Hair removal on sensitive areas like the upper lip, chin, or brows can be uncomfortable, but using the best tweezers for facial hair can make the experience a lot more bearable. “A high-quality tweezer will give you the best precision while minimizing unnecessary trauma to the skin,” says Jenna Queller, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Derm Works in Boca Raton, Florida. To find the very best ones, we tested all shapes and sizes (from pointed tips to slanted edges) and narrowed it down to four that gave us the most painless results. We also spoke with brow experts and dermatologists for tips on how to avoid irritation or ingrowns. Go ahead and pluck away without the stress.
Our top tweezer picks
- Best Overall: Tweezerman Slant Tweezers, $24
- Best for Eyebrows: Benefit Cosmetics Grooming Tweezer & Brush, $10
- Best for Chin: Revlon Perfectweeze Slant Tip Tweezers, $7
- Best for Upper Lip: Japonesque Pointed Tweezers, $10
Best Overall: Tweezerman Slant Tweezers
| What we love | What could improve |
|---|---|
| Sturdy and slip-free | Thin blade so just be careful when you’re plucking |
| Very durable and lasts for years |
Joey Healy, a brow expert based in NYC and founder of the Joey Healy Eyebrow Studio, recommends that everyone carry a pair of slanted tweezers. “Slant tweezers provide enough precision to target individual hairs while remaining easy to maneuver," he says. This classic version does just the job, as it’s angled against the brow bone to help easily pull away hairs. The tweezers themselves are thick and sturdy, and easy to use even if you’re a beginner. Simply pull the hair out in the direction of hair growth for best results. Our testers like that the tips are designed to grab the thinnest hairs, so the tweezers don’t cause a ton of redness or irritation as you pluck.
Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary says:
“I’ve been using these slant-tip tweezers for years, and they’re just as reliable as they were the day I got them. They’re lightweight and super precise, so I’m always able to catch the specific eyebrow hairs I’m after. They don’t slip out of your hand, either, and can pluck multiple hairs at a time. Hands down one of the best tweezers for facial hair, ever.” —Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour commerce writer
Glamour contributor Jennifer Hussein says:
“Whenever a rogue brow or chin hair pops up, I can always count on these tweezers to pluck them away with haste. Each pluck is so satisfying and pulls out the full hair, follicle and all, so I don’t have to fret about pore-clogging ingrown hairs as they grow out.” —Jennifer Hussein, Glamour contributor
Fast facts
- Material: Stainless steel
- Protective cap: Yes
Best for Eyebrows: Benefit Cosmetics Grooming Tweezers & Brush
| What we love | What could improve |
|---|---|
| Dual-ended with brush to comb brow hairs before and after tweezing | Tip could be more precise |
| Lightweight |
If you like tweezing your brows on the regular, let us point you to this eyebrow tweezers and brush combo. It allows you to pluck and remove hairs as you please and brush brows into place with the dual-ended comb. The tweezers are easy to grip and do a great job of grasping hairs, especially if you need to clean up areas at the tail end of the brows or at the very front. Brush them back at the end of your hair-removal sesh, and add a little eyebrow gel to keep everything in place.
Glamour’s Kilkeary says:
“I really liked these tweezers because the nonslip design makes it easy to pluck up hairs, and the brush is a total game changer. I like to use it at the beginning of my tweezing regimen and at the end to locate stray hairs. I finish by brushing down the ones I leave in place. I’m surprised it took me this long to try tweezers like this!” —A.M.K.
Fast facts
- Material: Stainless steel
- Protective cap: No
Best for Chin: Revlon Perfectweeze Slant Tweezers
| What we love | What could improve |
|---|---|
| Scissors-style mechanism makes it easy to pluck hairs on the chin | Doesn’t grasp really fine hairs as well |
| Better grip for those who have difficulty |
Stubborn chin hairs don’t stand a chance against these slant tweezers that come with a unique scissors-style handle. This design is particularly accessible for older individuals or anyone who might have weak hands. The stainless-steel finish is extremely durable and will last for years without bending or distorting. The tip works best for grasping thick hairs that might crop up at the chin (IYKYK) and will successfully pull them out without much irritation or redness.
Glamour’s Kilkeary says:
“I’ve never actually used tweezers like this before, and I actually loved it! I often find that chin hairs, though thick, are sometimes harder to pull out with a more precise tip, so the bulkier tip on these and the leverage from the scissors-style actually works a lot better. It’s super easy to grip and pulls out thick chin hairs quickly and efficiently without irritation.” –A.M.K.
Fast facts
- Material: Stainless steel
- Protective cap: No
Best for Upper Lip: Japonesque Point Tweezers
| What we love | What could improve |
|---|---|
| Pointed tip gives you excellent precision | You need to have more experience using tweezers in general to get the most out of these |
| Gentle on skin | |
Pointed tweezers are a good bet for those who have a little more experience using tweezers in general, but they make the most difference in hard-to-pluck areas, like the upper lip and around the nose. This precision pair grabs all kinds of hair (whether thick or thin) quickly and painlessly, and the tiny tip allows you to get into nooks and crevices that a slanted tweezer simply can’t. This pair is super durable and will last you quite a while without needing replacement. The best part? It actually comes in a tweezer set with a sister slanted tweezer, so you get the best of both worlds.
Glamour’s Kilkeary says:
“I typically like to use my Gillette mini shaver when it comes to removing upper-lip hair, but sometimes there are a few strays it leaves behind, especially near my cupid’s bow. This precision tweezer grabs onto the finest hairs in a snap and plucks them out without causing too much pain in this delicate area. I like that they’re lightweight and super easy to maneuver too. I’d just recommend using them carefully if you’re still a rookie tweezer—you might poke yourself by accident!” —A.M.K.
Fast facts
- Material: Stainless steel
- Protective cap: No
Frequently asked questions
What type of tweezers are best?
According to the experts we spoke with, high-quality slanted tweezers are the gold standard for the average person. “Pointed tweezers can be excellent for things like ingrown hairs or very fine hairs, but they require a steadier hand and are generally better suited to experienced users,” says Healy. If ingrowns and irritation are something you often deal with, Dr. Queller says trimming might be a gentler option.
The experts also say that technique matters. “Always pull your skin taut, and tweeze in the direction of hair growth to reduce breakage,” says Amanda Robinson, celebrity brow artist and owner of Iris+West Lash Co. It’s also important to avoid overtweezing, which can damage the hair follicles over time and lead to more redness, irritation, ingrown hairs, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. “Avoid digging into the skin to remove short or ingrown hairs, since this can lead to scarring and infection. Don’t share tweezers, and avoid repeated plucking in the same area,” says Dr. Queller.
Pro tip: Tweeze with good lighting, and clean your tweezers to keep them hygienic.
Does the quality of tweezers matter?
The quality of the tweezers you use absolutely matters. “Good tweezers are calibrated so the tips align perfectly. Poor-quality ones often have tips that don’t meet properly, which means it’s easier to pinch skin instead of grabbing hair,” says Robinson. She also notes that good-quality tweezers hold their tension longer, so you’re not fighting them every time you use them. “Tweezers are one of those things where investing a little more makes a real difference,” she says.
How often should you buy new tweezers?
With proper care, you actually don’t have to worry about replacing your tweezers often. “Well-made stainless-steel tweezers can last for years, and I typically recommend replacement only when the tips become damaged or misaligned, or no longer grip hair effectively,” says Healy. There’s no need to replace them on a schedule; rather, you should purchase a new pair when performance declines. “I always recommend storing them in their case with the protective cap in place. A good pair of tweezers can easily last a decade when treated with care,” he says.
Should you clean your tweezers?
You should absolutely clean and sterilize your tweezers. “Wipe them down with rubbing alcohol before and after use to keep them sanitized and free of buildup,” says Robinson. This will help remove oil, skin care residue, and bacteria while preserving the finish of the tool.
How we tested
After asking experts for tweezer recommendations, we evaluated them based on material, precision, and overall efficacy in plucking hairs without causing a ton of irritation. The best grooming tools were made of stainless steel and had precision tips that allowed us to grasp thick and thin hairs on various parts of the face, including the upper lip, chin, brows, and around the nose. We landed on the eyebrow tools that successfully plucked hairs without pinching our skin, and those that were durable enough to last a while without breaking down.
Meet the experts
- Amanda Robinson, celebrity brow artist and owner of Iris+West Lash Co
- Jenna Queller, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Derm Works based in Boca Raton
- Joey Healy, brow expert based in NYC and founder of the Joey Healy Eyebrow Studio
