Ask women what they find embarrassing about their face and quite a few will reveal it is the facial hair that they need to constantly battle with. While we all have a little hair on the face, there may be times when there is a sudden spurt of growth due to various reasons and this excessive hair growth is called hirsutism. The most common reason is generally a hormonal imbalance because it is the levels of oestrogen that determine hair growth. Unfortunately, hirsutism is a long-term problem and while you may opt for bleaching, waxing or shaving, they cannot provide a permanent cure. Here are a few home remedies that can help you deal with this problem without resorting to the use of chemicals.
1. Turmeric
In some Indian communities, it was a common practice for women to apply a little turmeric to their faces or at least the portion extending between the ears to the chin. Besides being good for one’s complexion and the antibacterial effect, turmeric is also said to have the property of curbing hair growth.
Tip: Make a fluid paste by soaking turmeric powder in water, apply to the facial area where you have excess hair and leave on for a few minutes. After it dries, use a cloth dipped in warm water to wipe away the turmeric and the hair, too.
2. Gram flour
Traditionally, women in many Indian homes regularly used a face pack made by mixing gram flour or besan with turmeric. This was said to have the ability to remove the excess hair on the face, particularly around the mouth and chin.
Tip: Mix equal amounts of besan and turmeric and add a little water to make a thick paste. Apply to the problematic part of the face, leave on until it dries totally and then dip a cloth in warm water and use to rub off this face mask – you will find that along with the besan mixture, the strands of hair are also removed.
Alternatively, mix in a little curd or cream (malaai) to the besan-turmeric paste and apply for an equally effective hair removal remedy.
3. Sugar mix With a home-made wax-like substance, it is possible to remove facial hair quite effectively; however, you need to be prepared for the process to get a little messy and maybe even painful when compared to the turmeric or besan face pack. The molten sugar in this recipe provides the stickiness; honey and lemon act as bleach as well as help to soothe the skin.
Tip: Take about a tablespoon of sugar in a vessel, add in a teaspoon of honey and a few drops of lemon juice; heat this lightly or microwave for about 3 minutes and mix to get a smooth paste. When the paste is still slightly warm, apply it to the part of the face from where you need to pluck the hair. Cover the area with a strip of cloth and immediately pull the cloth in the direction opposite to that in which the hair is growing.
4. Egg mask
Yet another remedy that works to pull off the hair in an action similar to waxing is the egg mask. This is quite easy to try at home because all ingredients are easily available.
Tip: Take the white of one egg, add in 1 tablespoon of sugar and half a tablespoon of corn flour. Beat to make a smooth paste and apply this to the portion of your face that has unwanted hair. Once it dries, it will take on the appearance of a thin mask covering your face; all you have to do is pull it off firmly and the hair will get pulled out, too.
When it comes to these home remedies for getting rid of unwanted hair, it is not that it will give you magical results overnight. Often, you have to keep repeating the treatment at regular intervals to see a difference that is noticeable. If you do not find relief even after trying these remedies on a regular basis, it is best to consult a doctor to find out if there is some other underlying medical problem that is causing the excessive growth of hair.
5.Include phytoestrogens in your diet
Most cases of excess hair growth on the face are a result of an imbalance of the hormone oestrogen. Certain plants contain compounds that have a function similar to that of estrogen – these are called as phytoestrogens. Researchers are studying the effect of phytoestrogens in patients with hormonal imbalances; results indicate that consuming foods rich in phytoestrogens helps reduce the hair growing on the face. Licorice (jethimadhu),alfalfa (rajko or rijaka), flaxseeds, fennel (saunf) and Gotu Kola (brahmi in north India) are some of the plants that have been found to contain high concentrations of phytoestrogens. Try to include these in your cooking on a regular basis and check if it makes a difference to your complaint of hirsutism.
Source: www.health.india.com
