What are the disadvantages of face threading?

### Discomfort on Sensitive Facial Areas Face threading can be significantly uncomfortable, particularly on areas dense with nerve endings. The upper lip region ranks among the most painful threading zones due to proximity to the nose's sensitive nerve network and the thin, delicate skin covering this area. Many first-time threading clients are surprised by the intensity of sensation in this spot, often experiencing involuntary tearing as the threading stimulates nearby tear ducts. The area immediately between your eyebrows (the glabella region) can also prove surprisingly tender during threading. This zone connects to sensitive facial nerves, and removing multiple coarse hairs here creates a sustained pinching sensation that builds throughout the treatment. While not unbearable, it exceeds most people's expectations if they've only experienced less sensitive body area hair removal. Chin threading discomfort varies dramatically based on your hair type. Hormonal chin hair tends to be deeply rooted and coarse, requiring more force to extract and consequently causing more pain during removal. Fine vellus chin hair threads with minimal discomfort, but coarse terminal hair can feel quite intense, especially during initial threading appointments when maximum hair is being removed. Cheek and sideburn threading typically causes minimal discomfort because the hair in these areas tends to be finer and less densely distributed. However, individuals with particularly sensitive skin might still find the continuous plucking sensation bothersome even in these less nerve-dense zones. ### Skin Reactions and Visibility Issues Facial redness after threading is essentially universal and problematically visible compared to redness on arms or legs that clothing can conceal. Your face remains exposed, making any irritation obvious to others. Fair-skinned individuals often develop pronounced pink or red patches that can take 1-2 hours to fully subside. Some people develop small raised bumps along the threaded areas, representing minor follicular inflammation. While medically insignificant, these bumps are aesthetically concerning on your face where even small imperfections are highly noticeable. The bumps typically resolve within a few hours but can be embarrassing if you have plans immediately after threading. Swelling, though usually mild, can occur around the eyes after eyebrow threading or on the upper lip after lip threading. This puffiness results from the mechanical irritation threading causes and generally subsides within an hour, but it can temporarily alter your appearance enough that makeup application becomes difficult. For people with very reactive skin or conditions like rosacea, threading can trigger more substantial reactions. The physical friction might activate existing rosacea, causing prolonged redness and inflammation that exceeds normal post-threading effects. While not dangerous, this heightened reaction makes threading impractical for some people with skin sensitivities. ### Time Investment and Practical Limitations Face threading takes considerably longer than alternative hair removal methods for the same areas. A full face threading appointment typically requires 30 minutes compared to perhaps 5-10 minutes for shaving or 10-15 minutes for depilatory cream application. This time difference matters for people with busy schedules or those who simply don't enjoy spending extensive time on grooming. Threading also requires professional application—you realistically cannot thread your own face with any accuracy or safety. This necessity means scheduling salon appointments, traveling to appointments, and fitting threading into your regular routine rather than handling hair removal conveniently at home whenever needed. The growing-out period between threading appointments can feel awkward. Threading works best when hair reaches 2-3mm length, meaning you must tolerate visible regrowth before your next appointment. People accustomed to removing hair immediately when they notice it (through shaving or tweezing) might find this mandatory growth period frustrating. Weather and activity restrictions after threading compound the inconvenience. You're advised to avoid sun exposure, swimming, intense workouts, and heavy makeup for 24 hours post-threading to prevent infection or irritation. These restrictions can interfere with your normal routine, particularly problematic if you thread before a vacation, special event, or important presentation. ### The Skill Dependency Problem Threading results quality depends entirely on your practitioner's expertise, creating significant variability that's not as pronounced with some other hair removal methods. An unskilled threader might: - Break hairs at the surface rather than removing from the root - Create friction burns from improper thread tension - Miss hairs entirely, leaving patchy results - Remove too much hair, creating over-threaded appearance - Work slowly, prolonging discomfort unnecessarily Finding a consistently skilled threading specialist often requires trial and error. Unlike services where product quality plays a large role, threading success relies almost purely on technique. This means you can't simply find a "good salon"—you need to find a good INDIVIDUAL therapist and hope their schedule remains accessible to you. Losing access to your regular threading specialist—through their relocation, schedule changes, or leaving their position—means starting over with finding someone equally skilled. The inconsistency this creates can be frustrating, particularly for eyebrow threading where small variations in technique produce noticeably different aesthetic results. ### Financial Considerations While individual threading appointments aren't exorbitantly expensive, the regular maintenance schedule creates ongoing costs that accumulate significantly over time. Threading every 3-4 weeks means 12-17 appointments annually, and full face threading at £20-30 per visit totals £240-510 yearly just for face hair removal. Compare this to one-time purchases of razors or depilatory creams that last months, or even laser hair removal which, while more expensive initially, can provide years of reduced hair growth after treatment concludes. Threading's ongoing cost never ends—you'll need maintenance indefinitely to preserve results. The cumulative time investment also has an opportunity cost. Spending 30 minutes every 3-4 weeks in a salon means approximately 6-8 hours annually dedicated solely to face hair removal, not counting travel time to and from appointments. For some people, this time represents a meaningful sacrifice.

**Available at both locations**: - **Newcastle City Centre**: Professional face threading with realistic expectations and expert discomfort minimization techniques. - **Gosforth**: Experienced threading specialists who prioritize your comfort and provide honest method recommendations. **Our Face Threading Services**: - Full Face Threading: £25 | 30 minutes - Upper Lip Threading: £5 | 5 minutes - Chin Threading: £8 | 10 minutes [Book Your Face Threading Consultation](#) - Available on Treatwell, Fresha, and Booksy