East West - The Asian American Lifestyle Magazine

A user's guide to facial hair removal
By Lisa Kasanicky, originally published in May 2005

 Looking back to our first issue of East West Woman in February 2004, we went down a road where few beauty magazines dare to tread: Women who secretly tame unwanted facial hair by shaving. The reaction among readers was a communal "duh." For centuries, women have fought facial hair, and the consensus among our sources was that shaving is indisputably the quickest and cheapest option. Razors even are proving to be effective tools in promoting the skin's production of new cells, resulting in healthier, younger-looking skin.

So why fix what isn't broken?

 While we won't deny that razors have their place — as do tweezers, bleaching creams, depilatory lotions and the myriad of other hair-removal products flooding the drugstore aisles — we think you deserve more choices. For the price of a few razor refills, we looked into alternatives that offer longer-term solutions for banishing facial hair and leave the dreaded five-o-clock shadow to the guys.

Waxing: The whole ball of goo

Riding a close second to shaving in popularity, waxing is an easily accessible and inexpensive alternative. On the up side, the process lifts hair from below the skin's surface, keeping it at bay longer and slowing hair regrowth. Redness, in-grown hairs and the occasional burn are among the common complaints. Newbies should visit a reputable salon or spa before attempting it at home, and be warned: It does sting! But the instant gratification from a smooth, hair-free face somehow helps you grapple with a few seconds of discomfort.

Process:  A warm patch of wax is applied to the skin and depending on the product used, the aesthetician uses either a gauze strip or the hardened wax itself to quickly rip away the wax, taking the hairs along with it. 

Lasts:  Anywhere from three to six weeks.

Costs:  Prices for upper lip, chin, cheeks or sides of face range from $8 to $17.

Tips:  The best time to wax is the week after your menstrual cycle when your pain threshold is at its highest. Avoid sun exposure 24 hours before and after a waxing service, and always let your aesthetician know if you're using any oral or topical medications — sun exposure, various drugs and skin treatments can increase skin sensitivity.

Get it at:  Dolce Salon & Spa, Chandler, Ariz., www.dolcesalonspa.com; Skin By Tania, Marina Del Rey, Calif., www.skinbytania.com; Zuri BoutiqueSalonSpa, Denver, Colo., www.zurisalonspa.com.

Home options:  Persian Cold Wax Strips, $6.49 at www.sadaf.com; Poetic Waxing Kit, $40 at www.blissworld.com.