I'll Ask Here

[wowandflutter]

Besides my pesky bladder, another problem I've delt with for a long time has been my unwanted facial hair! I've tried everything to get rid of it.

For the past year, I've been epilating, which is great because I can get rid of all the hair in 15 to 20 minutes as opposed to 6 hours if I tried plucking it all. Normally with epilation, hair isn't "supposed" to grow back for 2 to 6 weeks. So I thought "great! I'll try it". Well, like I said, it does remove all my hair, but in a day and a half, it's all grown back again!! And before that day and a half, I still have to pluck some hairs here and there. This is so troubling for me, because I just want a smooth, pretty chin. My boyfriend though doesn't make any issue about it. He thinks I'm pretty anyway.

Now, i don't want to alarm anyone, my chin doesn't look like a carpet, but the hair is on the darker side and it's just a nuisance to get rid of. One possibility I am thinking of is that my testosterone levels could be higher. I'm only in my 20's so I am not in menopause yet (In case you were wondering since hormone levels can change during that time).

I got threading done at one point when i was in high school, and that seemed to work, but the strange thing was - was that my hair grew back darker than it was before I started threading. It's been the same dark color ever since.

Anyone know any effective remides (aside from electrolysis or birth control) that might work? Preferably home remedies? I can't afford electrolysis right now and I refuse to take birth control due to potentially harmful side effects.

Thanks in advance.


Stephanie

[ICNDonna]

I think it might be a good idea to talk to your doctor about your problem. It's possible that it's hormonal, but not necessarily so.

Donna

[lisarb]

There is a prescription cream called Vaniqa that I got from my dermatologist. You have to use it twice a day though and keep using it to see results. I'm not sure insurance covers it either. I didn't stick with it long enough due to laziness, but I remember when I used it, it really seemed to slow hair growth.

[wowandflutter]

Yeah, I've heard of Vaniqa. Is it expensive?

[ophelia33]

Hi,
I'm not sure how bad or thick the hair is but I have a "mustache" b/c my skin is very pale and my hair is very dark and I bleach it w/ Jolen creme bleach. It works better than plucking or removal w/ creams.

Not sure this was what you were looking for but thought I'd throw it out there.

hugs,
Ophelia

[lisarb]

I can't remember exactly how much it was because I bought it a year ago. I know it was under $60 and the tube did last a long time, even when I was using it twice a day.

[purpletomorrow]

Laser hair removal is permanent and wonderful, and I bet it wouldn't be too expensive on just a small area of your face. I had mine done at my derm.

[nottoc4]

I get waxed every 6 weeks,eyebrows and upper lip.

[jaime15]

I have a cosmetology license, so I was able to buy my own wax machine from the supply warehouse. Sally's or other beauty supply stores have their own kind as well. Check one of those out and follow the directions!
I have dark hair so I wax everything too. I hope they aren't terribly expensive now. When I bought mine it was around $60.........wax, papers and sticks....
You can spend that in one sitting from a professional. So it is cheaper in the long run....

[nottoc4]

I'll check it out!

[wowandflutter]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I have tried waxing before. When I used to live with my mom. I'd use this wax she had, in which she purchased at her beauty supply. It got rid of the hair on my chin, but not underneath. Plus it was so insanely messy. Last year, before I got my epilator, I was using this kind from Sally Hansen, and again it was only moderately effective. During one session I kept waxing the underneath part of my chin because the hair just wouldn't come off and I did it so much I burned myself. It was so embarrassing - I had to go to Walgreens and buy some burn ointment. It took a week to go away.

So when I got my epilator I was relieved, and for the most part, I am pleased with the amount of hair it removes. Because I don't have my own doctor (I only go to my boyfriend's doctor if I get really sick) - I have no way of knowing if this is hormonal or not. I can guess that it is, since the hair keeps growing back so quickly. Obviously though, I don't know for sure.