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Style & beauty

Facial hair, avoiding Gandalf look

(54 Posts)
Shizam Sat 08-Oct-16 00:26:08

What do you do to avoid the bearded lady thing? I'm Celtic pasty skinned and now growing a downy beard, tashe and jowls. Very pale fine hair but very evident in harsh light. Can't do waxing as skin too sensitive. Do those v expensive laser gizmos I've seen in Boots work? Currently using a JML thing I bought in Asda which basically just trims off the fuzz. Not sure this is best idea for it.

Brummiegran Sat 08-Oct-16 09:24:31

Have you tried threading? There are lots of beauty bars,they do eyebrows mainly but also upper and lower lip plus chin. A bit public but very effective.

Charleygirl Sat 08-Oct-16 09:37:09

There was a very long thread about this subject but quite a while ago. It may help you Shizam if you try looking for it.

Shizam Sat 08-Oct-16 22:42:05

Thanks for info. Do remember Jennifer Saunders saying she did the threading thing and found it incredibly painful. Don't think my useless skin would cope. Which is why I was hoping someone had used one of those very expensive lumea things they sell at Boots.

Ana Sat 08-Oct-16 22:49:02

I believe laser treatment only works on dark hairs, Shizam.

I use a Whizzit, which is basically a cheap epilator - yes it is a bit painful, especially at first, but beats shaving!

Luckygirl Sat 08-Oct-16 22:50:56

I use a battery operated facial hair remover: www.boots.com/en/Braun-face-851_1808454/

I have very dark hair and quite dark skin so bleaching the bit of a moustache that I get is not really quite the thing - the bleached hairs stand out against my skin!

I find the facial hair remover brilliant. I can't pretend that it is not a bit uncomfortable, but it has never left any redness on my skin at all.

One thought though - if you feel that this hair growth is a new thing and it is as extensive as you are saying, then it might just be worth checking it out with the doc to be sure that there is no hormonal or other endocrine disorder that might be treatable. I get a bit more hair now that I am older, but nothing like you are describing.

HootyMcOwlface Sun 09-Oct-16 11:04:13

If you find out about that Lumea thing let me know! I have been thinking about getting one but the price has put me off (although Amazon often have one on offer it is still expensive!) I have had trouble with a few dark hairs growing on my chin for years which I just plucked, but since going through the menopause I now have a moustache and lots more chin hair, all dark and course! Makes me very depressed and unhappy sad to say the least.

Teetime Sun 09-Oct-16 11:09:23

Waxing for me otherwise its Captain Birdseye.

starlily106 Sun 09-Oct-16 11:23:09

I think my eyebrows have decided to move south. They are getting more sparse and the outer edges are now gone. I think they now grow on the area around my mouth and jaw. Until now I have managed with tweezers, but I think it's time for something more effective, or else I may end up in a circus as a bearded lady.

Stella14 Sun 09-Oct-16 11:26:38

At 57, my facial hair is getting worse too. I have had a few dark, course hairs that I've plucked out for a couple of decades at least. In the last couple of years, the downy hair has got longer and there is a bit more of it. I have also had one dark hair recently that in the words of a woman on the Grumpy Old Women TV programme, grew in a "pubic hair stylie" ? I still pluck and occasionally epilate. Neither is satisfactory ?

MinniesMum Sun 09-Oct-16 11:32:50

starlily106
Get thee to your GP for a checkup. My eyebrows started disappearing about 5 years ago - when I pencilled them in I looked like Spock!. I just mentioned it in passing to my GP. He gave me a blood test and discovered I had an underactive thyroid. Easily treated with thyroxine and no side effects whatsoever. It is quite common and nothing to worry about. I still get whiskers here and there though but my eyebrows grew back quite quickly.

baw53 Sun 09-Oct-16 11:42:18

I use Nair Facial Hair Remover, Brush On.Works a treat.Instructions say to leave it on for 6/7 mins, sometimes that is not long enough an extra 2 mins and all hair is totally removed, but it does sometimes leave me a bit red faced( well,red upper lip/jaw to be exact) a non perfumed moisturiser reduces the redness in around 15 minutes, so as long as I am not rushing to go out it is absolutely fine. If I have plenty of time to myself then I apply Garnier tinted moisturiser about 60 mins later ( the gradual tan one suitable for the face) been doing this regularly for around 10 years and try not to leave until hubby says he can see my ' whiskers' ......

Kate51 Sun 09-Oct-16 11:46:50

I also use the Whizzit, £6 plus p and p on Amazon, little uncomfortable the first couple of uses and no redness. tried threading and found it very painful.

tanith Sun 09-Oct-16 11:53:35

I've used Nair Facial Hair remover for ages it works fine for me have the occasional stray dark whisker grow which gets plucked..

harrysgran Sun 09-Oct-16 11:58:16

It's a nightmare I sometimes check myself out in the car mirror and I think it must be the angle or light but I look like Santa Claus I pluck the odd ones but the Whizzzit is quickest method for me I got a pack of two from eBay about a fiver.

Lindill49 Sun 09-Oct-16 12:10:16

I read that shaving works as well as face creams and also exfoliates at the same time. I've been doing it in the shower for a month now with a gentle lady razor and it's fine.

Caztown15 Sun 09-Oct-16 12:12:38

I am fair with slightly sensitive skin. I tried the NoNo epilator thingy, but sent it back because it burned me. I am hooked on plucking, can't relax at home without a pair of tweezers nearby, but it drives my hubby mad, so recently been back on the Nair cream occasionally. I do find that the hairs grow back spiky after that though, so there's no ideal solution for me yet.

sue1169 Sun 09-Oct-16 13:12:07

I just use hair removal cream for sensitive skin!! Brill?

Rosina Sun 09-Oct-16 15:18:26

DD has recently tried threading and said it was not too bad, and is best for the sort of downy hair you are talking about. I'm going to try it myself next week - hope it's not agonising, I have a very low pain threshold!

Linsco56 Sun 09-Oct-16 15:34:35

I've been told threading is less painful if the skin is taut. I had my eyebrows threaded years ago and it wasn't painful. I don't think you've anything to worry about Rosina it's not agonising.

dogsmother Sun 09-Oct-16 15:54:59

Hypothyroid here, also hairy faced. I have my eyebrows threaded and tinted love it.
Now shave my face (well upper lip and a bit of my chin)for the rest of it.
I've been doing this daily for ages after trying all other treatments, waxing, threading and electrolysis I have found it the simplest and most effective but sometimes I feel 'unlucky'.
I really don't think its at all obvious. I would say if you are fair don't bother its natural enough, if like me you are dark haired go for it.

DanniRae Sun 09-Oct-16 16:16:56

I find BOOTS facial hair removal cream is the best one. I also pluck in between times.

Esspee Sun 09-Oct-16 16:52:27

Don't waste your money on an IPL machine. (Lumea, Smooth Skin etc.). It is supposed to work on dark hair and light skin. I have one which I use on my legs and underarms which both have dark hair (face has blonde down so no use there). Frankly it does seem to reduce the dark hair but despite using it daily for weeks and weeks it certainly hasn't ever stopped regrowth. The professional salons use a stronger machine so may work but it is sooooo expensive. Laser is touted as being better but again very expensive.
Is it really that obvious? I just pluck the chin whiskers and leave the down alone.

Welshwife Sun 09-Oct-16 17:08:32

I have just used tweezers for some years and have found that gradually the number of regrow hairs has diminished - I had one very strong one on my chin which has not regrown for a year or so now. I too like to have a pair of tweezers at the ready as I do it by fingertip feel but only do it when on my own!!

Angela1961 Sun 09-Oct-16 17:21:36

I've heard nothing but negative feedback about the No-no so wouldn't waste my money. However I did buy a pack of two ' thingies ' from Amazon for literally a few quid and it works wonders. Can't remember what they are called but they look like a long spring with pink plastic ends on them. Won't lie it does sting a bit when you first start but catches all the hair in the spring as you roll it across your skin. 're growth ' takes awhile as well.