Whether the current generation regards grooming facial hair as a personal choice, we all have to agree that hair on the upper lip looks ugly, right? So, removing upper lip hair becomes a must even when you are leaving facial hair on other areas as it is. One of the most commonly used methods of getting rid of upper lip hair besides threading is waxing.
So, we are going to talk about the process of waxing, its benefits, disadvantages of waxing upper lip, long-term effects, and some questions readers are curious about.
Table of Contents:
- Part 1: Is Waxing Upper Lip Bad for Skin?
- Part 2: Threading Vs. Waxing Upper Lips
- Part 3: Step-by-Step Guide on Waxing Upper Lips
- Part 4: How to Heal Ripped Skin from Waxing Upper Lip
- Part 5: FAQs About Waxing Upper Lips
- Part 6: Alternative to Waxing Upper Lips: IPL Hair Removal
Part 1: Is Waxing Upper Lip Bad for Skin?
Let us discuss waxing in terms of its advantages, disadvantages, and other effects to conclude if waxing the upper lip is good or bad for you.
Benefits of Waxing Upper Lip
Below are the benefits of waxing upper lip hair.
- Precise and quick hair removal: While waxing body hair might take a while and leave small sections behind, waxing the upper lip can be done within a few minutes and it is precise as well leaving only a few hair strands without removal.
- Results lasting for weeks: Waxing eliminates upper lip hair from the roots allowing your face to stay hairless for 3-6 weeks.
- Finer and fewer hair regrows over time: As waxing works forcefully on the roots, it weakens them over time and hair regrowth becomes finer and lesser.
- Improvement of the skin texture: In addition to hair, waxing removes the top layer of the skin with dead cells giving your face a better texture and a healthy glow.
- Economical: Waxing kits are inexpensive and one kit lasts for a long while when you are only using the wax on your upper lip.
Disadvantages of Waxing Upper Lip
Below are the disadvantages of waxing the upper lip.
- Skin redness and irritation: In addition to the pain, the abrasive effect of waxing can irritate the skin and make it red.
- Small bumps and ingrown hair: When wax removes the hair with force, it makes the pores swell into small bumps. And when hair is not removed in the right way, ingrown hair forms.
- Micro-tears and unseen bleeding: Waxing pulls the skin and can cause traumatic micro-tears of the small vessels in the skin. It results in subcutaneous bleeding.
- Infections: Wax makes the skin more prone to infections by removing the out protective layer of skin and allowing bacteria to get into the newer layers easily.
Long-Term Effects of Waxing Upper Lips
- Worsening of skin conditions: Waxing the upper lip with acne or skin conditions like dermatitis can worsen the conditions.
- Increased skin sensitivity: Waxing the upper lip make the area more sensitive to the sun by removing the epidermis.
- Decreased skin elasticity: Waxing pulls and tugs the skin each time to pull the strip. Consequently, the skin loses elasticity and becomes prone to premature aging.
- Darkening of the skin: Repeated waxing with hot wax can cause post-wax stimulation of melanocytes that darken the skin.
We can see that waxing is not exactly bad for the skin as its advantages and disadvantages balance each other. However, long-term usage of wax over the upper lip can have adverse effects.
Part 2: Threading Vs. Waxing Upper Lips
Threading is the use of a soft cotton thread to grab and pull the hair from a small section of the upper lip while waxing is the use of a sticking material to remove the whole upper lip hair in a few parts.
So, the advantages of threading upper lips lie in offering less tug to the skin, working more precisely on the hair, eliminating the shortest and the finest of the hair, and being safe for sensitive skin. However, it can be more painful and time-consuming than waxing.
In contrast, waxing is less painful, fast, exfoliates the skin, and makes hair grow back finer. However, the pull on the skin can cause premature wrinkling of the upper lip area, does not work on hair shorter than ¼ of an inch, and can aggravate allergies. So, threading proves to be a better method of hair removal for upper lip hair.
Part 3: Step-by-Step Guide on Waxing Upper Lips
Step 1: Preparation,
First of all, prepare your skin by washing the area to be treated and letting it dry. Also, wash and sanitize your hands.
Then heat the wax in a wax warmer to an appropriate temperature and check if the temperature is bearable for your skin. Then divide the upper lip area into 2 right, 2 left, and a middle section.
Step 2: Application
Now start applying the wax in the first section starting from the outer corner of the mouth. Apply a thin layer of wax with a wooden spatula in the direction of hair growth so that all unwanted hair is covered. Both hard and soft wax can be used for removing the upper lip hair.
Step 3: Removal
Let the wax harden if you are using hard wax or apply the strip over the wax if you are using soft wax. Then make your skin taut with the fingers or clench the upper lip in your teeth. Finally, remove the wax strip in the opposite direction of hair growth.
Step 4: Repeating the process
Once you are done with one section of the hair move to the remaining 4 sections and repeat the process.
Step 5: After-Wax Care
After removing the hair with wax, see if any hair is left behind. If yes, tweeze it and you are done.
Then remove the wax residues from the skin by rubbing petroleum jelly or oil-based cleanser. Lastly, calm the skin by moisturizing it well.
Part 4: How to Heal Ripped Skin from Waxing Upper Lip.
Let us see how to treat the skin ripped by waxing.
Healing Bumps
Bumps are a common aftereffect of waxing the upper lip. It goes away on its own. But it can also be treated by washing the area with cold water and moisturizing it.
Healing Pimples
Pimples are caused when infection occurs in the pores of the skin. To treat the pimples, wash your face well with a mild antibacterial face wash and apply a topical antibacterial cream for spot treatment. Also, wear a pimple patch and give your skin time to heal.
Part 5: FAQs About Waxing Upper Lips
1. How Long Does Redness Last After Waxing the Upper Lip?
Redness lasts from 2 to 24 hours after waxing. You can leave it untouched until it disappears. Additionally, you can use aloe vera gel or moisturizer to calm irritated skin and quickly normalize your skin tone.
2. Does Waxing Upper Lip Cause More Hair Growth?
No, waxing does not cause more hair to grow in the upper lip area. It works on the hair follicles but does not stimulate them to produce more hair. Rather, waxing traumatizes the hair follicles and leads to the regrowth of finer hair.
3. Does Waxing Your Upper Lip Make It Darker?
Yes, waxing can cause dark spots on the upper lip because of post-inflammatory pigmentation. It occurs most often when thick hair is removed and it traumatizes the melanocytes to produce more pigment.
However, it is not long-lasting and the chances of darkness are less with the usage of cold wax.
4. How Long Does Upper Lip Waxing Last?
Waxing upper lips lasts 15 to 30 days. It is because the hair is removed from the roots and it needs 2 to 4 weeks to start regrowing and up to 6 weeks to complete the hair growth cycle and reach its full length.
Also, you cannot wax short hair and have to wait for at least 2 weeks for it to grow long enough to be waxed.
5. What to Put on Upper Lip after Waxing?
Immediately after waxing, you need to use petroleum jelly to remove remnants of the wax. After that, use skin-soothing products like facial oil and moisturizer to nourish the skin.
Also, wear sunscreen to protect the skin from damage and avoid the usage of harsh products for a while.
Part 6: Alternative to Waxing Upper Lips: IPL Hair Removal
The best way to deal with ugly upper lip hair is IPL hair removal as it burns the root of the unwanted mustache and hinders its growth. One of the most effective and gentle devices for upper lip hair removal is the ULIKE Air IPL hair removal handset.
Available in two versions, Ulike Air+, and Air3 takes less than a minute to treat the upper lip. The goggles that come with the device enable you to work so close to the eye area without any damage to the eyes.
Additionally, there is no pain and no need to tweeze the leftover hair with Ulike Sapphire handsets as it works on hair of any length and thickness. So, Ulike can be the best option to get rid of upper lip hair for good.
Conclusion
Waxing the upper lip is a method of facial hair removal that removes the hair from the roots without consuming much time. It also makes skin glow by removing the dead skin cells that make it dull.
However, you have to beware of waxing when your skin is sensitive, allergic, and prone to premature aging. In such cases, IPL hair removal proves to be a better alternative to waxing upper lips. So, you should measure the pros and cons of both methods side by side to finally make a decision that suits you the best.
