Hair has always been a problem for women – or more aptly – excess hair. On your legs, under your arms, in your nether regions. And the place where it is the most apparent – your face. While we might shave some areas, shaving your face just sounds wrong. Right? Well maybe not.
Now we’re in no way suggesting you lather up your face with shaving cream and get out your old razor, but there’s a new face shaving technique in town, namely microplaning, which involves a sharp scalpel and a trip to a professional.
“Microplaning is a gentle but effective way of removing hair,” explains Dr Catherine Stone from The Face Place. “It’s an easy, painless and more controllable option.”
There are two types of facial hair. The thick, black, coarse hairs that can spike up from your chin and top lip, and the lighter, finer, all-over hair known as ‘peach fuzz’, which is usually a little less noticeable. It’s the latter which really benefits from microplaning; it’s the most effective way to remove it given the fact IPL and laser treatments don’t work well on finer, lighter hairs.
At home try: Remington Trim & Shape Beauty Trimmer, $40.
The real benefit of microplaning, however, isn’t all about hair removal, rather it’s about what is does to your skin and word has it beauties like Cleopatra, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor were fans.
The close shave works to exfoliate the dull, dead cells on the skin’s surface, leaving your face soft and smooth. It’s this process that will not only give your skin a silky texture but a glowing complexion too.
“As it removes the dead layer of skin cells, it can help stimulate skin renewal, prevent clogging of the pores and reduce unwanted build-up of bacteria on the skin,” says Stone.
“It’s wonderful to have about two to three days before a special event because your makeup sits on the skin fabulously after this treatment.” Added to that, with no hair whatsoever on the face your skincare products will penetrate the skin at a deeper level because it isn’t blocked by hairs.
But won’t this all just make your hairs that much more thicker and all the more noticeable?
Not so, says Stone. “I think a lot of women assume the worst – thick, black hair re-growth, which can make them a little dubious. But in reality the hair doesn’t grow back any darker or thicker on the face at all.”
If you’re keen to try, head to The Face Place for a consultation. Monthly treatments are recommended as it takes about four weeks for the fine ‘peach fuzz’ to come back. Expect to pay $155 for one session.
At home alternatives?
Stone says this is not something to do at home; however, while we don’t recommend you take a blade to your face there are a few gadgets that will remove hair better
than a traditional razor.
Try: Remington Trim & Shape Beauty Trimmer, $40.
Words by: Sarah Murray
Photos: Getty Images and Supplied
