People can grow hair almost anywhere, including the surface of the nose.

There are two types of hair that can grow on the outside of the nose:

Vellus hair. These fine, transparent hairs absorb sweat and regulate body temperature. Vellus hair covers most of the body and face. In certain lighting, they may be more apparent on the nose.
Terminal hair. Terminal hair is more noticeable than vellus hair. It’s often dark and thick. On the nose, terminal hairs may cluster on the tip or underneath the midline of the eyebrows.

Whether you’re bothered by vellus hairs, terminal hairs, or both, you can safely remove them from the outside of your nose. In this article, we’ll go over which removal methods to use and which to avoid.

Best methods for removing hair on the outside of the nose

There are several hair removal techniques you may consider for removing hair on the outside of your nose. They vary in terms of effectiveness, permanency, and cost. Hair removal techniques include the following.

Shaving

Shaving removes vellus and terminal hairs at the surface of the skin. It’s a quick and easy way to rid yourself of unwanted hair.

However, shaved hair grows back quickly and requires daily or almost daily maintenance. With shaving, you also run the risk of nicks, cuts, razor rash, and ingrown hairs.

When shaving your nose, always use a fresh razor and go gently. You can use a regular razor or a straight edge specifically designed for facial shaving.

Moisten your skin to soften the hair first. When using a standard razor, always use lotion, such as shaving cream, before you take blade to nose.

Tweezing

If you only have a few errant terminal hairs on the outside of your nose, tweezing them out may be an effective strategy. If you routinely tweeze your eyebrows, you can make tweezing your nose part of that routine.

In order to get the best results, use sharp or new, sterilized tweezers. Pull each hair out at an angle, making sure to go with the hair’s grain instead of against it.

When done correctly, tweezing can keep unwanted hair at bay for 2 to 6 weeks.

A word of caution

Never tweeze inside your nose. Those hairs are there to protect you from bacterial infection.

To avoid infection or inflammation, you should also avoid tweezing hair that’s growing out of moles or pimples.

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Laser hair removal

Laser hair removal is a semipermanent, long-lasting way to rid yourself of dark, terminal hairs.

But if you wish to remove vellus or light-colored hairs on your nose, laser removal isn’t your best choice. It doesn’t remove vellus hair.

Laser hair removal must be done by a medical professional or licensed aesthetician. Only use someone who’s highly experienced and has good client reviews.

Laser hair removal is expensive and takes four to six treatments to work. Multiple treatments on the outside of the nose may cost anywhere from $350 to $600.

Even so, this isn’t a place to bargain hunt. An inexperienced or unlicensed technician may be cheaper, but they’re more likely to accidentally burn or scar your skin.

When done correctly, laser hair removal on the face may last 10 years or longer.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis is a permanent form of hair removal that’s done by a dermatologist or licensed aesthetician. You may need many treatments before electrolysis is completely effective.

Electrolysis is less expensive than laser hair removal but can be more painful, particularly on sensitive areas of skin.

If you only have a few hairs on your nose, this may be an effective way to remove them from your life permanently.

How NOT to remove hair from the outside of the nose

Waxing

In order for waxing to be effective, the wax must be able to adequately grip each hair so it can be pulled out completely. This requires hairs to be at least one-quarter inch long.

Hairs on the outside of the nose are often much shorter. This may make waxing an inappropriate hair removal choice for this part of the face.

Pore strips

Pore strips are made from woven fabric that has adhesive on one side. They’re made for removing dead skin, blackheads, and debris from pores on the nose and other parts of the face.

Pore strips are meant to be gently and slowly peeled off once the adhesive has dried. When removed correctly, they don’t grip and remove hair.

When pulled off quickly, pores strips may remove hair but also surface areas of healthy skin. This can cause inflammation, irritation, and infection.

Chemical depilatories

Depilatories can be purchased as creams, gels, and lotions. They contain chemicals that dissolve hair under the skin so it can be wiped away.

Depilatories contain ingredients which can be harsh to sensitive skin, such as potassium hydroxide, sodium, salts of thioglycolic acid, potassium thioglycolate, and calcium thioglycolate. In some instances, they may cause chemical burns.

Many depilatories also have a strong, unpleasant scent, which can make the nose run and eyes water. Some depilatories smell like rotten eggs and may be uncomfortable to use on the face.

Potential complications of removing hair on the nose

Anytime you remove hair from any part of your face or body, you run the risk of side effects or complications. These include:

Ingrown hairs. If your outer nose hairs are curly or thick, they may curve back into the skin when they grow back, becoming ingrown. Ingrown hairs cause small bumps to erupt on the surface of skin. These may become inflamed, infected, and painful.
Scarring. Hair removal techniques such as electrolysis and laser can cause scarring, especially if done by an inexperienced or unlicensed technician.
Folliculitis. Folliculitis is a skin infection caused by inflammation in the follicles of hair. It’s typically caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. If you remove hair from dirty or unwashed skin or use an instrument which isn’t clean, you may be more likely to get folliculitis.

Talk with a doctor or dermatologist

If you’re bothered by hair growth on your nose, talk to a doctor, such as a dermatologist. They’ll be able to recommend safe and effective treatments that can help.