Tackling facial hair is tricky for women. Options like waxing and laser might eliminate hair but they are harsh on the skin and often leave prominent bumps and scars. Shaving your facial hair is a strict no-no as it makes your skin rough and causes the hair to grow back thicker and darker. A natural remedy is a much more effective and safer option. They are easy to prepare and do not carry in tow a host of side effects like other artificial alternatives.
First, let’s look into a few reasons as to why facial hair growth often accelerates in women:
Hereditary problems
Almost every woman has facial hair growth of some degree. However, the extent of the growth depends on your genes. If the women in your family have a history of having to battle thick facial hair, it is likely that you will have to face the same problem. Moreover, if both your parents belong to families, whose members are hairy, the odds are probably stacked against you. Some communities are more prone than others are to developing thick facial hair.
On the bright side, however, the women in your family probably have a list of remedies on how to remove peach fuzz that you can consult. Make sure that these methods are scientific, though, since many outdated home remedies could cause more harm than good.
Unhealthy lifestyle
Habits like smoking, drug abuse, drinking, irregular diet and sleep patterns, no exercise, are all symptomatic of the fast-paced modern lifestyle. These can lead to a number of grave problems and the production of excess facial hair is one of the minor ones. These practices completely disturb the normal functioning of your body, confusing your hormones. Hormonal imbalance is one of the most common factors that stimulate the growth of facial hair in women. The worst part is that once the imbalance has occurred, it takes a lot of time and effort to set it right again. You will most likely be prescribed medication with plenty of adverse side effects.
Medical Causes
It’s best to try and resolve the issue of facial hair as naturally as possible. However, if medical factors are causing excess hair growth, then prescription medications need to be considered. The most common medical factors that accelerate the growth of facial hair in women are PCOD and obesity. While regular exercise can help tackle the latter, people with PCOD are advised to seek consultation from a qualified doctor. Additionally, other medications, like Minoxidil, that you may be taking at the moment can also lead to the growth of excess hair. Ask your doctor to prescribe an alternative that will not affect hair growth on your face and body.
Listed below are 10 natural homemade remedies to help you remove facial hair painlessly and safely:
Egg whites
The highly elastic nature of egg whites makes them a great ingredient for a peel off mask. Not only do they extract blackheads, whiteheads and other superficial impurities from your skin, they also pull out facial hair. They tighten your pores too, making your skin appear smooth and flawless.
Combine half a tablespoon of corn flour with one egg white to prepare a paste as the base of the mask. Apply it evenly on your face and let it sit for 15 minutes. Once the mask has completely set, wash it off gently with lukewarm water. Alternatively, you could also add 1 tablespoon of sugar to the mixture to prepare a mask-cum-scrub. Do this twice a week to see your facial hair vanish gradually.
Turmeric mask
Turmeric has long been renowned for its antibacterial properties. It sucks out impurities from the skin and imparts a healthy glow instead. Frequent application of turmeric can also cure pimples and acne. However, make sure that the turmeric you are using is 100% organic and free from preservatives. Therefore, it is best to crush the turmeric into a paste yourself instead of buying packaged produce.
Mix equal portions of turmeric and whole wheat flour. Add as much quantity of an essential oil of your choice as is required to make a thick paste. This paste needs to be applied evenly on your face and neck. After 30 minutes, scrub the residue off gently and in circular motions. A weekly application of this paste should be sufficient to see visible results in less than a month.
Honey mask
Honey can be used as a key ingredient in the preparation of a home made wax that is both gentle on the skin and highly effective. It is usually used in combination with other natural ingredients to prepare a facial hair removal mask at home. For this remedy, we will be using lemon, which is rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants. Lemon rids your skin of the stubbornest impurities, and improves your complexion by acting on pigmented spots. Mix freshly squeezed lemon juice and honey in a 1:4 ratio, depending on the extent of your facial hair growth. You can also add half a tablespoon of oatmeal to the mixture to exfoliate your skin. Let it sit for 20 minutes and then remove it by using a cloth dipped in lukewarm water.
Sugaring
Sugaring was a trend that was made popular on Instagram around 2015. Basically, it exfoliates your skin and removes even the tiniest hair from your face. This method can also be applied on other areas of your body. This is a great method for removing ingrown hairs that may have resulted from frequent usage of a hair removal cream or shaving. Heat a quarter-cup of normal or rose water with 2 cups of sugar in it and bring it to boil. You can also add lemon juice to amplify the effect. Take a dollop of the resulting gel and rub it in a circular motion on your face for 5 minutes. Pay special attention to the cheeks and upper lips as that is where the hair is thickest. Wash the residue off with a mild facewash.
Turmeric and papaya paste
The enzyme papain that is present in heavy doses in papaya erodes hair follicles, making this home remedy one of the most permanent ones for facial hair removal. Turmeric, as mentioned previously, has antibacterial properties that will help combat the inflammation and also adds to the papain’s extractive property. Add a couple teaspoons of turmeric powder to raw papaya chunks and mash the mixture into a thick paste. Apply the paste on only those parts of your face that has excess hair. Take care that the paste has been spread evenly. Use your finger tips to blend in the paste properly and let it sit for 15 minutes before washing it off. Due to the strength of the enzyme, it is best not to apply the paste more than once a week.
Wheat bran
Using wheat bran to remove unwanted hair from your face can prove advantageous in more ways than the one desired. It is loaded with vital nutrients that help revitalize your skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Wheat bran can be used to make a gentle scrub for your facial skin. Combine 2 tablespoons of wheat bran with a tablespoon of raw milk. You may add a pinch of rose water to make the mixture gentler on your skin. Apply the resultant scrub on the parts of your face with hair and gently massage the scrub until it dries into a residue. Wash it off with cold water. Repeat this twice or thrice a week for a hairless face. This remedy also helps improve the texture of your skin.
Vitamin C peel paste
Citrus fruits like orange and lemon are packed with Vitamin C, which is great for your skin. The main source of the vitamin content, however, is the peel of the fruit. Leave lemon and orange peels out to dry in the sun for a couple of days. This makes it easier for you to grind them into a fine powder. Combine the powder with oatmeal and add a couple teaspoons of olive oil. Be thorough with the mixing so that the ingredients are spread out more or less evenly throughout it. Use it to gently scrub your face for 10 minutes and then let it rest for 5 minutes before washing it off. This method works best on regular usage twice or thrice a week.
Essential oils
It is a good habit to incorporate essential oils into your daily skincare routine. They are easily absorbed into the skin and each variety of oil is beneficial for a different set of skin problems. Lavender oil and tea tree oils possess anti-androgenic properties that prevent body hair growth. They are great for chin hair removal too and leave the underside of the skin feeling smooth as opposed to other forms of hair removal that cause roughness and cause the skin to break out. Prepare a solution comprising 1 teaspoon of lavender oil with 4 to 6 drops of tea tree oil. Dip a cotton ball into the solution and dab it onto the hairy areas of your face and neck. It should be allowed to sit uninterrupted on the skin for at least a couple of hours.
Spearmint tea
Spearmint tea also possesses anti-androgenic properties that limit the production of androgen in the body. Excess production of androgen in females caused by hormonal irregularities can lead to the manifestation of traditionally masculine features. The most prominent of these features is the growth of voluminous facial hair. This is called hirsutism and can be a severe problem for women. Recent scientific studies have proven that intake of spearmint tea can effectively help combat this problem. Add a teaspoon of peppermint powder or 4 to 5 peppermint leaves to a cup of boiling water. Strain the mixture and drink the tea, at least twice daily for optimum results. The best time for consuming the tea is during the first 5 days of the follicular phase of your menstrual cycle or the first 5 days of your menstruation.
Potato and lentil mask
The last remedy on this list is ideal to get rid of peach fuzz. Potatoes, like lemons, bleach your hair and skin. This is why they are used for curing dark circles. Lentils are packed with proteins that help rejuvenate your skin and make it appear younger by tightening its pores. To prepare this remedy, you will require a potato, half a cup of yellow lentils, a tablespoon of honey, 4 to 5 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice and a strainer. You need to soak the lentils in water overnight. Remove the peel of the potato and put it in the juicer. Grind the lentils to prepare a paste and then blend the two together. Add the honey and lemon juice to the mixture and apply it on your face. Let it sit for 30 minutes and rub the residue off. Rubbing it will pull the facial hair from the roots.
How to avoid facial hair growth?
While hereditary factors play a significant role in the rate of growth of your facial hair, other practices could aggravate the problem. Number one on that list is the consumption of packaged foods, especially meats and ones packed in aluminum containers while still warm. Packaged foods have been linked to the rise of PCOD in women, which makes facial hair grow at a rapid rate. Oily and spicy foods are also harmful if consumed regularly because they disturb the normal production of hormones in your body. Stress can compel you to adopt a number of unhealthy choices like smoking, drinking, binge eating and inadequate sleeping patterns. These can seriously affect your body’s internal functioning and cause more facial hair to emerge.
Concluding remarks
Consistent use of these remedies has proven to completely remove unwanted hair. Since these are natural remedies, the results might take a while to be visible but once they start to take effect, your facial hair will be gone permanently. Once the facial hair is gone, you can continue to use these remedies as and when required instead of regularly.
