Thicker and fuller hair on your head? Amazing. In your nose? Maybe not so much. While your first thought might be to reach for your tweezers, you could actually wind up doing more harm than good if you pluck it. That’s because your nose hair, while definitely annoying, actually serves a purpose—it's your body's first-line of defense against bacteria and germs in the nasal cavity (more on that below).
Meet the experts: Julie Russak, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Russak Dermatology Clinic in New York City. Christian Karavolas is the owner of Romeo & Juliet Laser Hair Removal in New York City.
Removing your nose hair, regardless of the removal device you choose, would higher your risk of getting an infection...or worse. “Removing nasal hair will make the nasal cavity and sinus completely vulnerable to whatever gets in," says Julie Russak, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Russak Dermatology Clinic in New York City. "As a result, you’re very susceptible to allergy attacks, sinusitis, and respiratory infections."
So while you're advised against getting rid of your nose hair entirely, there are some dermatologist-approved things you can do to minimize the appearance of nose hair without putting your health at risk. Read on for all the details.
What is nose hair?
You might assume that nose hair is the same as the rest of the hair you grow, but it's slightly different. Cilia (the technical term for nose hair) is part of the system that protects your lungs from dirt and debris that gets into your airways. “They not only help filter out any incoming invaders, but they move slowly to push together and trap dirt from reaching the breathing passage and gaining access to the bloodstream,” says Dr. Russak.
1. Trimming
Dr. Russak says your best—and safest—bet for removing (some of your more egregious) nose hair is trimming. You'll ideally want to grab trimming scissors or a nose hair clipper since “trimming scissors are designed at an angle and specifically for trimming these hard to reach areas," she says.
ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Brow Scissors
No trimmer? No problem. You can also reach for the same scissors you use to shape your eyebrows. Just use a magnifying mirror, make sure you’re in a well-lit area, and clean your nose and the scissors before you begin.
2. Buzzing
Similar to trimming, an electric buzzer is a safe and easy way to remove nasal hair. This quick and painless method will save you time compared to trimming with scissors, and more and more brands are now making electric facial buzzers designed with women in mind.
This discreet battery-operated Panasonic trimmer, for example, can also be used on eyebrows and other facial hair. The head pivots to allows the blade to easily shave along the natural curves of the face. It's also hypoallergenic—a total win for those with sensitive skin.
3. Laser Hair Removal
If you’re looking for a more permanent solution because your nose hair is caused by age or hormonal issues, then laser hair removal might be your best bet—but make sure to go to a professional for a safe (and effective) experience. You should also schedule a consultation to make sure you feel comfortable with the person who would be doing the procedure. Plus, it's a great opportunity to get any lingering questions out of the way.
“We treat the edges of nose hair, which is a typical ask of our patients, but we cannot treat all the way inside,” says Christian Karavolas, owner of Romeo & Juliet Laser Hair Removal in New York City. “To do this safely, we hold one side of the nostril up slightly and shoot the laser sideways.”
Karavolas recommends asking for the Splendor X machine for the least amount of pain. One thing worth noting: While laser hair removal is an effective solution that will last, it's certainly more costly and time-consuming than trimming.
Avoid waxing and tweezing your nose hair.
Not only are these nose hair-removal methods incredibly painful, but they’re both unsafe since they involve completely removing the hair follicle, which leaves you more likely to deal with swelling or infection.
"As a result, you’re very susceptible to allergy attacks, sinusitis, and respiratory infections,” says Dr. Russak. Infection isn’t the worst-case scenario, either. “If a nasal infection were to travel upstream and enter the junction where other veins join, it could pose a serious health risk since it now presents a passage for bacteria directly into the brain.
Bacteria in the brain = not something you want, right? So let's stick with one of the three nose hair-removal methods above. K, thanks!
