yours looks lovely already! The hairs don't grow back in the same way they would if you'd shaved.

Original poster
Palomadoves · 27/10/2021 08:44

That's brilliant Threewheeler! I'd love to be where you are now. The photos took me aback as I hadn't looked closely enough to see how many there were and how bad. Is there a specific model you recommend?

OP posts:
Original poster
Palomadoves · 27/10/2021 08:45

I will look into that too Privatemum- particularly for the sides Flowers

OP posts:
TuftyMarmoset · 27/10/2021 08:55

Are you having any treatment for the pcos? Spironolactone can help with this.

Original poster
Palomadoves · 27/10/2021 08:58

No nothing for PCOS. That is interesting- I'll look it up thank you

OP posts:
Threewheeler1 · 27/10/2021 08:58

Mine is a Philips Lumea SC2009 Prestige. Paid £350 for it on offer in Boots. Just glad it works on my face as the cost made my eyes water a bit! But it has been worth it for me. My moustache and cheek hairs have gone permanently now, and my chin whiskers are on the way out Grin I have very dark hair which made them very visible but has been a bonus with the laser zapping!

ShoppingBasket · 27/10/2021 09:00

Does the lumea get rid of peach fuzz? I need to sort it out badly!

Lindy2 · 27/10/2021 09:14

I have the Braun IPL. If you have dark hair and fair skin it really does work very well and is quick to use. I find it completely painless.

My upper lip, under arms and whole legs are now pretty much hair free.

Wallywobbles · 27/10/2021 09:25

I have done a long campaign of professional Laser treatments at the dermatologist and some electrolysis for the white ones.

I'm currently on a pause of about a year having reached a good place but it's only ever temporary.

Vohgue · 27/10/2021 10:15

@Wallywobbles does electrolysis work on white hair?

limmylee · 27/10/2021 10:34

I've had annoying unwanted hair on my lip, chin and face for a couple of years and finally bit the bullet this year and began electrolysis treatments.
I had been waxing for years but couldn't abide waiting for a bit of regrowth to wax again.

Electrolysis is the only permanent hair removal. Laser only works on dark hair and can cause more fluffy hair to begin growing on your face. It's not permanent and you'll have to keep at it, whereas electrolysis is permanent.
It's painful but you've so little hair you'd be done in a few months and the results are amazing. You can't shave or wax between sessions but you can trim regrowth and sessions are every week at first and spaced out gradually over time then.

TrussOnABus · 27/10/2021 10:43

Be careful with the IPL on the sides of your face OP, IPL is only really safe for thick, dark and coarse hair so you might hurt yourself on the finer hairs on the sides.

I would also see if you can get some sort of tests done for your hormone levels as there might be something you can do from the inside to help on the outside.

Your skin is absolutely beautiful.

And lastly, I too have PCOS and am forever shaving my face/arms/nipples/toes so I fully empathise with the knock on self esteem that it brings. Remember you're so much more than the hair on your body and anyone who thinks or says different isn't worth your time. Thanks

Wallywobbles · 27/10/2021 12:42

@Vohgue it's the only thing that does.

eurochick · 27/10/2021 12:43

I had laser hair removal over ten years ago and the hair remains gone.

I now have a Lumea for home use for other areas. It helps slow growth but it doesn't completely stop it like the laser treatment I had years ago.

Cheerbear23 · 27/10/2021 13:22

Laser - 100% go and get a consultation and don’t look back. I had it done 10 years ago and it’s completely got rid of all of my sideburn bits which I was so embarrassed about. I now just do top ups with a lumea every now and again.
don’t bother with bleach, it just makes it yellow. Waxing caused me no end of irritation and spots.

theuntameableshrew · 27/10/2021 13:29

The Philips lumea got rid of my facial hair. I just have to occasionally zap the odd random one now. So glad I bought one

InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest · 27/10/2021 14:08

I dermaplaned this morning in fact. I use those blades you get for your eyebrows on Amazon. They are brilliant. Your skin also improves because you remove dead cells. Just make sure you use a good moisturiser and lots of SPF (I use factor 50 daily) afterwards. For chin hairs I use tweezers.

CinnamonJellyBeans · 27/10/2021 14:44

Buy a lumea. You have the perfect skin/hair colour combination for it to be effective.

Indecisivelurcher · 27/10/2021 14:47

I'm similar, I'm trying an ipl. Only used it twice so not any different yet, you use it once every 2 weeks and I believe it might take 6m to fully work. But hopefully then it'll be more permanent. I looked into dermaplane but it's basically posh shaving so far as I can tell.

Animood · 27/10/2021 14:56

Another vote for electrolysis!

Danikm151 · 27/10/2021 15:29

I had this problem and have started laser hair removal. 3 treatments in and the time between hair growth is much longer now. I was plucking my chin every other day. Now it’s every other week!

LilyTheMink · 27/10/2021 16:41

I was massively put off laser hair for face after reading about a few people for whom it stimulated growth and made it much worse.