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For example, if a woman were to have a beard, would she be permitted to shave it off with a razor or otherwise destroy it, or do these restrictions apply to both men and women?

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Nope. It does not apply to women.

Source: Mishnah in Kiddushin (1:7)

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According to Rabbi Reuven Lauffer at Ohr Somayach (writing in 1999 in response to a question about Omer restrictions), no: prohibitions against removing facial hair do not apply to women.

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It sound from your answer like he was addressing cutting hair during the omer, which is a different set of law/logic than the topic asked. – YDK May 13 '11 at 4:51
@YDK true regardless. – Hacham Gabriel Jan 29 '12 at 2:03
@HachamGabriel, not true regardless! Just b/c the custom for aveilus did not include unusual practices, that does not negate the possibility that shaving her face with a razor would be a Torah violation. – YDK Jan 30 '12 at 4:18
@YDK I meant to say that regardless of when the article is referring to, it is Mutar. – Hacham Gabriel Jan 30 '12 at 4:27
@HachamGabriel, true as yydl brings. Comments should be understood in light of what they are commenting on. – YDK Jan 30 '12 at 4:29
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