How to wax your upper lip hair like a pro

Ah, upper lip hair… one of the banes of our beauty existences – and one nobody is safe from.

Whether your hair is on the darker side and leaves the area looking shadowy, or you’re a paler gal whose light hair appears Dumbledore-level white against your foundation and fake tan, it can certainly be a bother.

And while it is, of course, a completely normal thing to grow hair on your face (yes, even as a female), sometimes we’re still keen to send it on it’s merry way.

Now we know you’re probably not dealing with a Ron Burgundy style moustache (and hey, we’re also not judging if you are), but when you do notice hairs above your upper lip, it’s nice to have a tried-and-true DIY solution for getting rid of them, especially in times like these where salon visits are a no-go.

So, we chatted to hair removal expert Roxy Lazar to find out how to wax your upper lip hair at home . We’re not saying it’s going to be painless, but it is going to be worth it.

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So... how long will the treatment take and how difficult is it to do solo?

"No one likes getting their upper lip waxed, let alone doing it by yourself, but with our beauticians being closed, it's time to take this one into our own hands," says Roxy. "Not to worry, with only three small areas to wax this can be done in less than 5 minutes by following these next few steps." Onto the steps then!
 

 
Step 1

"First, assess the skin. The lip area can be quite sensitive, so when dealing with facial waxing you want to make sure your skin can handle it. If you are on any skin medications, such as Roaccutan or have eczema or any other skin irritations around the area you are about to wax then I would recommend not proceeding," warns Roxy.

Step 2

"Next, prep your skin. Remove all make up, moisturisers and oil that may be on or around the area," she advises.

Step 3

Get your kit ready. "You'll need oil of your choice, such as coconut or baby oil, and small waxing strips - look for strips with nourishing ingredients in their waxing formulation," Roxy suggests.

bh loves: Oil Garden Fractionated Coconut Body Oil, Marzena Natural Facial Wax Strips

Step 4

"Apply a very thin layer of oil, then wipe over the lip with a tissue so the area is not to oily (you want the skin to just have a very thin barrier to protect from any skin lift)," she tells us.

Step 5

"Remove the small strip from packet, and with two hands rub the strip back and forth to create heat so the wax softens (if you have a rug or carpet you can also place the strip down on the carpet and rub the strip, as the carpet will help with heating it up faster). Once the strip feels warm, slowly peel the strip away from the wax so it creates two strips with even amounts of wax on each side," Roxy says.

Step 6

"Press your lips together to make a taut surface, then starting with the left or right side of your philtrum (the area where your cupid's bow runs up to meet your nose), place the strip on the upper lip as close to your lip line as possible, going with the growth of your hair . Still pressing your lips together, firmly rub the strip into the skin for about 15 seconds making sure there are no air bubbles. Before pulling the strip off make sure you are removing it in the direction opposite to your hair growth (against the growth)," she advises.

Step 7

"With the opposite hand that will not be used to pull off the strip, firmly hold the area close to your wax strip so the skin is taut, and with the other hand quickly remove the strip. Make sure you do this quickly to reduce any pain associated with slow removal of strips. Then, repeat on the other side," says Roxy.

Step 8

"Lastly hold your top lip down with your bottom lip as tight as possible and apply wax strip over the philtrum again pull tightly with one hand and remove quickly," she shares.

Step 9

"Use your choice of oil to remove any excess wax. Marzena's facial waxing strips (AKA one of bh's 2020 Glosscar winners) come with after-care wipes which are enriched with oil and help to soothe skin and remove wax," Roxy says. And, voila, you're done!

Are there any necessary aftercare steps to aid with irritation?

"After you have removed any excess wax, dab over the area with a cool wet cloth and avoid putting any creams or make up over the area to keep it as clean as possible for approximately six hours. If the area seems excessively red, has severe stinging or looks like lifted skin, then apply Bepanthen Antiseptic Soothing Cream or paw paw ointment to the area and repeat every 30 minutes until the area looks healed," Roxy advises.

bh loves: Bepanthen Antiseptic Soothing Cream ($11.99, chemistwarehouse.com.au), Sukin Naturals Paw Paw Ointment

Image credit: @picksbypurvi

Have you ever waxed your upper lip at home? Do you have any of your own tips for members?