Buying guide for best epilators
Sure, there are lots of ways to get the smooth, hair-free skin you desire. You could shave, but that leads to stubble and quick regrowth. You could use wax, but that hurts, and doing it yourself can be messy and time-consuming. You could use stinky depilatories or bleaches, but those can irritate the skin.
Instead of using a razor, wax, or bleach, you could reach for an epilator and not only have hair-free skin today but less regrowth tomorrow. In fact, an epilator will grant you a much longer stretch between hair-removal sessions than you’d get from the other methods.
Here at BestReviews, we never accept free products or manufacturer perks in exchange for a good review. We do our own research, talk with experts in the field, and listen to feedback from actual owners of the product in question. That lets us give you unbiased recommendations and buying advice.
So if you’d like to learn more about epilators, read on.
We’re going to discuss what they are, how to use them, and tips and tricks for getting the best – and least painful – results.
But if you’d just like to buy an epilator, consider our highlighted favorites.
Now, get ready for your smoothest skin ever.
"If it’s been a while since you’ve done any sort of hair removal, shave a day before epilating. You’ll find epilators work best on fairly short stubble. They’re not really suited to removing long hair."
STAFF
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What is an epilator?
First introduced in the late 1980s, epilators are electrical devices that remove body hair by pulling it out at the roots. If that sounds painful, it admittedly is at first, although most users find that the pain diminishes over time.
Three basic types of epilators have graced store shelves since their inception: rotating spring epilators, rotating disk epilators, and tweezer-style epilators.
Rotating spring epilators
The first type of epilator released to the market, and also the most painful to use, was the rotating spring epilator.
These beauty tools used a rapidly flexing spring to catch and yank out hairs.
It was common for the spring to break, so replacement springs could be purchased separately.
Rotating disk epilators
In the next phase of epilator development came the rotating disk epilator. These devices replaced the spring with spinning metal disks that caught and pulled out unwanted hairs.
Tweezer epilators
Most epilators sold today are tweezer-style epilators. They have rotating disks with small gaps that act like tweezers.
As the epilator moves across the skin, the tiny “tweezers” catch, pull, and discard hairs as short as 0.5 mm.
Did you know?
Ingrown hairs will be far less of a problem if you take the time to exfoliate before you epilate. Use exfoliating gloves, a brush, or a scrub to remove dead skin cells the day before you use your epilator.
STAFF
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Why use an epilator?
As already stated, there are plenty of ways to remove hair from your legs, face, underarms, and anywhere else with unwanted fuzz. So why subject yourself to an epilator?
There are plenty of reasons, actually, including the following:
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After shelling out the initial money for your epilator, there are no further expenses. Compare that to frequent purchases of razors and shaving cream, expensive trips to the salon for waxing services, or the cost of depilatory creams.
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The more you use your epilator, the less your hair regrows.
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Your skin will remain smooth and hair-free far longer than with shaving or depilatories. Typically, you’ll have at least two weeks until regrowth becomes noticeable, but you may have as many as four weeks.
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Epilators are gentler on sensitive skin than wax, which removes not only hair but also the top layer of skin.
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Ingrown hairs are less of an issue with epilation than they are with shaving, although they can certainly still occur.
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Epilators eliminate your chance of sustaining razor rash and itchy, razor-related bumps.
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You don’t have to worry about shaving nicks, nor must you lather on shaving gel or cream with an epilator.
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When you use an epilator, you don’t have to deal with messy wax or smelly creams.
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Epilating is easy, fairly quick, and convenient. And epilators don’t take up much room in a travel bag.
What should you look for in an epilator?
So you’ve decided to take the plunge and buy an epilator. While the device is a simple one, there are a few features to examine in a potential purchase before you buy it. Here are some of the most common epilator features to consider.
Number of tweezers
You’ll find epilators on the market with everything from 20 to 72 tweezers. The more tweezers an epilator has, the faster the hair-removal process will go.
Attachments
Epilator attachments are available for various parts of the body. Most people use their epilator on their legs. However, there’s no reason you can’t use it on other body parts as well. Some epilators include attachments that make it easy to epilate your underarms, face, and even the pubic area.
Wet/dry option
Traditionally, epilators were only for dry skin, but today, there are models suitable for use in the shower. Many people find that it’s a little less painful to epilate wet skin.
Did you know?
Pulling the skin taut before epilating not only gives you smoother results, it cuts way down on the ouch factor.
STAFF
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Multiple speeds
Some epilators let you choose between a low speed and a high speed.
Pivoting head
A pivoting head makes it easy to smooth the epilator over any curves.
Light
A light attachment helps you spot even the finest hairs.
For your safety
Clean your epilator after every use, and never share your device with someone else. This will help cut down on the risk of skin infection.
STAFF
BestReviews
Exfoliating brush
This handy attachment cuts down on the risk of ingrown hairs and removes dry, dead skin for a smoother appearance.
Cord/cordless options
Cordless epilators run off batteries, which are usually rechargeable. You’ll enjoy being able to move about freely with your epilator, but the tradeoff is less power. If you prefer, you can buy a corded epilator for more power delivery.
Multiple usages
Some epilators have attachments that convert the tool into a trimmer, callus remover, or shaver.
Massage function
Why not treat your skin to a little massage after epilating? Some epilators come with massager attachments.
FAQ
Q. Are there any side effects to using an epilator?
A. While epilating is a safe procedure for the most part, some people do experience a few minor after-effects, including the following:
- Soreness
- Red spots or bumps, which usually disappear quickly
- Ingrown hairs
- Slight swelling
- Pimples
Generally, these issues clear up quickly.
Q. Why do I still have stubble after epilating?
A. Because hair has several stages of growth, it’s very common to see what appears to be rapid regrowth of hair after your first few epilating sessions. But actually, what you are seeing is not the regrowth of the hairs just plucked. It is the emergence of hairs that were already developing below the surface of your skin. With repeated use of your epilator, you’ll see less and less regrowth, and you’ll be able to enjoy longer stretches in between sessions without the appearance of “stubble.”
Q. Does an epilator remove hair permanently?
A. Although epilation is not a permanent method of hair removal, it does tend to decrease the production of hair over time. This is because the hair follicle is often damaged during the plucking process, leading to finer regrowth or no regrowth at all.
Q. How often should I use my epilator?
A. At first, try to use your epilator three times per week. That way, you’ll catch hairs in each part of the growth cycle. After the first week or two, you can start epilating once per week. As your hair regrowth lessens, you’ll likely need to use your epilator only every couple of weeks.
