What is it?
An ancient hair-removal treatment from India or China, whereby a strong loop of thread (size 13 or 14) is held between the practitioner's teeth at one end and her hands at the other. The thread is pulled tightly together over the hairs to pull them out in a series of swift movements.
Sounds like agony
Not at all. It's more like being lightly pinched so quickly there's hardly time to register the discomfort. It's on the same pain level as waxing - but faster and without mess. It's more uncomfortable on the upper lip than the eyebrows, and there's a bit of wincing at the start. Some people have their whole face threaded, which takes about an hour. Eyebrows take 10 minutes.
How popular is it?
Debaki Ale has been threading for nine years, having learnt the skill in India. She's been working in Hong Kong for five years. She says threading has become more popular recently.