Hair removal has to be the most inconvenient and time consuming beauty ritual we practise. A study carried out by Escentual.com revealed that women in the UK spend on average 72 days in their lifetime shaving their legs – that’s the equivalent to 1,728 hours. This depressing stat is made even more painful due to the fact that hair removal is considered the most hated beauty chore.
Every hair removal regime is personal to the individual, and indeed not everyone will want to do it at all. If, however, you are on the constant quest to be hairless and fancy trying a new method of hair removal, consider this your epilating guide 101. We've enlisted the help of Braun Beauty Ambassador, Nathalie Eleni, to talk us through the benefits and the how-tos of epilating.
Epilating, like waxing, is when you pull the hair out from the root to stunt the regrowth and achieve longer-lasting smoothness. An epilator looks a bit like an electric shaver (and sounds like a lawn mower) but with wheels that spin and a tweezer mechanism that plucks out hair when pressed against the skin. 'Epilation works by gently plucking hair from the root with a series of tweezers which can grab the smallest of hairs (as short as 0.5mm - the equivalent of two days growth),' explains Nathalie Eleni. Waxing generally tends to grab hairs of 2mm length, so epilation is more precise.
The idea of epilating is daunting, mostly due to how painful it sounds and, well, is. But if you're used to plucking your eyebrows and can now say that the pain is bearable... epilating is the same. The more you do it, the more you become used to the pain. But the first few times can definitely be a touch eye-watering. Youch.
The most notable benefit of epilation is that the hair will grow back slower and finer. Nathalie Eleni assures that epilation offers a long-term hair removal solution, giving you hair-free skin for up to four weeks.
Another benefit of epilation is that it's faff-free and not as messy as waxing. You can do it at home at a time that suits you and you can also purchase epilators to use in the shower.
If you've epilated before, you'll know that it is quite painful, depending on your hair type and pain threshold. (Note: an empty house, some loud music and a glass of wine is a set-up that shouldn't be overlooked if you're a newbie.)
If you're new to epilating, you should follow these steps to make it as pain-free as possible:
1. Find the right epilator for you:
There are many different epilators available on the market to suit different budgets and different areas of hair. Make sure you invest in one that is good quality.
Nathalie recommends the Braun Silk-épil 9 9-720 Epilator, £159.99. 'It has a 40% wider head and therefore more Micro-Grip Tweezers than previous models. These tweezers work together to ensure more hairs are captured in each stroke and therefore reducing the treatment time with results which last up-to 4 weeks depending on hair regrowth.'
2. Exfoliate:
Exfoliation is the key to successful hair removal, whatever the method. It removes dead skin cells, smooths skin and, most importantly, fights against ingrown hairs by promoting that the hair regrows in the correct direction. Exfoliate using a loofah, exfoliating gloves or an in-shower body scrub, and massage the skin in circular motions. You should do this before you are due to remove any hair, but it's good practise to exfoliate every time you wash.
3. Soak in warm water:
Just like waxing, if you bathe or shower before you are due to remove body hair it will be less painful because the hair follicles will be looser and hairs will come out more easily.
Whatever your ablution of choice, try and soak in water as hot as you can stand - and without irritating or damaging the skin - for at least 10 minutes.
Natalie says, 'If it’s your first time trying this method, purchase an epilator which can be used in the shower as the warm water open pores which loosen the hair follicles so they are removed easily.'
4. Dry the skin:
After you've washed, your skin should be free of dirt, lotions and moisturisers. Dry your skin thoroughly with a towel, and try pulling the towel in the opposite direction of hair growth so the hairs stand up. The dryer the hairs are, the easier it'll be for the epilator to catch them first time.
1. Find somewhere comfortable to sit:
Put some time aside in your day and find somewhere comfortable to sit - it may take a while especially if you're a rookie because you'll be taking lots of breaks to manage the pain. It's also advisable to epilate in the evening as your skin will be red and bumpy afterwards - but will be looking smooth by morning.
2. How to use the epilator:
Don't start at your ankles as they're the most painful place on your leg. Start on the lower leg on the lowest setting, and pull the skin taut to help the epilator pick up hair.
Move the epilator in circular motions over your skin, stopping when necessary, and you'll start to see the magic instantly.
Your skin will quickly get used to the sensation of the epilator and you will be able to tackle trickier areas.
Don't be too ambitious on your first go; ease yourself into it. Also, it is common to draw a little blood on the first go, but don't be too put off.
Be prepared for your skin to resemble that of a plucked chicken, and make sure you don't lather on any scented lotions or creams onto the freshly-epilated skin as they will irritate it. Try using a lotion with aloe vera as this will soothe the skin.
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By this point you may be thinking, 'as if I'm putting myself through that again,' but the results may just sway you to keep going, and each time you do it it becomes easier, quicker and less painful.
If you're serious about decreasing hair regrowth, epilate the same area every day for one week, and then begin doing it weekly. You will see great results and eventually will only need to epilate monthly.
You can use an epilator on your face, but as the skin on the face is incredibly sensitive it may cause irritation. Not to mention the pain is quite intense. But, if you take all the right steps and remember to pull the skin taut, you can as well achieve a smooth hairless finish on your face.
Your underarms are a great place to build up tolerance to epilating, as after a while you'll find you are hairless for weeks under there - how luxurious would that be to have no stubble, especially in the summer months.
It can be tricky to get the right angle when tackling armpits so you will have to hold the epilator at different degrees and pull the skin around to catch all the hair.
Absolutely! The legs - especially below the knee - are the most common place people epilate, and continuous epilating will see amazing results. Plus, you can quite quickly build up a strong tolerance to the pain on your legs.
Yes! It may be tricky and painful to begin with, but the bikini area is the where most women want to stunt hair growth, as shaving can cause complications and isn't long-lasting.
Remember also to exfoliate this area whenever you can, as it is easier to get ingrown hair if not careful, which could then lead to infection.
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Written by Advice Team on November 4, 2015
Want super-smooth, touchable pins but don’t want the hassle of daily shaving? Look no further - epilating might be the thing you’ve been looking for. If you’re reading this and wondering what an epilator is, it’s essentially an electric hair removal appliance that acts like a giant set of tweezers which when moved across the surface of your skin catches and removes all of the hairs in its path.
It sounds pretty harsh and if you’ve never waxed or epilated before then the first couple of times are going to be uncomfortable. However, the more you do it, the weaker and finer the hairs get and the less painful they are to remove so it gets easier and easier over time. The results are worth the initial discomfort - we promise. If you are really squeamish about pain, some women take a mild pain-killer 30-60 minutes before the session to take the edge off but it’s definitely not necessary.
Unlike shaving, epilators remove hair from the root which means it takes longer to regrow. Rather than having to shave every couple of days, most women use their epilator once a week and still achieve super smooth pins. Also, because the hairs grow back finer and fewer, hair regrowth is softer, less prickly and less visible. Once you’ve been depilating for a while, even if there is a bit of regrowth, it’s barely noticeable either by eye or by touch so you can get away with it that bit longer!
As with most things in life, the better the tools the better the job, so choose a good quality epilator, there are lots of options to choose from all at different price points. Keep in mind you will be using it regularly so it is worth investing a bit more for one with all the features you need. Where you intend to use your epilator will affect your choice as not all can be used on the bikini area as well as arms and legs so check it’s suitable for your requirements before you buy.
Unlike waxing, shorter hair is much better for epilating and hair should never be more than 1-2mm long. If your hair is longer than this, shave a couple of days before you plan to epilate; it will be so much more comfortable. Epilation is not instant and when you first start it will take you a good 30 minutes to do both of your legs, so don’t attempt it if you’re in a rush. Set some proper time aside, preferably in the evening so that any post-epilation irritation is gone before morning and take your time.
Regardless of whether your epilator is wet or dry, a soak in the tub for at least 10 minutes before epilating is a great way to prepare the skin and hair. Epilators work best on clean skin free of natural oils, moisturisers and lotions. A good soak will cleanse the area, open the pores and soften the hair making it ready for the session.
When epilating you do need to be vigilant about your exfoliating regime to avoid ingrowing hairs which are quite frankly a pain in the neck. It doesn’t matter whether you dry brush, use a loofah, a body scrub or a shower mitt, just make sure you do it regularly and certainly before every hair removal session. Exfoliating will remove all dead skin cells from the surface of the skin and help uncover any hairs that have got trapped under this top layer. It also makes your skin feel super smooth too which is an added bonus!
Start by epilating the hairiest parts of your body first; on your legs this is generally the inside of your calves. As well as being the hairiest, it is also the least sensitive so it gives your body time to adjust to the sensation before moving on to the more sensitive area such as around the ankles. Pulling the skin taut, hold the epilator at 90 degrees to the body and glide (don’t push) the epilator smoothly and slowly across the skin in the opposite direction to hair growth (generally on your legs this means moving from ankle to thigh). Move in circles as you go to catch hairs which are growing in different directions and work methodically so you don’t miss a patch. The slower you go, the less risk there is of breaking the hair at the surface instead of being removed at the root and the less passes you will need to do. Slow and steady is the name of the game.
It’s completely normal for your skin to be a bit red after epilation and a lot of women notice small red dots across the area treated. Don’t worry, it will subside over the course of a few hours. A rich body moisturiser will help soothe and rehydrate the area and keep your skin touchably soft. Look for a moisturiser containing with Hazel or Aloe if your skin is particularly sensitive as this will calm any irritation.
Don’t forget to clean your epilator after every use to keep it in good working order and to ensure it’s ready for next time. For dry epilators simply give it a tap and use the brush supplied. For wet models rinse it out under water and then dry with a paper towel. Easy peasy!
Once you get comfortable with epilating you’ll wonder how you ever survived without it, so give it a go, you’ve got nothing to lose except prickly legs!
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Custom Epilator. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.