Women remove hair from the bikini area for a number of reasons, including cleanliness, sex appeal, body odor, and just because they like how it feels. Sometimes it’s not even an all-year decision, but just one taken for the summer months.
Bikini epilators like the Braun Silk-Epil have made it easier than ever to maintain a perfectly neat bikini line.
Shaving can cause irritation and razor bumps while waxing is extremely painful and can even result in burns and lifted skin. Laser hair removal is a great option but is costly and out of budget for many people.
That’s why so many people have been embracing epilators. Those new to this revolution may be wondering, “What is a bikini epilator?” and may want to know more about how it works before investing their hard-earned money into one.
This guide delves into all things bikini epilation, including what a bikini epilator is, what benefits it can provide, how to choose the best epilators for bikini lines, and our top tips on epilating this sensitive area.
If you’re sick of the disadvantages that come with waxing, shaving, and depilatory creams, we completely understand.
Read on to discover everything you need to know about bikini epilators and how they can change hair removal for the better.
Bikini Epilation 101: What Is a Bikini Epilator?
An epilator is a handheld electrical device that consists of a rotating wheel full of tweezers. As the device moves across the skin, unwanted hair is pulled out from the root and removed.
While epilators are primarily used for areas like arms and legs, they can also be used for smaller, more sensitive areas like one’s face, underarms, and bikini line.
This can be done with smaller epilators specifically designed for more sensitive areas or with regular epilators using attachments. Bikini epilators, therefore, can be separate devices or regular epilators used with a bikini attachment.
Wet vs. Dry Bikini Epilating
Traditionally, epilators work on dry skin. Dry epilation picks up hair faster because they’re lighter when dry and removes them swiftly. However, this tends to be painful.
Humidity and warm water help open up hair follicles and can make the process less painful. Wet epilation has become more popular as they can be used while showering or in the bath.
If opting for wet bikini epilation, it’s integral to ensure you’re using a wet epilator. Bikini epilators come in waterproof and non-waterproof versions, and it’s important to double-check this if you plan on using your epilator in the water.
Advantages of Bikini Epilation
Bikini epilators offer a number of advantages over other hair removal methods like shaving, waxing, depilatory creams, and laser hair removal. The most prominent advantages of bikini epilation are mentioned below.
Long-Lasting Results
Because epilators remove hair from the root, regrowth takes longer. You can go 3-4 weeks without epilating your bikini line again.
Because hair grows back slower, those who epilate their bikini lines can expect lasting smoothness instead of stubble and fast regrowth that comes with shaving.
Additionally, the more you epilate your bikini area, the slower the hair grows back, and the more long-lasting results become.
Convenient and Easy Process
Bikini epilating is an easy process and doesn’t require complex training or skills. Additionally, bikini epilation can be done at home, making it more convenient than processes that require going to the salon, like laser hair removal and electrolysis.
This is especially great for those who aren’t comfortable with the exposure involved in removing hair from private areas.
It’s also not as messy as other hair removal methods. Waxing makes everything sticky and can be irritating to clean up, while using razors requires shaving cream or shower gel.
Depilatory creams are also a messy hair removal option. Bikini epilators remove unwanted hair without leaving behind a mess.
Reaches Shorter Hair
An epilator can remove short regrowth. Hair removal methods like waxing require at least 0.25 inches of hair growth so the wax can adhere to the hair and pull it out.
If your hair is significantly shorter and you still want to remove it, a bikini epilator can take care of this. In fact, the best epilators on the market can remove hair as short as 0.5mm.
Affordable
Epilators require an up-front investment but come with a warranty, multiple heads and attachments, and are a one-time expense.
Using a bikini epilator even allows you to save on other repeat hair removal purchases such as shaving cream, depilatory creams, waxing strips, etc. The DIY aspect eliminates service charges, making bikini epilators even more cost-effective.
Finer and Sparser Hair
Epilating removes hair from the root and damages hair follicles. Because of this, when the hair re-appears, it grows back slower and is finer than it was previously.
Bikini epilator advocates don’t have to deal with stubble, especially in delicate areas prone to chafing and constriction.
Little to No Irritation
Shaving can leave you with razor rash or bumpy skin, while waxing can leave your bikini area full of burns and lifted skin.
Even depilatory creams cause chemical reactions and can damage the sensitive bikini area. Using a bikini epilator eliminates all of this.
Disadvantages of Bikini Epilation
As long-lasting and affordable as bikini epilation is, it does come with certain downsides.
Pain and Discomfort
Pain is a major disadvantage of bikini epilation. Since the hair is pulled from the root, it’s sure to hurt, especially the first time. The level of pain depends on your tolerance, preparation, and the technique you use.
While the first few times are painful, bikini epilation becomes much more tolerable after that, and some women claim they don’t even feel pain, just mild discomfort.
Breakage
If not performed properly, epilation can result in hair breakage and lead to ingrown hair. This can be avoided following the proper procedure but can happen if one isn’t careful, especially at the beginning of their epilating journeys.
How to Epilate Your Bikini Area
Follow this step-by-step guide on how to epilate your bikini area to ensure the best possible results.
Step 1: Prepare Hair and Skin
The best way to prepare your skin for epilation is to take a warm shower and exfoliate. This allows you to open up the hair follicles and get rid of any dead skin. Hair length should be trimmed if it’s longer than 5mm so that the epilation process isn’t too painful.
Step 2: Pick the Right Attachment
Epilators come with many different attachments, including those for massaging, exfoliation, and those for epilating other areas of the body. Make sure to pick the right attachment before using an epilator on your bikini line.
Step 3: Epilate the Bikini Area
Hold the epilator at a 90-degree angle against the bikini area. Don’t press the epilator into the skin. Instead, glide it over the skin against the direction of hair growth. Make sure to hold your skin taut while doing this to ensure the best results.
Step 4: Moisturize
After you’re done, it’s time to apply a calming moisturizer to the freshly epilated skin. This will soothe your skin, prevent irritation, and rid your skin of any redness that may have occurred.
Tips and Tricks for Using Bikini Epilators
Use the following tips and tricks to make your bikini epilation experience the best it can be.
Prepare for Pain
No hair removal method is both long-lasting and painless. Epilation is a painful process and the bikini area, being one of the most sensitive areas on the body, is more susceptible to pain than the arms and legs.
Therefore, some level of pain has to be expected, especially during the first few times you epilate your bikini area. Instructions and best practices must be kept in mind to avoid unnecessary pain. With time and practice, the pain usually turns into mild discomfort.
If you’re extremely sensitive down there, you may want to consider taking an over-the-counter painkiller like ibuprofen to manage pain. Some epilators come with massaging head attachments to help manage pain.
Pull It Taut
Pulling the skin taut when epilating isn’t just a suggestion. It’s one of the most important steps you must take to avoid pain.
When skin isn’t pulled taut, the epilator can stretch the skin along with the hair instead of simply pulling out the hair.
Instead of making the process more painful than it has to be, use one hand to pull the skin taut while using the other to run the epilator over your skin.
Clean It Afterwards
No matter where you’re using the epilator, you should always thoroughly clean it after you’re finished using it.
This will keep infections at bay and requires a microfiber cloth and some rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol). As with devices like razors, do not share your bikini epilator with anyone else.
Hair Length Matters
While epilation is known for being more flexible than waxing, and hair can be removed even when it’s as short as 0.5mm, it should be noted that hair length does matter when it comes to the bikini area.
Hair that is too long may hurt more when being removed and may be more prone to breakage. If your pubic hair has grown beyond 3-5mm, trim it down before epilating it. Most dermatologists recommend epilating pubic hair when it is 2-3mm.
How to Buy a Bikini Epilator
Now that you know the answer to “What is a bikini epilator?” and are aware of its many advantages, you may be interested in picking one up for yourself.
Keep these features in mind when shopping to make sure that you pick the best bikini epilator for your needs.
Corded vs. Cordless
Bikini epilators come in both corded and cordless versions. Battery-operated and rechargeable epilators are more efficient when on the go and when epilating in the shower.
However, corded epilators are more convenient because you don’t have to worry about charging them or replacing batteries. Wireless designs work better for epilating the bikini area because they allow you to get into different positions without worrying about outlets.
It should also be noted that corded options are more powerful than cordless ones and have the advantage of maintaining consistent power.
Wet vs. Dry Models
Dry epilators are more affordable, but wet models may be better for those with lower pain thresholds. Epilating sensitive areas like the bikini line can be painful, and many women opt for wet epilators for this specific use.
Design
Make sure that the epilator you buy isn’t clunky and can be used easily. Additionally, it’s important to make sure that the grip is comfortable and can be adjusted to access difficult-to-reach areas.
Ergonomic grips and smaller devices are design details to look out for when buying a bikini epilator.
Speed Settings
Some epilators come with different speed settings. Make sure that you buy an epilator with at least two different speed settings since epilating the bikini area is more sensitive and requires a lower speed.
Attachments and Accessories
Most epilators come with different attachments to use on different parts of the body. Some even come with accessories like exfoliating brushes, trimmer heads, and massage rollers.
While you don’t have to opt for epilators with multiple accessories, it’s important to ensure that you have the right attachments for different areas of the body, especially when it comes to delicate places like the bikini area.
Tweezer Count
Epilators vary in tweezer count, with models featuring anywhere from 3 to 70 tweezers. The average epilator will have 20-40 tweezers.
As a rule of thumb, epilators with more tweezers are better because they’ll be able to epilate faster.
However, this isn’t always true since the quality of the epilator plays a large role in the effectiveness of the product. We suggest opting for a tweezer count of at least 40 so that you’re able to finish the bikini area faster.
Final Thoughts
Pubic hair removal is a personal choice and can be a complicated subject to approach. Hopefully, this article has helped you better understand it by answering the question, “What is a bikini epilator?” detailing how they work, why they can be useful, and how to go about selecting one for yourself. Let us know which hair removal method you use for the bikini area in the comments below.