Why does facial hair increase during perimenopause and menopause?
It comes down to a change in ratio, not usually a surge of new male hormones. Through perimenopause and after menopause, your ovaries sharply reduce estrogen, while androgens (male-type hormones such as testosterone) decline much more slowly. The result is a state of relative androgen excess: the same or slightly lower androgens now act with far less estrogen to balance them. A second shift compounds it. As estrogen drops, so does sex hormone binding globulin, the protein that normally keeps testosterone bound and inactive, which leaves more free, active testosterone in circulation.
On the chin, upper lip, jawline, and sideburn area, those androgens act on hair follicles and slowly convert fine, pale, barely-there vellus hair into coarse, dark, terminal hair. It is the same follicle-level change seen in hirsutism, only here it is triggered by the ordinary hormone shift of midlife rather than an underlying disorder.
This is far more common than most women are told. In the largest population study of the question, published in the British Journal of Dermatology in 2011, about 39% of postmenopausal women reported an increase in facial hair, and the chin was the single most common new site, reported by roughly 32%. That is a different, broader measure than clinically diagnosed hirsutism, which affects an estimated 5% to 10% of women. In plain terms: a formal diagnosis is uncommon, but noticing a few coarse new hairs on your chin after menopause is completely normal.
How does menopause change your skin, and why does it matter for waxing?
The same estrogen decline that changes your hair also changes your skin, and it changes the calculus for hair removal. Skin loses collagen quickly at menopause: research summarized in the journal Dermato-Endocrinology reports that skin collagen can fall by as much as 30% in the first five years after menopause, then by roughly 2% per year after that, with elasticity dropping around 1.5% per year in early postmenopause. The practical effect is skin that is thinner, drier, less elastic, more reactive, and slower to heal than it was a decade earlier.
That is exactly why method and technique matter more now than they used to. A wax that grabs and strips the skin surface, or a session run too hot or over the same spot twice, is far more likely to leave a fragile, low-collagen face red or lifted. The answer is not to avoid waxing; it is to choose a gentler wax and a gentler technique, which is what the rest of this guide is about.
One reassuring note: hormone replacement therapy is not a reason to avoid waxing. Estrogen therapy tends to increase skin collagen and thickness, so if anything it makes skin more resilient. It will not, however, reliably stop hairs that have already turned terminal, which is where hair removal comes in.
What are the best hair removal options for menopausal facial hair?
Every method works differently on coarse hormonal hair, and two facts reshape the usual advice once you reach menopause. First, menopausal facial hair is frequently grey or white, and light-colored hair is precisely what laser and IPL cannot treat, because those devices target the pigment in the hair. Second, the skin is thinner and more reactive, so gentleness is no longer optional. Here is how the common methods actually stack up for this specific situation.
| Method | Works on grey or white hair? | Lasts | Fit for thin, mature skin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard wax | Yes | Weeks (removes at the root) | Best root-removal option; grips hair, not skin |
| Soft or strip wax | Yes | Weeks | Harsher; strips the skin surface too, more redness |
| Threading | Yes | 4 to 5 weeks | Low irritation, but small areas only |
| Shaving or dermaplaning | Yes | Days | Gentle, but frequent upkeep and quick regrowth |
| Tweezing | Yes | Weeks | Fine for a few strays; slow, can irritate follicles |
| Depilatory cream | Yes | A little longer than shaving | Chemical irritation risk on thin skin; patch test first |
| Laser or IPL | No (needs pigment) | Reduction, not reliable on the face | Poor fit once hair is grey or white |
| Electrolysis | Yes (all colors) | Permanent (the only permanent method) | Best for permanent removal of grey hairs; slow, hair by hair |
Read down that table and a simple strategy emerges. For permanent removal of grey menopausal hairs, electrolysis is the only method that qualifies, since it treats hairs of any color one follicle at a time. For regular, comfortable, at-home or in-salon management, a gentle hard wax is the standout: it pulls coarse hair out at the root for weeks of smoothness while being kinder to fragile skin than strip wax, depilatory creams, or repeated tweezing. Laser, so often the default recommendation for younger faces, is the method most likely to let you down here, because it cannot see grey or white hair.
Why is hard wax the best wax for menopausal facial hair?
The reason is in how the two waxes behave. Soft or strip wax bonds to both the hair and the top layer of your skin, which is why it also exfoliates. On thin, low-collagen menopausal skin, that skin grip means more pulling, more redness, and a higher chance of lifting skin. Hard wax is different: it is applied thick, hardens around the hair, and is removed without a strip, so it adheres mainly to the hair and largely releases the skin. Less skin trauma, a less intense pull, and a lower chance of irritation. That is why hard wax is the standard professional choice for small, sensitive facial zones, and that advantage only grows once skin is more fragile.
Two things make a hard wax genuinely suited to a menopausal face: a low melting temperature, so you are not applying anything hot to reactive skin, and a formula designed for sensitivity rather than brute strength. I'm Sensitive Meltdown is the wax our founder, Cat Smith, developed for her own coarse facial hair when nothing gentle enough existed. It is a coconut-scented, rosin-free, vegan hard wax that melts at a low temperature and grips stubborn chin and lip hair while staying kind to skin that reacts. It is the same professional-grade wax licensed estheticians reach for, which is the standard we think mature facial skin deserves. Pair it with the compact Mini Meltdown Machine, a face-sized warmer that holds a steady low temperature for chin, lip, and brow work.
If you would rather start with a full routine, the PCOS Facial Hair Kit pairs the same gentle wax with prep and aftercare in one box. It is built for hormone-driven facial hair, which includes the perimenopausal and menopausal kind, not only PCOS.
How do you wax menopausal facial hair safely at home?
Waxing is safe for most menopausal skin when it is done with a little extra care. Thinner, drier skin simply raises the stakes on a few well-established rules. Work through these in order.
- Pause skin-thinning actives first. The American Academy of Dermatology advises stopping topical retinol and prescription retinoids two to five days before waxing your face, because waxing over retinized skin can lift skin along with the hair. This matters more for this audience than any other, since retinoids are a staple of midlife skincare. Pause exfoliating acids for about 48 hours too. If you have taken oral isotretinoin in the last six months, do not wax.
- Patch test. Especially on reactive skin, test the wax on a small area first and wait a day before doing your whole chin or lip.
- Prep the skin. Cleanse, dry fully, and dust on a talc-free priming powder such as A Wail of a Time so the wax grips hair instead of skin. Never wax over broken skin, active breakouts, sunburn, moles, or skin tags.
- Keep the wax at a low, comfortable temperature and test it on your inner wrist before it touches your face. A low-melt hard wax makes this easy.
- Work in small sections and pull correctly. Apply in the direction of growth, remove against it, hold the skin taut, and keep the pull low and fast rather than up and slow. A precision applicator like Get a Grip helps on small facial zones, and Stiff Upper Rip tabs give you a built-in handle for a cleaner, less painful pull. Do not re-wax the same spot more than once in a session.
- Calm the skin afterward. Follow with a fragrance-free finishing oil such as You Big Softie or a cooling aloe gel like Just Cool It, and skip retinoids, acids, hot showers, and heavy sun for the rest of the day. Between sessions, an AHA splash such as Ride or Cry keeps ingrowns away.
If redness or swelling lasts more than two days after waxing, that is your cue to check in with a dermatologist. For a full walkthrough of technique on the chin, cheeks, and neck, our step-by-step facial waxing guide covers every pull in detail.
When should you see a doctor about menopausal facial hair?
A few coarse hairs arriving gradually around menopause are normal. What is worth a conversation with your doctor is facial hair that comes on suddenly, grows quickly, or arrives alongside other signs of higher androgens, such as new acne, thinning scalp hair, or a deepening voice. That pattern can point to something beyond ordinary menopause, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a thyroid or adrenal issue, or a side effect of medication, all of which are worth ruling out. If your facial hair is tied to PCOS rather than menopause, our guide to the best wax for PCOS facial hair and our post on spironolactone and waxing go deeper on the hormonal side.
The bottom line
Facial hair in perimenopause and menopause is common, normal, and very manageable. Because the hair is often grey and the skin is thinner, the two methods that actually fit are electrolysis for permanent removal and a gentle, low-temperature hard wax for comfortable ongoing upkeep, while laser tends to disappoint on light hair. If you want one place to start, a sensitive-skin hard wax like I'm Sensitive Meltdown removes coarse chin and lip hair at the root while staying kind to mature skin. For the wider picture across every hormonal life stage, see our hub on wax for hormonal facial hair, and if reactivity is your main concern, our wax for sensitive skin guide is built for you.
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. If you are unsure about waxing while on a medication or with a skin condition, check with your doctor or a licensed esthetician first.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to get more facial hair during perimenopause and menopause?
Yes. As estrogen falls and androgens have a relatively larger effect, fine facial hair can turn coarse and dark on the chin, lip, and jaw. In one large study, about 39% of postmenopausal women reported an increase in facial hair, and the chin was the most common new site. A few new coarse hairs are a normal part of the transition.
What is the best wax for menopausal facial hair?
A gentle, low-temperature hard wax. Hard wax grips the hair rather than the skin, so it removes coarse hair at the root while being kinder to thinning, reactive skin than strip wax. Crybaby Wax's I'm Sensitive Meltdown is a low-melt, coconut-scented, vegan hard wax made for exactly this kind of sensitive facial hair.
Does laser hair removal work on grey or white menopausal facial hair?
Usually not. Laser and IPL target the pigment in the hair, so they cannot effectively treat grey, white, blonde, or red hair. Since menopausal facial hair is frequently grey, laser is often a poor fit. Electrolysis, which works on all hair colors, is the only method classed as permanent for these hairs.
Is waxing safe on thinning, sensitive menopausal skin?
For most people, yes, with a little extra care. Menopausal skin is thinner and heals more slowly, so use a low-temperature hard wax, work in small sections, never re-wax the same spot, and pause retinoids and exfoliating acids beforehand. Do a patch test, and avoid waxing over broken or sunburned skin. See a dermatologist if redness lasts more than two days.
Should you stop using retinol before waxing your face?
Yes. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends stopping topical retinol and prescription retinoids two to five days before facial waxing, because waxing over retinized skin can remove skin along with the hair. This matters especially at menopause, when retinoids are common in anti-aging routines. Avoid waxing entirely if you have taken oral isotretinoin in the past six months.
How often can you wax perimenopausal chin and lip hair?
Most people wax facial hair every three to four weeks, once the hair is long enough to grip, about a quarter of an inch. Waxing removes hair at the root, so regrowth is slower and finer than shaving. Between sessions, tweeze only the occasional stray and use a gentle exfoliant to prevent ingrowns.
Does HRT stop facial hair from menopause?
Not reliably. Hormone replacement therapy can improve skin thickness and collagen, but it does not usually reverse hairs that have already turned coarse and terminal. Many women on HRT still choose to wax or use electrolysis for facial hair. HRT is not a reason to avoid waxing.
References
- Ali I, Wojnarowska F. Physiological changes in scalp, facial and body hair after the menopause. British Journal of Dermatology, 2011. PubMed
- Thornton MJ. Estrogens and aging skin. Dermato-Endocrinology, 2013. PMC
- American Academy of Dermatology. How to wax, and Hair removal. aad.org
- NHS. Excessive hair growth (hirsutism). nhs.uk
