Which Is Better For Facial Hair?

The biggest misconception women have about shaving their facial hair is that it will grow back darker and thicker, leaving them with a stubbly five o'clock shadow — but that is absolutely not true. According to the Mayo Clinic, "Shaving hair doesn't change its thickness, color or rate of growth." If you shave a wiry hair and notice that it feels coarse after a day or two, that's only because the end has been cut blunt by the razor, not because the hair is any thicker.

So, if you have a few random chin hairs and also notice your lip wax is a little overdue, shaving is a quick, easy, and painless option to remove a bunch of hairs at once — but there are drawbacks. As Healthline points out, the results of shaving will only last one to three days, and you may run the risk of nicks and cuts, razor burn, and even ingrown hairs, just as you would with shaving your legs or bikini line. You can easily minimize these risks, however, if you use a clean razor, prep the skin with soap or shaving cream, take your time, and always shave in the direction of hair growth. 

"When performed correctly," New York dermatologist Dr. Carlos Charles revealed to The Cut, "shaving leads to the least amount of trauma to the skin surrounding the hair."