Most people don't think about their sideburns until something draws attention to them. It could be a sleek ponytail, a picture taken in side lighting, or foundation collecting in the wispy hairs framing your face. Once you've noticed it, it's impossible to unsee.
If you're looking for help figuring out how to get rid of sideburns, one size does not fit all. It all comes down to your hair type, your skin, and how much you're willing to maintain. Here's how each option fares on this tricky little patch of hair.
How Sideburns Are Different Than Other Facial Hair
Sideburns are the area where your scalp hairline meets your face. Across this small strip of skin, the hair tapers from the thick strands near your temples to the wispy hairs along your cheek.
Sideburn hair removal is about shaping as much as it is about removing. Too much and your hairline becomes blunt or squared; too little and the fuzz on your jaw will always be visible. The sensitive skin on the front of your ears can also react poorly to harsher methods.
Waxing: Long-Lasting Salon Sideburns Hair Removal
Waxing removes hair from the root, so regrowth takes much longer than other at-home methods.
A professional sideburns wax from Beauty Logix takes around 15-20 minutes and lasts up to three to four weeks. The most important part for achieving a natural finish is trusting the judgment of an experienced aesthetician who knows to stop shaping the hairline where your natural hair begins.
There are three things to consider before booking a sideburn wax:
-
Hair has to be somewhat long (roughly a quarter of an inch) to wax
-
It's a little sore, but generally less so than waxing your upper lip
-
Avoid waxing if you're using skincare treatments that make your skin sensitive; inform your aesthetician of any prescriptions
Threading: Precision Hair Removal for Sideburns
Using a twisted strand of cotton, threading removes rows of hair from the follicle. The results last the same amount of time as waxing.
The major upside to threading is precision. An experienced threading salon can recreate the shape of your hairline, almost strand by strand, and it doesn't involve any hot wax or creams. It does sting a bit on tougher growth, and the results depend heavily on the skill of the threader.
At-Home Sideburn Hair Removal: Shaving, Creams, and Tweezers
Shaving is fast and painless, but stubble tends to peak within days of shaving. You may have heard that shaving actually makes your hair grow back thicker and tougher, but dermatologists have found no evidence that this is the case. It may feel like it's growing back harder because the hair is being cut bluntly at the follicle, but it's actually the same texture as before shaving.
Depilatory creams eat away at the hair and should be used on the face specifically. Patch test for 24 hours first on a small patch of your jaw, and avoid getting the cream near your eyes.
Tweezing can be used to remove the occasional stray hair between other methods, but it's not practical for larger areas.
Laser Hair Removal: The Semi-Permanent Option
Laser targets the pigment in hair follicles to prevent future growth. Since it targets darkness, laser hair removal is generally ineffective on grey, red, or blonde hair. It also requires multiple sessions and a bigger investment than other methods, and while it reduces growth, it's not always permanent.
Since sideburns are so closely related to your scalp hairline, it's important to decide on the exact boundary with your laser technician.
When to Mention Sideburn Hair Removal to Your Doctor
As mentioned, for most people, sideburn hair removal for women is a grooming choice. But an increase in coarse facial hair can be a sign of a bigger issue with your hormones, especially if it's accompanied by irregular periods or new acne. In that case, mention it to your doctor before doing any further treatments.
How to Decide What Hair Removal to Choose for Sideburns
Sometimes it's less about what you want and more about what your timeline allows. If you have a big event in ten days and have been shaving, there's not much growth to wax, so you'll have to shave carefully and book a wax for later. If the event is six weeks away, you can wax about a week before so any soreness has had time to heal.
Many clients book women's sideburn hair removal at the same time as other areas that require face hair removal, like the upper lip, so that they all grow back at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Rid of Sideburns
Will waxing make my sideburns grow back thicker?
No, waxing doesn't increase thickness. You might find your regrowth softens as time goes on, but everyone is different.
How long should the hair be before waxing?
Hair should be about a quarter of an inch long for the wax to grip properly.
Can I wax my sideburns if I use retinol?
Inform your aesthetician first; you may need to stop using topical treatments a few days before waxing.
How often should I wax my sideburns?
It's recommended to wax every three to four weeks, depending on your hair growth.
Can I shave between waxing appointments?
Yes, but shaving resets the hair growth cycle, which may mean waiting until there's enough growth again.
Final Tips on How to Get Rid of Sideburns
While a small strip of hair, sideburns, makes a noticeable difference to the overall neatness of your hair when worn back. Decide how long you want the results to last and how soon you need them, then choose your method accordingly. If you're after natural-looking, low-maintenance hair removal, a professional wax is a great place to start.
