While most men are googling “how to make facial hair grow” (with the whole beard revolution), the worried opposite sex frantically googles the opposite. While facial hair was not a concern for women in past generations, women have progressed to striving for hairless skin, even more so facial skin, with unwavering determination.
A natural depilatory? Aging. Not very appealing or time honoring. It may not even have an effect on facial hair.
Don’t worry, me ladies. There are natural ways to get rid of the below-brow hair, Presley-like long sideburns, mustache, and beard.
Why Do Women Get Excess Facial Hair
When talking about facial hair, you need to know what hirsutism is. Hirsutism is a condition where women have excess body hair in unwanted places like the chin, back, and chest.
Hirsutism may be an inherited genetic trait or a result of hormonal imbalance caused by abnormally high levels of male hormones (androgens like testosterone). The most common cause of hirsutism is PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) that is triggered by a disrupted endocrine system.
The reason why you’re on this page is that you’re tired of the pain (threading, tweezing, and waxing can be oh so painful!), pocket drain, and side effects of most of these methods. You want to go natural, cheap, and convenient.
How To Remove Unwanted Facial Hair Naturally?
1. Spearmint Tea
More research is needed to further solidify these claims. In the meantime, refresh yourself with a cup of spearmint tea. What have you got to lose?
How To Make Spearmint Tea
- Pour 1 cup of boiling water over a heaping teaspoon of dried, ground spearmint leaves or 1.5 teaspoons of fresh, finely chopped spearmint leaves.
- Steep for 10 minutes.
- Sweeten with sugar or honey, if necessary.
Because spearmint tea works by messing with androgen levels, men, pregnant women, and nursing moms need to avoid this method. Also, a heads up—hormonal disruptions may manifest as irregular periods.
When the number of times you need to resort to an emergency shave, wax, or tweeze reduces, you’ll know you’re doing something right.
2. Papaya
Papaya contains the enzyme papain. According to a study, papain has been shown to degenerate hair follicles and disintegrate hair shafts.2 3
Go ahead. Mash up some fresh papaya and smear it all over your face. Wash off after 15–20 minutes.
3. Egg Whites
Egg whites do nothing to weaken hair follicles or disassemble hair shafts. They effectively suffice as home-made wax. Make a face peel by brushing on some egg whites on your face. Once it has dried, gently peel it off. Like waxing, it will remove unwanted facial hair along with it.
What About Turmeric?
Old wives and unquestioning holistic activists without hesitation often advise the use of turmeric to remove facial hair. Is there any truth in this myth? Seems not.4
There is no scientific evidence yet to explain this age-old claim, something we need to give a serious thought to. While turmeric may definitely have skin benefits, its role in inhibiting hair growth is questionable.
Remember
The above methods for facial hair removal are most likely temporary (even though we desperately want them to be permanent). While they remove existing hair, already activated hair follicles may remain unaffected.
A convenient alternative to hair removal is bleaching. Yes, it may be very prominent in bright outdoors, but everywhere else you’re skin will look smooth and hair-free. Lemon is a natural bleach.
At the end of the day, facial hair or not, flaunt that face with pride.
References
