By Wong Ka Ki Kathryn

When people talk about removing facial hair, many people think of laser treatment, but the most traditional mean is face threading. The tradition actually started in India 6000 years ago.

Here’s how it works. To get rid of hair, the first step is to knot the thread, then catch and force the hairs by their root. The rapid back and forth movement for removing hair is very efficient. However, with the advanced technology, this ancient hair removal technique is facing huge competition and challenges. In Hong Kong it has been gradually declining, according to Li Wei Mui, an experienced face threathening beautician.

Li Wei Mui, an experienced beautician who worked in this industry over 40 years, says that face threading is the least invasive method of hair removal and leaves skin clean and smooth.

However, young people are not willing to join this industry nowadays because it is dif- ficult to learn. Beauticians who specialize in it need to use their teeth and neck in addition to their hands. If done wrongly, it can lead to injuries. Li said her daughter also knows how to do this traditional handicraft, but she is not interested in following in her footsteps.

Although face threading only requires thread and a box of Begonia powder, it takes a lot of time to perfect the skill.

“The most important things are to work on it carefully, wholeheartedly and patiently,” said Li, who learned this as a child by watching her mother perform the technique on family members. She said she never imagined the skill would turn into her livelihood. She added that as this is a kind of Chinese traditional culture, it would be a pity if lost.

Au-Yeung Li Chen said she tried face threading several time but this is the first time she come here. Reputation and profession were critical criteria to Li when she was looking for a suitable shop. She chose Li’s shop through social me- dia because it gained many positive comments. She found this last experience very different from the previous ones because she was sitting rather than lying down during this treatment. Also she thought it was very comprehensive.

“ The most im- portant things are to work on it carefully, wholeheartedly and patiently. ”  – Li Wei Mui “It was more comfortable as the white pow- der which used this time did not cause any sensitive reaction,” said Li, adding that he process was painless. Li said she won’t try laser hair removal, and prefers face threading because it does not contain any chemical materials and is more natural than laser epilation.

Miss Chow has two years of working experience at a beauty salon. She said that laser hair removal is more popular and beneficial than face threading. It not only can remove hair effectively, it also has rejuvenation function. Moreover, many customers think face threading is painful. Therefore, cus- tomers will not choose traditional facial epilation.

“I won’t learn this skill because it is useless,”Chow. She has worked for several beauty salons, but none of salons request her to learn this handicraft and did not provide this service.

“It is my first time to learn this handicraft and I want to keep this traditional skill,”said Miss Chan. She often hears old people talk about this technique from their childhood, but many people in Hong Kong do not know about it. Chan wants to carry on the tradition and is learning about the technique so she can help her friends and family.

In order to preserve this ancient art, some people recommend that government should provide resources and space, so the industry can continue to develop. They also suggested that the government should increase the promotion of facial epil- ation to attract young people join this industry. 

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