Discover The Secret Tricks Top Beauty Pros Use To Banish Peach Fuzz Forever—And Why You’ve Been Missing Out!

Ever caught yourself wondering why that soft, almost invisible fuzz on your face—yep, the infamous peach fuzz—sometimes feels like it’s got a spotlight all its own? Body hair, in all its glory, shows up everywhere, from your face to, well, your butt, and it’s totally natural. But here’s the kicker: not all hairs are created equal. Behind that subtle shadow is a fascinating world of hair types—terminal hairs, like your lashes and brows, and the delicate vellus hairs, aka peach fuzz, which sneak across nearly your entire body. For some, peach fuzz is a whisper; for others, it’s a shout that can mess with self-confidence. Now, should you embrace it or banish it? And if you choose the latter, what’s the game plan to ditch that fuzz safely and effectively? Stick around, because I’m about to break down everything you need to know from shaving to the high-tech stuff—straight from skin experts to your screen. Ready to tackle peach fuzz with the finesse of a champion? Let’s get to it. LEARN MORE.

Body hair—whether it grows on your face, your butt, under your arms, or anywhere else—is nothing to be ashamed of. After all, everyone has it.

That said, not all body hair is created equal, and that’s because we grow two distinct types. The first is called terminal hair, which is the longer, thicker kind that includes facial hair, pubic hair, the hair on our head, as well as our eyelashes and brows. The second type, often called “peach fuzz,” is the soft, fine hair that grows almost everywhere on the body, except on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and on the lips and eyelids.

For some people, peach fuzz is barely noticeable. But for others, it can appear more obvious, or take a toll on a person’s self-image. “If you have very fair skin or if you have very dark hair, you’re going to see it more,” says Debra Jaliman, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

Meet the experts: Debra Jaliman is an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Delcy Stoddard is a medical aesthetician at SkinSpirit. Kiran Mian, DO, FAAD is a medical and aesthetic dermatologist in New York City. Stacie Harding is the senior corporate field trainer at European Wax Center. Umbreen Sheikh is the founder of Wink Brow Bar.

Regardless of whether your peach fuzz is visible, you shouldn’t feel pressured to remove a natural part of the body to feel beautiful. But if you do feel inclined to remove your peach fuzz, the good news is that there are several expert-recommended ways to do so. Keep in mind that they all have their own set of benefits and drawbacks: Some methods require more time and money but literally last forever, while others are inexpensive but yield shorter-lasting results.

From shaving and waxing to laser hair removal and electrolysis, read ahead as a few experts take us through all the ways you can safely get rid of peach fuzz.

The scientific term for peach fuzz is vellus hair, and it refers to those baby hairs that cover your body and “glisten in the light, claiming real estate on your face, upper lip, cheek, and chin,” says Delcy Stoddard, medical aesthetician at SkinSpirit.

Compared to the hair that grows out of our head, peach fuzz tends to look lighter, feel softer and appear more fine. And even though it may be an eyesore to some, it actually serves several purposes for the body, Dr. Jaliman adds. Here’s a quick breakdown of what it does:

• Provides skin insulation: To put it plainly, hair helps keep our skin warm. And peach fuzz is no exception. When it’s cold, vellus hairs stand up (what we commonly call goosebumps) and this keeps surrounding air that the body already warmed up close to the skin.
• Enhances touch sensitivity: At the base of the hair follicle are bulbs that have sensory nerve fibers wrapped around them, according to the National Library of Medicine. When a hair is moved, even by something as small as an insect, those nerve endings are stimulated which allows you to sense the movement.
  
• Protects the skin: By acting as a light barrier, peach fuzz helps safeguard the skin from friction and “minor environmental irritation,” Dr. Jaliman says.

Despite these functional benefits, peach fuzz can still be an aesthetic nuisance if its visible on places you don’t want it to be. So if getting rid of peach fuzz remains your M.O., there are a handful of effective ways to remove it. Here are your options:

Shaving

Shaving is generally the easiest and most inexpensive hair removal method since it’s quick, painless and affordable. The main downside is that the results of shaving typically only last for three to seven days, Dr. Jaliman says, and the method can lead to skin problems if done incorrectly. For instance, shaving too quickly or holding the razor improperly can nick the skin. Using a blade that’s too dull can lead to ingrown hairs. And shaving with a dirty blade can lead to an infection of the hair follicle, she says.

Ideally, shaving should be done on skin that’s freshly washed to avoid redness and irritation, Dr. Jaliman says. And it’s best to use shaving cream (or soap, if you don’t have cream) to hydrate and soften the hair and minimize friction on the skin, she adds.

When shaving your face in particular, Kiran Mian, DO, FAAD, a medical and aesthetic dermatologist in New York City, recommends using a small eyebrow razor, though you can also use an electric kind. “Gently glide down in small strokes going with the direction of hair growth,” she says. Dr. Mian also recommends using a blade that has an angle “so it can fit the curvature of the face.” And its also best to hold the razor at its base to give yourself as much control over the movement of the blade as possible, Dr. Jaliman adds.

To further reduce the risk of skin issues, thoroughly wash your razor blade after every single use by rinsing away excess shaving cream or hairs trapped in the blade, Dr. Jaliman says. You can also soak the blade in rubbing alcohol for a few minutes in between uses, or simply invest in one-use disposable razors that don’t need to be cleaned, she adds. “It’s bad for the environment, of course, but it’s better for your skin.”

If you’re not one to throw something away after using it once, you can usually get away with shaving about three times with the same blade before it potentially becomes dull enough to cause problems, Dr. Jaliman says.

Pros: Very easy, painless, and affordable.
Cons: Can cause ingrown hairs, infections, cuts, or razor burn if done incorrectly; Doesn’t last very long.

Razors Women’s Health Editors Love

Braun Epilator Silk-épil 9 Flex

This electric razor offers a close shave, leaving your skin smooth for weeks on end. Plus, it comes with a facial brush.

Billie Razor Starter Kit

The blades of this razor are surrounded by aloe shave soap to help minimize irritation, making this a particularly good choice for people with sensitive skin. You’ll have to let this razor air dry to avoid the shave soap from getting sticky, though.

Gillette Venus Venus Smooth Women’s Razor

The head of this razor pivots, making it a good option for shaving hard-to-reach areas. It also comes with a lubrication strip next to the blade to minimize razor burn and irritation.

This method removes the hair from the roots with help from a sticky wax that’s applied to the skin and then ripped away along with all of your unwanted hair. You can get pretty much any part of your body waxed, and results can typically last four or five weeks.

One main downside is that waxing can hurt, and the skin can become irritated if its done incorrectly, Dr. Jaliman says. You can also get burned if the wax is too hot. It’s also important to keep in mind that waxing generally isn’t the best option for people with acne-prone or sensitive skin, she adds. The hair removal method can be pretty irritating, she says, which could be super uncomfortable for people who are already sensitive. And since waxing pulls hair from the root, there’s an increased risk of ingrown hairs, which is often already a concern for people who struggle with acne.

To set your skin up for success, Stacie Harding, senior corporate field trainer at European Wax Center, says to pay attention to what you’re putting on your skin before waxing. Skincare ingredients commonly used to address acne or aging, such as benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, astringents and vitamin C, can feel irritating or cause dryness, especially on people who already have sensitive skin. Waxing your hair after using those kinds of ingredients will likely exacerbate irritation, and it can even lead to itching or peeling of the skin, Dr. Jaliman says. To be on the safe side, Harding recommends avoiding such ingredients for at least a week prior to a waxing appointment.

It’s also best to avoid tanning before waxing, Harding says. If you wax your hair soon after getting a tan, you’re going to rip it off, Dr. Jaliman says, causing patchy, blotchy-looking skin. But don’t forget to care for your skin after a wax as well, Harding says. Dr. Jaliman recommends that people avoid direct sun exposure for at least two days after an appointment, since waxing often leaves the skin irritated and even more sensitive to the sun than it already is.

And if you don’t feel like splurging on an appointment with a professional, you can opt to buy at-home waxing kits instead. But you’re more likely to get more precise results and avoid problems if you visit an expert.

Pros: Lasts weeks at a time.
Cons: Painful; less-than-ideal for acne-prone, sensitive skin; can cause burns or ingrown hairs.

At-Home Wax Kits Tested By Beauty Experts

Flamingo Women’s Body Wax Kit

This kit is approved for sensitive skin, and includes step-by-step instructions to help beginners navigate using the product.

Billie The Wax Kit

This wax kit can be used on both the face and the bikini line, making it a great option for people who want to feel soft and smooth all over their body. It’s another good choice for those who are new to self-waxing since the strips are gentle on the skin.

GiGi Wax Sticks for Eyebrows, Upper Lip & Chin

The product is made specifically for the face, making it a good choice for those who want to target vellus hair around their eyebrows, above their lips, or on the chin. The wax does dry quickly though, so it’s best to work in small sections.

If you haven’t heard of these before, depilatory creams are over-the-counter hair removal products that can be rubbed onto any part of your body like a lotion. These creams work because they contains ingredients such as thioglycolate and calcium hydroxide, which break down the hair and ultimately remove it.

These creams are most commonly used on the face, legs, and bikini area, and they’re meant to be wiped or washed off after just a few minutes. You can think of them as an alternative to shaving and waxing that’s quick, painless and hard to mess up.

But here are the cons: Depilatories only dissolve the hair to the surface of the skin, so the results are comparable to shaving and typically only last a few days, Dr. Jaliman says. Plus, the active ingredients can be super irritating, so the creams aren’t usually a good choice for people who are prone to chemical allergies or are sensitive. “If you have a really strong chemical that’s strong enough to dissolve hair, then it’s strong enough to irritate your skin,” she adds.

If you’re not sure whether your skin can tolerate a depilatory cream, Dr. Jaliman recommends patch testing on a small area of skin before applying it to the entire area you want to target. And if you happen to use a hair removal cream on your face, Dr. Mian recommends following the instructions on the packaging to ensure you don’t leave the product on for too long. She also notes that hair removal creams are only meant to be applied to external areas, meaning that they shouldn’t go inside your nose. “Applying a bit of Vaseline to the areas you don’t want the cream to end up first will help protect that sensitive skin,” she says.

Pros: Inexpensive, easy to do at home.
Cons: Can be irritating for sensitive skin, results aren’t long-lasting.

Depilatory Creams To Remove Peach Fuzz

Nad’s 3-n-1 Hair Removal Body Butter

This depilatory cream includes almond oil and shea butter, making it a product that not only removes hair, but also smooths the skin.

Nair GLIDE ON Hair Remover

Now 11% Off

This cream can be applied hands-free, so it’s a good option for those who want to avoid a mess.

Nad’s Sensitive Hair Removal Cream

Depilatory creams contain harsher ingredients that can irritate people with sensitive skin. This cream was formulated with that in mind, including soothing staples such as aloe vera, avocado oil and honey.

Threading is an ancient hair removal technique that’s ideal for small areas of the body, though it’s most commonly associated with the eyebrows. “It’s where we take a twisted cotton thread and use it to gently pull the hair from the follicle,” says Umbreen Sheikh, founder of Wink Brow Bar.

This technique isn’t just for your brows, and any place where you go to get your them threaded should be able to use threading to remove peach fuzz from other parts of your face as well.

Threading is a great option for people who don’t want to risk irritating their skin with hair removal creams, or want something a little more precise than waxing. It also minimizes tension and pulling on the skin since it’s less forceful, Dr. Mian says.

This method is generally inexpensive and depending on how quickly your hair grows, the results can last you about two to four weeks. But keep in mind that threading is generally best for fine, straight hair, Sheikh says. If you have thick or curly hair, threading can potentially cause ingrowns, she adds.

(Another con? The pain. I’ve been getting my eyebrows threaded since I was 12 or 13 years old, and I must say, sometimes I shed a tear or two. To me, it’s always worth it in the end since the technique is so precise, but I’d be remiss not to warn you.)

Pros: Inexpensive, can last a few weeks, precise.
Cons: Should only be done by a professional; can be painful.

Laser hair removal is one of the most effective ways to thin and remove unwanted hair from your body, and Dr. Jaliman is a huge fan: “I was one of the first dermatologists to own a laser hair removal machine in the United States,” she says.

This method works by using a concentrated beam of light that gets absorbed into the pigment inside the hair follicle, Dr. Jaliman says. That light energy is turned into heat, which damages the part of the follicle that’s responsible for hair growth. Over time, this reduces the follicle’s ability to regrow hair, resulting in long-term hair thinning and hair loss.

That might sound like it hurts, but generally speaking, you shouldn’t expect to feel a whole lot of pain using laser hair removal on places where vellus hair typically grows. However, keep in mind that pain is subjective. “Some people might still want numbing cream,” Dr. Jaliman says.

Most people need to have about six laser hair removal sessions to remove the hair completely, Dr. Jaliman says, and sessions usually occur several weeks apart. That means you might need to be a bit patient to see the results that you want. Additionally, laser hair removal doesn’t work on people with gray, white, or very light blonde hair, Dr. Mian says. So if there’s not a lot of pigment in your hair, the beam of light can’t be properly absorbed into the hair follicle and cause the damage that slows down hair growth.

This method can also be a bit pricier than other options—it can cost anywhere from $200 to $600 per session, according to Dr. Jaliman. But “once you’re done, then you’re finished. You don’t really have to do it anymore,” Dr. Jaliman says. “So maybe the initial outlay is expensive, but if you added up all the money you spend on hair removal over the course of your lifetime, it’s a lot.” But you don’t even have to visit a practitioner if you don’t want to: There are plenty of devices that allow you to zap away body hair from the comfort of your own home.

Pros: Effective, offers long-lasting results, and can be done form home.
Cons: Expensive; time-consuming; doesn’t work for people with very light hair.

D.I.Y. Laser Hair Removal Devices

Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 IPL Hair Removal System

This brand claims you’ll see results after just four weeks of use, making it a quick and convenient way to zap away unwanted peach fuzz.

Iouniya Laser Hair Removal

Now 37% Off

This device is safe to use on both the face and body, making it a good choice for people who want to target peach fuzz on *both* sets of cheeks.

SmoothSkin Pure Adapt IPL Hair Removal Device

SmoothSkin claims that using this laser hair removal device just twice will yield noticeable results. But keep in mind that it’s not recommended for people with very dark skin tones or light hair.

For people with super light hair, Dr. Mian recommends electrolysis instead of laser hair removal. This method works by using a very fine electric needle that delivers electricity to heat up and destroy the hair follicle, Dr. Jaliman says.

Regardless of hair color, electrolysis is sure to completely remove hair for good, and it’s the only method of permanent hair removal that’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration, according to the American Electrology Association.

When it comes to getting rid of peach fuzz, the fact that electrolysis is permanent is generally a positive thing. But that also means that once you’ve lost the hair, it’s gone for good. So make sure you don’t get rid of hair that you might want back in the future, Dr. Jaliman says. “You could go too far and then make your eyebrows too thin and then the styles change and you can’t do anything about it,” she says.

And one other thing to note is that many people consider electrolysis to be painful. “But you know what? You can always have topical numbing cream,” Dr. Jaliman says. “And if you’re doing a few hairs on your face, it’s quick and easy. No big deal.”

Like laser hair removal, electrolysis is another procedure that requires several sessions, and the price tag can be hefty, Dr. Jaliman adds. (Each session can cost between $60 and $400, depending on how big of an area you’re targeting.) The exact number of sessions you might need also depend on the amount of hair you’re trying to remove. But if you’re considering using electrolysis to get rid of peach fuzz on your face, expect to undergo sessions for at least a year, she says. “It’s not a quick process, but it is effective.”

Pros: Works well; Great for people with lighter hair colors.
Cons: Painful, expensive, and completely permanent.

If you somehow haven’t encountered dermaplaning videos on your TikTok For You page yet, it’s a form of manual exfoliation used to slough off the outer layer of dead skin cells, debris, and peach fuzz to reveal a smoother, brighter complexion, Stoddard says. And even though dermaplaning can remove vellus hair from the face, it’s not the same as shaving since its typically done using a scalpel rather than a razor.

Once the top layer of dead skin is removed, dermaplaning allows for deeper penetration of topical skincare products, which can diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, Stoddard says. It also allows for a more flawless-looking makeup application. “The results from dermaplaning will leave you defuzzed and as smooth as a glazed donut,” Stoddard adds.

This technique is usually done in a doctor’s office or at a spa, Dr. Jaliman says, but it is another method that can technically be performed at home. But Dr. Jaliman personally doesn’t recommend trying that since she has encountered patients who have accidentally cut or scratched themselves in the process.

Keep in mind that, similar to using depilatory creams or shaving, dermaplaning only removes hair down to the surface of the skin. So the results aren’t very long-lasting. “It will need to be done continuously,” says Dr. Mian.

Pros: Painless; Exfoliates to leave the skin softer and smoother.
Cons: Has to be done continuously; in-office treatments can be expensive.

Prescription Cream

If none of the over-the-counter options tickle your fancy, you can visit your doctor and ask them for a prescription of a hair removal cream containing elfornithine, Dr. Jaliman says.

Unlike depilatory creams, which dissolve the hair itself, this prescription cream works by blocking the activity of an enzyme in the hair follicle responsible for hair growth, Dr. Jaliman says. You apply the cream twice a day, and typically notice results within four weeks, she adds. “Patients ask me a lot to write this prescription because it reduces how often you need to remove hair. I think it’s especially good for peach fuzz.”

Some people might consider the prescription cream a bit pricey: It usually costs $100 per tube, though a tube typically lasts for about two months, Dr. Jaliman adds. The only other potential pitfall is the fact that the effects aren’t permanent, and hair will start growing back once you stop using the cream.

Pros: Effective, easy to use.
Cons: Requires continuous use, expensive, requires a prescription.

A common misconception among people with facial hair (or any sort of body hair that they want to get rid of) is that removing the hair will somehow cause it to grow back thicker or more noticeably.

But rest assured, that’s actually not the case, Dr. Jaliman says. For one, hair grows from the follicle, which is in a deep layer of skin. When you shave, dermaplane or use depilatory creams, you’re only removing the hair at the surface of the skin, meaning that those methods “can’t possibly affect how hair grows back” from the follicle, Dr. Jaliman says.

And you generally don’t need to worry about this with the other methods of hair removal, either. When comes to threading, for instance, repeatedly tugging on the hair follicle can weaken it over time, which can actually cause hair thinning. And while you might notice some hair regrowth in between sessions while undergoing electrolysis, the hair is usually more thin and fine, not thicker.

Some studies show that laser hair removal can stimulate hair growth in a phenomenon called paradoxical hypertrichosis, but this is extremely rare. For instance, a study published last year involving more than 7,300 participants saw only 25 patients experience extra hair growth due to laser hair removal—that’s less than half a percent.

The TL;DR? There are lots of ways to get rid of hair with minimal risks to your health. Just be sure to visit a qualified professional like a dermatologist or licensed aesthetician, or use tools very carefully when removing it yourself.

Katie Mogg is the beauty editorial assistant at Women’s Health. Since starting college at Northeastern University in 2020, her bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NBC News and The Boston Globe. She strives to help readers lead happier and healthier lives through science-backed stories that explain how to care for hair, skin and nails. When she’s not working, Katie enjoys live music, strolling through Central Park, planning her next beach getaway, and sharing hotpot with friends. 

Brian Underwood is beauty director at Women’s Health, where he oversees content strategy for the brand across all platforms, including digital, print, and social. Underwood previously served as beauty and wellness director at Oprah Daily and O, The Oprah Magazine. During his tenure leading beauty content for the Oprah brand at Hearst, stories Underwood commissioned were awarded the Skin Cancer Foundation Media Award and a Fragrance Award for Editorial Excellence (his second). He was the launch Beauty Director of Dr. Oz THE GOOD LIFE, and has held additional editorial positions at Fitness, Organic Style, Good Housekeeping, Life & Style Weekly, and Woman’s Day and has written for Self, Shape, Seventeen, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, and many more. Underwood previously served on the Skin Cancer Foundation’s gala committee and as partnerships director of the Trans Beauty Clinic, a New York-based charitable organization that provided beauty services and workshops to the city’s trans community.