My Natural Me Addresses a Rather Hairy Topic

It’s a challenge that many women regularly battle – regardless of their race, background, or socioeconomic status. It’s one of the most discussed and debated topics in magazines, beauty blogs, infomercials -- even social media! 

We’re talking about facial hair. You know, that annoyingly stubborn stubble (yikes!) that pops up in hard-to-hide places such as the corner of the mouth, the chin, and the neck areas (due to a natural deposit of testosterone in those areas). 

For many women, it’s a sworn enemy they battle on a daily or weekly basis. Perhaps even more often.

But for some women, what is an annoying problem to others actually feels more like an unsolvable issue that directly affects their self-esteem and their ability to feel comfortable in social settings. For them, it’s not just a few bothersome stray hairs here and there. It’s a full-blown fight against an excessive growth of hair where everyone can see.

 What is its cause? What are some ways to combat it? And how can a woman feel beautiful in spite of it?

 The Cause of Excessive Facial Hair

According to Manisha Griffith Newman, an Ohio-based Licensed Cosmetic Therapist and Electrologist, facial hair growth in and of itself is about a woman’s hormones. An altered or extreme hormonal imbalance, as well as many other factors – including pregnancy, steroids, and higher levels of insulin in the body – can contribute to excessive hair growth, but at its core it is primarily a hereditary or genetic issue. 

Some women begin to notice more hair on their bodies in general as early as their 20s. The school of thought here is that this is due to the initial or increased use of birth control, which is known to upset hormonal balance, resulting in hair growth that can begin to become more pronounced as a woman ages. Other women don’t see changes in facial hair growth until their 40s, when they begin to experience hormonal changes specific to their move towards menopausal years.

For even more women, according to Newman, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a factor. Though not a disease, this often-misdiagnosed hormonal and high insulin level related syndrome can also cause excessive facial hair.

It’s an issue for sure. But thankfully, there may be hope.

 Home Remedies

Some women choose what are considered “home remedies” to develop a regimen that attacks the hair growing under the skin. The hair is removed from the shaft through tweezing/plucking, waxing, and even the increasingly common practice of threading. According to Newman, this is actually considered the worst hair removal remedy, as it kicks into gear the body’s natural instinct to heal itself by creating in the affected areas a tougher, thicker skin, as well as stronger strands of hair that regrow with an even deeper root.

Using a method that treats the hair above the skin is a gentler, more acceptable alternative home remedy, suggests Newman. Clipping, shaving, and applying certain hair removal creams are some recommended ways to clear the area of excessive hair, as the body does not recognize these methods as a threat to itself and does not begin the process that would cause the affected area to go into a self-healing mode that defeats the purpose of removing the hair in the first place.

 Non-Home/Professional Remedies

For various reasons, some women opt to go the professional route to treat their unwanted excessive hair growth issues. Laser hair removal, performed in-office by a licensed dermatologist, is often viewed as the best method by most industry standards, especially for women whose skin tone and facial hair color are at a greater contrast (as explained in what is known as the Fitzpatrick Skin-Type Chart).

The caveat: some clients report that laser treatment seemed to actually stimulate their hair growth. And for other clients, laser treatment has been ineffective on their red, gray or blond hairs. While that may not be everyone’s personal experience, it is a factor to consider when choosing this or any other option. The workaround for some clients who are good candidates for laser hair removal has been to follow up this treatment with electrolysis.

A couple additional notes to keep in mind when considering laser therapy: it can take between 18 and 24 months of consistent treatment to experience complete hair removal (qualified as “permanent hair reduction” by the FDA due to the ever-changing hormonal nature of hair growth), and throughout these treatments, it is required that the client use no other treatment methods, so as not to negate the results of the process. Additionally, though relatively safe, there is always the possibility that laser therapy can cause burning and irritation on treated areas.

Women considering all their options – home remedies versus professional remedies – will need to weigh the expense and long-term effectiveness of both approaches to make an informed decision that satisfies their own personal need. An open and honest conversation with your doctor or healthcare professional regarding treatment options and expectations is the first step to determining which path is best for you and any underlying issues that may need to be addressed related to your excessive hair growth challenges.

 Girl, You Are Beautiful….

It’s heartbreaking sometimes to look in the mirror and take note of our flaws. Challenging to feel uncomfortable in our own skin when we’re out and about socially with women whom we swear couldn’t possibly be privately battling the same issue we are. Easy to become overwhelmed by the many options that are available to us if we decide we want to remove the hair ourselves or seek the help of a licensed professional.

Whatever our insecurities, it is deeply important that we recognize our own beauty. That we take the time to nurture and uplift ourselves from the inside out. How?

Create a spa experience for yourself

Have you decided that one of the suggested home methods is best for you? Make your environment peaceful and calming. Set the mood with music that relaxes you in the shower or bath. Use a shaving lotion or cream that fills the room with a scent that reminds you of how feminine you are. 

This time, this self-care routine, is just for you.

Seek out a beauty professional to advise you

Makeup artists are just that – artists. By definition, they exist to help pull out what’s naturally beautiful about each one of us. They also have an eye for and are trained to help us minimize what we might consider our personal flaws. Regardless of the method you choose to treat your excessive facial hair growth, set up a consultation with one of these professionals to have them review with you healthy makeup options to create a balanced look that helps you see your own beauty.

 Seek out a sisterhood

There is rarely anything that we are personally experiencing that isn’t also being experienced by someone else in our personal or professional circle. So don’t go it alone! Seek out other women who share your challenge and who may be feeling just as insecure as you feel. Knowledge share. Most importantly, uplift and support each other within a support system of other women who understand your personal vulnerabilities because they mirror their own.

Dealing with excessive hair growth can be a painful challenge. But taking the time to consider all your options can surely help you figure out the best way for you to deal with it in a way that helps you celebrate you.

Have you found a successful way to manage this challenge? Share in the comment section below!

 Chela Hardy & Leeta Harlem