A mustache above the upper lip can ruin even the most beautiful woman's face. There are plenty of ways to get rid of hated hairs, but not all are suitable for sensitive areas. Laser hair removal of the upper lip is rightfully considered one of the most effective. This article will tell you how this achievement of cosmetology works, what restrictions and contraindications exist, how many procedures are needed, as well as the pros and cons of laser hair removal and reviews from those who have tried this method on themselves.
How it works?
The essence of laser hair removal is to destroy the hair follicle by heating it. The beam heats the hair, affecting the pigment - melanin, destroying the follicle along with the vessel that feeds it. The skin is not damaged, since the laser acts directly on the follicle. It takes a specialist about 5-7 minutes to treat the upper lip area. Do not be alarmed that after the procedure the hairs remain on the surface of the skin. They will begin to fall out on their own after about ten days. During this period, you need to be patient and do not pull them out with tweezers or wax.
Skin care after the procedure
The upper lip is an area of increased sensitivity, which is why after hair removal of the mustache, irritation may appear on it in the form of redness, peeling or even small pimples.
To avoid tissue irritation, follow the care recommendations:
- Immediately after the procedure, treat the skin with Chlorhexidine and apply a soothing lotion;
- For three days after hair removal, avoid using scrubs, abrasive compounds, washcloths and brushes;
- Avoid visiting the bathhouse, sauna and swimming pool for a day;
- You should not apply makeup for 10-12 hours after removing the antennae;
- After three days, use the scrub to improve the smoothness and silkiness of the skin.
If skin irritation has already appeared, it is recommended to additionally use a soothing lotion twice a day, as well as use traditional recipes to eliminate inflammation (herbal compresses, oil lotions, etc.).
Be careful - sometimes irritation is caused by an allergic reaction to the components of the hair removal composition. For example, if you waxed to remove whiskers, you may be allergic to the wax itself.
What types of laser hair removal are there?
In modern cosmetology, three main types of laser are used. They differ in the wavelength of emitted light, radiation energy, and pulse frequency.
- Alexandrite - works best on pale, untanned skin with fairly fine hairs of moderate pigmentation. When using it, cooling agents are used on the skin, as a burning sensation often occurs. The ideal patient for the alexandrite laser is a fair-skinned, brunette woman.
- Diode laser hair removal is recognized throughout the world as the most effective and painless - the “gold standard”. Applicable on both light and dark skin. Diode laser, unlike other types, copes well with blond and red hair. This type of laser hair removal allows you to permanently get rid of hair in an average of 4-6 sessions. Another advantage of the diode laser is the short procedure time. It will take 10 minutes to treat the legs, 15-20 minutes for a deep bikini, and the armpits and upper lip area will only take about 5 minutes.
- The neodymium laser has the greatest depth of impact, so it is mainly used for the removal of spider veins, pigment spots and tattoos rather than hair removal. In addition, its effect is very painful, and crusts often form.
Many women face the problem of having a mustache. Electrolysis of the upper lip area will help to cope with it. The presence of hairs in this area causes discomfort and makes women feel insecure, so the procedure is not so much hygienic as aesthetic. The appearance of a mustache most often indicates hormonal imbalances, so before removing hair from the upper lip, you should consult a doctor.
Unlike shaving and waxing, which provide short-term results, electrolysis allows you to get rid of hair forever. After 5-7 sessions you will forget about what a mustache is. At the same time, prices for such procedures are very affordable, since a small area is treated. In addition, you will get rid of irritation and redness that wax leaves. Electrolysis does not injure the skin and is performed quickly and almost painlessly. Considering that the skin of the face, which is quite sensitive, is exposed, the specialist will suggest that you numb the area above the upper lip. An electrical impulse is transmitted through a microneedle to the hair follicle and destroys it. Hair will never grow again from a dead follicle, and only 2/3 of the previous hair will appear from neighboring follicles. Unlike other methods, electrolysis allows you to solve the problem of both dark and vellus hair above the lip. This procedure has other advantages.
- Speed. Electrolysis, or rather one session, lasts only 15-20 minutes.
- Affordable price. The cost of the procedure is significantly lower than elos or laser hair removal.
For all its advantages, electrolysis also has several disadvantages. This is a rather complex procedure, the effectiveness of which largely depends on the qualifications of the specialist and the functionality of the device. One wrong move, and a burn will appear on the skin, which can lead to more serious complications - irritation, redness, the appearance of age spots, scars. Like any other hardware procedure, this hair removal method has contraindications:
- acute and chronic skin diseases;
- diabetes mellitus in the decompensated stage;
- ischemic or hypertensive heart disease;
- herpes;
- epilepsy;
- pregnancy;
- lactation;
- individual intolerance to current;
- the presence of a pacemaker.
In order to maintain the effect for a long time, after the procedure you must follow the recommendations for facial skin care. Refrain from natural or artificial tanning, do not visit swimming pools and baths. Also, you should not treat the hair removal area with decorative cosmetics (lipstick, powder, foundation) on the first day, or better yet, in the first few days after the procedure.
Contraindications for
Laser hair removal has certain limitations; be sure to consult a cosmetologist before the procedure.
- malignant tumors;
- moles and warts at the epilation site;
- pregnancy, breastfeeding;
- diabetes;
- various rashes: allergies, acne, herpes;
- skin after sunbathing, burns;
- acute infectious diseases.
How many sessions do I need to complete?
The number of procedures ranges from 6 to 15, depending on the individual characteristics of the body: skin color, color, hair structure, hormonal levels. After the first session, about 30% of hair falls out - only those that are visible on the surface of the skin and are in the active growth phase. The second stage of the procedure is prescribed after 6 weeks - when hairs grow from previously “dormant” hair follicles. Further procedures are carried out every two weeks. Over time, hair thins, becomes less noticeable, and eventually stops growing altogether.
Please note: doctors call the area of the upper lip hormone-dependent. In case of hormonal disorders, laser hair removal will be short-term. You need to eliminate the root cause together with your doctor.
Which hair removal method to choose
Before starting to remove hair from the upper lip, many women ask themselves which hair removal is the most effective. It is impossible to give an unambiguous answer to this, since each type of hair removal has not only advantages, but also disadvantages. In addition, when choosing, it is necessary to take into account contraindications and possible consequences after the procedure, as well as the individual characteristics of the body.
If a woman has fair skin and her hair is dark in color, then it is recommended to resort to laser or photoepilation, since in this case these methods effectively destroy the hair follicle.
When the mustache is light or gray, then only electrolysis will help, since it copes with any type of hair. This method could become the most popular if it were not accompanied by severe pain and the procedure was not so long.
How to prepare for the procedure
No special preparation is required to remove antennae using a laser. The general rule of thumb is to avoid sunbathing two weeks before and two weeks after the procedure. There is no need to shave anything, especially you cannot use wax, sugaring, or tweezers. On the day of the procedure, you should not use creams, lotions, or other cosmetics.
Many women worry that laser hair removal is very painful. The sensations during hair removal are slightly unpleasant, with tingling and burning. If you have a low pain threshold, you can apply Emla anesthetic cream 30 minutes before the session and cover with film. But, as a rule, this is not required. The session lasts for several minutes, after which panthenol, which has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, is applied to the skin. The redness goes away within a few hours.
Preparing for laser hair removal
The first consultation with a cosmetologist includes a visual examination and questioning of the patient for contraindications. The procedure cannot be performed in the following cases:
- pregnancy;
- chronic diseases in the acute stage;
- infectious, bacterial, viral, fungal diseases in the processing area;
- unstable mental states;
- epilepsy;
- oncology;
- tendency to form keloid scars;
- the presence of open wounds, scratches, cracks in the laser impact area;
- elevated temperature;
- pain of any intensity and localization;
- moles in the treatment area;
- high blood pressure.
After collecting an anamnesis, the cosmetologist explains to the patient the essence of the procedure and gives recommendations on preparing for laser hair removal of the upper lip:
- 2 weeks before the session you should stop tanning (including in a solarium);
- stop taking antibiotics from the tetracycline group;
- one month before the procedure, hair removal should not be performed by any means other than shaving;
- limit the use of alcohol-based cosmetics for three days.
Those who have ever suffered from herpes are recommended to start taking antiviral drugs 3 days in advance. A week before the procedure, you should stop drinking alcohol, and on the day of the session, stop smoking. Also, before hair removal you should not use decorative cosmetics.
A few hours before visiting a cosmetologist’s office, you need to shave your mustache with a machine, since the hairs that have grown by 2–3 mm will help protect the skin from injury.
Advantages and disadvantages
Like any cosmetic intervention, hair removal from the upper lip has its advantages and disadvantages.
Pros:
- after laser hair removal you will forget about excess hair for several years;
- The procedure takes only a few minutes, it is easy to fit it into a busy work schedule;
- the appearance of the skin improves: the problem of ingrown hair disappears, the relief is evened out;
- Laser hair removal of the upper lip is quite affordable (compared to other areas).
Minuses:
- the laser is powerless against vellus and gray hairs;
- Complete hair removal may require quite a few sessions;
- you must be confident in the serviceability and quality of the equipment, as well as the highly qualified specialist, otherwise the desired result will not be achieved;
- relative pain of the procedure.
Photoepilation of the upper lip
The client receives a consultation with a cosmetologist, where he initially evaluates the possibility of carrying out the procedure; epilation of the upper lip is then carried out. If necessary, he advises how you can prepare for it.
Contraindications:
- diabetes;
- pregnancy;
- phlebeurysm.
Before the procedure, it is prohibited to take sunbathing or a solarium for a couple of weeks. Bathhouses and swimming pools are also contraindicated. Epilation of the upper lip during the menstrual period is postponed, since the pain threshold is quite high. And of course, the presence of an inflammatory process on the face, itching and flaking - all this will be the reason why a specialist will send you home for additional preparation. Hair length should reach 1.5 cm.
So, the preliminary preparation has been completed. Next, the cosmetologist will offer you sunglasses and place them comfortably on the couch. Depending on the skin type and hair length, the specialist will select the required dose of radiation that will affect the follicle and use several flashes at his discretion.
This service is not targeted, but the rays affect a certain area of the skin, hair of suitable length is selected, and its structure is destroyed. Therefore, this method of hair removal is carried out in a course (3-6 procedures) with an interval of 2-4 weeks.
The price depends on the number of flashes. The average cost of 1 procedure in Moscow is 2500 rubles. Now we calculate: 2500*6=15000 rubles maximum will cost a full course of this service. The effect will be visible after completing the entire course and will last 2-3 years.
