Monday, September 12, 2011

Beauty Buzz: Eyebrow & Facial Threading

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We definitely did, trying out a couple new restaurants and heading to a harvest kick-off BBQ at our favorite winery. I'll blog about that soon, but first I want to talk about one of the less enjoyable experiences I've had over the past couple weeks.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been much of a “beauty is pain” type of girl. High heels giving me blisters? Flip-flops, please. Waxing? Thanks, but no thanks. That’s why when it came to my eyebrows, I’d usually taken a DIY approach throughout the years, also occasionally splurging on pro tweezing sessions for special events.

But since neither method was exactly foolproof or long-lasting, I decided to mix things up a bit this summer by scheduling an appointment for threading, an ancient Eastern tradition that twists and removes hair straight from the follicle, with results usually lasting a month or slightly longer. In addition to my brows, I chose to have my entire face threaded for $40, including my lip and neck areas where small, fine hairs can’t easily be tweezed.

Image Source: askmissa.com
Upon arriving at the salon, the technician greeted me and then instructed that I lie back in a chair. After rubbing powder onto my skin to help lessen the sting, she unwound a long piece of thread and quickly went to work. What followed were – I won’t lie – 20 of the most painful minutes of my life. While the eyebrow portion of the procedure wasn’t all that bad, the facial hair removal was nothing short of excruciating, the sharp thread burning and cutting across my skin as every last strand of hair was torn away.

Still, as agonizing as it may have been, I couldn’t deny that the end results were nothing short of impressive. My face looked and felt entirely smooth and hair-free, and the next day, as I put on my makeup, I could see and feel a major difference in the way the products adhered to my skin. 

Plus, the technician told me that the first time is always the most painful, and that if I was diligent in coming back once a month, the pain would be noticeably milder, since the hair would have less time to fully grow back. Taking her advice, I made an appointment to return, though my summer travel schedule meant that closer to two months actually went by between my first and second sessions.

Image Source: ehow.com
I guess I may have waited too long, because this next session felt every bit as painful as the first. I’m not sure whether it was the extra month that really made the difference or the fact that my skin may simply be too sensitive for this type of process. Either way, though I’ll gladly continue having my brows threaded, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stand having my entire face done even one more time, although I do feel that the results are well worth the cost.

Have you ever tried this procedure, and would you put up with something that looked great but was extremely painful? Are there any milder methods you'd suggest I try? 

23 comments:

  1. I get my eyebrows and upper lip (shhh) threaded every two weeks. There's a place right down the street from me that I just walk to after work. I have gotten my entire face done before...but I agree, the whole face is quite painful. I only get my whole face done about 2 times a year...if that. The hair on my face is so light, I really don't need to really have it done at all..I had it done before weddings I was in (and my own) and I do like how it feels after.

    I would def. recommend threading for eyebrows and upper lip on a regular basis...but unless you have darker hair..it's prob. not necc. for you to keep up with your whole face every two weeks.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've never tried threading but have always been intrigued. Most of the hair on my face is too light to be noticeable, so I just have my brows plucked at the brow bar in Macy's near my work every now and then. I'm sorry threading was so painful, but it seems like a lot of good things come at a cost ;) Maybe take an Advil before the next session?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I haven't had my eyebrows done in a year how (shhhh) - I am very lucky to have well tamed eyebrows and no other facial hair.

    When I do get my eyebrows done - I go back and forth between threading and waxing. I find I like threading better but waxing is often more convenient. Either way you can't beat the $8 price tag!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've only ever gotten my eyebrows and upper lip done. The upper lip always hurts more than the eyebrows but it's a quick procedure so I suffer through it, ha. I like brow threading much more than brow waxing. I second Kim's advice. Try taking some advil before you go!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Holy smokes! I always see these stands in the mall for this sort of thing but I've never actually tried it! I'm so annoyed that it hurts more to get your entire face done because I've just been noticing how bad my foundation goes on because of extra unwanted facial hair (it is really blonde though so that's a plus)! I might have to suck it up and splurge a little and give it a go! My eyebrows are really out of control! Thanks for your thoughts, now I have a reference point to work from!

    Erin

    ReplyDelete
  6. When I lived in Israel, I actually learned how to thread (and since forgotten). I think it does become less painful although admitedly my pain tolerance for beauty is high :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am luck y and have never needed to pluck my eyebrows... if i did... I would so try this.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Eeep! This does not sound like a fun experience, even if the results sounded like you were happy with them. I usually just pluck my eyebrows every so often. I'm a big pain wimp though!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've never tried threading though I've been intrigued about it. I usually just pluck and for special occasions wax which to me is pretty painful itself.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I used to get my eyebrows threaded when I lived in NY and loved it. My face never got a funny reaction. Though I have been using this new blue peel wax and it's working pretty well too!

    www.MrsCapretta.com
    Recipes Fashion Marriage

    ReplyDelete
  11. You are brave! I always see this being done and thought it was interesting. I really hate worrying all the time about all the beautification processes we have to go through as women!

    PS there is a scarf giveaway on the fashion blog!

    Hope you have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am way.too.terrified. to ever get this done. I have always wondered what it is like, though!

    http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
    Twitter: @GlamKitten88

    ReplyDelete
  13. first off, let me say that i DIED laughing at laura's comment where she said "shhh!" lol. too funny.

    you make me want to get threading even though it sounds painful. i only pluck my brows and then get waxed on special occasions, BUT i usually stay pretty red for the rest of the day if i get waxed. :( threading seems like it may not turn as red.

    thanks for reporting on threading though. it's always good to know about new stuff!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have neither waxed nor threaded, and am not sure if I want to now...ha! I don't think my eyebrows are too bad (I hope not), but I do tweeze a few stray hairs. I think that is probably the most I can handle. Let us know if you do it again and if it is better.

    ReplyDelete
  15. i haven't tried threading, but am so interested in getting my eyebrows done. it's good to hear about your experience, i may just research threaders in my city.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm curious, but haven't tried threading. Thanks for letting us know your experience - I may just have to try it later!

    xoxo,
    Chic 'n Cheap Living

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am a HUGE fan of threading but haven't found a good place here that doesn't over thread (i.e., thread my skin) and isn't over priced. Back in good ol' cali, you can thread your upper lip, eyebrows for like 8.99 and they did a killer job. Sometimes I thread at home, but it doesn't replace my favorite Gal Nancy in Cerritos who does an amazing job!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for the reminder on this, I was just talking about this the other day with a friend and I need to go do some facial maintenance but it does sound painful! I feel as wedding planning and school are in full effect (and no really good "plucking" mirrors at our new place) the eyebrows get a little neglected. I must make an apt for this threading technique :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I've always wondered about this since I'm reminded of it every time I'm at the mall. The "specialists" make it look so simple, but after this post I'm a little leery to try it.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have always wanted to get threading done on my eyebrows....but just never have yet....maybe my next appt.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I LOVE threading! I've only had it done on my eyebrows but it makes them look so perfect! Waxing and plucking can be quite inaccurate but I've found threading always gives that perfect shape :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have been getting by eyebrows threaded for a couple years now. Love the results, but the pain...OOOWWW! It does not get easier.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love threading - so much faster than plucking!

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.