Facial hair

Down, thick hair and the role of nose hair

Down, also called vellus hair, is generally fine, short and lightly pigmented. The terminal hairs are thicker and often darker, like those of the beard. This difference explains why a single hair on a cheekbone can be seen more than an entire area of ​​hair. Visibility also depends on its length and the contrast with the skin.

At the entrance to the nose, the hairs help to retain particles from the inhaled air. Shortening them when they exceed allows you to maintain this inner hair. Their length can change with age, as can that of ear hair. This change does not mean that the area is dirty: removing the visible ends is primarily a choice of appearance.

What grows back after cutting or waxing

Hair is produced in a follicle located in the skin. Its growth alternates between growth, transition and rest phases, which do not take place simultaneously for all the follicles. A clipper or razor cuts the visible shaft without removing the structure that makes it: the result therefore disappears as the hair continues to grow.

Cutting a hair does not make it grow back thicker, darker or faster. The cut end is simply blunter than its natural tip and may feel harsher to the touch. With tweezers, the hair is removed from its base, which generally leaves more time before it is visible again, without guaranteeing its permanent disappearance.

Why pimples may appear

After a cut very close to the skin, a curved hair can re-enter the skin and cause inflammation: this is an ingrown hair. Hair removal can also irritate the follicle. Thick or curly hairs are particularly prone to this, which explains why a slightly shorter cut may be better tolerated than a perfectly smooth shave.

However, not all redness after a touch-up comes from an ingrown hair. Pressure, repeated passes and small lesions due to tearing can irritate the area. In the nostrils, hair removal adds a risk of infection; this is the reason to favor the cut. A persistent pimple should not become an area that is repeatedly scratched or plucked.

What laser and electrolysis change

The laser uses the absorption of light by the pigment in the hair to heat and damage the follicle. It can permanently reduce dark hair, but works less well on white, gray or very light hair. Several sessions are necessary, sometimes followed by an interview. The setting and choice of device must take skin color into account to limit burns and stains.

Electrolysis treats follicles one by one with an electric current and can also be suitable for light hair. It requires time, several sessions and a qualified practitioner. These techniques do not replace a trimmer for the inside of the nose or ears. The laser is not performed on the eyebrows or near the eyes; on the face, increased regrowth around the treated area is also possible, although rare.