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The Definitive Guide to Every Possible Way to Remove Hair on Your Face
From dermaplaning tools to electric shavers, you’ll be as smooth as silk.
Whether you’re on Team No Peach Fuzz or want smoother makeup days (or maybe both!), the key to your success is tiny but mighty: a facial hair removal tool. Finding the best facial hair removal tool for your skin and your needs is your one-way ticket to glowy, exfoliated skin, but don’t get it twisted: Don’t ever feel like you have to remove your facial hair. It’s purely a personal choice. Sure, it can feel daunting to decide which tool to choose (after all, there’s everything from dermaplaning wands to wax strips and so much in between—even high-tech at-home laser devices that zap away your strays at home), but that’s what we’re here for. You’re welcome! Your full gamut of options includes depilatory creams, facial razors/trimmers, dermaplane tools, epilators, waxing kits, and light/laser devices designed for the face, says Melanie Abeyta, aesthetic nurse practitioner and owner of Harmony Aesthetics Center in Los Angeles.
Rest assured, though, that using a facial hair removal tool is nowhere near one-size-fits-all. “There’s no one ‘best’ method for everyone,” says Abeyta. “The best choice depends on your skin type, hair type, how often you want to do it, and your tolerance for discomfort or maintenance.” Just note that, no matter what type of facial hair removal you’re doing at home, don’t overdo it: You can repeat the removal process as often as your hair grows, says dermatologist Morayo Adisa, MD. That usually means that it “should be performed no more than every two weeks,” says aesthetician Joshua Ross. But now that all that’s out of the way, let’s get into all the best facial hair removal tools you can buy.
Our top picks for the best facial hair removal tools of 2025:
Pros
- Very effective at removing facial hair, including thick hair
- Well-priced
Cons
- The blades become dull quickly (luckily, it comes with a set of five)
Why we love it: Dermaplaning wands are ideal for removing peach fuzz and dead skin cells (we love a multitasker). That means that it leaves “a very smooth surface and helps product absorption,” says Abeyta. This one from trusty razor brand Gillette does all of that and more. The exfoliation benefits mean your skin will look glowier immediately (instant gratification, FTW), and the sleek silver design is just the cherry on top.
Features at a Glance
| Type | Dermaplaner |
One Cosmo editor says: “Though it was super effective in exfoliating my skin and removing baby facial hairs, I think an even bigger stamp of approval is that it worked on my boyfriend. He has thick, coarse, dark facial hair, and I used this to clean up his beard with absolutely no issues. It cut through the hair like it was no big deal. His and my skin were visibly glowier and felt significantly softer after using it just once.”—CATHARINE MALZAHN, CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY WRITER
Pros
- Sold with extra blades so you don’t have to restock separately
- Weighted handle gives a luxurious feel without breaking the bank
Cons
- The edge of the blade is sharp, so even though it works well, you want to be careful to not cut yourself
Why we love it: Thanks to Schick’s dermaplaning wand’s weighted, non-slip handle, you get a luxurious experience when you use it without spending a ton. Most importantly, you can also feel confident that you won't take out a chunk of brow hairs, since it's super precise (I'd know from experience). With dermaplaning wands, results usually “only last about two weeks,” says Ross, but with a whopping six blades included, you’ll be all set for months to come.
Features at a Glance
| Type | Dermaplaner |
One Cosmo editor says: “I’m a sucker for anything pink, so while I love that this dermaplaning wand is pink, it’s much more than just aesthetically pleasing. It removed dead skin cells and peach fuzz all over my face (even removing some lil hairs I didn’t realize I had!) like it was nothing. It’s a true multitasker and has a sharp blade that makes hair removal quicker and easier than many other dermaplaning tools I’ve tried. I genuinely look forward to using this tool.”—CM
Pros
- Contains nourishing ingredients to keep your skin happy
- Dispenser tube is innovative and smart for smaller areas on the face
Cons
- Some find the product to be too harsh on sensitive skin, so don’t keep using it if it irritates your skin or leaves you red after
Why we love it: Depilatory sounds like a fancy and potentially scary word, but all it means is that it’s a cream that chemically removes hair. Nair is a common one, and this depilatory cream from the classic brand is even better than your other standard options. It has ingredients like coconut milk and collagen to help soothe your face, and it comes with a mess-free applicator tip to make things as precise and easy as possible.
One Cosmo editor says: “When I want to quickly get rid of my peach fuzz, I'll spread this all over my chin and cheeks for a few minutes and wipe off. It doesn't irritate my skin (shockingly), even though it truly gets rid of every single hair. I love this before a special event because my makeup goes on so damn smooth.”—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
Pros
- Immediately delivers brighter skin
- Glides over skin super gently to remove hair
- Comes in lots of fun colors to customize it to your style
- Cosmo Holy Grail Beauty Award winner
Cons
- More expensive than other options listed here
Why we love it: When dermaplaning on its own just doesn’t seem to do the trick, it’s time to turn to your Dermaflash Luxe+. Once you turn on the innovative, chic, and (yes) pricey, tool, it has sonic vibrations to gently, effortlessly, and quickly remove facial hair and exfoliate at the same time. The specially designed blades are engineered to help prevent nicks or scrapes.
One Cosmo editor says: “This tool is so chic, you’ll want to leave it on your countertop. I am blown away by the thoughtful design—the handle is slightly twisted to make for a natural and comfortable hold. It comes with a charging stand and cord, a small bottle of skin prep, and four razors. The motorized razor element is also really nice (versus something like a tinkle razor where you’re doing all the work) and makes the treatment go by pretty fast. My skin felt so soft afterward.” —CHRISTEN A. JOHNSON, SENIOR LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Type | Sonic dermaplaner |
Another Cosmo editor's review: “This tool has been in my skincare arsenal for several years now. It’s my trusty go-to when I want to get rid of facial hair and dead skin cells gently and pronto. I’ve even got my mom hooked.”—CM
Pros
- Removes hair from the root for longer-lasting results
- High quality design made with stainless steel
Cons
- Can be a little painful to remove hair
Why we love it: Does this look a little like a medieval torture device? Yes. But don’t let that scare you off. If you’re a fan of threading, removing hair using this Tweezerman tool feels similar and actually pulls the hair out like threading (rather than cutting it short, like a razor or dermaplaning wand). It takes a little while to get the hang of how to use it (there’s some twisting involved), but once you figure it out, you’re unstoppable. If you aren’t totally ready to take this tool on, Dr. Adisa also recommends the included Tweezerman tweezers “for their simplicity, safety, and ease of use in small skin areas and in most hair and skin types,” she says.
Features at a Glance
| Type | Tweezing tool |
One Cosmo editor says: “Using this tool is kind of like riding a bike. I had to try a few times to properly catch the hair to tweeze it, but once I did, I’ve never forgotten how to. It takes some getting used to, but it’s surprisingly easy. I get much longer-lasting results with this tool than razors since it removes the whole hair from the root.”—CM
Pros
- Pre-made wax strips are mess-free and extra long to make it easy to grip and pull
- Strips can be reused up to three times
- Comes with two different-sized strips for smaller and larger areas
Cons
- Wax feels sticky and leaves some residue on skin
Why we love it: Waxing your hair at home is a great time- and money-saver, since the results last longer than shaving and you can remove larger areas of hair at once. But, “it can be messy and there is a higher risk of irritation because not all facial skin tolerates waxing well,” says Abeyta. So you might want to ask your derm or aesthetician before waxing your face (especially if you use a retinol product or other potentially irritating actives!). Luckily, Billie’s waxing kit comes with pre-made wax strips (no mess!) and is infused with aloe vera and avocado oil (no irritation!) to help with both of those common snags.
Features at a Glance
| Type | Wax |
One Cosmo editor says: “As someone who is a fan of threading and sugaring through-and-through, let it be known that I love these wax strips. They don’t hurt my skin, they don’t leave me red after, and they don’t irritate. Plus, I love how easy they are to use. I literally just pull the wax strip out, place it on my skin, and pull, and voila, I’m hairless. They do leave my skin feeling a little sticky afterwards, so make sure to wash thoroughly to remove that residue.”—CM
Pros
- Glides across skin to gently remove hair
- Small size is convenient for touch-ups and on-the-go
Cons
- Can tug at skin if you’re not careful
Why we love it: Don’t let its size fool ya: This little face shaver packs a punch. Different from a traditional razor, you turn on the hair removal device and glide it along your face in circular motions while it shaves away hair in a flash. It even comes with its own built-in headlight so even the peskiest hairs have nowhere to hide.
Features at a Glance
| Type | Electric shaver |
One Cosmo editor says: “I love how convenient this product is in so many ways. Not only is it super easy to learn how to use, but it’s also small and portable, has a light built in, and requires me to apply almost no pressure on my face to remove the hair.”—CM
Pros
- Expensive-looking design but affordable
- Each blade can be used up to three times, which is convenient
Cons
- Doesn’t shave as closely to the skin as other dermaplaning wands
Why we love it: Using an at-home dermaplaning tool is going to be your best bet for removing peach fuzz, and this luxe-looking purple wand from Flamingo is up to the task. Though it seems like it’d be pricey with the stainless steel blades and expensive design, it’s actually priced under $20 and comes with four extra blades. We’re on board!
Features at a Glance
| Type | Dermaplaner |
One Cosmo editor says: “I feel so confident using this tool thanks to a safely-placed blade and a heavier handle. The heaviness helps me to not accidentally swipe too fast and sweep away some hairs I didn’t want gone. This easily removed all my peach fuzz and facial hair with just one pass.”—CM
How we tested facial hair removal tools:
Cosmo editors are constantly testing skincare products and devices, including facial hair removal tools, to share the best options on the market to you (as well as include in our beauty awards). To compile this list, we…
- Narrowed down a list of dozens of facial hair removal tools based on notes and reviews
- Personally tested every single one to determine which performed the best on my skin and hair
- Vetted my top eight, considering aspects like how well it takes care of peach fuzz, if it exfoliates, if it causes any skin irritation, how easy it is to use, and more
- Read dozens of reviews from consumers to discover common pros and cons with each facial hair removal tool that made it onto this list
What is the best way to remove facial hair from a woman's face?
The best way to remove facial hair from your face, regardless of your gender identity, will depend on: (1) your pain tolerance, (2) how frequently you want to remove your hair, (3) your skin type and skin color, and (4) whether you want a temporary or permanent result. Basically, there's no single "best" way. Instead, you've got options:
- Physical hair removal, like shaving, waxing, threading, and plucking, which cut off the hair or pull the hair out from the follicle
- Chemical hair removal (aka “depilatories” or hair removal creams) which dissolve the hair from the root
- Laser hair removal, which works by “emitting a beam of light that destroys the root of the hair with each treatment,” says Dr. Zeichner
1. Shaving facial hair
When it comes to removing facial hair via shaving, you can either use a dermaplane razor or a regular razor. A dermaplane razor is great for getting a gentle surface-level shave and mild exfoliation on dry skin. A traditional razor (either a single-blade safety razor or a multi-blade disposable razor) is best for getting a super-close shave with coarse hair on wet skin.
2. Dermaplaning facial hair
If standing in the mirror with a dermaplaning razor to your face makes you nervous, opt for a professional dermaplaning treatment with your dermatologist or aesthetician. Not only will you walk away with baby-soft skin, but you’ll also leave behind up to three weeks’ worth of dead skin.
3. Waxing facial hair
The idea of waxing your face at home might make all your muscles tighten, but I promise it’s not as bad as it sounds. The major benefit here is the hair will take longer to grow back, since you’re removing it from the follicle rather than just cutting it off at the service.
Although you can always get a professional wax (which is recommended for newbies), there are also tons of at-home waxing kits you can find that come with preloaded wax strips that require zero expertise or mess. Other waxing options include waxing kits where you heat up the wax yourself, smooth it over your (clean) skin, cover with a strip, then peel off quickly.
4. Sugaring facial hair
If you want to remove facial hair in a cleaner and more natural way, you may love sugaring—a pre-made or DIY alternative to traditional chemical-based waxes. Sugaring uses a paste that hardens on your skin to rip out facial hair (or any hair), and can be better for sensitive or allergy-prone skin that can't handle traditional wax formulas.
5. Tweezing facial hair
If you want to tackle small areas like eyebrows, or you’ve just got a few strays you want to remove (lookin’ at you, rogue chin hair), all you need is a pair of tweezers. Clamp them firmly over the base of an individual hair, then pull firmly in the direction of hair growth. And if you’re wondering if plucking or tweezing will cause more to grow back in its place, let me save you the Googling: It won’t.
5. Threading facial hair
Threading is an old-school technique that uses teeny-tiny strings of thread to pluck out hairs. Essentially, the threads are twisted in unison to grab each hair and pull it out from the root in the same style of tweezing but with the ability to pull out many hairs at once. Which is why it's definitely beneficial to go see a professional threader instead of trying to do it at home.
Lots of people (@ my bestie) swear by threading because of how precise and quick it is, but without as much trauma to your skin as waxing. But FYI: It can be fairly painful (it feels like tweezing, but x10, tbh). However, your smooth, hair-free results can last up to four weeks.
6. Epilating facial hair
Think of epilators as a bunch of fast, motorized tweezers all operating at once. Glide the epilator slowly over the hair on your face and watch as the tiny tweezers grab and pluck multiple hairs from their follicle, just like with waxing.
7. Depilatory creams for removing facial hair
Depilatory creams—or hair-removal creams—use chemicals to break down and dissolve the base of your hair from the follicle, so it can be wiped cleanly away. Pick up a cream that’s safe for your face, follow the instructions, then wait the recommended time before wiping it off.
Just remember: If you have sensitive skin, acne, or skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, you’ll want to skip this option because the chemicals and the process can be really irritating.
8. Laser hair removal for facial hair
Laser-hair removal uses wavelengths of light to target and heat up the hair follicle to destroy a portion of it with each treatment, helping to reduce the overall number of hair follicles in your skin. Just know that in-office devices are significantly more effective and faster-acting, though you can still get decent, long-lasting results with an at-home laser-hair-removal device.
9. Electrolysis hair removal
If you're looking for a permanent facial-hair removal situation, the only option out there is electrolysis. It involves a dermatologist or an electrologist permanently destroying your hair follicle using electricity and heat. They'll insert a micro-fine probe into your pore, zap it with electricity to kill the hair follicle, and then pull the dead hair out with tweezers (quick electrolysis demo for your viewing pleasure). “You’re basically killing both the cells in the hair follicle and the root of the hair itself, so another hair won’t grow in its place later.” electrologist Dana Elise previously told Cosmo.
Sound painful? It is, Elise says. But “your hair will no longer grow and will not come back after you’ve completed your electrolysis sessions,” dermatologist Karan Lal, MD, previously told Cosmo. So if you never, ever, ever want to pluck or shave or wax that hair again, electrolysis is the only option.
How can a female stop facial hair growth?
Unfortunately, the only way a female (or legit any gender or person) can "stop" facial hair growth is through electrolysis, which kills your hair follicle, making you permanently stop producing hairs. Laser hair removal can potentially help reduce the amount of hair that grows, but it's not a permanent solution and definitely won't completely get rid of all of your hair growth.
If you are growing excess facial hair that you don't want, definitely see your dermatologist or primary care doctor, as this could be related to a medical condition like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or hormone fluctuations.
How do you prepare for facial hair removal?
To prepare for facial hair removal, you should always start by washing your face with a cleanser, as you should always do any type of hair removal on clean skin. But beforehand, you can exfoliate your skin with a chemical exfoliant or face scrub to help buff away the dry, dead skin on the surface that can make it hard to get a close shave, trim, wax, etc. However, dermatologists recommend not exfoliating earlier than 12 hours before hair removal, which can potentially be irritating.
Should you shower before or after facial hair removal?
When you should shower before facial hair removal definitely depends on the type of hair removal you'll be doing. For example, if you would like to shower before waxing, you should do so a few hours before the appointment, and you shouldn't shower for 24 hours after your appointment if possible to avoid irritation. But if you're shaving or trimming your facial hair, you might choose to wash your face beforehand (in or out of the shower—totally up to personal preference), then shower afterward if you feel like your neck and chest are covered in teeny-tiny hairs.
Generally, though, you should always wash your face with a cream or gel cleanser before any type of hair removal (shaving, waxing, trimming, epilating, electrolysis, laser hair removal—legit, every single type). Why? Because if your face is covered in dirt, oil, and bacteria while you remove hair, it could potentially get trapped in your pores, leading to breakouts, or just possibly cause irritation or inflammation.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
Catharine Malzahn is a contributing beauty writer at Cosmopolitan and was previously the beauty assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention.
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