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I tried stunting my moustache growth with coffee grounds and this is what happened

My moustache journey has been pretty well documented on GLAMOUR. But ever since I found my ideal upper lip hair removal method (it’s waxing, FYI), I’ve been craving bigger and better things.

Although I only have to tend to my wispy blonde whiskers every six weeks or so, ideally I’d like a permanent solution. With laser out of the question (too blonde), I came across an old wives’ tale about using coffee grounds and baking soda to stunt hair growth.

The theory goes that you mix the two together, and then once you’ve waxed, shaved, plucked or threaded the area in question, you rub the mixture into your skin to stunt the hair growth.

It sounded easy enough and I had both ingredients in my kitchen so I thought, why not? I gave it a go the next time I waxed…

I mixed just a teaspoon of each into a bowl and put it to the side ready to go. After waxing my lip, I cleaned up the area with a post-care wipe and then patted dry with a towel. The area is always a little red after waxing so I was a little scared the coffee and baking soda might sting or irritate it further, but I forged on.

With a damp fingertip, I gathered the coffee and baking soda mixture and started scrubbing it into my upper lip. It didn’t sting, but the granules didn’t exactly feel comfortable on such a tender area. I continued for about 30 seconds and then washed it off. My skin looked a tad redder, but no worse for wear.

I repeated the same process for the next three times I waxed (you have to give these things a proper go, you know), and while I did notice it slowed down the regrowth, it didn’t completely stunt the growth. I could get away with stretching my wax to seven or eight weeks, my hairs seemed a little finer every time, although I think that was more down to the wax than the coffee-mix.

Soon after I gave up on the experiment, I talked to Carliz Soleto Teague, Hair and Scalp expert at  wigs.com, who confirmed the old wives’ tale is but a myth.

“While some claim this method “breaks down” hair follicles, all this might actually achieve is skin irritation and clogged pores”, she says. “Hair follicles stay intact, in fact some studies have shown that coffee is actually beneficial for hair growth.”

Eeeeek, please no, what have I done?!

“Coffee stimulates the hair roots by improving its structure and growth, Caffeine can thus restore hair growth and/or prevent hair loss. When a topical application is done on the hair or scalp, it finds its way to the roots and stimulates them.”

Well, looks like we’re still at war, my pretty little moustache.

Taken from GLAMOUR UK. Read the original  here.

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