Upper Lip Hairs

Girl with upper lip hair
 
Q: I’m 15 years old, female and I have visible hairs above my upper lip. It’s really annoying when I'm with my boyfriend because he's commented on it before and every time I see him I feel self-conscious.
 
Please, please help me and tell me what I can do to hide or get rid of it, without having to raise a razor to my face. Thank you for your time I look forward to your response.

 
A: First, let me say that you are not alone in this situation. Many young women face the same issue with thicker, coarser hairs on their lower face, around the mouth and chin areas. For most of these young women, it is simply a matter of genetics and the shifting hormone levels in their bodies.
 
There are a number of options for handling this situation that don’t require a razor, but which will be more or less effective depending on the individual. The real issue is what, specifically, you want done about these hairs.
 
If you simply want to make sure they are as inconspicuous as possible, you should consider using a bleaching cream. There are brands and formulas designed especially for use on the face for just such problems. These creams will penetrate the hairs and make sure that they are as light and translucent as possible, and in many cases make the hair feel finer in texture. This means the hair will be less noticeable. On the downside, the process may require several applications for a significant effect, and some people who have sensitive skin types cannot tolerate the cream and have a reaction.
 
Other options include depilatory creams which are meant to dissolve the hairs away at the surface level of the skin. These work in the same way that products such as Neet and Nair work on the legs and other parts of the body. You do, however, have the same issues with skin sensitivity and possible reactions if you have a delicate skin type.
 
Finally, there are methods of removal such as waxing which are usually very effective, but can be painful since they have to pull the hairs from the skin. Also, if you live in an area with a large population of Indian Nationals, you may find shops that offer a process called “threading” where the hair is removed by having an operator roll cotton thread over the skin, catching the hairs in the thread and removing them in the motion.
 
Do try not to worry overmuch about the hair problem. If you are concerned that the hair development is abnormal, talk to other women in your family (mother, grandmothers, and aunts) and see if they have had similar issues. This will give you a frame of reference to know if the growth is out of the ordinary for women in your family. It will also let you know if you should see a doctor for possible issues with hormone balance.
 
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See also: What are the options for facial hair removal on women?