Banish Facial Hair With A Little-Used Tool

For some people, dealing with unwanted facial hair can be a real hassle. Unless you're lucky enough to afford permanent options like laser hair removal, you're pretty much left to repeat maintenance every month. While you might have tried trends like threading, tweezing, or even old-fashioned shaving (there's a LOT to know about what happens when you shave your face btw), there is a lesser-known option that might be worth investigating: coil removers.

These handheld curved devices look like a spring with handles on each end. Designed to tackle everything from chin fuzz to an upper-lip 'stache, it removes hair quickly without the use of any chemicals. Because of this, it's advertised as causing less irritation than waxing. Best of all, there is nothing to charge, plug-in, or heat up for this process, making it faster and suitable for travel. You don't even need a mirror to use the tool, meaning you can multitask watching TV while also handling your mustache. The coil remover is also relatively inexpensive, making it an even more accessible option (especially if regular waxing visits are out of your budget).

It's important to note that coil removers are not tweezers, though many tweezer brands sell them. However, where tweezing requires you to pinch individual hairs and pull them out one by one, a coil remover traps rows of hair between the springs and pulls them out all at once. This process is effective at removing not only thicker, longer hairs (called terminal hairs) but also vellus hairs, better known as peach fuzz. And since they don't require any products like wax, they're less likely to irritate the skin and cause unwanted ingrown hairs. This also makes them different than more topical approaches like dermaplaning or shaving (and the razor burn bumps they can cause).

By removing facial hairs you can not only make sure that your makeup application looks better, but also that your skincare products have a better absorption rate. By eliminating your hair barrier, topical products have a better chance of penetrating your skin. Plus, many people experience a confidence boost after removing unwanted facial hair, which can also help your mental health. Remember that removing facial hair is a personal decision and that you should only commit to a hair removal process if you personally want to – not because someone else or society makes you feel like you should.

Getting the hang of the coil remover process can take a few tries. Start by bending your coil remover into a U-shape, and then placing the tool on the area you are trying to remove hair from. While sliding the remover up and down over your selected spot, you should simultaneously roll the handles between your fingers to trap the hairs. As a heads up, this process can be painful, but since it works quickly, it doesn't last too long. To minimize the pain, you can  stretch the targeted area of skin where you're removing hair. This will also help you achieve even results. If you're trying to remove a mustache, you can use your tongue to press against the inside of your cheek.
 
It's important to remember that, due to the lack of specific precision with this tool, it is not recommended to use coil removers on your eyebrows or anywhere near your eye area. They are best used to target and remove hair on the upper lip, chin, and cheeks. Remember to always wash your coil hair remover after use and to take extra special care of your sensitive skin areas post-coil process to ensure you avoid any infections and/or blemishes.