Let's Talk Facial Hair. . .

[Big D (aka DG)]

Shall we, ladies? Er, and gents, although facial hair on gentlemen is completely appropriate, albeit itchy, whereas facial hair on the girls isn't quite as socially acceptable. I have struggled with silly little hairs on my upper lip for years and I'm rather done with it. Just how much wax can one human consume? I can't stand it when I pay for a lip and eyebrow wax and just a few days later I'll see an evil sprout of hair staring at me, taunting me with its very existence. It makes me crazy.

Sometimes I wax my facial parts at home. Myself. Yep, it hurts, but at least I don't have to tip. One time, in college, I waxed my upper lip and it hurt so badly that I left a small area of downy hair right underneath my nostrils. My jerk boyfriend nicknamed me "Patch" after that. Then, another time, I disregarded the package instructions on the waxing kit which recommended a fine dusting of talcum powder over the area to be waxed. "Well, that's stupid," I mumbled. I discovered rather quickly WHY they recommended the talcum powder barrier, when I ripped off the first strip of wax and removed a chunk of my face in the process. Thankfully, that boyfriend was history, so no nicknames ensued.

What's your horror story with facial hair or the removal of facial hair? Or, hey, maybe you adore your whiskers! Share away!

[Ashmystir]

Well...I first have to say that I'm 1/4 italian so YES i have a slight mustache. Waxing hurts too much. I also hate the stubble. I used to use hair removing cream like Nair and ended up with a HUGE fever blister once. I guess I had an allergic reaction. It sucks but I now deal with it by bleaching it. I love facial hair on men.

Oh the joys of being a female!!

[kperfetto]

I have pale skin and dark hair, so any facial hair shows on me. I used to use a depilatory cream, but I hate the stinging and irritation. Lately I haven't done anything, and while I don't "adore my whiskers," I doubt anyone notices them as much as I do. (Or they're too polite to say so.)

(This probably falls under TMI, but this is a hair thread so I might as well admit I've never been an armpit shaver.)

[tara]

I never minded my mustache until I started to age a bit and my skin was no longer 20 year old perfect. Now I would do just about anything to get rid of it. Of course, now that I am aging, the hairs get more and more coarse, more and more akin to actual whiskers rather than the cute downey bit that I used to have. I wax my own lip, because it hurts too much for me to let anyone else do it!

I also do facial waxing at the salon. You all might want to try to see if you can find someone in your area that does threading instead of waxing. One of my clients, who has very sensitive skin, has her brows threaded and she feels like it hurts far less and lasts longer. She will still get waxed when she has put off making the appointment for the threading for too long, but she definitely prefers the threading.

Ooh, yeah, one more thing. Always use a bit of powder when you are waxing your face! It helps the wax stick to the hair and not to the skin, therefore causing less damage and pain. Then be sure you are stretching the skin tightly. All that will help the hair to come out smoothly, and make the recovery time shorter!

[Big D (aka DG)]

Gracias, Tara! Threading, eh? I'm going to check it out.

[Vanessa]

I am starting to get the slight facial hair and I get mine waxed. For years I have gotten my eyebrows waxed to perfection and love the look. The upper lip? Owie! It's worth it though. If you can find someone to do threading, it hurts so much less. In NYC I had someone fabulous at Shobha, but so far haven't found anyone in Dallas.

[PrincessB]

I use an epilator. It hurts, but works well and lasts longer!