How to Remove Facial Hair for Women: 4 Easy At-Home Strategies

From random strays to pesky patches, it seems once we hit our 40s, unwelcome facial hair leaves us looking more like boys going through puberty than like gracefully aging women. The key to a hairless complexion? Choosing the removal method that targets your particular problem. That’s why we turned to the pros for the best ways for how to remove facial hair for women. Read on to learn the strategies that work so you’re left hair free.

What causes an uptick in facial hair for women as we get older?

“Androgens, a form of testosterone that regulate how, where and what type of hairs grow around the body, malfunction due to hormone imbalances, causing the rogue facial hairs,” says endocrinologist Sara Gottfried, MD.

How to remove facial hair

Keep scrolling to see the best ways for how to remove facial hair for women

Peach fuzz? Try a rotating ‘shaver’

The vellus hairs that grow on the cheeks and jaw tend to be fine and light in color, but once foundation and powder latch on to them, this face “fur” comes into full focus. Since this hair covers a large area and is on sensitive parts of the face, the ideal technique removes many hairs across a broad surface without pain or irritation.

The latest handheld devices have grooves that rotate back and forth to capture multiple superfine hairs with each motion, cutting them down to skin’s surface­ without tugging—like a razor without the sharp edges. 

One we like: Finishing Touch Flawless Hair Remover. We love it because It fits in your purse for easy, anytime use.

Long strays? Try sugaring

If you’re like us, you waste precious time in front of the mirror trying to pluck that one stubble of hair that you know will be 6 inches long tomorrow if you don’t get it out today! But all that picking and pulling can leave behind red marks and scabs — and odds are, there are more of those pesky strands waiting to pop out next. Waxing is an alternative — but ouch! Instead, opt for a method that targets individual hairs without ripping at or scratching your skin. 

Hair removal experts recommend sugaring, a method that uses a natural wax-like paste made of sugar, lemon juice and water to gently extract hairs at the root. Unlike plucking or waxing, which can pull on and inflame skin, the sugar paste only latches on to hair follicles — not sensitive skin. 

To do: In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of sugar, 1⁄4 cup of lemon juice and 1⁄4 cup of water to a boil. Let cool for 20 minutes, then pour into a glass jar. Use a clean Popsicle stick to apply the paste to areas prone to strays, spreading it on in the opposite direction of growth. Let it harden, then hold skin taut and quickly lift away in the direction of growth.  

Mustache? Try a depilatory

Through the years, we’ve tried harsh bleaches, waxing and even shaving to rid our upper lip of that masculine patch of hair. The problem? The older we get, the more sensitive skin becomes, and these  methods remove the hair but leave behind a mustache of red, bumpy, inflamed skin instead.

New York City board-certified dermatologist Francesca Fusco, MD, recommends looking for a method that will work to swiftly and fully remove hair sans any irritation. A simple solution: easy-to-apply and fast-acting depilatory creams. They use chemicals (like calcium thioglycolate) that work quickly to dissolve proteins in the hair so you can swipe both cream and hair right off less than 10 minutes after applying.

And one like Completely Bare ctrl+hair+DEL Facial Hair Removal Cream comes infused with nourishing ingredients, like soothing aloe vera, moisturizing shea butter and protective vitamin E, to counteract any of the inflammation that was once common with depilatories, so skin is left hair- and ­irritation-free.

Bonus: Natural remedy for pesky chin hairs

If you’re looking for a natural way to nix unwanted facial hair, look to essential oils, but tea tree and lavender specifically. In fact, one study found that a mix of tea tree and lavender essential oils helps optimize levels of testosterone to ward off errant hair growth. 

To do: Mix 2 tsp. of lavender oil with 5 drops of tea tree oil. Apply to areas where rogue hairs tend to pop up; let dry. Store leftovers in a resealable container at room temperature. Use twice a day for diminished hair growth within three months.