How to Remove Facial Hair: 8 Methods That Work

6. LASER TREATMENTS If you’re willing to put in the time and money, laser treatments can reduce hair growth permanently. The treatments are done by dermatologists, professionals they oversee

or other operators, depending on state laws. Lasers work by targeting pigment in the hair follicle. With multiple treatments, “the hair strand becomes thinner until it is permanently

destroyed,” says DiAnne Davis, M.D., a dermatologist in Dallas. She says she generally recommends six to eight initial sessions, plus maintenance visits once or twice a year. Costs will vary

by location and provider, but the average is $582, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. An important caveat: Lasers can target dark hair but not light hair, meaning they

won’t help with your peach fuzz or any other fair hairs, Rogers says. It’s also important to be treated with “the particular laser that is best suited for your particular skin type and

tone,” Davis says. 7. HOME IPL DEVICES Another option is a home device that uses a technology called intense pulsed light (IPL). The devices, which are not lasers but use light in a similar

way, “do seem to work, but not as well as laser hair removal,” Rogers says. She adds that it “really only works for dark hair and on lighter skin…. On darker skin, there’s a risk of your

skin getting burned by the device.” Devices from major brands cost about $200 to $600. 8. ELECTROLYSIS Electrolysis, in which an electrical current is used to destroy hair follicles, “is the

one true permanent way to remove hair,” Davis says. Like lasers, it requires several treatments; unlike lasers, it requires no maintenance visits and works on light hair, according to the

dermatology academy. But, with the popularity of lasers, electrolysis has become less popular and less widely available, Johnson says. A big reason, she says, is that “it takes a lot of

time.” A typical laser treatment, she says, takes no more than an hour, but with electrolysis, “you really need to set aside the whole day.” Costs vary widely, depending partly on how much

hair is removed. A FINAL TIP After any kind of hair removal treatment, Rogers says, it’s important to baby your skin for at least a day or so. So, skip products with ingredients like retinol

or glycolic acid, and “just follow up with a nice bland moisturizer.” HOW SHOULD MEN REMOVE UNWANTED HAIR? Men get unwanted hair around their faces and necks, too. Here’s what to do about

some of the most common issues: * EAR HAIR: It’s normal for a man’s ear hair to get darker and longer with age, says dermatologist Heather Rogers, M.D. Barbers can trim it, but the best

regular solution is often an attachment on an electric razor, she says. Epilator devices that pull out the hairs and hair removal creams also are options, says dermatologist Sandra Johnson,

M.D. * NOSE HAIR: The same epilator devices and shavers used for ear hair can often be used for the nose. The safest option, according to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, may

be simply trimming the protruding hairs with cuticle or embroidery scissors * SCRUFFY NECKS: Some men who have trouble keeping their necks stubble-free get laser treatments to make their

shaves easier, Rogers says.