Most people, both men and woman, have unwanted hair somewhere on their body. For women, one of the biggest trouble spots is their face, particularly the upper lip. Depilatory creams can be expensive and abrasive, often leading to additional skin problems or burning the skin. Instead, women can turn to a few tried-and-true at-home remedies or even spa treatments to get rid of an unsightly mustache shadow. Choose the best method for removing unwanted hair based on your preference and budget.

Pluck upper lip hair with clean, sharp tweezers. To do this effectively, make sure the skin is held taught. Grab the hair as far down as you can with the tweezers and pull out in the direction of hair growth. This is the best suggestion if you have only a few hairs to be removed, not several. Keep in mind that this method can be painful.

Shave off lip hair. Smooth on shave gel to your upper lip, run a new razor under warm water for a few seconds and shave hair in the direction of growth. This is a good option if you need to remove a lot of hair. Plus, it’s practically pain-free. Unfortunately, shaving can cause razor burn, so shave lightly and don’t go over the same area twice.

Wax hair from the upper lip either at home or at a salon. For at-home waxing, smooth on a thin layer of wax to your upper lip. You may have to heat the wax up first, depending on the product directions. Pat the cloth strip over the wax, press firmly on it and quickly pull it off in the direction of hair growth.

Consult with a specialist to discuss laser hair removal or electrolysis. While both choices can be expensive, they’re often permanent. With laser removal, a laser travels through the skin and to the hair follicle to stop growth. You may need followup treatments. During electrolysis, a needle is inserted into your hair follicles, sending an electric current to destroy the hair root. While this treatment can be tedious and painful, it’s the most permanent.