Why women over 45 are putting down the tweezers for a 5-minute Sunday routine
It's not you. It's a common change after menopause. Here's why tweezing can't keep up, and what more women are doing instead.
You check your face in the car mirror. There it is. Another dark hair on your chin.
You pluck it. Two days later, there's another one. Or three.
If that sounds like you, you're far from alone.
It's common. Much more common than anyone admits.
In a study of women after menopause, 39% said they had new facial hair. The chin was the most common spot.1
Cleveland Clinic lists hair on the upper lip or chin as one of the ways menopause can change your hair.2
So it's not a sign you've done something wrong. It's a normal change.
But it still bugs you. It still makes you turn your face away in bright light. And it always seems to turn up right before a lunch, a wedding or a photo.
Why tweezing never gets you ahead
Tweezers work one hair at a time. That's fine for one hair.
It's not fine for a chin, an upper lip and a layer of fuzz on your cheeks.
Waxing and threading clear more at once. But they mean a booking every few weeks, a bill every time, and a red face after.
So most women end up stuck in the same loop: pluck, wait, spot another one, pluck again.
You might be stuck in the loop if…
- You keep tweezers in the car, your bag or the bathroom drawer "just in case"
- You check your chin in every mirror with good light
- Your foundation catches on fine fuzz on your cheeks
- You've booked a wax or thread, then put it off again
- You've thought about shaving your face, but worried it would grow back thicker
Ticked two or more? Keep reading.
The myth that keeps women plucking
Lots of women won't try a blade on their face. They've heard the hair grows back thicker.
Regrowth can feel a little blunt at first, because the tip is cut flat. That's all.
That's why dermaplaning has become a normal part of skin care. It means using a fine, flat edge to lift fuzz and dry skin off the face. Salons charge for it. More and more women now do it at home.
What's changed: a sonic edge made for home
A basic face razor is a small blade on a stick. It works. But it can feel scary if you've never used one.
A sonic dermaplaning pen is different. The edge gives off a gentle vibration, which helps it glide over the skin instead of dragging.
You hold it at an angle and use short strokes. The fuzz and dry skin come away on the edge. Chin, lip and cheeks take a few minutes, once a week.
Clean, dry skin. Wash, pat dry. No oil or cream yet.
Hold it at 45°. Short, light strokes. Let the edge do the work.
New blade each week. Rinse, moisturise, done until next Sunday.
Why once a week beats plucking every day
With a fresh edge each week, you clear the whole area at once. No hunting for single hairs. No bookings.
And because it lifts dry skin too, your moisturiser and makeup go on smoother skin.
| Tweezers | Wax or thread | Velva pen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clears the whole area at once | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| At home, on your schedule | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Lifts dry skin too | ✗ | Some | ✓ |
| Ongoing cost | Low | Paid every visit | About A$1.20 a week in blades |
Who we are
Velva is a small Australian business based on the Gold Coast. We're taking waitlist sign-ups before our first production run, so we order the right amount.
Waitlist members get first access and a founding price. There's nothing to pay now.
See the Velva pen, what's in the box and the founding price
See how it works →Sources
- Physiological changes in scalp, facial and body hair after the menopause: a cross-sectional population-based study (PubMed 21128905). Abstract
- Cleveland Clinic, "Here's how menopause affects your skin and hair". Link
- Mayo Clinic, "Shaving hair: Does shaved hair grow back thicker?". Link
Velva is a cosmetic tool for removing fine facial hair and dry skin. It isn't a treatment for any medical condition. If you notice sudden or heavy new hair growth, see your GP. None of the organisations above endorse Velva.