<p>Hi Ladies,
One of my Ds is slightly furry–the hair on her upper lip has recently gotten darker, though it is not coarse at all. I thought it didn’t bother her as she hadn’t mentioned it, so I didn’t want to make a big deal if it wasn’t an issue. It is noticeable, but not horrible. It seems to show up more in photos–she’s quite fair skinned.</p>
<p>Anyway, recently she said it does bother her. I thought I’d make an appointment for upper lip waxing at a high-end salon. Is this the way to go? Maybe down the road I’d look into a laser solution…but that seems extreme?</p>
<p>I’m a little afraid of bleach–but maybe that is an option too? Because I don’t think the hair is any thicker than it was a year or two ago, but it does seem to be darkening with time.</p>
<p>Electrolysis or laser or a combination - a reputable technician can recommend the most effective treatment for your daughter. As I understand it, laser treatment works better the darker the hair. Electrolysis removes hair (fine, light) that laser treatment can’t. Electrolysis costs less than laser. Both tend to be more effective than waxing in that the end goal is no more hair growth.</p>
<p>I am very fair and have dealt with this since my teen years (and I’m over 50) I am not scared of waxing and have lots done, in various places ;), but have difficulty with the lip area not blistering… regardless how high-end the salon. I used to plan waxing far enough in advance of an “event” to allow time for the area to heal if there was a problem. Finally a few years back I just started shaving :eek: the area every couple of weeks. No irritation and problem solved. It seems to be a myth that hair grows back coarser/darker/thicker.</p>
<p>I do not like chemical creams (sometimes burn and usually burned me!) or bleach (still see hair so not much point imho) </p>
<p>Many years ago, I discussed lazer hair removal with a specialist MD but she was somewhat concerned that with my fair skin there was a small possibility of marking/scarring. Remembering Mary McCartney’s Memoir of a Catholic Girlhood in which her beautiful grandmother wears a dark veil after a “procedure” I decided to pass. </p>
<p>the shaving works really well… though I am definitely not sharing this with anyone I know in real life :)</p>
<p>very good sharp razor, very good cream prep and moisturize well afterwards.</p>
<p>I have very blond hair but over the last few years have been sprouting dark hairs on my upper lip. (Welcome to the wonderful world of perimenopause.) My understanding with laser is the hair needs to be dark to be effective and quite a few women I know who have had it done say it isn’t a permanent fix but I defer to those CCers who have personally had it done.</p>
<p>I’ve tried waxing (at home and professionally) and have finally settled on using no-wax strips every few weeks. It works well for me but my hairs aren’t very thick. There are pros and cons to every method. I would research it first.</p>
<p>Wax it. I would never put a razor on my face, or anywhere else on my body for that matter. Waxing lasts at least a month and because they are snatching the hair from the root, it takes longer to grow back each time. I wax instead of shaving. I think it leaves the skin smoother than shaving does. Plus, shaving barely lasts two days. Whatever you chose to do, don’t let her shave her face.</p>
<p>I don’t claim to know it for a fact, but I think this is a misconception. A brief google search supports that imo. snopes, etc.</p>
<p>Shaving does go against common wisdom. If waxing doesn’t irritate, I think it is wonderful … and I wax body parts that don’t blister!!</p>
<p>I’m just putting the shaving out there as an option that I finally came to after decades of dealing with this issue. It works best for me and is the only option I have found that doesn’t cause redness and irritation, which was sometimes minor but sometimes serious. </p>
<p>It works best for me… as long as no one knows.<br>
I am sharing an absolute secret :)</p>
<p>^
You can see the difference when men shave their faces. Naturally, they have facial hair, but it grows in as a much softer grade of hair at first. When they start to shave, their hair becomes much thicker.</p>
<p>Take her to a salon and have it waxed! This is not a big deal - it will only take a few minutes. Most salons provide this service and it’s usually $10-15 once a month. It is the easiest and the best way to go. She can decide after a few years if she wants to have it removed with a laser. For now, waxing will give her the quickest and best result. You can also purchase an at-home waxing kit. Whole Foods sells a brand called “Parissa” that is great. These are “prewaxed” strips that can be applied and quickly pulled off. This may be another option if she is uncomfortable going to a salon.</p>
<p>Whatever you do, don’t suggest that she shave. The skin on her upper lip will feel a bit bristly when it grows back (every few days) and when she kisses people, they may notice that she’s shaved!</p>
<p>It’s an old wives tale that hair becomes thicker from shaving. Natural hairs are somewhat tapered at the end and shaving cuts off the taper ends, making the hair seem thicker and coarser.</p>
<p>When I was younger, I used Jolen Cream Bleach very successfully for years. The last several years I haven’t had to use it – is this something that menopause actually helps? Speaking for myself, I would never shave. There’s actually a threading salon in my town, but I’ve never tried it.</p>
<p>Waxing irritated my skin so much that I now use threading. Those of us at a certain age have more faicial hair that needs treated so I get an all over threading. DD gets her eyebrows threaded, too. They do the threading at my hair salon.</p>
<p>Men’s facial hair is coarser because of testosterone, not because they shave it. It’s also the reason women’s facial hair gets darker and coarser after menopause. Women stop producing much estrogen and their testosterone becomes more prominient (causing all sorts of wonderful symptoms).</p>
<p>I know several women, including my mom, who shave. Doesn’t give them a five o’clock shadow or make the hair coarser. I think it really depends on the individual’s hair texture and rate of growth. Usually women will try something besides shaving first but often times, like alh, can’t find a better solution.</p>
<p>Time to bust the shaving myths. Shaving cuts off hairs at the surface so there is no way there is any effect on how they grow back. It defies common sense. They may seem coarser because hairs taper as they grow or they may look more plentiful because they are more noticeable on a clean shaven face but no change is made to the follicle. </p>
<p>I have been shaving the peach fuzz on my face for years - no problems at all. Since HD television, many ladies on television have started shaving. I know two of them and they laugh at the shaving myths out there too. </p>
<p>I think the salons that do the waxing perpetuate the myth. </p>
<p>Shaving is also a great exfoliator so there are actually benefits.</p>
<p>Warning- on many people the area is quite red after waxing for the rest of the day. Don’t wax the morning or afternoon of a big event. Both D’s get eyebrows waxed. One of my D’s also gets her lip done. My fair skinned D has more of a reaction to the waxing.</p>
<p>It’s personal experience. I had a roomate who was a model and she was trying to outgrow her shaving legs by not shaving often. It’s much coaser when she shaved.</p>
<p>I know a woman (post menopausal) who shaves - it’s a little bristly when she leans in for the cheek to cheek air kiss. She seems to think that no one can tell, but of course everyone can tell, so don’t be so sure that it’s not obvious. A tiny bit of peach fuzz on the cheeks is normal, so the lack of it looks odd, IMO. Obvious hairs on the upper lip, chin or unwieldy brows should be dealt with either by waxing, laser or threading.</p>
<p>t’s an old wives tale that hair becomes thicker from shaving. Natural hairs are somewhat tapered at the end and shaving cuts off the taper ends, making the hair seem thicker and coarser.
Agree</p>
<p>My oldest is blond & blue eyed, but has her dad’s italian side coloring of dark eyelashes, eyebrows and a little mustache. She fully embraced it before she started dating her current partner, now I believe she bleaches it or occasionally waxes</p>
<p>I have blond hair on my face & body, which was always slightly on the furry side, but as I have gotten older, my arms for instance are practically hairless.
I shave my upper lip & my chin, when I shave the back of my neck( I have short hair) and enjoy the exfoliation that occurs with shaving. With waxing I get ingrown hairs & I am not going to take the time or money for electrolysis.</p>
(Welcome to the wonderful world of perimenopause.) My understanding with laser is the hair needs to be dark to be effective and quite a few women I know who have had it done say it isn’t a permanent fix but I defer to those CCers who have personally had it done.</p>