Over the weekend, Australian beauty vlogger Karima McKimmie posted a controversial video to her YouTube channel – one that shows her shaving her entire face.
Yep: the flawless brunette admits to facial shaving on the regular – and she’s not the only one. LA celebrity skin therapist Kate Somerville is a firm fan of the trend, as was, apparently, Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe.
Why? Apart from eliminating the pesky peach fuzz most women have on their faces, facial shaving is thought to offer light exfoliation, resulting in smoother make-up application and, its supporters say, even anti-ageing benefits.
Skeptical? So were we. But after watching McKimmie’s video, we have to say we’re tempted (fast forward to 5:30 to watch her shave her face).
But here’s the catch: while McKimmie and co. swear your hairs won’t grow back thicker, others aren’t so sure. Scan the comment thread of any facial shaving video and you’ll find people complaining of stubble and ingrown hairs – hardly worth it for a smoother foundation finish.
Acclaimed Australian facialist Melanie Grant explains: “Shaving will not cause facial hair to become thicker, coarser or darker as it doesn’t affect the growth cycle of the hair,” she says. “Although, because it removes the hair at its thickest part, regrowth can often feel thick and coarse, like stubble.”
Eva Karpati, dermal technician at Karpati Medispa in Sydney, agrees. “If you have hair on the face that is fluffy and doesn’t respond with laser hair removal, we recommend a particular type of fine hair trimmer as it doesn’t cut in the same way as a blade so you don’t get that sharp, prickly feeling,” she says. Karpati also opposes women’s facial shaving due to the delicate nature of the skin and the risk of shaving rash. Yikes.
Grant prefers threading as it removes hair from the root. “This method won’t pull against the skin like waxing,” she says. “For the occasional darker hormonal hairs on the lip, chin and lower face, I prefer to individually tweeze as they appear.”
Still desperate to give facial shaving a go? If you must, use a razor specifically designed for the face, such as one of the below:
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
The 7 Biggest Beauty Lessons From Women Shaping The Industry
Native ad body.
