Does this work?

[Charlotte1991]

I was curious if anyone has used any hair removal creams on facial hair? Does that work? If yes, what brands have you used? I dont have enough money to get electrolysis done yet, and shaving is really killing my skin. It gets really irritated every time I shave my face :/   I have a feeling creams wont work on facial hair, since facial hair is a bit different from other body hair...but I thought it would be worth asking. Thanks in advance!! x

[spacial]

Have the same problem.

I've heard that a number of vanishing creams are recommended for the face.

[Charlotte1991]

Yes, but do they work on MALE facial hair? I've heard that male hair is different on the face than that of female....unfortunately

[rejennyrated]

NEVER put hair remover cream on the face.

Most of them contain vicious chemicals which on the thinner and more sensitive skin of the face can cause chemical burns, to say nothing of the danger of getting some in your eyes.

I think there may be a couple of special formulations for facial use but they are costly and you do have to be careful to get the right one.

in any case all these creams do is make the hair chemically weak so that it breaks - in other words it is just a chemical shave and the hair will grow back just as quickly

The only way to remove facial hair permanently is via laser or electrolysis machines.

there are home use versions of these that do work - although you do need patience and indeed is is often easier if you have someone to do it with so that they can work on you and you on them.

[Charlotte1991]

Thanks Jenny...this is what I thought, hmm.
I did see this the other day while searching online...the reviews are good and men are saying it works. Would you not recommend this one either for the same reasons?
http://www.treasuredlocks.com/formula-103-razorless-depilatory-shaving-for-black-men.html#itemTabs

[JessicaR]

One in the ingredients in that product is sodium hydroxide, the main ingredient in most DRAIN CLEANERS!!! Never use a cream or spray on your face...

  I still have to shave; two years of laser treatments dramatically reduced but didn't eliminate all of my my facial hair; then I ran out of money. Shaving always irritated my skin, too. My most revolutionary discovery was the importance of antibacterial products... It's bacteria that get stuck in the hair follicle that wreak the most havoc after shaving... I wash my face with an antibacterial face wash before I shave and use benzoyl peroxide promptly on flareups. Salicylic acid also works well but it really dries out your skin. Also use a moisturizer for sensitive skin daily.   

   

[Charlotte1991]

Got it! Any & all creams are out of the question. Thanks!
I guess I can deal with razors for now...unless I get one of those at home electrolysis kits but I'm afraid I'd cause more damage to myself that way than get any significant progress.

[lilacwoman]

don't waste money on the home electrolysis kits.. the fine print does not say they will kill all the hair.
I bought one and tried to kill hair and now I have some pigmentation patches on side of my face.
and the patches still grow hair.
creams can only burn off the hair that is above the level of the skin but if yours are typical male hairs the cream will have to be on so long that it will take top layer of skin off and you will get a nice red raw bleeding patch.
the creams cannot get down to the root of the follicle as it is too tight around the hair.
shaving and plucking are the only ways to go for most people unless laser and electrolysis can be afforded.

[carolinejeo]

Electrolysis is the only proven method for permanent hair removal.

Much detail can be found here: http://www.tsroadmap.com/physical/hair/index.html

If you want to attempt DIY electrolysis, then read this: http://lena.kiev.ua/guestbook/#570

Caroline

[Cindy]

As others have said, hair removal creams use quite strong alkali such as sodium hydroxide to burn hair off. NEVER use them near any mucus area such as the bum or anywhere near a cut. You will be on agony. Home electrolysis kits are useless. Waxing can do bits and pieces if you have female facial hair coverage, but if you have male hair coverage it doesn't work.

Sadly professional electrolysis and laser, if your hair colour is suitable, are the ways to go. There was a previous post about some USA sites that would do the whole beard area in one go under a local anaesthetic. At the time I though the price was reasonable. But I'm in the land down under where woman glow and guys chunder. And it doesn't seem to be available here.
So shaving and good foundation are the go until you can afford it.

Cindy

[rejennyrated]

Girls I do have to say - that like everything else in life you do get what you pay for.

For my main clearance 30 years ago I went to a professional electrolysist It cost me many thousands of pounds to remove it all, and I didn't have as much as many people.

HOWEVER - once you are done, and providing you are prepared to spend a sensible amount of money - by which I mean SEVERAL HUNDRED pounds/dollars - it is possible to get home equipment which WILL WORK at least for dealing with the odd straggler.

That said I did pay my electrolysist to show me how to use the machine and indeed she chose it for me. Technically I think it is a basic salon machine... but the point is as i say you get what you pay for. If you buy a cheap machine and have no training yes it probably won't work.

Also it is NOT suitable to try and do a large patch. BUT don't write off home equipment completely, because when you are basically done, it can save you a fortune in dealing with stragglers which otherwise will demand five to ten years of occasional treatment before they are all gone.

I honestly can't imagine anything that would be more depressing than being years postop and still shaving and I'm so glad It never happened to me.

[Sarah B]

Sorry but waxing does work.  I first had it down in a beauty salon. Yes it was tough and it took two goes to get it all done the first time.   I sometimes wondered, what the ladies thought at the time, but I never said anything, typical me.  Over a period of time I was comfortable going there and eventually had other treaments.  How I managed that (embarrassment wise that is) I'll never know.

When I left, I learnt how to do it myself and at the same time I had electrolysis done.  I was very lucky because of my hair coloring, my hairs turned white very quickly and hence became very hard to see if they came through.  I suppose this was another reason while I was so successful when I changed and working full time 3 months later.

Kind regards
Sarah B

[Cindy]

Sorry but waxing does work.  I first had it down in a beauty salon. Yes it was tough and it took two goes to get it all done the first time.   I sometimes wondered, what the ladies thought at the time, but I never said anything, typical me.  Over a period of time I was comfortable going there and eventually had other treaments.  How I managed that (embarrassment wise that is) I'll never know.

When I left, I learnt how to do it myself and at the same time I had electrolysis done.  I was very lucky because of my hair coloring, my hairs turned white very quickly and hence became very hard to see if they came through.  I suppose this was another reason while I was so successful when I changed and working full time 3 months later.

Kind regards
Sarah B

Whoa,

I got waxed and it felt my cheeks were being pulled off. A week later after the inflammation died down it was back to normal. Then again it was the same on my chest. We should have an embarrassing moment thread . Taking off my blouse. bra. falsies, and lying there as the waxed my chest.  Passing in public, no problem, dealing with hecklers, no problem. Needing my Visa card to pay for waxing my boobs. No problem. I'm not sure it will be used in an advert

Going back two weeks later, a pain.

Ouch

Cindy

[Sarah B]

Oh my god, I have just had a flood of memories coming back, getting rid of the snails trail with wax and the top part of 'ahem'.  However, eventually those very few hairs disappeared.

I do not remember when it happened, but waxing seemed to peter out and I think or believe my hormones stopped those hairs from growing.  I was extremely lucky that I did not have any hairs on the top part of my body.  Only one or two, seriously this makes me think, why?

Thanks I really needed to go down that path, but the memories brought a smile to my face, priceless.

Going back two weeks later, a pain pricless.

Kind regards
Sarah B