Epilation
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My first try at hair removal by epilation
I wanted to tell you about my first attempt at epilation. If you've never heard of epilation, let me explain...
Epilation is a method of hair removal which removes hair at the root, for example waxing or plucking. I'm going to try using an epilator. This is a machine which looks rather like a ladies' electric razor, but instead of the hairs being sliced off, they are plucked out, usually by a system of rotating discs.
Sounds painful? Hmm, let's see. I've always shaved my legs, usually with a wet razor, and I've never been brave enough to try waxing. I avoid pain whenever I can. But I am fed up with shaving. Even one day after shaving, I feel stubbly and horrible. There's got to be a better way.
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Have you tried epilation?
See results without votingBuy Epilators from Amazon - great choice, low prices!
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Braun 5270 Silk-épil X'elle Body System Epilator
Price: $50.01
List Price: $74.99 |
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Braun Soft Perfection SE3170 Epilator, Pink
Price: $37.60
List Price: $49.99 |
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Braun SE7280 Silk-Epil Xpressive Epilator Body System, Corded
Price: $109.99
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Emjoi AP-18 Emagine Dual Opposed 72 Tweezer Head Epilator
Price: Too low to display
List Price: $119.95 |
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Braun SE7781 Silk-Epil Xpressive Epilator Body System, Rechargeable
Price: $129.95
List Price: $159.99 |
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Emjoi AP99 Optima Epilator
Price: $69.99
List Price: $99.95 |
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Panasonic ES2067W EpliglideULTRA Epliator with 360 Degree Triple Sprinning Heads, Green
Price: $66.40
List Price: $129.99 |
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Emjoi AP-10LR Light Caress, Cordless / Corded
Price: $69.38
List Price: $89.95 |
Which epilator?
I read several customer reviews on Amazon before choosing my epilator. There are lots of different epilator types to choose from, and many have various gizmos which claim to reduce the pain factor.
In the end I went for the Philips Satinelle Soft. I think it was the word 'soft', which described my personal level of toughness and resistance to pain that helped me to decide on this one.
Well, being a self-confessed pain-o-phobe, I expect you're wondering how I got on with my epilator. I had not shaved for several days when I tried it out (a mistake I think - see my first timer tips below). I had a glass of wine to calm my nerves, and I chose a time when the rest of my family were out (apart from my teenage daughter who also wanted to try it out).
The model I chose had a kind of massage roller (to "relax the skin" and "ease sensations" - I took that to mean kill the pain). It also came with a guard which you can clip over the head to cover some of the discs (so for sensitive areas you're not plucking out too many hairs in one go). Another feature I liked was that it had two speed settings, with a slower speed for more sensitive areas (or all areas in my case).
In fact, after my first try with the epilator I didn't use the guard. I also realised after I'd finished that I had accidentally set it to full speed instead of using the gentler half speed, so I've stuck with full speed ever since. Maybe we don't really need those gizmos and they just help persuade us to give it a go?
Did it hurt?
The machine was much noisier than I had expected, which added to the fear factor. I was terrified of touching its clattering, whirring 'blades' to my skin, thinking it would pinch and pull. So I tried touching it onto the palm of my hand (no hairs there you see), and it did no more than tickle the skin, even when pressed on quite firmly. This gave me confidence, so I went for the leg!
Did I scream with agony? No, but I did squeek a bit! A lot of that was probably due to the build up of tension, because I expected it to hurt...the darn thing was ripping the hairs out of my leg after all.
I only did a small patch of leg at a time. It didn't really hurt as such - it was more a strong prickly sensation. I kept forgetting to stretch the skin of the area I was epilating as advised in the instructions. Basically, I would stretch one area, epilate it without too much difficulty, but then move the epilator on to another area without first pulling the skin taut in the new place. Keeping the skin stretched tight really helped to reduce the feeling of prickliness.
Epilators on Ebay
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Facial Hair Epicare Epilator Epistick Remover Stick new
Current Bid: $1.96
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NEW Emjoi TWEEZE Automatic Hair Remover Epilator WOW
Current Bid: $8.01
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Braun 7781 Wet & Dry Rechargeable Body & Face Epilator
Current Bid: $151.36
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Braun 7280 Silk-Épil Xpressive Epilator New in Box
Current Bid: $94.36
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Automatic Tweezer System Epilator Hair Remover
Current Bid: $.99
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Epicare Epistick Facial Hair Free Remover Clip Epilator
Current Bid: $.01
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Epilator Tips for Beginners
- Try to have no more than two days' hair growth when you first try the epilator. This will mean that not all of your hairs will be long enough to be grasped, resulting in less pain!
- Epilate every two to three days at first (same reason as above). Then once you are used to it, you can extend the interval between epilation sessions.
- Plan your first try at epilating when you don't have to expose the epilated skin for at least 24-hours, just in case you have a reaction.
- Stretch the skin with your 'spare' hand while you epilate. This makes the hairs stand on end so they are grabbed more cleanly.
- Try sprinkling the skin with talcum powder before epilating. It helps the machine to glide more smoothly.
- Moisturise after epilating (wait until you've finished, so you don't get your epilator all slippery).
- Only use the epilator on your lower legs at first, where your skin is less sensitive. Later you may be brave enough to try it under your arms and even your bikini line.
- Exfoliate your skin regularly. Waxing, plucking and epilating weaken the hairs and sometimes they are too feeble to penetrate the skin when they regrow. Exfoliating will help them to break through and avoid causing problems.
- Consider buying a cordless epilator, particularly for when you're away from home.
- Most importantly - it gets easier every time! Don't be put off if you don't enjoy using the epilator the first time. It really does get easier and easier until it's no more of an incovenience than shaving, and you won't have to do it so often either.
Video review of BraunSilk-epil
Get the Braun Silk-Epil
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Braun 5270 Silk-épil X'elle Body System Epilator
Get the Braun Silk-Epil X'elle just like the one reviewed in the above video. Great results at a fantastic price.
Price: $50.01
List Price: $74.99 |
Video review Emjoi epiliators
Emjoi Emagine
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Emjoi AP-18 Emagine Dual Opposed 72 Tweezer Head Epilator
Price: Too low to display
List Price: $119.95 |
Emjoi Caress
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Emjoi AP-10LR Light Caress, Cordless / Corded
Price: $69.38
List Price: $89.95 |
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What about epilation for guys?
What's good for the girls is good for the guys.
Epilation leaves your skin smoother, less stubbly and the regrowth takes longer to come through.
More and more guys are using waxing to achieve a smooth and boyish look. Using an epilator at home is probably safer than home waxing and far cheaper than the salon. It's also more private...although you'll probably need a bit of help with your back!
Try the epilator out on your own a few times before asking anyone to do your back if you don't want to look a wimp! It's best to start with less hairy areas - epilating your arm will hurt more than your chest as you have more hairs on your arm.
Guys - if you're interested in looking your best, you won't want to miss Grooming Secrets for Men, which covers skin care, body hair, hair care, dental care, how to look your best whether for dating or business and lots lots more.
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Comments
Really useful, thank you. an anyone compare the epilator results with professional waxing?
Thanks for your comment, Jennifer. I've never tried waxing (either home or professional), so I can't really compare. What I like about epilating is that I can do it whenever I want, without any fuss, mess or extra expense.
I find that the epilator (used properly and sensibly with exfoliating and moisturiser afterwards) gives just as good if not a better result than professional waxing. The first go is more painful than waxing because its self inflicted and a completely different sensation to get used to, but after the first time it gets easier and easier. After i exfoliate i use a pumice stone to ensure that i get no ingrown hairs, and this also helps to remove all dead skin. I find that with this my legs are even shinier and smoother than when i used to get them waxed, and to top it all off it is SO much more cost effective! I'd reccomend getting an epilator with a light on it (braun make one) because you don't miss any hairs (my old epilator didn't have one and i was always finding the ones i missed later) and if you're likely to fall in love with it and take it everywhere, get a chordless one. I wish i had! Good luck :D
Thanks for your comments Xtina. I like the idea of getting an epilator with a light, as I sometimes find the odd hair I've missed if I epilate in a hurry.
I love my epilator. I started to write a hub about it too, but then I found this one, which says everything that I wanted to say, and more! It's nice to find some other people who think epilators are a good thing. Most people I know are too worried about the pain aspect to even try it, but I find it a totally bearable pain, and certainly no worse than waxing. And the thought that I never have to shave again makes me so happy - what a pointless activity that was. In fact when I bought my epilator (I also have the Satinelle Soft one), I threw all my razors away!
Thanks for your comment Moon Daisy. It's true to say that epilation can be painful the first few times, but now it doesn't even make me wince. I don't know if it's just that you get used to it or whether it's the change to the hair follicles? Anyway, like you I wouldn't even consider shaving now!
i find that waxing is the bext method of hair removal, apart from laser of course, but it is so expensive! if you can afford to wax then i suggest you wax. if not, epilators are great, painful, but great.
I'm too afraid of pain to attempt waxing. With epilators you can do it in private and go at your own pace. I knw you can get home waxing kits but I bet they're more painful and less effective than going to a professional. I'll stick with epilation, which I don't find painful at all now that I'm a seasoned user!
Same feeling ! I tried it on a place on my arm and i feel it so smooth, i feel like im 10 or even younger ! your description of this is really good!!!
the pain isn't that painfull, just have something to bite on and it's done after a few layers! :D
Thanks for your comment Jesper. Epilating is rather painful the first time, but after a few attempts it really doesn't hurt at all. I'm a real wimp but now I can epilate my legs without batting an eyelid. It's no harder than shaving with an electric shaver, but the results are far smoother.
I recieved an epilator for christmas as I had wanted to try on for a good year or so, but after using it for the past month I am very disappointed with the results. My legs never feel smooth afterwards, each time I have gone over my legs with a razor to make them smooth and no matter how much I exfoliate I still have ingrowing hairs. Have I got a dud epilator or has anyone else had these problems?
Waxing baby. Get it over with fast, don't suffer for hours.
Epilation? No thank you. Don't trust people who say it gets better the more you use it, it doesn't! Infact i'm quite convinved it gets worse. I'd take a nice burning tub of wax any day over the sheer agony of my epilator. I used to get it out every few days to try and get used to it, but did i? No. My legs feel more stubbly after Epilation and they remain red and dotty for days!
Thanks for your comment, Lucy. That's not my experience at all. What type of epilator are you using? Mine's a Satinelle. Maybe it's down to your skin type, although my skin is quite sensitive normally. Ah well, I suppose it's not for everyone!
Wonderful text.
Love my epilator - thanks so much for the advice. I've found that if you're really terrified of the pain, take a couple of advil twenty minutes before you epilate. Works like a charm. ^_^
this is a really great; thank you! I have always wanted to try this out as I absolutely HATE shaving my legs. Waxing is definitely not for me...ouch.
I love my epilator.
I too just started using an epilator recently, but am hoping the results get better the more I use it because I was rather disappointed with it the first time; left a stubbly feeling all over the legs like the epilator just broke the hair off at the surface, and left red bumps behind too. But, with each review I read I see that everyone says the same thing, give it time because it will get better and better. I bought the Braun Silk Epil Xelle.
Oh, any other suggestions for underarms? Legs were no problem, but man, underarms were a different story! I took 2 Advil an hour before, it did help some but I was only able to get half of each underarm done and shaved the rest because I couldn't handle the pain anymore. I thought of maybe trying a skin numbing agent??
Thanks!
Hi Kim The stubbly feeling might be hairs that were too short for the epilator to grasp. This should improve if you keep it up, because over time the hairs will become more sparse and weak, so any short hairs left behind won't feel stubbly like shaven hairs do. As for the underarms, it's certainly more painful than the legs. The first time you do it, there are lots of hairs to take care of, which makes it more painful. If you try again after a couple of days there will not be so many hairs for the epilator to grip, so it should hurt less. I've never tried a skin numbing agent but you could perhaps look for something meant for children's boo-boos. But you'd have to make sure it wasn't greasy or the epilator wouldn't be able to get a grip on the hairs. If you try it and it helps, post back here!
Caspar, I had a reply to a question you posted in the comments. "It's true to say that epilation can be painful the first few times, but now it doesn't even make me wince. I don't know if it's just that you get used to it or whether it's the change to the hair follicles?" It's a change in the follicles themselves. The epilator (also waxing) yanks the hair right out at the root, so the root is gone from the skin. Then, the roots have to regenerate themselves and a new hair will grow. Each time you yank the hair out by the root again, the follicle gets weaker and weaker, therefor, easier and easier to pull out again! So it WILL hurt less the more often you do it. So ladies, even it if seems like its not getting any more bearable, it will.
I've been waxing for years now (legs, underarms, brazillian waxes, upper lip and eyebrows) and decided to switch to epilation to save some cash. I personally find epilating to be 100x easier (and less painful) than waxing my legs, but it seems a lot more painful to do my brazillian with my epilator. But of course, it's totally worth the discomfort, so I will be stickin' with it!
Sorry for the long post! Hope this might help some discouraged folks.
Thanks very much for your comments Lindsay. I think you're very brave to try a brazilian!
Haha, its not that bad, and very much worth the pain. As with epilating, the more you do it the less it hurts.
hey i was trying to epilate my underarms and it left behind some hairs still "they're pretty short" what is the average time it takes to epilate one armpit?
and also i try epilating my armpits longer than 2 minutes but then my skin gets really red and painful and it starts to bleed :S any solutions?
Hi Jacqueline - I spend a couple of minutes per underarm, but sometimes longer. I don't worry about the occasional short hair left behind, I just think I'll catch it next time. I'm surprised and a bit worried that your skin gets sore after epilating. I haven't found that at all, except one time I forgot to pull the skin taut and it got pinched in the tweezers - ooh that hurt. Really the epilator should be gliding smoothly over your skin without rubbing and scraping like a shaver does, and the only discomfort should be the tweaking out of the hairs. You haven't had a reaction to your deodorant have you? That can make underarm skin very sore. If it was hurting my skin I would stop using the epilator I think. I guess you could try regularly moisturising the area for a couple of weeks to see if it helps, but make sure you don't do that immediately before epilating as the hairs will be too greasy to get a grip on. Sorry, I can't think of anything else!
thanks for the reply! i dont know why but my epilator just doesnt get the tiny short hairs no matter how much i go over it! haha its frustrating =S
hello..
just wondering..
i'm planning to purchase an epilator soon...
but still kinda scared...
just want to know ur opinion on this model...
Panasonic epilator ES 2081..
plase email me at:
redeyez90@rocketmail.com
Sorry akie I haven't tried a Panasonic epilator. They're a good brand generally so I'd be happy to give one a try!
I'm surprised no one has mentioned it, but when calling about laser removal I was told you have 3-5 separate sets of hair that grow and it takes weeks when you remove one for the next to grow long enough to remove. For laser that can mean coming in 5+ sessions. For waxing I found I have to do it 5 times before I only have one set growing at a time. Then it becomes much less painful and I don't have anymore short hairs left behind. I used to go through this on my legs each spring (don't bother in the winter).
I've been using a Braun silk epil from Target for a couple of years now and before that I used sugar wax. It's so much easier and no mess to deal with. It's never bothered me too much to do my legs (though thighs can be annoying) and now I only need to once a month, I have areas where the hair doesn't grow anymore and you can't see it unless you look really close even when it's due. I've been doing my under arms since before the epilator too. For me the secret to underarms is doing it in small sections. I still have to do it a couple times a week though. Now it takes me about 5 min to do my underarms and 15-20 for my legs. I tried to do a Brazilian recently. With a lot of sweat and a few tears, I got almost there. I think I now understand the reason for a "landing strip" that small section of hair was 10X more painful and I had to stop there. Even tried Bactine, but didn't get much further. Bactine is recommended on lots of sites for waxing and epilating. I did pick up some 4% lidocaine spray that is for numbing before Brazilian waxing. I'm going to try that when the hair is long enough again (shaved it). Wish me luck :) Sorry such a long post. Hope the info was helpful.
caspar says:
2 years ago
I haven't had a problem with ingrown hairs myself and I use my epilator once a week or more, but I do exfoliate regularly. Maybe that has helped me to avoid it, or maybe it depends on hair type, and there's not much we can do about that!