How to Deal with Hair Growing in Places You Don’t Want

Calling all men over 40 in Austin, TX, and beyond: What words do you associate with the phrases ear hair, nose hair, and shaggy eyebrows?

Rugged? All-natural? Fully-testosteroned? Manly? Beasty? Probably not.

If you’re a dude like me, you’re likely thinking of some other words:
Gross. Nasty. Unattractive. Sasquatch. Yeti. Yuck.

An image that comes to mind is that of Andy Rooney. Remember him from 60 Minutes back in the day? Rooney provided regular commentary segments on the CBS News program from 1978 to 2011. He was recognized to be something of a curmudgeon and is perhaps best known for making quips like these:

• “People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already believe.”
• “The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there’s a 90% probability you’ll get it wrong.”

But the thing I remember most about Andy Rooney is those eyebrows. THEY. WERE. HUGE. Calling them “bushy” doesn’t do them justice. They looked like two patches of thick, wiry bristles rooted above his eyes, which then fanned out into low-hanging wings stretching down to his pupils. Once you saw the man’s face, you were simply drawn to those brows, and you couldn’t look away. They were a force of nature.

Now, I don’t really want to roast a man who landed on the beach of Normandy just days after D-Day – thank you for your service, Andy! But suffice it to say that in his later years, Rooney was an example of a gentleman who could have really benefited from some modern approaches to men’s facial grooming.

I'm getting hair where there shouldn't be hair

A movie scene that captures the issue quite poignantly comes from the Billy Crystal 1991 classic City Slickers:

Mitch Robbins (Billy Crystal): Did you ever reach a point in your life... where you say to yourself "this is the best I'm ever gonna look... the best I'm ever gonna feel... the best I'm ever gonna do..." and it ain't that great?

Co-Worker: Happy birthday.

We then cut to more scenes of Mitch on his commute.

Narrator: For Mitch Robbins, turning 39 wasn't the end of the world... (The elevator door slams) ...it just felt like it. (Cut to him at home with his wife, Barbara [Patricia Wettig])

Mitch: I'm losing hair where I want hair and I'm getting hair where there shouldn't be hair. I found four big, fat ones on my back; I'm starting to look like the Fly!

As a man who has now put 40 squarely behind me in the rear-view mirror, this is intimately relatable, and the hair situation only seems to get worse over time. I, too, am losing hair where I want hair, and am finding hair where there shouldn’t be any – like hair on my ears, rogue hairs coming out of my nostrils, and bristle-like hairs popping up in my eyebrows.

Any men out there reading this right now know what I’m talking about? If you’re of a certain age, I bet you do.

Why am I getting these annoying hairs?

There is no consensus on what causes annoying ear, nose, and eyebrow hair to sprout in men, but scientists suggest it has to do with the influence of testosterone on the anagen (growing) phase of hair. During puberty, increased testosterone levels lead to the development of longer, thicker hairs on the face, chest, arms, underarms, legs, and pubic area.

Later in life, as early as the 30s, but more prominently in the 40s and 50s, hair follicles in the ear, nose, and eyebrow areas become sensitive to testosterone and start increasing in size. Ironically, scalp hair follicles of genetically predisposed men react in the opposite way, spending less time in the anagen phase. Eventually, this can lead to the wonderful combination of less hair on top and more hair around the ears, nose, and eyebrows. Win-win!

So, how to manage those pesky ear, nose, and eyebrow hairs? Of course, you can purchase a trimmer to try and zap or spot-check those hairs yourself, and can potentially try tweezing any stray hairs. But most guys don’t really like to fool with all of that. It can get a little tedious, and you still might not experience the success you’re looking for.

A better, easier solution for men in the ATX is to entrust your personal grooming needs to the pros at Flycatcher!

Men's facial treatments

Our Gentlemen's Essential facial includes a nose and ear wax and brow cleanup. Time and time again, our clients say this is their very favorite service that we offer. It is impactful because guys either don't know what to do about their unruly hair or just don't want to bother with it.

Our clients like to mention how RELAXING the facial treatment experience is, too. And their spouses/partners tell us how much they LOVE the fact that we provide this service for their men!

Our Gentlemen’s Essential facial includes:

• Double face cleanse
• Exfoliation
• Pore extractions
• Hydration mask
• Essential hydrating serums, moisturizer, and sunscreen
• Nose hair, ear hair, and brow cleanup

Waxing your ear and nose hairs and trimming your brows once a month is sufficient for most men. It literally only takes five minutes. And, no, waxing your ears and nose is not painful, as long as your provider knows what he/she is doing.

These facial treatments can be purchased individually for $120, and in packages of 3 or more at a 15% discount. Or for just $99/month, you can become a member of our Patrons Club and come in any time you want for unlimited ear, nose, and brow cleanups (among other Patrons Club benefits).

Laser hair removal for nose and ear hair

Tired of having to keep managing and dealing with hair in all the wrong places? Flycatcher has an effective, long-lasting solution for that. We offer laser hair removal for all parts of a man’s body (yep, even down there), to help you live your best hair-free, carefree life.

Our laser treatments are strong enough to remove stubborn, coarse hair, but also gentle enough to be used in even the most sensitive areas, including your nostrils and ears.

We provide laser hair removal of ear and nose hairs for just $95. Or, if you’re having laser hair removal on a large area (like your back), we’ll throw in the ears and nose free of charge if you'd like.

You will most likely need at least three treatments to reduce your ear and nose hair by 80%. Everyone is different, but, three is a good starting point as you think about your investment. These treatments will be scheduled six to eight weeks apart.

Want to try it for only $75 your first time? Use this special offer.

A note of caution

While removing unwanted hair from the nostrils and ears can enhance your appearance and boost confidence, it's important to approach this grooming task with caution.

Hairs deep within the nostrils serve a protective function, filtering out dust, allergens, and other particles that could otherwise enter the respiratory system or cause irritation. Removing these hairs can potentially lead to increased vulnerability to infections and irritants.

Moreover, the skin inside the nostrils and ears is sensitive and delicate, making it prone to irritation or injury if not handled properly. Using inappropriate tools or techniques can result in cuts, abrasions, or ingrown hairs. Therefore, it's crucial to use the right methods and tools to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Some final thoughts

Let’s look at Andy Rooney again. Or at least, let’s see what he might have looked like had he chosen a different facial hair maintenance path:

Now, there’s a distinguished-looking gentleman! No annoying nose hairs or ear hairs are present, and no low-hanging eyebrow bristle feathers can be found either. Which version do you prefer? And more importantly, what kind of impression do you want to make?

If you’re an Austinite who’s tired of seeing hair grow in places where you don’t want it, your best solution is right around the corner! Flycatcher is located in Spicewood, Texas – just three miles west of The Galleria in Bee Cave – we proudly serve Spicewood, Bee Cave, Lakeway, and the surrounding areas of Austin and the Texas Hill Country.

Connect with us today to learn more about the helpful aesthetic treatments we offer to enhance the look, function, and health of skin for gentlemen just like you. You can schedule your consultation and book an appointment online, or simply call or text us at (737) 239-0112 today!