How to Trim Nose Hair
Step-by-Step Instructions for Dealing With Pesky & Unsightly Nasal Hairs
Fact of life: As we grow older, we begin to lose hair in certain areas and start growing it in others. Step into the bathroom, stare at the mirror and lift your head up simultaneously. See what we mean? Nose hair has become a common problem for the modern man entering his 30s. And while we’ve managed to conquer our beards and staches with grooming essentials such as the electric shaver and razor, it’s been more of a challenge taming the jungle growing in our nose on a regular basis.
Hair experts have linked the growth of nose hair to the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is attributed to causing male baldness, though the relationship between the two remains unclear. Nonetheless, something is happening to where men are producing excessive nasal fur at a rapid pace. But just because you have no control over your body doesn’t necessarily give you a hall pass to bypass the chore of cutting those nostril tentacles.
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Don’t let such grooming fallacies become a distraction that ruins your business meeting or Tinder date. Here is our in-depth guide on how to trim nose hair like a boss.
The Pre-Grooming Setup
Like shaving, the art of nose hair trimming has its own preface consisting of four simple steps.
1. Pick an area with good lighting — You’ll need it when rummaging through all that fuzz. It’s also safety precaution.
2. Set up a magnifying mirror — It provides better close-ups to see what areas need the most trimmimg. A standard mirror will work just as well, though it might force you to lean in more for better views.
3. Clean out your nose — Since it can get tricky up there, get rid of all boogers and debris.
4. Separate noise hair — Take a wet cloth or napkin to spread out those frizzies for seamless cutting.
Beware of Over-Trimming
Before getting down to business, know that nose hairs are actually part of your natural immune system and trap airborne substances (bacteria, dust, etc.). So over-trimming these hair fibers can make you more prone to allergies and other respiratory infections. So as much as you desire to remove every inch of it, we advise you to reconsider.
Tools of the Trade for Dealing With Nose Hairs
The market offers a handful of options to get rid of unwanted nose hair: the trimmer, scissors, and tweezers. It’s all a matter of preference. Well, it really shouldn’t be, but every guy has his own taste. Let’s breakdown each one to find the perfect solution for you.
Nose Trimmers
The nose trimmer is just as much of a grooming staple for the modern man as the electric razor. Till this day it is the most effective and powerful option for eliminating nose hair — not to mention the safest one. Men can choose between an electric or manual trimmer.
Electric: The more common of the two, electric models operate on a battery and can be operated with one hand, while cutting hairs faster and more efficiently.
Manual: Doesn’t run on batteries or a plug. Features a premium build. Requires two hands for operating.
Both are designed with safety in mind, covering the blades to avoid chaffing sensitive nose skin. Those who need more convincing on which way to stray can look over our Best Nose Hair Trimmers list to narrow down their selection. Keep in mind, some come bundled with extra attachments to shave down eyebrows and beards.
Once settling on the right one, here are some guidelines on how to use a nose trimmer.
- Blow nose or sneeze in advance: It’s optional, but those uncomfortable with the buzzing effects of the trimmer will be less impacted when doing one or the other.
- Insert at entry of nostrils: Start trimming at the lower hairs first till they are no longer visible.
- Push up nose with finger: This will expand your outlook and show other areas in need of trimming.
Nose Hair Scissors
Trimming those protruding follicles with a pair of hair-cutting scissors isn’t safe. One false move can scar your nostrils and lead to potential bleeding. Experts suggest using a pair of blunt-end scissors instead. You’ll notice these by the round, smooth tip at the cutting end. Take the right steps to ensure proper scissors-trimming etiquette:
- Examine the scissors: Constant use causes wear and tear. Look at your clippers first to ensure they aren’t dull. If so, throw them out. Using a damaged pair can make it hard to cut and even pull your hair, making it just as bad as plucking.
- Insert gently into nostril: Common sense leads you to believe that stuffing anything up your nasal canal is a bad idea. You’ll just puncture something in there.
- Smile or push up your nose when cutting: Sounds silly, but either gesture can enhance the field of vision and reveal any extra hairs sticking out.
- Trim the noticeable hairs first: The locks that stick out are usually the longest. Only clip away at the ones that affect your appearance most.
Tweezers
Most grooming experts will not condone the use of tweezers for a number of reasons. The most one being that plucking hurts like a mother. However, that could be least of your troubles. Dr. Oz breaks it down best in what he calls the “triangle of death,” which he refers to as the formation between your nose and mouth:
“If you go in there and pull that hair out, you get a little blood lost in there. Blood allows the bacteria in your nose to grow in there. Since veins in the facial area lack protective valves, the bacteria could theoretically enter your bloodstream and lead to infections elsewhere in the body. Don't ever pluck nose hairs.”
That’s not to say with the right care you can’t successfully pull out a couple of strands without experiencing such troubles. It’s recommended to select a tweezer with slanted tips and handles, as it provides simpler use. Follow the proper protocol and you might survive such grooming horrors.
- Select the most visible area to pluck: Scour your nose for the spots with the most hair sticking out.
- Pluck with care: There’s no turning back at this point. Man up, grip the hairs firmly at the root, and just pull as quickly as possible. It’ll sting for a bit and maybe cause you to tear up.
- Relieve the pain: Try sticking an ice cube or cold wet rag up your nostril to numb things down.
The Post-Trimming Ritual
Clean up time! Always clean your grooming tools — electric razor, nose trimmer, scissors or tweezers — with some form of antiseptic. Rubbing alcohol or soap and water will suffice. This will keep your nose germ-free. Then dry each to prevent any rust.
Lastly, always remember to read the instruction manual of your hair-trimming device to avoid any accidents. Now get to work curtailing those nose whiskers!
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