Epilator 101: What Is an Epilator, How to Use Epilators, and More

What Is an Epilator

When you hear about hair removal, the most popular methods that come up are waxing, shaving, and laser hair removal. However, in recent years, other methods have been gaining popularity.

From threading and derma planning to using epilators, there are plenty of hair removal techniques used by millions of men and women around the world.

Epilation has become especially popular because of its smooth finish, long-lasting results, and affordability. 

In this article, we’re going to answer all your epilation questions and concerns, including what is an epilator, how to use epilators, the various advantages and disadvantages associated with them, and how you should prepare for epilation.

Keep reading to discover the ins and outs of epilation and whether this hair removal technique is right for you.

What Is an Epilator?

An epilator is an electric device that looks like an electric razor but works by plucking hair from your skin.

It consists of a rotating head with discs and plates that grip hair and act like tweezers to pull them out when you glide the device across your skin.

Like waxing, epilating removes hair from the root and leaves skin feeling silky smooth. Since the root of the hair is removed as well, with repeated epilation, your hair grows back softer and finer.

Depending on the type of epilator you opt for, you can get multiple attachments like massage heads and trimming attachments or just a simple tweezing head.

There are also options for epilators that can be used dry or wet, and devices come in various sizes for different areas of the body.

How It Works

Epilators have discs, springs, or plates that move to grasp the hair and pull it from the root. Because the different discs are on a rotating head, epilators can pull out multiple strands of hair by the root simultaneously.

The number of coils can range from anywhere between 20 to 70, with the average epilator consisting of 20-40 coils or discs. The different coils work together by grabbing and pulling the hair at the same time.

Epilation is so precise that it can remove hair strands shorter than a millimeter, which isn’t possible with waxing.

How to Use Epilators

Now that you’ve learned what is an epilator, how to use epilators is next on the list. Follow these steps to get smooth arms and legs and the best possible result.

Step #1: Prepare Your Hair

Before epilating, it’s best to check if your hair is prepared. Epilation can take care of hair as short as 0.5mm but epilating longer hair can be painful.

If your hair is longer than 5mm, trimming it to an appropriate length will help ensure the best possible result.

Step #2: Exfoliate

If you don’t have to trim (or when you’re done trimming), it’s time to exfoliate. Gently exfoliating before epilating eliminates dead skin and reduces the risk of ingrown hair.

Whether you’re exfoliating your arms, legs, or your face, exfoliate beforehand for optimal results.

Whether you use a loofah, a shower scrub, or exfoliating mittens, always massage your skin in circular motions. Remember not to moisturize. Clean and dry skin is the best canvas for epilation.

Step #3: Prepare Your Surroundings

Find a comfortable place to sit and epilate. If you’re a beginner, it’s especially important to go slowly to avoid hair breakage. It should be noted that preparing your surroundings will depend on the epilator you’re using.

Here, we describe using the epilator on dry skin, but some models allow use on wet skin. These can be used in the shower. For a dry epilator, lay a towel or a sheet down to catch falling hair.

Step #4: Choose the Right Attachment

Before gliding the epilator over your skin, ensure that you have the right attachment on. Sensitive areas like the bikini area and underarms are epilated with specialized caps or attachments.

Step #5: Epilate

When epilating, always hold your epilator against the skin at a 90° angle and glide it along the skin to remove hair. One of the most important information to remember is never to press the epilator into your skin.

Instead, glide it over your skin while holding it taut. Another important fact to remember is to always move the epilator against the direction of hair growth. Moving it in the opposite direction can result in breakage, ingrown hair, and irritation.

Step #6: Moisturize

As with any hair removal method, aftercare is essential. Moisturize your skin with a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer or pure aloe vera gel to soothe your skin and promote healing.

Is Epilation Right for You?

While one hair removal method may have great results for one person, it may not be suitable for the next person. Since hair removal is so personal, it’s important to evaluate the pros and cons associated with epilation before deciding whether the method is right for you.

Advantages of Epilation

Epilation has several advantages compared to other methods of hair removal. In addition to being affordable and something you can easily do yourself, it’s a no-mess method beloved by many.

Affordability

An epilator is a one-time cost. Unless you have to replace your device, there are no other costs associated with this hair removal method. This is more affordable than shaving, waxing, and using depilatory creams.

In addition to the purchase being a one-time cost, you also don’t need to pay for epilation services or tips since you can use it yourself.

Easy to Use

Epilators are extremely easy to use and don’t have a learning curve like other methods such as waxing and threading.

Epilating is straightforward and doesn’t require expertise. All you have to do is follow the directions and then enjoy your smooth skin. In fact, it shouldn’t take you longer than a couple of sessions to master epilation.

Convenient

Unlike waxing, shaving, and depilatory creams, epilating doesn’t involve a mess. There’s no mess to clean up afterward. All you have to do is get rid of the hair that you have removed.

Epilators are also easier to carry and convenient to travel with. They can fit in small bags and purses and are easy to use on the go.

This is also convenient because epilators are more precise than waxing. In order for the wax to adhere to the hair, the hair has to be at least a quarter of an inch long.

On the other hand, epilation can pluck hair as short as 0.5mm and doesn’t require days of growth to work effectively.

No Waste

One of the biggest advantages of epilation is that there’s no need to make repeat purchases or discard anything. There’s no wax to throw away or razor blades to switch out. It’s an eco-friendly option that’s perfect for those looking to minimize waste.

Saving Time

Since you can use an epilator on yourself, you save time by not booking appointments, visiting the salon, waiting, etc.

Additionally, since epilators pull out hair by the root, it takes much longer for it to grow back. Instead of shaving every other day, you can easily go 2-3 weeks without needing to epilate again.

Less Painful and Better for Skin

While it’s more painful than shaving, epilation is much less painful than waxing. It’s bound to hurt the first time, but once you learn how to do it properly and get used to it, it’s less painful and doesn’t result in irritation and rashes as waxing does.

Additionally, since epilation grips the hair from above the skin, it isn’t as bad for your skin. It scrapes the hair at the root instead of stripping the skin, making it much better for your skin. You also don’t have to deal with cuts and razor bumps that can result from shaving.

Disadvantages of Epilation

Like all hair removal methods, epilation isn’t perfect. It has some disadvantages that should be considered.

Pain

Like waxing, epilation involves pain. While it is significantly less painful after the first couple of times, the pain and discomfort still exist.

Improper Use

If not used correctly, epilators can result in ingrown hair and even infections. One such danger is moving the device too fast. This may result in the hair breaking instead of being pulled out, which can then result in infections and ingrown hair.

Epilating Different Parts of the Body

Using an epilator on your arms and legs is fairly straightforward. However, one of the best parts about epilation is how it can be used all over the body. With that in mind, we understand that not every area is simple to epilate.

The pubic area and your face are sensitive areas that require special considerations. To ensure that you’re aware of how to use epilators on these specific areas, we have created brief guides on how to epilate pubic and facial hair.

How to Use Epilators on Pubic Hair

Generally, pubic hair removal is associated with shaving and waxing. However, in recent years, epilating pubic hair has become more popular than it was previously. Unlike shaving, epilation lasts for a longer period of time and eliminates the need for constant maintenance.

This is especially useful when you’re on vacation or simply don’t have the time to shave every couple of days. However, despite being long-lasting and resulting in smooth skin, epilating pubic hair does have its drawbacks.

The most obvious one is the pain associated with epilating pubic hair, especially for first-time users.

The pubic region is a highly sensitive area and is more prone to pain whether it’s through epilation or waxing. Longer hair can be trimmed before epilating for best results, and tweezer-based epilators can be used over needle-based epilators for a less painful experience.

Additionally, while epilating pubic hair can result in ingrown hair if done incorrectly, the risks are much higher with wax. If proper precautions aren’t taken when waxing pubic hair, you can face burns, skin lifting, ingrown hair, and irritation.

In some cases, you may develop infections or may even contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI). 

Tips for Epilating Pubic Hair

Keep the following tips in mind when taking an epilator to your pubic region to prevent injuries and achieve the best possible outcome.

  • Always stand while epilating pubic hair to avoid injuries.
  • Before using an epilator on the pubic region, epilate other parts of the body to ensure that you can tolerate the pain and to test sensitivity to the device.
  • Do not share your epilation devices or attachments with friends or family. This may result in bacterial, viral, and sexual infections.
  • Epilate your pubic hair yourself. Do not rely on partners or friends to handle this sensitive area.

How to Use Epilators on Facial Hair

Facial epilators are different from regular epilators. They’re gentler on the skin and use different hardware than body epilators.

Gently exfoliating before epilating is a good idea but the key to this is gentle exfoliation. Don’t go ham with the face scrub – the idea is to remove dead skin, not scrub your skin raw.

Tips for Epilating Facial Hair

Facial hair is often painful to remove because of how sensitive the face is. To ensure the best results when epilating facial hair, follow these tips.

  • Do not use body epilators on facial hair.
  • Test it on a soft part of your hand before using it on your face. This will give you an idea of the level of pain to expect and will give you an opportunity to see how your skin will react to epilation.
  • Do not moisturize before epilating facial hair since this may clog pores and cause ingrown hair. Instead, wait until after you have finished epilating and then using a soothing or anti-inflammatory cream.
  • Pull your skin taut when epilating to prevent breakage.
  • Take a painkiller like Ibuprofen 30 minutes before epilating if you’re afraid of the level of pain.

Final Thoughts

Epilation is an excellent hair removal method that boasts advantages like smooth skin, long-lasting results, a mess-free experience, and affordability.

However, it does come with side effects such as pain. That being said, the more you use the device, the less discomfort you experience. Ultimately, different hair removal methods work for different people.

We hope that this guide was useful and helped you determine whether or not epilation is the right choice for you. We have tried to answer all questions, including what is an epilator?

How to use epilators, and the pros and cons associated with the method. Use the comments below to let us know whether epilation is for you or whether you prefer other methods.