Waxing

Waxing is one of the most popular forms of upper lip hair removal. This can be attributed to the many pros which waxing as a hair removal method has. One of these pros is that waxing is relatively inexpensive when compared to other methods such as laser therapy. Home waxing kits are readily available and are generally quite affordable. Another pro to waxing is that it results in clean and smooth skin with virtually no hair remaining on the area which is waxed. Not only that, because waxing removes the hair directly from the root, these results can last from 3 to 6 weeks as it can take quite a bit of time for the hair to start growing again.

Yet another pro of waxing is the resulting hair reduction over time. While waxing is not considered a permanent form of hair removal, repetitive waxing can reduce the hair over time making the hair shaft thinner and the colour of the hair lighter. You can also easily perform the waxing by yourself in the comfort of your own home which adds to the appeal of waxing as a form of upper lip hair removal.

While waxing has many pros, like other methods, it also has cons. One downside to waxing is that, due to it’s nature, it can be quite painful, more painful than any other form of hair removal. Waxing requires the smoothing of warm wax on the area which is to be waxed. When the wax has been applied, a strip of cotton or paper is placed on top of the wax and pressed down. Then, in order to remove the hair, the strip is ripped from the skin in one quick motion in the opposite direction of the hair growth. This removes the hair along with the wax and in doing so pulls at the skin causing more pain than most other hair removal techniques which do not effect the skin. Removing the strip as parallel to the skin as possible reduces the risk of skin damage.

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Threading

Threading is a very old method of hair removal which originated in India. In recent years the method has become quite popular in Western countries. Threading utilises a strand of special thread, usually made of cotton or polyester. The strand of thread is doubled before being twisted and held tight in the hands and sometimes the mouth depending on the method used. The twist of the thread is rolled over the skin and the unwanted hair becomes caught within the twist of the strand. The hair is then removed quickly from the follicle.

Threading works the same way as tweezing, however there are some notable differences. For one, threading is a lot more efficient and accurate than tweezing is and takes less time. While tweezing removes one hair at a time, threading can remove several hairs in a straight line. This makes threading a great method of shaping eyebrows but can also be used to remove larger areas of unwanted hair on areas such as the upper lip and chin. Threading is very gentle on the skin compared to waxing or plucking. With waxing, the skin is tugged quite a bit, resulting in unnecessary pain and sometimes skin damage. Tweezing can cause scars if the skin is accidentally caught. With threading, only the hair is pulled, leaving the skin alone.

Threading Tip

Threading is a hair removal method which requires training and great practice, which means it is not likely to be a method you would choose to remove upper lip hair at home. It is best advised to visit a professional beauty therapist who is trained in threading if you wish to try threading to remove upper lip hair.

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Bleaching

Bleaching is not really a method of hair removal but it is a popular method to reduce the appearance of upper lip hair. Bleaching upper lip hair lightens the pigment of the hair and so reduces the appearance of the hair. Bleaching is a great option for those who wish to reduce the appearance of upper lip hair but want to do so in a quick, affordable and painless manner. It is also a good option for those with sensitive skin or those who are just starting out on tackling their upper lip hair.

Facial hair bleaching kits are widely available in drug stores, pharmacies and supermarkets. These kits usually contain two containers of cream, one being the bleach cream and the other being the activator. Also included in these bleaching kits are spatulas and mixing trays. To use bleaching creams, the two creams need to be mixed together in carefully measured amounts and should used as soon as they are mixed.

The mixture should be smoothed on to the upper lip hair making sure all the hairs are covered. The cream should be left for the amount of time indicated on the instructions included with the kit. Once the required time has elapse the cream can be removed with the spatula provided, the area should be washed thoroughly to ensured any remaining cream is removed.

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Epilating

Epilating is another very popular method of hair removal and it is not confined regions of the body such as the legs or underarms. Epilating is just as effective in removing hair from the upper lip and chin as it is on these other areas of the body. Epilators are devices which electronically remove hairs from the the follicles of the skin using a number of metal discs which create a tweezing action as they rotate.

There are many epilators available on the market today. Some epilators, while designed for epilating the legs and other larger areas of the body, come with attachments which allow the epilator to be used on the smaller, more delicate area of the upper lip. There are also epilators available which are made exclusively for the epilation of facial hair such as that of the upper lip.

Epilating Tip

It is a good idea to have a hot shower or bath before you epilate. This ensures that the pores are open when epilating so the hair can be removed from the skin easier and with less pain. Make sure the area you wish to epilate is completely dry so the the epilator can grip the individual hairs easily.

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Laser

Laser therapy is a very effective method of hair removal though it is probably the most expensive way to remove upper lip hair. Laser hair removal works by directing a laser-beam at the area of unwanted hair. The laser kills the follicle of the hair when it reaches it, preventing the hair from growing again. The area of hair must be shaved before the treatment in order for the treatment to work.

Sometimes, depending on the type of laser machine used, a gel is applied to the skin before treatment takes place. In general it takes about 6 to 8 sessions before the majority of hair follicles have been treated. These sessions are usually punctuated by 4 to 8 week gaps. It is always recommended that top up treatments are had every 6 months to a year in order to insure that hair regrowth is keep at a minimum.

For upper lip hair and other areas of hair which can be associated with a hormone imbalance, it is often advised to keep in mind that laser treatment for these areas can be more of a hair reduction treatment rather than permanent hair removal.

Laser Tip

It is always advised to avoid sun exposure of the area which received the laser treatment for a time after the treatment. Exposure of the laser treated area to the sun can result in hyper-pigmentation, a darkening of the skin’s pigment.

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Electrolysis

Electrolysis is an advanced method of hair removal which is similar to laser therapy and is usually performed by a trained professional Electrologist. Electrolysis involves the inserting of a very fine probe into the hair follicle which directs a small amount of heat at the hair’s centre of growth. This heat kills the hair and it’s ability to regrow. The dead hair is then removed from the follicle with a tweezers. As electrolysis treats hairs individually and over a period of time, it works well on the upper lip as it is a small area.

Electrolysis Tip

As the upper lip is very sensitive, numbing creams can be applied beforehand to reduce amount of discomfort experienced.

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Depilatory Cream

Depilatory creams are creams which, when applied to hair and left for a number of minutes, dissolves the hair. This dissolving of the hair is achieved by the use of chemicals such as calcium thioglycolate or potassium thioglycolate which break down the keratin structure of the hair. These creams work well on upper lip hair as the hair on this area tends to be thin and fine and is quickly dissolved by the cream. As depilatory creams do not remove the hair from the root, regrowth of the hair can be noticed 2 to 3 days after treatment.

Depilatory creams come in many forms such as cream, gel, lotion, powder, aerosol or roll-on.

As the skin also contains keratin, depilatory creams can often begin to irritate or burn the skin if the instructions are not followed correctly.

Depilatory Cream Tip

Apply your favourite moisturiser or lotion to the area before the depilatory cream. The moisturiser or lotion can act like a barrier between the depilatory cream and your skin.

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IPL

IPL, which stands for Intense Pulsed Light, is a form of hair removal similar to laser. While laser uses one wavelength of light, IPL uses a range of wavelengths which is said to reduce the risk of burning or hyper-pigmentation. Generally 6 to 10 treatments are required which intervals of 1 to 3 months between each treatment. IPL treatments are gentle on the upper lip area and treatments are usually very effective.

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Tweezing

If you have never tried hair removal from the upper lip before but you want to start, you may consider giving tweezing a go. Though some people may prefer to attend a beauty therapist to have their upper lip hair tweezed, tweezing is a method of hair removal which you can easily do yourself in the comfort of your own home. Compared to other forms of upper lip hair removal such as waxing or laser therapy, tweezing at home is very inexpensive. All you need is a high quality tweezers and you are ready to begin tweezing. Tweezing or plucking of upper lip hair

Tweezing Tip

It is advised to tweeze upper lip hair at night. This is because tweezing hair from such a sensitive area as the upper lip can cause redness of the skin. Tweezing at night means you can go to bed and give the redness time to reduce. By the time you wake up in the morning, the redness should have subsided completely.

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