Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Naomi Elza. Naomi Elza is an Esthetician based in Beverly Hills, California. Naomi operates Beauty Factory Beverly Hills, a spa that offers a variety of facials and other skin treatments. She has been an esthetician for over 10 years and helps clients with issues including acne, hyperpigmentation, and dehydrated skin. She enjoys helping individuals find skincare solutions tailored to their needs. She attended Lu Roth Academy to become an Esthetician.
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It’s easy to feel self-conscious about the hair on your upper lip or between your eyebrows. There are many ways to get rid of unwanted facial hair, including waxing and shaving, but using a depilatory cream is arguably one of the quickest, easiest, and least painful options. To use a hair removal cream on your face, test your skin, clean your skin, apply the cream, and then remove it.
Steps
Read the product label. While the process might seem obvious, it’s important to read the directions and make sure you understand them before using the cream. Different brands of hair removal cream have slightly different instructions.- Additionally, this will allow you to learn of potential side effects and also check ingredients for anything you may be allergic to.[1]
- Make sure the cream is designed for facial use. Not all hair-removal creams are meant to be used on the face.
- You can also look for a cream that's designed specifically for the type of facial hair you're looking to remove, like eyebrow hair or mustache hair.
Do a test patch on a small area of skin. Especially if you’ve never used the product before, you’ll want to try it on a small patch of skin before using a significant amount on your face. Follow the instructions and apply the cream to a very small area on your jawline. If you don’t notice any reactions or irritations on the area after 24 hours have gone by, it’s most likely safe to use it on your face.Advertisement
Wash your face. Your face should be clean and dry when you apply hair removal cream. To properly wash your face, wet it with warm water, apply a cleanser, and then exfoliate your skin. Finally, rinse your face with cool water and pat dry with a clean towel.
Apply the cream to your facial hair with a cosmetic spatula. When you purchase hair removal cream, a cosmetic spatula usually comes with it as part of a kit. Squeeze some of the hair removal cream onto the curved end of the cosmetic spatula.[2] Carefully coat all of the hairs you wish to remove with a thick layer of cream.[3]- For best results, apply the cream right after showering or towards the end of your shower.[4]
- If you don’t have a spatula, you can also apply it with your fingers or a cotton swab.
- If you're using the cream to remove unwanted eyebrow hair, outline your eyebrows with a brow pencil first. Then, apply the cream to the hairs that fall outside of the outline you made.
Wash your hands immediately. In case you got some of the cream on your hands, it’s a good idea to wash them after you’re done applying.[5] Give them a quick wash with hand soap and warm water and then dry them off with a clean towel.
Leave the cream on for 5 minutes. Most brands of hair removal cream instruct you to leave the cream on for about 5 minutes. However, some brands are different than others, so be sure to double check the label.[6] Also, set an alarm on your phone or use a kitchen timer so you don’t lose track of time.- Leave it on for a few more minutes if you have thick hair.
- Don’t leave it on for any longer than 10 minutes.[7]
Check to see if the hair is coming off. Use a spatula or wash cloth to remove a very small amount of the cream. Take a close look at the area to make sure enough time has passed for the hair to dissolve.[8]
Wipe the cream off with a damp washcloth. Once you notice that the hair is coming off, dampen a washcloth with warm water and gently wipe away all of the cream.[9] When you’re done, hand-wash the wash cloth to get rid of all of the cream and hair and lay it out on the counter to dry.
Splash your face with cool water. Finally, rinse your face with cool water from the sink to ensure that no loose, stray hairs remain on your skin.[10] Pat your face dry with a clean towel.
Apply a moisturizer. To keep your skin from becoming dry or irritated, it’s a good idea to apply some hydrating face lotion to your skin just after rinsing your face. Massage the moisturizer into your skin in a circular motion. Apply the lotion to your entire face but spend a little extra time on the place where hair was just removed.- If you notice any excessive redness, itchiness, flakiness, or other signs of extreme skin irritation, see your doctor and refrain from using the hair removal cream.
How Do I Safely Epilate My Facial Hair?
Expert Q&A
- QuestionCan you use Veet on your face?
Laura MartinLaura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Licensed CosmetologistVeet makes a special formula designed for use on the face. You should not use the regular formula on your face. - QuestionCan men use women's hair removal cream?Laura MartinLaura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Licensed CosmetologistYes, like most hair removal products, creams are labeled by gender for marketing purposes. It is safe for men to use women's cream and vice versa. - QuestionHow long do you leave hair removal cream on your face?Laura MartinLaura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Licensed CosmetologistMost brands recommend a processing time of five minutes. If it is burning or irritating your skin, however, you should rinse it off immediately.
Tips
Warnings
- After using hair removal cream, don’t use scented products on your face, swim, sunbathe, or go to a tanning bed for at least 24 hours. Otherwise, your skin may become irritated.Thanks
- Never leave the hair removal cream on your skin for longer than 10 minutes, or longer than the maximum amount of time listed in the directions. This may cause a painful burning sensation and/or may irritate your skin.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Hair removal cream
- Cosmetic spatula
- Facewash
- Water
- Washcloth
- Hand soap
- Facial moisturizer
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about skincare, check out our in-depth interview with Naomi Elza.
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8myuWq0urXM
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA0hIwPmPtw
- ↑ http://www.naircare.com/en/Women/Products/Nair-Face-Cream-Moisturizing-With-Sweet-Almond-Oil
- ↑ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/how-to/a10343/depilatory-creams/
- ↑ http://www.naircare.com/en/Women/Products/Nair-Face-Cream-Moisturizing-With-Sweet-Almond-Oil
- ↑ http://www.naircare.com/en/Women/Products/Nair-Face-Cream-Moisturizing-With-Sweet-Almond-Oil
- ↑ http://www.naircare.com/en/Women/Products/Nair-Face-Cream-Moisturizing-With-Sweet-Almond-Oil
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA0hIwPmPtw
- ↑ http://www.naircare.com/en/Women/Products/Nair-Face-Cream-Moisturizing-With-Sweet-Almond-Oil
About This Article
Hair removal cream is a great way to get rid of unwanted facial hair. Before you apply the cream to all of your facial hair, do a patch test on a small section to make sure it won’t irritate your skin. If the patch is fine, wash your face and apply the cream to any hair you want to remove. Use the spatula that came with the cream, a cotton swab, or your fingers. After you’ve applied the cream, wash your hands so the chemicals don’t irritate your skin. After 5 to 10 minutes, or whenever your hair comes off with a spatula, wipe the cream off your face. Finish by rinsing your face and applying a moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. For more tips from our Beauty co-author, including how to remove unwanted eyebrow hair with removal cream, read on!
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