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What Are the Best Tips for Plucking Facial Hair?
For eliminating stray hairs on the face, or maintaining the shape of the eyebrows, plucking is often the best bet. Plucking facial hair does not need to be painful or difficult, if a few tips are followed. It is best to wash the face with warm water and exfoliate, which will help to open the pores. Then, with a pair of precision tweezers with pointed ends, grab the hairs one at a time and pull it out from the root, in the same direction it grows. After plucking facial hair, it might be necessary to apply a soothing lotion, such as one that contains aloe, as long as it also does not clog the pores.
Washing the face with warm water and exfoliating as a first step to plucking facial hair will make the whole process easier. Not only does it remove dead skin cells or oil that could clog pores, but it helps to open the pores. This makes it easier to pluck the hair, as well as less painful. Other preparatory steps include washing the tweezers. It is a good idea to clean them with soap and water, or wipe them with rubbing alcohol, to remove any bacteria. This will prevent transferring the bacteria into the pores, potentially causing infection or a pimple.
The tweezers used for plucking facial hair are important as well. They should be slanted and pointed at the end, with a narrow tip for precision. Standing in front of a lighted mirror, magnified if possible, also makes the process much easier. Experts generally recommend pulling the skin taught and then grasping one hair at a time with the tweezers, pulling it out in the same direction that it grows. This will prevent the hair from breaking instead of coming out by the root, and will also make it less painful.
This process can simply be repeated as necessary. It is generally best to pluck facial hair rather than shaving it, which can cause stubble to grow back fairly quickly. After plucking facial hair, if skin is irritated and red, a cooling aloe gel can be very helpful. If the pores are especially prone to becoming clogged, simply splashing some cool water on the face can help to calm irritation, or an antiseptic toner can help to prevent blemishes as well. For larger areas, or to initially shape the eyebrows, waxing facial hair might be necessary initially.
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![An oatmeal based lotion can help soothe skin after plucking facial hair.]()
By: Melanie DeFazioAn oatmeal based lotion can help soothe skin after plucking facial hair. -
![Washing the face with warm water prior to plucking hair will open pores to reduce pain.]()
By: moonriseWashing the face with warm water prior to plucking hair will open pores to reduce pain. -
![Straight tip tweezers are excellent for use on stubborn eyebrow hairs, while slanted tip tweezers are better for precision work.]()
By: Photographee.euStraight tip tweezers are excellent for use on stubborn eyebrow hairs, while slanted tip tweezers are better for precision work. -
![Eyebrows should be shaped to complement the facial shape.]()
By: MarkFGDEyebrows should be shaped to complement the facial shape. -
![Magnifying mirrors are useful when working with facial hair.]()
By: nielshariotMagnifying mirrors are useful when working with facial hair. -
![Scissor tweezers may be used for hair removal.]()
By: lucatoScissor tweezers may be used for hair removal. -
![Improperly plucking facial hair may cause blackheads.]()
By: Doruk SikmanImproperly plucking facial hair may cause blackheads. -
![Stencils can be used to correct eyebrows that have been plucked too much.]()
By: EireannStencils can be used to correct eyebrows that have been plucked too much.
Discussion Comments
@MrsPramm - Have you tried using the ingrown hair products they sell at the drugstore? They basically help to soften and disinfect your skin so that the hair doesn't irritate it.
They can be quite harsh though, so I don't know if you would want to use them on your face. I know a lot of people who use them in other sensitive areas though, so it might be worth a try.
The other option might be getting permanent hair removal, but I don't know if that will stick if you've got an ongoing hormonal problem. I would ask a doctor about it before spending that kind of money.
@Fa5t3r - I just can't imagine letting one of my friends know about having hair on my face though. I know it's a fairly common problem and it's basically there because I've got a hormonal condition, but I still would rather just pretend that it wasn't there.
I can't really pluck it anyway, because I always end up with ingrown hairs and that is a hundred times worse than just shaving every day.
This might be a bit embarrassing, but I find the best thing to do is find a friend who has the same problem and take turns on each other. It's really difficult to get at under the chin and I find I can be really hard on my skin when I'm trying to pluck with a mirror as well. I just don't line up properly with the hair.
If I'm doing it to someone else though, it is much easier and goes a lot faster as well. Plus, it sounds a bit gross, but it's actually kind of fun once you get used to it.
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