Five ways of removing upper lip hair

A dusting of upper lip hair is absolutely normal, but that doesn’t mean you have to like it. Here’s your guide to upper lip hair removal at home, running through some popular methods for how to remove upper lip hair with their pros and cons.

Upper lip hair removal through shaving

Shaving will definitely remove upper lip hair, but it’s a short-lasting process and you might end up needing to repeat it every few days

Pros: Shaving is straightforward and works for both stubble and longer hairs.
Cons: Razor blades need to be replaced regularly. Shaving only removes the hair for a day or so, as opposed to the weeks you might get with epilation or waxing, or the months you might get with IPL.

Upper lip hair removal through epilation

An epilator will grab and remove several hairs at a time and will be efficient with the right technique.

Pros: Epilation takes out the hair from the root, meaning it shouldn’t grow back for a couple of weeks. It doesn’t require as much preparation as shaving or waxing, although it’s worth exfoliating first.
Cons: Epilation can be uncomfortable, although you can ease the sensation a bit by taking a warm bath beforehand and using an epilator with a massage head . Epilators can’t be used on stubble, so you’ll need to let the hair grow a little between uses.

Upper lip hair removal through Upper lip hair removal through plucking

You can always clear your upper lip the old-fashioned way, with a pair of tweezers.

Pros: Like epilation, plucking gets the hair at the root. It’s also the cheapest method, as it doesn’t use any disposable supplies and tweezers don’t need to be charged.
Cons: Plucking each hair individually takes forever. Who has time for that?

Upper lip hair removal through waxing

Another low-tech solution. Apply wax, attach cloth, tear the hair off.

Pros: After preparation, you can pull off all the hair on your upper lip in one go. It usually won’t show again for a couple of weeks.
Cons: Waxing can be uncomfortable, and you’ll need to keep replenishing your waxing supplies. Like epilation or plucking, waxing can only be used if the hairs have enough length, so you’ll need to wait for the hair to grow out and become visible again before your next removal session.

Upper lip hair removal through IPL

If you want an upper lip hair removal tool that will keep the hairs away for as long as possible, it might be worth trying a handheld IPL device . The IPL method is similar to upper lip laser hair removal, in that it uses light to heat up and stop hair growth in the follicles.

Lumea Prestige

IPL hair removal device

BRI956/60

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Lumea Prestige IPL hair removal device

BRI956/60

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Philips Lumea Prestige with SenseIQ technology is our most effective IPL. Designed for convenient treatment at home, Lumea's intelligent attachments perfectly fit every curve of your body and adapt programs tailored for each body area. See all benefits

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Enjoy 6 months of hair-free smooth skin*

Pros: IPL can be used even on very short hairs, so you can zap them as soon as they start to show again. It’s also one of the most long-lasting methods for upper lip hair removal at home and can leave skin smooth for a couple of months.
Cons: IPL can’t be used on very dark skin, or on hair that’s grey, red, or very pale. Check your IPL device’s color chart to make sure it’s suitable for you.

The best upper lip hair removal tool for you will depend on your priorities. If you want as cheap a method as possible, you can use tweezers for upper lip hair removal, although it’ll cost you time. If you want a method that can be used on stubble as well as longer hairs, shaving or IPL could work for you. If you just want to get rid of the hair and keep it away for as long as possible, you might find IPL the best answer to how to remove upper lip hair.

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