Pros: Cheap, close shave with minimal stubble, not overly irritating to the skin, no facial redness, works well to “spot correct” missed shaving spots
Cons: Still a shave (not full hair removal from the root like a wax), some stubble, doesn’t last as long as a wax
All right, ladies! Let’s talk about female facial hair.
I’m not talking about cute, little peach fuzz. I’m talking dark, coarse, pubescent-teenage-boy-beard hair. But on a 20-something-year-old woman.
As someone diagnosed with PCOS, part of the way my symptoms manifest is through hirsutism, or thick, dark hair on my face and neck. Prior to quarantine, I scheduled regular full face waxes every 3 weeks. (I really probably could have done them more frequently, but I’m not made of money...) If I let it go any longer than that, the beard and mustache got embarrassingly ridiculous.
(For those of you ladies who can rock the natural look, you’re my heroes! I am not that secure in my femininity.)
Flash forward to everything closing in quarantine. Without the option to get a wax but the necessity of showing my face in video calls, I ordered these facial trimmers, and I am IN LOVE. I can get an incredibly close shave (that feels almost as smooth as after a wax) for a FRACTION of the price. Plus, I can shave on my own time as often as needed, without having to schedule a wax somewhere else. I do need to do a trim every few days, but it’s super quick and easy to maintain!
Some tips for using this product for bodacious, bearded ladies:
- Shave in the shower. I don’t use a mirror, but I find shaving under running water helps speed the process and reduce irritation. I tried shaving dry once, and it hurt. If you miss a spot, you can always wet a small area at the sink and correct later!
- Shave in all directions. Up, down, across. I find this helps get that smooth, almost post-wax feel. You will still have some stubble (it’s a razor, duh), but it can be super minimal. Be sure to be gentle with your strokes, though; it is a blade on your face.
- Aftercare. After my shower, I dab the shaved areas with Witch Hazel on a cotton pad, and then I apply an unscented post-shave balm (designed for men’s faces, so I assume it’s good for mine). I wait a little while and then continue my skincare/makeup routine as normal. Remember that shaving your face physically exfoliates the skin in addition to removing hair, so care for your skin accordingly. I don’t have particularly sensitive skin, but this product hasn’t caused irritation for me. (Other than the time I shaved dry. Just don’t do it.)
Finding these trimmers has literally saved me around $100/month. I was skeptical that shaving my face would work anywhere near as well as a wax, but I’m glad I was forced to prove myself wrong. I usually use my trimmer 2-3 times a week and replace it every 4th or 5th use. Store it in a clean, dry place (i.e., NOT on the side of your tub/shower) to prevent bacteria buildup.
The packaging recommends these for eyebrow trimming, but I don’t trust myself not to shave off half my eyebrow accidentally. I will definitely be getting a brow wax once things reopen; I’m leaving that to the professionals. I may still get a full face wax every once in a while, but this product helps me maintain a smooth face for a fraction of the cost, plus I don’t have any post-wax redness/irritation.
I also use one of these to “spot correct” any spots I miss when shaving my legs, etc. I just dampen the area with water and use the trimmer, and it works great! Be careful on the back of your knees, though; the one time I cut myself was trimming a spot I missed on the back of my knee.
TL;DR: I highly recommend this for women dealing with PCOS/hirsutism. It won’t last as long as a wax, but you can get almost as smooth of a removal for a price you can’t beat!
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