Threading is an ancient method of hair removal which originated in (India) and is now gaining popularity in Western countries. It is popular with women in Arab countries and it is popular in Persian culture where it is called Bande Abru ("Abru" means eyebrow, and "Band" is the thread). Threading the entire face is widely spread amongst Iranians, but it was originally practiced when a woman was getting married or during special occasions. In ancient Persia, threading was a sign that a girl had reached adulthood and become a woman.

Practitioners use a pure, thin, twisted cotton thread which is rolled over untidy hairlines, moustaches and so on, plucking the hair at the follicle level. Unlike tweezing where a single hair is pulled out each time, threading can remove an entire row of hair, resulting in a straighter line. However, due to a larger area of hair being removed at once, it can be quite painful for some.

Like other methods of hair removal such as plucking or waxing, threading can result in skin irritation and ingrown hairs.

As the top layers of skin are not peeled or traumatized, if done properly, threading is an alternative for those with sensitive skin or who use Retin-A, Accutane, and similar products^{[citation needed]}.