Have you ever heard of the concept of eyebrow and face threading before? Perhaps it may sound like a new trend to you, but it’s actually one that’s been around since ancient times! This practice of removing hair, facial hair in particular, by using thread originated in the Middle East and Asia, a long, long time ago. In other words, it’s been around for a while now.
If you’ve yet to give threading a go, hopefully this article will give you all the insight you need to decide whether eyebrow threading and face threading is something that you need to add to your bucket list (because goals don’t have to be limited to just travel, they could just be about trying something new).
What You Need to Know About Hair Removal with Eyebrow Threading vs Waxing
What is Eyebrow and Face Threading?
Eyebrow threading is an eyebrow hair removing and shaping technique in which a cotton thread is used to pull and twist along and around the areas with unwanted eyebrow hair. It lifts the hair follicles by their root, but in a manner that doesn’t involve any unnecessary tugging, making it a far less uncomfortable of an experience than eyebrow plucking is.
Meanwhile, face threading is the same technique, however it also covers areas such as chin and upper lip, as well as areas like sideburns. In other words, it is possible to use threading for any part of your face where you have unwanted hair that you wish to get rid of.
Threading is considered a natural alternative to waxing. So, if you are searching for a natural method, but you aren’t that into tweezing, then threading may be the correct route for you to follow!
Face Threading vs. Waxing
So, how does face threading compare to waxing? They’re identical for what they want to accomplish: removing unwanted hair from one’s face. However, in technique they are wildly different, with threading often considered the gentler (but totally just as effective!) option. Due to that, threading is especially recommended for those with sensitive skin, over waxing or even tweezing. As a long time sufferer of melasma (brown spots on my face), I switched to threading because the melasma medication was thinning my skin, causing the wax to pull a thin layer of skin off with the hair. And I’ll never go back!
How is Face Threading Done?
Before you get to the actual threading, the area will typically be cleaned thoroughly with a swab of alcohol. Then the technician will twist a piece of cotton thread, holding it with their fingers and with one section in their mouth for more control.
For the eyebrows, the threader will have you pull the skin tight with your fingers so that they can easily access every tiny hair (shown in video below). For the lip area, you will typically be asked to stick your tongue against the inside of your upper lip in order to stretch it.
When the eyebrows are done being threaded, the threader will then follow up with trimming the length of the hair that remains, to make sure they are even. Then any area that was treated will be rubbed with sunscreen and/or lotion.
Note that while threading can be largely less uncomfortable than waxing or plucking, it may leave the threaded area shining red for a couple of hours after. So, you may not want to make important plans right after it is completed! Also, remember that it is best to keep the area clean and make up free for at least a day!
What Does it Feel Like? Does Eyebrow Threading Hurt?
Perhaps it cannot be said that it’s entirely painless–or at least it’s not the type of a process you feel completely nothing during. It’s often compared to how tweezing feels like, although many find threading to hurt less than tweezing does because they are pulling multiple hairs in one swoop.
Personally, I have found threading to feel very similar to waxing, and less invasive on my eyebrows than the experiences I have with tweezing. Of course, how the threading will feel varies not only based on the person, but based on the area of your face that you are getting threaded (my upper lip is always more sensitive than my brows!).
Unfortunately, you won’t actually know if threading is the right option for you or if it will hurt, unless you’ve tried it!
Can I do Face Threading at Home?
Yes. And yet, no. While it is possible to do face threading at home, it is not always recommended, especially not by yourself. With that said, if you do want to attempt it, areas like your upper lip may still be much easier to do on your own, than your eyebrows. If you are thinking about face threading at home, then watch this video for tips:
If this looks tricky, then it is probably best to visit a clinic and let a professional take care of the face threading for you, in order to achieve the best results for as little pain as possible. As this technique is currently increasing in popularity, the salons which offer threading as one of the options on their menu are also on the rise.
If you are into the at-home threading, but unsure of doing it with just a piece of thread, they have created an electric threading kit to help you. Check this one out.
And that is essentially eyebrow threading and face threading in a nutshell! I would love to hear your opinions on it in the comments! And even more so, if this post encouraged you to try out threading for the first time!
Did it hurt? I've heard from friends that had it done that it hurts a lot.
I personally just had my first facial and the "extraction" part was pretty bad. And I've plucked my eyebrows since I was 12 years old and I think I've now damaged the hair folicles so much that they don't even grow anymore.
It feels just like plucking, except doing lots more hairs all at once! A little worse than waxing, but totally bearable.
I think I'm too the point where the waxing doesn't even hurt anymore and I, like Jessica, seem to have killed several hairs from re-appearing. This is very cool though!
A few of my friends swear by threading. Until I watched this video I never really knew what entailed, it's not as bad as I envisioned. I'm a plucker myself, but perhaps I'll try this sometime?
Of course you’ll try it, because I have a feeling you are a lot like me & can’t pass up a new experience :)
Ouch! I hate getting mine threaded. Waxing is a lot less painful to me. Please check out my blog?
I have really thick, dark, and coarse eyebrow hair since I had a kidney transplant and started taking anti-rejection and immune suppression meds. My cousin is a hair stylist and waxes them for me at her salon. I will ask her about this next time I see her.
Good & useful information on hair removal by threading. It is an easy method and one can use it at home also. But yes practice is needed. Although this method is a bit painful but easily available and needs only thread. Enjoyed reading you blog and videos are also amazing. Thanks for the post.
This post is so informative and makes a very nice image in my mind, your way of explanation is too exciting. Thanks for sharing you valuable thoughts of eyebrow threading.