Dealing with unwanted hair

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I have a longtime, very close friend whom I don’t see often because they moved to another state. When I saw her a month ago, she had two long chin hairs plus a really fuzzy face. I saw her a week later and they were still there. How can I tactfully tell her about using a women’s facial hair remover? I think she would be embarrassed and maybe very sensitive about the subject.

— Joy I.

Dear Joy: First of all, as we age, errant facial hair in women is natural. Bummer! I’m guessing your friend has no idea that she’s got stray chin hairs — since another fact of life of the aging process is declining vision. So, ask yourself, if the situation was reversed, what would you want your very close friend to do? If it’s say nothing, then take your own advice.

Your options here are:

„ Mind your own business

„ Be blunt

„ Make it about you (in other words, be a little deceptive)

Minor deception is the easiest way to go. You could bring up the subject of the downside of growing older: age spots, crepey skin, thinning hair, weird facial hairs. “I had some surprise facial hair and here’s what I found to fix it” is one way to introduce the topic. Or, if you are truly dear friends, just be direct: “Caroline, you know you are gorgeous, but maybe you haven’t noticed a couple of facial hairs that would be easy to do something about . ... ”

Here are some ways to deal with unwanted hair: waxing (DIY with a drugstore kit or salon waxing); bleaching (DIY drugstore kit, which I do not recommend; it’s smelly, can burn and really doesn’t conceal the hair very well); threading; plucking (with seriously good tweezers — like Tweezerman — and a magnifying mirror); laser (expensive but effective; requires a professional and a dermatologist can refer you to an expert in this); electrolysis (which kills the hair root, hurts a bit, often requires repeat visits and isn’t cheap, also ask a dermatologist for recommended experts); shaving (there are many gentle devices like Finishing Touch Flawless, $19.99 at ulta.com). Readers, how do you handle this delicate issue?

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Like many women, I wash my face at bedtime and apply moisturizer. I have noticed that the moisturizer gets on my pillowcase and it stays there even after washing. I’ve tried different detergents, double washing, etc. Any suggestions?

— Linda L.

Dear Linda: Iamabig believer in pre-wash stain treatment. For months this stuff has been off the shelves at the grocery and drugstores where I shop. My go-to products when/if I find them are Shout Laundry Stain Remover spray and Spray ‘n Wash Spray or stick. I just used the stick on a grease-stained T-shirt that I thought was hopeless and it worked beautifully. I’m about to try OxiClean liquid stain remover, which was on a near-empty shelf in the detergent aisle.

Now it’s your turn

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DREAMSTIME As we age, errant facial hair in women is natural.