I've tried every single at-home lip hair removal method and here are my brutally honest reviews...
If I could be any animal, I would be a dolphin. Not because they're majestic creatures and one of the few animals that have sex for enjoyment, but because they're completely hairless.
Give me silky smooth legs and fuzz-free underarms any day. Getting laser hair removal at home on my bikini line is one of the best things I've ever done and whenever I find the time to shave my pins, I feel like a new woman.
Aside from keeping the hair atop my head, my eyelashes, and my eyebrows, I would do away with all the rest. It isn't for the satisfaction of anyone else and if you're into keeping your fuzz, you do you, I just want to be a damn hairless dolphin for my own pleasure.
And my latest hair removal venture has been my upper lip hair. Which is more like wispy blonde whiskers tbh. I keep catching it glimmering in the light on my Zoom calls during isolation and all those pointless selfies I keep taking in my boredom. So, for the sake of my lipstick selfies and the benefit of my colleagues, the 'tash has to go.
If you're feeling the same but have no idea how to tackle your at home, I've tried out every at-home option out there and here are my brutally honest reviews of each and every one.
You're welcome.
Threading
This technique requires nothing but a piece of cotton thread, but a whole lot of talent. I tried following a DIY threading step-by-step, but to no avail. However, if you already get your eyebrows threaded, it would be such a simple and convenient add-on.
Hair removal creams
This one was easy enough, and despite my reservations, it didn't sting my skin at all. The smell wasn't overly pleasant, but you only need to have it on for a few minutes. Once the time is up, you scrape away the cream with a spatula to catch all the hairs. It wasn't my favourite method, because it only removes the surface hair so the smooth feeling is short-lived, but it is quite easy and pain-free.
IPL machines
Oh, how I wish I was the right candidate for this. I've used the Phillips Lumea Prestige on my legs before and it worked a treat, but because my lip hair is blonde, laser hair removal is unlikely to work. However, if you have dark lip hairs, you could be the right candidate, making me very jealous of you. The device comes with a separate attachment for use on the face and the results are incredibly long-lasting.
Bleach
Again, my hairs were already blonde so bleaching was not the solution for me. But if you don't want the fuss of removing hair, and are simply looking to lighten your upper lip's appearance, this is the one.
Wax strips
Ding ding, we have a winner. Yes, waxing does hurt, but only for about 0.2 seconds when it's a small area like your lips. These ones are pretty conveniently sized and you warm them up in your hands with no need for a microwave. For the best results, I put my mouth in a ridiculous slightly-open position, stretching it over my top teeth and pulling the outside corners taut with my fingers. I then apply one wax strip to the tightly pulled side and smooth it in the direction of hair growth. Then I pull the strip back in one swoop and repeat on the other side. It usually only takes three strips to complete my whole upper lip and hardly any of my time. The soothing wipes included work magic to remove any wax residue and I luuuuuuurve how smooth my lip feels afterwards. It's usually a little red for an hour or so, but if I really need to go somewhere, makeup covers it no problem. It's really easy and lasts for a long time, so I only have to do it every 2-3 months or whenever I need that lipstick selfie.
