Complete Guide to Nose Hair Grooming
What is Nose Hair There For?
Nasal hairs are there for some very good reasons, and you should think about these carefully before considering removing them:
Having said all this, I also realise that there is no doubt having excessive, thick, unsightly hair protruding from the nostrils can be decidedly undesirable.
So here I have provided advice and answer some frequently asked questions:
Can I Get Rid of my Nose Hair Safely?
The short answer is yes you can, but with certain caviats:
Bear in mind that the inner lining of the nostril is delicate and sensitive, so you need to be careful that you keep it very clean be gentle with any hair removal process to avoid causing damage or infection.
What are the Options for Removing Nose Hair?
Generally, this is a problem that affects men more often than women and increases with age.
As a woman, it is more likely that you will have the odd stray hair protruding that can be easily trimmed down. If you find that you have a major bush, it may be an indication of an underlying issue such as PCOS or hirsutism, which may be medically treated.
Trimming
This is the safest and, in my opinion, the best option to improve appearance - it is also painless and easy to do at home, providing you invest in the right tools:
Scissors
There are scissors specially designed for tackling nose hair, featuring rounded tips to prevent accidental injury e.g. the Tweezerman G.E.A.R. facial hair scissors.
Trimming with round tipped scissors is precise, so you are unlikely to inadvertently go too mad, and ideal for removing small or large amounts of nasal hair.
Tweezerman G.E.A.R. scissors with rounded, curved tips
This is an inexpensive method, with a decent pair of scissors costing from around $10 upwards.
It is worth investing in a magnifying mirror to make it easier to see properly, and also make sure that you always have sufficient light.
Here are our tips for trimming nasal hair with scissors:
Electric Trimmers
There are a number of electric nose and ear hair trimmers on the market, specifically designed to safely trim nasal hair. There are also electric body groomers with separate attachments for the purpose.
As they are specially made for nasal and ear hair trimming, they have safety guards built in to help prevent nicks and cuts and prevent you from inserting too deeply.
A good example is the Panasonic ER430K, which is battery operated, can be used wet or dry and includes a vacuum system to collect the cut hairs as you go along.
If you would prefer to have one device to cover all your face and body grooming needs, then we would recommend you check out the Philips Norelco MG7750/49 Multigroom 7000.
Pros of Trimming Nose Hair
- Quick and easy - can be done at home
- Pain free
- Convenient - No particular skill required and can be done anywhere, travelling etc.
- Inexpensive - just the cost of scissors or trimmer
- Safe - little or no risk of damaging side effects provided you are careful
Cons of Trimming Nose Hair
- Short lived results - hair will grow back relatively quickly and you will need to re-trim regularly and often
Tweezing
Tweezing involves using a pair of tweezers to pluck out stray hairs individually, from the root.
Therefore, you should be extremely careful and only remove hairs that are at the very edge of the nose.
You definitely don't want to be poking around up there with a pair of sharp tweezers!
Aside from anything else, tweezing is painful and could easily damage the sensitive skin lining the nostrils.
If you really want to tweeze, then you ideally need to have a decent pair of clean, sharp, probably slant edged tweezers e.g Tweezerman.
You need to grasp the individual hair with the tweezers, as close as possible to the base and then pull swiftly out, in one firm movement in the direction of hair growth.
Pros of Tweezing Nose Hair
- Easy DIY - can be done at home
- Convenient - can be done anywhere, small and light for travelling
- Inexpensive - just invest in a decent pair of tweezers
- Longer Lasting - than trimming
Cons of Tweezing Nose Hair
- Painful
- One at a Time - only really suitable for a few strays
- Side Effects - risk of ingrown hair and irritation
- Limited - risk of damage to inner nasal lining if you go too deep
Waxing
Waxing has the same issues as tweezing in that it pulls out the hair from the root, but it pulls out multiple hairs at the same time, and can be very painful in sensitive areas.
It is really important not to go mad with waxing nasal hair, and if you really want to go ahead with this, I really advise that you have it done professionally, at least the first time.
Nads special nose hair wax safety applicator
If you do it at home, buy a specially made kit such as Nad's nose wax kit and make sure to follow all the instructions and safety precautions carefully.
The Nad's kit features a specially designed applicator that fits just inside the nose so that you are not in danger of taking out too much.
Pros of Waxing Nose Hair
- Easy - can be done at home with the correct kit
- Longer Lasting - than trimming and regrowth can appear finer/lighter
- Multiple Hairs - quicker than tweezing for thick hair
- Relatively Inexpensive - if done at home, or in a salon
Cons of Waxing Nose Hair
- Painful - hair is pulled out at the root
- Side Effects - risk of ingrown hair and irritation. Care needed to avoid serious damage to inner lining of nose
- Ongoing Cost - either salon visits or repeat buying of at-home waxing kits
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a depilatory cream for getting rid of nose hair?
No - depilatory creams use harsh chemicals that should never be put inside the nose. They could cause serious damage/burning to the delicate lining of the nostrils.
What is the best way to get rid of my unsightly nose hair?
The safest and best way is to trim unsightly hair, using either small, round-tipped scissors or an electric trimmer designed for the purpose.
Can you get rid of nose hair permanently?
Nose hair performs several important functions so you don't want to get rid of it completely. The most permanent way to remove nasal hair from the inner edge of the nose is by laser, but you would need to seek advice from a properly trained, experienced clinician and be prepared to pay for professional treatments at a salon. Laser hair removal is not suitable for everyone, or for every circumstance.
What are the potential risks of nose hair waxing?
Firstly, you should only wax (or tweeze) the hair at the edge of the nose and never go too deeply up the nostril.
The skin inside the nose is particularly sensitive and you are likely to experience redness/soreness immediately after waxing, so it is advisable not to do it just before you are going out anywhere (especially the first time)!
As with any waxing, there is always a risk of ingrown hair, and this can be particularly tricky to treat and unsightly if developed inside your nose.
