About 14 years ago, I was looking forward to having lunch with my friend Norma as it had been quite a while since we’d had a chance to get together. As we sat down and started catching up, I just couldn’t help staring at her chin. Three chin hairs, which were over an inch long, were clearly visible.
To say I was a bit taken aback would definitely be an understatement! And I distinctly remember thinking to myself: “I will never let that happen.” Fast forward 10 years. I was surveying my face in my newly installed, wall-mounted, 10x makeup mirror – which can be a daunting experience to begin with – when I spied a quarter inch long black chin hair that I’d never before noticed.
This discovery propelled me on a quest to find not only the best way to deal with chin hairs, but also how to eliminate the peach fuzz on my face that seemed to be thicker and denser than ever before. So today I’ll share with you how shaving my face has made a big difference – and the quickest and safest way to do it!
Why We Start to See Changes
Not surprisingly, the increase in facial hair we see can primarily be attributed to two factors: genetics and hormones. During menopause, a woman’s body stops circulating estrogen but continues to circulate the same amounts of testosterone.
The imbalance of hormones causes the appearance of some male characteristics, like coarse facial hair. But if the changes are dramatic, it is best to check with your doctor.
Why Removing Facial Hair Can Make a Positive Difference
There are six reasons why getting rid of these rogue chin hairs and facial hair has made such a difference for me.
- I really prefer the feeling of being totally confident that stray dark hairs are not the reason that someone may be staring at my chin!
- Shaving my face makes my skin feel smoother, softer and brighter.
- Removing facial hair allows our serums and moisturizers to penetrate better and more deeply into our skin.
- Removing facial hair prevents our foundation from looking cakey.
- No facial hair means there’s nothing powder makeup can stick to.
- Our overall makeup will look better on our face because it will go on more smoothly and evenly.
Be sure to check out Elise’s YouTube channel which specifically focuses on makeup tips, techniques, and product reviews for those of us 50+. Don’t forget to subscribe!
Options for Removing Facial Hair
Let’s now talk about the options we have for removing facial hair.
Dermaplaning
The real difference between dermaplaning and shaving boils down to the types of tools that are used and who is using those tools. Dermaplaning is a procedure performed by a licensed esthetician. A surgical scalpel – which is a blade that cuts very close to the skin – is used to remove the top layer of dead skin and the peach fuzz.
It’s a process of actually scraping the skin rather than just sloughing off dead skin so it also exfoliates the skin and kickstarts the cell regeneration process. Dermaplaning procedures can run anywhere between 75 to 200 dollars depending on where you live and the company chosen and should be done twice a month at the most.
These procedures do require the expenditure of both time and money. And it probably goes without saying that if someone is using a surgical scalpel on our face, we definitely want to check out the references not only of the organization but also of the individual who will be doing the procedure.
And, as with any skincare procedure, there certainly can be unexpected and unwanted results. So if you have any type of skin condition such as very sensitive skin, rosacea, excema, severe acne or skin cancer, the benefits aren’t worth the risks of possible infections, scarring, or skin damage.
Dermaplaning should also be avoided if you’re prone to irritation bumps or in-gown hairs. And those who have taken Accutane or isotretinoin within the last six months should also avoid the procedure.
Home Dermaplaning
A second option is to purchase a dermaplaning type tool that can be used at home. Before using a tool like this it’s very important to thoroughly wash our face and hands, sanitize the tool and just use each blade once. And it’s also important that this tool be used just on our face and not other areas of our body since there are different types of bacteria on different areas of our skin.
When using this tool, the skin should be held taut, and the blade needs to be manipulated in a certain way to avoid nicks. So it’s extremely important to pay close attention to the directions when using this type of tool.
Also, for anyone who happens to be on blood thinners, it’s advised to avoid dermaplaning or using an at-home tool like this that can possibly cause nicks.
Laser Treatments
Laser treatments are noninvasive medical procedures that use a beam of light (a laser) to remove unwanted hair on the face or any other areas of the body such as armpits, legs or bikini area. One session of laser hair removal will typically take two hours and cost anywhere between $200 and $400.
Usually 4 to 6 sessions (spaced about a month apart) are needed. It’s safe and effective but there is an investment of both time and dollars. There are also home-use laser devices with the best ones ranging in price from $179 to over $400.
The Easiest, Safest and Most Cost Effective Option
But now let’s talk about the easiest, very safe and cost-effective way to remove rogue chin hairs and facial hair: an electric razor. But not just any electric razor. My razor of choice is a small, compact, portable easy-to-use razor called Flawless Finish by Finishing Touch. This is a product I’ve owned and loved for several years and use regularly.
With this razor there are no nicks, burns or irritations, and it’s gentle on all skin types, but it should not be used on irritated skin. It’s also cordless, battery operated, has a built in light, comes with one double A battery, a cleaning brush and a quick start guide as well as full directions.
The oscillating microblades are designed to eliminate the finest hair but durable enough to tackle coarser hair. And by the way, contrary to popular belief, your hair doesn’t actually grow in thicker – it just appears that way because the tips of the hairs are blunt rather than tapered after shaving.
This beauty tool should always be used on a thoroughly cleansed face and for best results it should be used on hair that is one quarter inch or less in length. The head of the unit needs to be flat against the skin and not at an angle, and it works best to use small circular motions.
In the accompanying video I’ll demonstrate how to use this razor and show the difference between the shaved and unshaved sides of my face. And by the way, it is normal for the razor head to become slightly warm as you use it. It’s important to clean the unit after each use which is very easy.
After turning it off, simply clean the head with the brush by wiping away any hair residue. Then empty any hair that’s been removed from the body of the razor by removing the head of the razor by gently twisting it counterclockwise and then gently tapping the sides.
To put the head back on the unit, simply line up the groove indicators on the cap with those on the unit and twist clockwise. It is extremely easy to use and does an excellent job.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Do you shave your face? If so, what made you decide to do it? What tool do you use to shave your face? What do you feel are the greatest benefits of shaving your face?
