A pure, thin, twisted cotton thread is used and rolled over untidy hairlines and so on, removing the hair at the follicle. Unlike tweezing where a single hair is pulled out each time, threading can remove an entire row of hair, resulting in a straighter line. Threading is an ancient method of hair removal which originated in Persia, and is now gaining popularity in Western countries. It is equally popular with both men and women in Arab countries. 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. As the top layers of skin are not peeled or traumatized, threading is an alternative for those with sensitive skin or who use Retinol, Retin A, or Retinova and similar products.