Upper Lip Threading vs Laser Hair Removal: Which is Better? 2025 Guide

I'll be honest—at least three times a week, someone walks into our Gosforth salon and asks me: "Should I just get laser done on my upper lip, or keep coming for threading?"

It's a fair question, especially when you're scrolling through Instagram and seeing all these "permanent hair removal" ads. Laser promises you'll never have to worry about upper lip hair again, while threading costs £5 and you're back every 3-4 weeks.

So which one's actually better?

After 25+ years of threading upper lips (and hearing hundreds of laser horror stories from clients), I can tell you the answer isn't as simple as "laser is better because it's permanent." In fact, for most people, threading is the smarter choice—and I'll show you exactly why.

Quick Comparison: What You Actually Need to Know

Let me give you the real numbers first, not the marketing fluff:

| What Actually Matters | Threading | Laser Hair Removal | |--------|-----------|-------------------| | Pain (1-10 scale) | 3-4/10 (quick pinching) | 5-7/10 (hot rubber band + burning) | | Time per session | 5 minutes | 15-20 minutes (+ 30 min numbing cream) | | Cost per session | £5 | £60-120 | | Total cost for results | £5/session ongoing | £360-720 (6-8 sessions) + maintenance | | How long results last | 3-4 weeks | 6-12 months (after full course) | | Is it really permanent? | No (and doesn't claim to be) | Semi-permanent (60-80% reduction) | | Who can use it? | Everyone—all skin tones/hair colors | Only light skin + dark hair (ideally) | | Risk of burns/dark spots | Zero | 10-20% for medium-dark skin tones | | Immediate results? | Yes—smooth in 5 minutes | No—hair sheds over 2-3 weeks |

Already seeing why I recommend threading for most people? Let me break down the details.

What Actually Happens During Upper Lip Threading

Threading isn't just "pulling hair out with string." When I'm threading someone's upper lip, here's what's actually happening:

I use 100% cotton thread (nothing synthetic that could irritate skin), twist it into a precise pattern, and roll it along your skin. The twisted thread catches individual hairs and lifts them out from the root—all of them, including the super fine peach fuzz that waxing misses.

Why the upper lip is different: Your upper lip skin is way more delicate than your legs or arms. It's thinner, more sensitive, and any redness or irritation shows up immediately. That's why threading is perfect here—it only touches the hair, not your skin.

A skilled threading technique (which comes from years of practice, not a weekend course) makes a huge difference:

• I work fast to minimize discomfort
• I use the right tension so hairs come out cleanly without breaking
• I shape the line to suit your face, not just remove everything blindly

The whole thing takes 5 minutes. You walk in, I thread your upper lip, you walk out smooth. No prep time, no waiting for results, no wondering "when will this work?"

Results last 3-4 weeks because I'm removing hair from the root. It grows back at its natural rate—no thicker, no darker, exactly the same as before.

What Actually Happens During Laser Hair Removal

Here's what the laser ads don't tell you upfront:

Laser works by shooting light energy into your hair. The dark pigment (melanin) in the hair absorbs this light, converts it to heat, and that heat travels down to damage the hair follicle. Damage the follicle enough times, and it stops producing hair—or produces much finer, lighter hair.

The catch (and there are several):

1. It only works on dark hair + light skin The laser targets melanin (dark pigment). If your hair is blonde, light brown, red, or grey, there's not enough pigment for the laser to target. You'll spend £360-960 and get minimal results.

If your skin is medium to dark, you have melanin in your skin too—so the laser can't tell the difference between hair pigment and skin pigment. This causes burns and dark spots (hyperpigmentation) in 10-20% of darker-skinned clients.

2. You need 6-8 sessions, not just one Each session costs £60-120. You go every 4-6 weeks. The full course takes 6-12 months and costs £360-960 total.

Why so many sessions? Hair grows in cycles. Laser only works on actively growing hair, so you need multiple sessions to catch all the hairs in their growth phase.

3. Results aren't immediate After laser, your hair doesn't disappear. Dead hairs stay in the follicle and shed over 2-3 weeks. During this time, your upper lip can look stubbly or darker (the dead hairs oxidize before falling out).

You can't book laser the day before a wedding. You need to plan 3-4 weeks ahead.

4. "Permanent" is misleading Legally, laser can only be called "permanent reduction," not "permanent removal." After a full course, most people get 60-80% reduction. Not 100%. And that remaining 20-40% still needs maintenance.

Maintenance sessions every 6-18 months, indefinitely. For life. It's not "do it once and forget it."

Pain Comparison: What It Actually Feels Like

Let me be real with you about pain, because everyone asks.

Threading (3-4/10): It feels like quick, sharp pinching. Each section of hair takes a second or two. The whole upper lip is done in 5 minutes, so even if you're sensitive, it's over fast.

First-time clients usually tense up more than they need to. By the second or third session, they're totally relaxed because they know what to expect.

The pain is momentary—there's no lingering sting or soreness afterward.

Laser (5-7/10): Clients describe it like hot rubber bands snapping against your skin, but with a burning sensation on top. It's not just the snap—it's the heat that makes it worse.

Your upper lip is more sensitive than your legs, so it hurts more than laser on other body parts. Most clinics offer numbing cream (you apply it 30 minutes before), which helps but doesn't eliminate the pain entirely.

The real kicker? That burning sensation can linger for hours afterward. Your skin feels sunburned, tight, and sensitive.

Time-wise:

• Threading: 5 minutes of mild discomfort, once every 3-4 weeks
• Laser: 15-20 minutes of more intense discomfort per session × 6-8 sessions = about 2-2.5 hours total pain over the course

Cost Comparison: Let's Do the Actual Math

This is where threading's value really shines.

Threading costs:

• Single session: £5
• Monthly (every 4 weeks): £5
• Yearly (12 sessions): £60
• 5 years: £300
• 10 years: £600

Laser costs:

• Single session: £60-120 (Newcastle average)
• Initial course (6-8 sessions): £360-960
• First year maintenance (2 sessions): £120-240
• 5 years total: £600-1,400 (including maintenance)
• 10 years total: £840-2,040 (ongoing maintenance adds up)

Here's what laser providers won't tell you: The "break-even point" where laser becomes cheaper than threading is 6-16 years out—and that assumes laser works perfectly for you with no complications.

But here's the thing: laser doesn't work perfectly for everyone.

Real scenarios I've seen:

• Client with blonde upper lip hair: Spent £800 on laser, got maybe 20% reduction. Wasted money.
• Client with medium skin tone: Got hyperpigmentation (dark spots) that lasted 8 months. Now she threads and covers the spots with makeup.
• Client who finished laser course: Still has 30% of her hair. Comes to me for threading every month anyway.

Threading's £5 price means zero financial risk. Try it once, see if you like smooth upper lips. If you don't, you're only out £5. Laser requires hundreds upfront before you know if it'll even work for you.

Permanence: The Truth About "Permanent Hair Removal"

Let's clear up the biggest laser myth right now.

Threading results: 3-4 weeks of smoothness per session. It's temporary—I'm not claiming otherwise.

Laser results: "Semi-permanent reduction" of 60-80% on average. Not 100%. Not permanent.

After 6-8 sessions, most people still have 20-40% of their hair. That remaining hair is usually finer and lighter, but it's still there.

And maintenance is forever. You'll need touch-up sessions every 6-18 months for life to maintain that reduction. The upper lip especially—because facial hair is super hormonal—often needs maintenance every 3-6 months.

What can mess up laser "permanence":

• Pregnancy (hormones trigger new hair growth)
• Menopause (hello, new facial hair!)
• PCOS or thyroid issues (ongoing hair development)
• Certain medications (can stimulate hair follicles)

I've had clients who spent £900 on laser at 25, and by 30 (after having kids), their upper lip hair came back. Now they thread anyway.

Threading's advantage here: It's predictable. Every session gives you 3-4 weeks of smooth skin, guaranteed. No surprises, no "well it depends on your hormones," no wondering if it'll work.

Skin Type Suitability: Who Can Actually Use Each Method

This is huge, and it's where laser's marketing seriously oversells.

Threading works for:

• ✅ Every skin tone (Fitzpatrick I-VI, all of them)
• ✅ Every hair color (black, brown, blonde, red, grey, white)
• ✅ All hair textures (fine, coarse, thick, thin)
• ✅ Sensitive skin, rosacea, eczema (with proper technique)
• ✅ During pregnancy and breastfeeding
• ✅ While using retinoids, acids, any skincare

Laser ONLY works well for:

• Very fair skin (Fitzpatrick I-II) + dark, coarse hair
• Maybe medium skin (Fitzpatrick III-IV) if you find an experienced operator

Laser DOESN'T work for:

• ❌ Dark skin tones (Fitzpatrick V-VI)—10-20% hyperpigmentation risk
• ❌ Blonde, light brown, red, or grey hair—not enough pigment
• ❌ Fine, light upper lip hair (common in fair women)

The upper lip risk factor: Your upper lip is particularly vulnerable to laser complications because:

1. Facial skin has more melanin than body skin (higher dark spot risk)
2. The skin is thinner (less protection from heat)
3. It's constantly visible (any complications are immediately noticeable socially)

I've personally seen upper lip hyperpigmentation that looked like a dark shadow "mustache"—way more noticeable than the original hair. Some cases took 6+ months to fade, others became permanent.

Threading has zero pigmentation risk. None. It's mechanical hair removal—no heat, no light, no chemicals that interact with your skin tone.

Side Effects: What Can Actually Go Wrong

Threading side effects (all temporary):

• Mild redness for 15-30 minutes ✅
• Slight warmth/tingling for 1-2 hours ✅
• Tiny bumps (folliculitis) for 1-2 hours in 10-20% of clients ✅

That's it. No permanent damage. Ever.

In 25+ years, I've never caused permanent scarring or pigmentation with threading. The mechanical action only affects hair.

Laser side effects (from real clients):

• Redness and swelling for 2-24 hours (common)
• Sunburn-feeling skin for 1-3 days (common)
• Hyperpigmentation (dark spots) in 10-20% of medium-dark skin ⚠️
• Blistering from excessive heat (occasional)
• Burns requiring medical treatment (rare but serious)
• Paradoxical hair growth (more hair than before!) in 0.6-10% of cases ⚠️
• Permanent light spots (hypopigmentation) in 1-5% ⚠️

The paradoxical hair growth thing is wild: Some people get MORE hair after laser. The theory is that sub-therapeutic heat stimulates dormant follicles instead of destroying active ones. Upper lip and face are the most common areas for this.

Imagine spending £800 and ending up with more hair than you started with. Threading has zero risk of this.

When Threading is the Better Choice (Most People)

Choose threading if you:

Skin/Hair Factors:

• Have ANY skin tone other than very fair (Fitzpatrick III-VI)
• Have blonde, light brown, red, or grey upper lip hair
• Have ever had hyperpigmentation from acne or injuries
• Have sensitive skin or skin conditions

Money Factors:

• Prefer £5 sessions with no upfront commitment
• Can't afford £360-960 right now
• Want to try professional hair removal risk-free
• Are a student or on a budget

Lifestyle Factors:

• Need quick 5-minute appointments (lunch break friendly!)
• Want same-day or last-minute availability
• Need immediate results before events
• Can't commit to 6-8 scheduled appointments over months
• Travel a lot (threading available everywhere)

Safety Factors:

• Low tolerance for potential complications
• Worried about thermal damage to your face
• Want zero risk of permanent skin changes
• Prefer centuries-proven methods over newer tech
• Had bad experiences with laser before

Medical Factors:

• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Taking photosensitizing medications
• Using retinoids or exfoliating skincare
• Have PCOS, thyroid issues, or hormonal conditions
• Active skin infections or frequent cold sores

When Laser MIGHT Be Worth Considering (Rare Cases)

Laser may be worth it ONLY if you check ALL these boxes:

✅ Very fair skin (Fitzpatrick I-II) with dark, coarse upper lip hair ✅ Can comfortably afford £360-960 upfront + £120-240 yearly maintenance ✅ Understand it's 60-80% reduction, not 100% permanent ✅ Accept risks of burns, pigmentation, paradoxical hair growth ✅ Can commit to 6-8 appointments over 6-12 months ✅ Found a reputable clinic with medical-grade lasers (not IPL) ✅ Prepared for potentially needing threading anyway for remaining hair

Even if you meet all these criteria, results vary wildly. Some ideal candidates get 90%+ reduction. Others get 40-50% despite identical treatment.

My honest recommendation: Try threading first for £5. See what smooth upper lips look like on you. If you still want laser after that, at least you'll make that decision from experience, not marketing hype.

Yogita's Professional Take (After 25+ Years)

Here's what I tell clients who ask my honest opinion:

For 9 out of 10 women, threading is the better choice.

Your upper lip is one of the most visible, delicate parts of your face. Any burns, dark spots, or complications are immediately noticeable in every conversation, every photo, every video call.

I've seen too many clients with laser-induced hyperpigmentation—dark shadows on their upper lip that are more noticeable than their original hair. These spots can last months or years. Some become permanent.

Threading eliminates that risk entirely.

Cost-wise, threading at £5/month (£60/year) is genuinely affordable for most people. You can maintain smooth upper lips for less than a couple of coffees per month.

Laser's £360-960 is a huge upfront cost, and when you factor in lifetime maintenance (because it's NOT permanent), the cost advantage disappears.

Quality matters: Not all threading is equal. My 25+ years of daily practice means I can shape your upper lip line to suit your face, work fast to minimize discomfort, and get every hair in one go. Weekend-course threaders don't have that skill level.

Similarly, not all laser is equal. Budget clinics with outdated IPL equipment and inexperienced operators cause most of the complications I hear about.

My advice:

1. Start with threading. Book a £5 session and experience professional upper lip hair removal with zero risk.

2. If you love the smooth result and find monthly maintenance easy, keep threading. It's working perfectly for you.

3. If you're still curious about laser after trying threading, at least you'll know what smooth upper lips look like and whether it's worth a £900 investment.

4. If you do choose laser, invest in a reputable clinic with medical-grade equipment. The cheapest option is rarely the best when your face is at stake.

Bottom line: Threading gives you immediate, predictable, safe, affordable results that work for everyone. Laser offers potential long-term reduction with significant cost, risk, and uncertainty.

For the visible, delicate upper lip area, I believe the conservative, proven approach of threading is the wise choice for most women.

Real Client Experiences

"I wish I'd tried threading before wasting £800 on laser"

Sarah, Jesmond: "I have medium skin tone and was told laser would work fine. After 8 sessions and £800, I got maybe 50% reduction—but also dark spots on my upper lip that lasted nearly a year. Now I thread every month anyway for the remaining hair. Should've just started with threading and saved myself £800 and months of covering dark spots with concealer."

"Threading works on my blonde hair that laser couldn't touch"

Emma, Newcastle: "I was told laser might work on my light brown upper lip hair. It didn't. Barely any reduction after 6 sessions. Threading removes every single hair—blonde, fine, whatever. It actually works."

"£5 and 5 minutes—why would I do anything else?"

Priya, Gosforth: "Yogita's been threading my upper lip for 3 years now. £5, 5 minutes, smooth for a month. I thought about laser, but why? This works perfectly, costs nothing, and there's zero risk of messing up my face."

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does upper lip threading hurt less than laser?

A: Yes, threading hurts less for most people. Threading is 3-4/10 pain (quick pinching for 5 minutes). Laser is 5-7/10 (hot rubber band + burning sensation for 15-20 minutes per session × 6-8 sessions). Your upper lip is also more sensitive than your body, so laser hurts more here than on legs or arms.

Q: How much does each method actually cost?

A: Threading costs £5 per session at our Gosforth salon. For monthly maintenance, that's £60/year or £300 over 5 years. Laser costs £60-120 per session in Newcastle. A full course is 6-8 sessions (£360-960) plus ongoing maintenance every 6-18 months (£120-240 yearly). Five-year laser cost: £600-1,400+.

Q: Is laser really permanent for upper lip hair?

A: No. Laser is "semi-permanent reduction," not permanent removal. After 6-8 sessions, most people get 60-80% reduction, not 100%. Maintenance sessions are needed every 6-18 months for life. Hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause, PCOS, medications) can trigger new hair growth even after successful laser.

Q: Does laser work on blonde or light upper lip hair?

A: No. Laser needs dark pigment (melanin) in hair to work. Blonde, light brown, red, and grey hair don't have enough pigment. Fair-skinned women with light upper lip hair often waste £360-960 on laser with minimal (20-40%) or zero results. Threading works on all hair colors.

Q: Can laser cause dark spots on upper lip?

A: Yes, especially on medium to dark skin tones. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark spots) occurs in 10-20% of clients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI. These dark spots can last months or become permanent, creating a shadowy "mustache" appearance often more noticeable than original hair. Threading has zero pigmentation risk.

Q: Which gives immediate results?

A: Threading gives instant results—smooth skin within 5 minutes. Laser doesn't work immediately. Hair stays visible and sheds over 2-3 weeks after treatment. During shedding, your upper lip can look stubbly or darker. You can't book laser right before events.

Q: Does threading make hair grow thicker?

A: No. This is a myth. Hair thickness, color, and growth rate are determined by genetics and hormones—not removal methods. Threading removes hair mechanically without altering the follicle. Your hair after 10 years of threading will be identical to hair before threading (unless hormones change naturally).

Q: Can I thread between laser sessions?

A: Usually no. Most laser providers say don't thread, wax, or pluck between sessions because these remove the hair shaft laser needs to target. You're only allowed to shave (cuts hair at surface, leaves shaft intact). After finishing laser, threading works great for maintaining remaining hair.

Q: Which is safer for dark skin?

A: Threading is dramatically safer for dark skin. Threading works identically on all skin tones with zero increased risk. Laser on dark skin (Fitzpatrick V-VI) has 10-20% hyperpigmentation risk, increased burn risk, and requires specialized expensive Nd:YAG lasers with expert operators (hard to find).

Q: How many laser sessions are actually needed?

A: 6-8 initial sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart (6-12 months total). But that's just the start—maintenance sessions every 6-18 months are needed indefinitely. Upper lip often needs more frequent maintenance (every 3-6 months) than body areas due to hormonal influences. Some people need 10+ sessions initially.

Q: Can threading damage upper lip skin?

A: No. Proper threading doesn't damage skin. It's mechanical hair removal using cotton thread—no heat, no chemicals, no substances that harm skin. Temporary mild redness (15-30 minutes) is normal. In 25+ years, I've never caused permanent scarring or pigmentation with threading.

Q: Which is better for hormonal upper lip hair (PCOS)?

A: Threading is better for hormonal hair. PCOS, thyroid disorders, and hormonal conditions cause continuous new hair growth. Laser can only reduce hair present during treatment—new hormonally-triggered follicles developing after laser aren't affected. This creates expensive cycles of repeated laser courses. Threading provides reliable removal regardless of hormonal fluctuations.

Q: Does threading cause wrinkles?

A: No. This is a persistent myth. Wrinkles form from aging, sun damage, smoking, and genetics—not hair removal methods. Threading removes hair at follicle level and doesn't affect dermal collagen or elastin responsible for skin firmness. Threading has been used safely for centuries without causing aging.

Q: How do I choose between threading and laser?

A: Try threading first for £5. See what smooth upper lips look like, whether you like the results, and if monthly maintenance works for your lifestyle. If threading meets your needs (it does for most people), keep doing it. If you still want laser after trying threading, at least you'll decide from experience, not marketing. Only consider laser if you have very fair skin + dark hair AND can afford £360-960 upfront.

Book Your Upper Lip Threading in Gosforth

Try threading before committing to expensive laser. At just £5, you can experience what smooth upper lips feel like—with zero financial risk and zero skin risk.

Why choose Yogita's threading:

• ✅ 25+ years international threading expertise
• ✅ 5-minute appointments (lunch break friendly!)
• ✅ Works on all skin tones and hair colors
• ✅ £5 per session (no hidden costs)
• ✅ Immediate smooth results
• ✅ Zero risk of burns or dark spots
• ✅ Same-day appointments often available

Conveniently located in Gosforth:

• 5-minute walk from Gosforth High Street
• 8 minutes by Metro from Jesmond
• 15 minutes from Newcastle City Centre
• Easy parking and public transport access

Book your appointment:

• 📞 Call: 0191 285 5055
• 🌐 Book online: Mesmerising Beauty Gosforth
• 📍 Location: Mesmerising Beauty, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne

First-time clients: Your first appointment includes a consultation about your hair removal goals, skin assessment, and personalized aftercare advice. No pressure to commit to anything—just honest, expert guidance from 25+ years of experience.

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Related Reading:

• Is Eyebrow Threading Painful? Honest Answer
• Threading vs Tweezing: Complete Comparison
• Threading vs Waxing Newcastle
• Upper Lip Threading Gosforth

Expert comparison by Yogita, threading specialist with 25+ years international experience. Mesmerising Beauty, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne.