Nobody
likes their reflection first thing in the morning, and I’m no exception.
But the other day I took one look at myself in the mirror and recoiled.
There,
smack bang in the middle of my chin, a long black hair had seemingly
sprouted overnight, right where the whole world could see it. Tweezers
did the job — but I know that next week another will emerge. Then
another.
Since
I hit the menopause last year at the age of 49, my facial hair seems to
have taken on a life and mind of its own. I can almost cope with the
hot flushes and mood swings. But something about having to pluck
stubborn, wiry hairs from my face every day leaves my confidence in
tatters.
By
contrast, my eyebrows, once lush and thick, are now sparse and weedy
apart from a single black, wiry hair that sticks out, Denis Healey-like,
from mid-brow.
ZAP YOUR CHIN SMOOTH
During
the menopause, oestrogen levels fall and increased male hormones —
known collectively as androgens — stimulate facial hair growth,
especially on the chin.
The
occasional one can be plucked. Don’t panic — they won’t grow back
thicker, that’s just a myth. But if you’re short of time or particularly
hairy you can invest in an epilator, which will pull out large numbers
of hairs at once by grasping each hair and dragging it out. Both Braun
and Philips do a basic model for £29.99; the results last for up to
three weeks.
Waxing
and hair removal creams also work but Dr Susan Mayou, a London-based
dermatologist, recommends laser treatment for a more lasting solution.
‘It
works by targeting the root of the hair, heating it up and destroying
the hair follicle,’ she says. ‘To reach hairs in all the phases of their
cycle of growth, you may need between four and ten treatments — it
varies from client to client. The time between treatments is normally
between a month and two months. Hair doesn’t all grow at the same time —
some of it “rests” — so the gaps between treatments allow this resting
hair to become active.’
But
this treatment won’t work for every middle-aged woman, as the laser
can’t identify white or grey hair. If this is you, Dr Mayou suggests
trying electrolysis.
Many of us will have barely visible fine hair on our faces that is sometimes referred to as ‘peach fuzz
Performed
in beauty salons, this involves inserting a small needle into the hair
follicle, then passing an electric current through it to destroy the
hair bulb and stop it growing back.
This
is the most effective method of removal but is fairly uncomfortable (it
feels as if your face is being pinged with an elastic band) and very
time-consuming. The number of treatments you need varies — according to
the British Institute and Association of Electrolysis, each client will
have a different density of hair growth.
You will need to have regular appointments, probably once a week for between six months and a year.
Electrolysis
is not cheap, either — each 15-minute session costs between £15 and
£20. It is vital, as with all these procedures, to find a properly
trained practitioner and a certified clinic.
SCRAPE AWAY FUZZ
Most
of us have barely visible fine hair on our faces that can hardly be
seen and is sometimes referred to as ‘peach fuzz’ because it resembles
the skin of the fruit.
According
to skincare expert Dr David Jack, the existence of this hair is
entirely normal, but during the menopause, it often becomes more
noticeable.
He
says: ‘Hair can thicken and darken thanks to fluctuating hormones, and
grow in areas where normally only men get it, such as in front of the
ears.’
If
you have a lot of hair growth, a procedure called dermaplaning —
available in most High Street beauty salons — can work miracles on the
cheek area. It uses a sharp blade to get to get rid of excess hair and
exfoliate at the same time, removing dead cells and leaving the skin
looking smooth and glowing for about a month. It costs between £100 and
£200 a session.
A diet that is low in white carbohydrates can help to prevent unwanted hair growth
Another
option is cold wax strips, available from pharmacies and supermarkets.
Similar to the warm variety you get in salons but gentler on the skin,
these are a way to rid yourself of excess cheek hair. You place a strip
on the skin and pull it off as quickly as you can. Hair takes between
two and three weeks to grow back. Veet Face wax strips (£5) are
particularly effective, I’ve found.
Bleaching
creams, which usually cost about £4, are also available in pharmacies.
They can be painted on dark hairs and left for five to ten minutes to
lighten the hairs and make them less visible.
Vaniqa,
available only on prescription, is a cream containing a drug called
eflornithine, which can slow facial hair growth. It works in the
follicle by interfering with an enzyme that hair needs to grow.
If
you prefer a more natural approach, Dr Navin Taneja, director of the
National Skin Centre, advises drinking spearmint tea twice a day. While
this won’t remove hair, it apparently reduces androgens and so leads to
less hair growth.
A
diet low in white carbohydrates, such as white bread, can also help to
reduce hair growth. This is because high glycaemic foods raise blood
sugar, which in turn increases insulin levels. Raised insulin is
responsible for the production of too many androgens.
A NOSE FOR PAIN
Nose
hair is an embarrassing fact of life as we get older and can be
eye-wateringly painful to pluck. But at least it serves a purpose,
attracting particles of inhaled dirt and preventing them reaching our
airways.
‘Nose
hair tends to grow more with age,’ says Dr David Jack. ‘But it is
thought to be less hormonally affected than hair elsewhere on the face.’
Nad’s
nose wax, available from Boots (£12.99), allows you to remove nose hair
easily using a wax applicator which you stick up your nostril, leave
for 90 seconds and yank out. Ouch.
EXTEND YOUR BROWS
Well-defined
eyebrows frame the face and can make us look ten years younger. But as
we age our eyebrows — even thick, dark ones — can become thin and lose
their pigment, appearing sparse and colourless. Due to falling oestrogen
levels and raised androgens around the menopause, many women lose hair
from their heads and eyebrows.
Luckily,
it’s easy to draw in eyebrows with a pencil or have a salon tint them
to make them darker. For a longer-term solution, try a semi-permanent
tattoo that lasts between one and three years but fades over time. A
top-up will be needed after six to 15 months.
Statement brows like Cara Delevingne's
can make us appear ten years younger, however even thick dark ones can
become thin and lose their pigment as we age
The
treatment takes about two hours, requires a topical anaesthetic and
costs around £295. It can be done in beauty clinics but make sure you
choose a properly trained technician.
If
you really mean business, then go for eyebrow extensions. This is a
salon treatment in which synthetic hairs are glued on to existing fine
hairs or the skin, then shaped. They last for two to three weeks and
cost about £30, then a further £15 for refills.
For
speedier regrowth and a thicker look, Dr Nick Lowe, a consultant
dermatologist, recommends using Lumigen eye drops on the eyelids and
lashes — you will need to see your dermatologist to get a prescription,
and it typically costs £19.99 for 300ml. ‘It was originally used for
patients suffering from glaucoma,’ he explains, ‘but it was found to
make the lashes and brow more luxuriant and thick.’
KEEP EARS IN TRIM
Some
unfortunate women get hair in their ears. The important thing is never
to pluck this — you can damage the delicate ear canal by causing small
nicks that lead to infection, so use grooming scissors with rounded tips
and a good mirror.
Much
better, end essential for very thick hair, is a trimmer, which normally
costs about £10. It has a special attachment for nose and ear hair —
borrow your man’s, if necessary. But don’t tell him. A woman must have
some secrets, after all.
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