Threading
Out of all the methods of hair removal threading probably gives the best results for the time it takes and the cost. Depending on where you go it can be cheap or fairly expensive with prices under £10-15, also note that you have to walk around in public with a red upper lip after a treatment so it’s probably advisable to go somewhere as close to home as you can. To avoid any ingrown hairs in the couple of weeks following a treatment gently exfoliate your skin as you normally would and it shouldn’t be a problem.
At-home IPL
Laser and IPL (intense pulsed light) devices are now available in compact designs intended to target small areas like the upper lip. They can grant effective semi-permanent hair removal, but the results aren’t instant – they need to be used over a period of 3-6 months to zap hair growth in its various stages, then for maintenance thereafter. At £280 for the Philips Lumea IPL it’s quite an investment but obviously is a lot cheaper than seeing a professional for treatments. It is that they are most effective on light to medium skin tones and can’t be used on dark to very dark skin, with best results achieved when the difference between your skin and hair colour is greater. Don’t let the pain hold you back though – it merely snaps which is slightly uncomfortable, but we’ve found it doesn’t hurt.
Hair removal cream
The pros are that it’s quick, painless and gets rid of every last hair. But annoyingly, the hair does grow back slightly darker and it’s something you will have to keep on top of, making sure to slap a bit of cream on every fortnight or so.
Battery-powered blades
New blade devises like the Philips Precision Perfect Trimmer (£19.99) are perfect if you’re in a hurry. This quickly gets rid of any and all hair in a totally painless way, leaving no marks whatsoever. Using the blade is a bit like shaving your armpits in that it pretty much becomes a daily chore, which is something I don’t fancy getting on board with when it comes to my facial hair.
Waxing
Waxing is always best done by a professional, it’s not worth risking burns by doing it at home, and salons can select the most safe and gentle formulas for the face. Depending on your pain threshold it can be pretty unpleasant or you might just feel a little tug, but either way waxing provides clean hair removal for up to a month and costs around the same price as threading – which, of course, varies. The best way to make your waxing experience less painful is to do it regularly so you can target the different stages of hair growth.
