At Sanft & Schön, we say: it’s time to break the silence. Whether it’s light peach fuzz or more pronounced hair growth, there are now many ways to remove facial hair permanently.
You can find out exactly how in this article. But first, we would like to explain why you may have increased facial hair growth in the first place—and why there is no reason to worry.
Facial hair: Why women have hair on their faces
First, you should know that you are not alone with your “problem.” Facial hair is part of human hair growth and is regulated by hormones such as androgens. That is why women, just like men, have hair on their chins, cheeks, sideburns and noses. However, as a rule, women’s hair is somewhat finer and lighter.
According to a study by Dr. Lynne Goldberg, a dermatologist at Boston University School of Medicine, women produce only around one tenth of the androgens men do—yet even small amounts of these hormones can cause some women to develop what is known as a “female moustache.”
Genetics are another reason for facial hair in women. If your parents or grandparents have dense or dark facial hair, you are more likely to be prone to more facial hair too. In summary, two factors are responsible for making the hair on your face visible: your androgen production and your ancestry.
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Removing facial hair with stripless wax
A popular way to tackle unwanted facial hair is waxing. Here is how it works: to remove your facial hair with stripless wax and waxing, the areas of skin to be treated must first be thoroughly cleansed and degreased. The wax is then heated to the optimum temperature (42–45°C) in a special heater and applied in the direction of hair growth using a wooden spatula. At Sanft & Schön, we make sure to apply the wax thinly and evenly, so you get a particularly clean and precise result.
After our beauticians have applied the wax, a special wax strip is placed on the treated area of skin and pressed down firmly to bond the wax to the hair. As soon as it has cooled and set slightly, we pull the wax strip off with a quick tug in the opposite direction of hair growth.
After the wax is removed, your skin is cleansed again and treated with a soothing oil or cream to alleviate redness and irritation. Whether eyebrow waxing or facial hair, suitable after-waxing care is always important for achieving a smooth, supple result and avoiding unwanted side effects such as skin irritation or an ingrown pubic hair.
At Sanft & Schön, for example, we care for your depilated areas of skin with a cooling, skin-friendly aloe vera gel. It has an immediately soothing effect on irritated areas of your body.
Removing facial hair permanently: Laser treatment
If you are looking for another long-lasting solution for your facial hair, laser hair removal with a diode laser could be an option for you. Before starting treatment, you should seek advice from our experienced beauticians to minimise possible risks and complications.
If you then decide on the treatment, your skin will be thoroughly cleansed and cleared of make-up and other impurities. You will then be given protective goggles to shield your eyes from the laser beam. Our beautician will select the appropriate laser intensity and treatment duration depending on your skin type, hair colour and hair thickness.
Interesting fact: laser hair removal with a diode laser works by allowing the laser to absorb the melanin in the hair follicle and convert it into heat. This heat destroys the hair follicle, permanently stopping hair growth. Because the diode laser has a longer wavelength, it can penetrate deep into the skin and safely destroy hair follicles even in darker skin types.
Is there anything else to bear in mind? Yes, there is one thing: during treatment, you may occasionally experience mild pain or a sensation of heat on the skin, but this can easily be relieved with cooling and soothing creams. You should also avoid direct sunlight after treatment and use sunscreen with a high sun protection factor. Our article on laser hair removal risks tells you everything you need to know about this topic.
As a rule, several sessions a few weeks apart are required to achieve an ideal result. It is therefore important to be patient and to have the treatment carried out regularly in order to achieve the desired result.
Removing facial hair permanently: Bleaching
If you would first like to lighten your facial hair, bleaching is an option. Special bleaching agents are applied to the face to lighten the hair and make it less visible.
Before applying the bleaching agent, make sure your skin is clean and dry. Then use an applicator to apply it to the desired area and leave it on for the specified time. Afterwards, rinse the bleaching agent off thoroughly with water and apply a soothing lotion to prevent possible skin irritation.
It is important to know that bleaching only lightens the hair—it does not remove it. This means the hair is still there and will become darker again over time. In addition, some people are sensitive to bleaching agents and develop skin irritation or allergic reactions.
Our tip: if you are aiming for a longer-lasting solution, you should consider other methods such as laser hair removal or waxing.
Removing facial hair permanently: Electrolysis
Ever heard of electrolysis? Also called electrology or needle epilation, it is one of the lesser-known hair-removal methods. A small, thin metal rod—also known as a “probe”—is inserted into each individual hair follicle to destroy it.
Here is how it works: to begin electrolysis, your skin is cleansed just as it is for the other methods. The beautician then applies an anaesthetic to minimise any pain or discomfort during the procedure. In the next step, the probe is inserted into the hair follicle using electricity to destroy it and permanently prevent hair growth.
It does not just sound complicated—it is: electrolysis generally requires several sessions to remove the hair completely. Depending on the size of the area to be treated, it can therefore take several months or even years to achieve the desired result. While electrolysis is a permanent solution, it is also a potentially painful and expensive undertaking. It can also cause temporary redness, swelling and pain in the treated area.
Removing facial hair: Why shaving is not recommended
You may already have wondered why we have not mentioned the most obvious way to remove facial hair—shaving. Here is the thing: if you want to get rid of your facial hair, you should avoid shaving. Although shaving seems quick and easy, it is not the best method for removing facial hair.
This is why: facial hair normally has a finer texture than hair on the legs or underarms. Most razor blades are therefore not suitable for this purpose and can cause irritation, cuts and ingrown hairs. In addition, shaving only removes the top layer of your hair while leaving the root intact. Specifically, this means your hair can grow back more quickly.
Shaving also increases the risk of infection, especially if the shaving tool is not clean or sharp enough. Improper shaving can also cause the hair follicles to thicken, which can lead to painful bumps. That is why we say: keep your hands off the razor—and head to waxing instead.
Conclusion: Waxing and laser hair removal are the best options for removing facial hair
Bleaching does not remove the hair; it merely lightens it—which means it remains visible. Shaving and plucking merely cut or break the hair, causing it to grow back quickly.
If you want to remove your facial hair permanently, waxing is certainly one of the two best options. Unlike bleaching, shaving or plucking, waxing removes the hair and its root in one quick pull. This means it takes much longer to grow back. Waxing makes it possible to pull the hair out deep from the root, so in the best case it may even disappear completely. In addition, waxing also removes your dead skin cells, resulting in a more radiant, smoother complexion.
Just like waxing, our diode-laser hair removal is an effective way to remove facial hair because the laser beam absorbs the melanin in the hair follicle, thereby destroying the hair root. Unlike waxing, which offers only a temporary solution, laser hair removal is long-lasting—and relatively painless. Once you have successfully completed the sessions, you can enjoy a smooth, hair-free face for the long term without having to keep worrying about your facial hair.
Whether waxing or laser treatment: ultimately, it is a matter of personal preference. Either method can give you your ideal result at our salon.
Contact us today and let our professional service pamper you.