How effective are epilators? Top true facts

How effective are epilators? Top true facts

It almost sounds too good to be true: A device that you can use at home — anytime and anywhere — to remove unwanted hair, and the results last for weeks.

Do epilators work? As long as you are willing to put up with some pain the first few times you use them, the answer is yes.

Real effectiveness

Epilators are electrical devices that look a lot like electric razors, but instead of shaving off the hair, they pull it out from the root.

It’s kind of like tweezing on steroids.

Epilators can grab many hairs at once and pull them out very quickly.

Since the hairs are pulled completely out, the hairs won’t grow back for weeks, giving you smoother, longer lasting results than shaving and other similar hair removal methods.

Pros of Epilators

Smoother skin. Removing hair with an epilator will give you smoother skin than shaving.

When you use a razor, you’re only removing hair at the skin’s surface and cutting the hair straight across, kind of like chopping down a tree. This is what leads to prickly stubble.

If you have very dark hair, you may experience a shadow effect beneath the skin when you shave.

Since epilating pulls the hair out from the root, you don’t experience stubble or a shadow.

The hair grows back with a naturally tapered end that is soft to the touch.

Your skin will stay smoother for a longer time because the hair has been removed from the root.

Affordable price.

Epilators are very affordable. Their price can vary based on the brand and the features the epilator has, but even if you buy one of the costlier models, you’ll save money over time.

You don’t need to keep buying razors or paying for waxing sessions or depilatory creams.

Epilators cost less than laser hair removal or electrolysis.

Most epilators come with a 12-month warranty from the manufacturer.

Furthermore, with proper cleaning and maintenance of the epilator, your device can last for many years.

If you notice that your epilator isn’t grabbing hairs as efficiently as it used to, you can purchase replacement heads for most brands.

Easy to do. Epilating is possibly the easiest hair removal method to master. There are no sharp razors or messy waxes involved.

Your epilator will come with instructions that you should follow, but most brands work the same way.

For dry epilating, you just hold the epilator at a 90-degree angle, and brush it against your skin against the direction of hair growth.

You may want to try moving the epilator in small circles to make sure you catch every hair.

Running your hand against the direction of hair growth will also help the epilator to catch more hairs. The fewer flat-lying hairs you have, the better.

If you have a wet epilator that can be used in water, make sure your skin is thoroughly wet or submerged under water, and then simply move the epilator over your skin.

No side-effects.

Besides a little redness immediately after use, epilators don’t cause any side effects.

Experienced epilators often remove hair before bed, so that the skin has time to rest. By the next morning, any redness will be gone.

You might have heard that hair may grow back thicker and darker if you use an epilator.

This has been shown again and again in scientific research to not be true.

If anything, the hair may grow back thinner and lighter since pulling the hair out by the root may cause damage to the hair’s follicle.

Comparison with alternatives

How does epilating compare to other hair removal methods?

We already know that it’s cheaper than other temporary ways of removing hair because you don’t have to keep buying more products. It’s easy to do, and it doesn’t cause side effects.

Let’s take a closer look at how epilating stands up to the alternatives.

Epilating vs. Shaving

Most of us chose shaving as our first method of hair removal.

You probably have to shave every two to three days for a hair free look.

With an epilator, once you’ve used it a few times, you only need to use it every two to four weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows.

Shaving can make your skin dry, especially in the winter.

Using an epilator doesn’t affect the skin the way that shaving does. However, there may be some redness immediately after you epilate.

That's why it’s best to epilate the day before a big event.

With shaving, you can shave and go. Epilating can take longer than shaving because the device needs time to grab every hair.

However, the more you epilate, the less time you will need each session for hair free results.

Epilating vs. Waxing

Waxing has been around in some form or another for thousands of years.

Epilating is a much newer invention, but waxing and epilating work on the same principle of pulling hair out from the root for longer-lasting, smooth results.

Since the wax is pressed onto the skin, when it’s pulled off, some dead skin cells will come with it.

Many women appreciate this exfoliating result. You won’t have that same effect with epilating.

The main advantage that epilating has over waxing is that it’s much more convenient. You don’t have to go to a salon or spend time heating up messy waxes at home.

And as we’ve mentioned above, you’ll save money since you don’t have to keep purchasing hair removal products once you own a high-quality epilator.

Epilating vs. Depilatories

Depilatory creams break down hairs using chemicals.

They remove the hairs at the skin’s surface, so in a way, depilating is more like shaving than it is like epilating.

The results of epilating will last much longer than the outcome of a depilatory cream.

Depilatory creams, however, don’t hurt the way that epilators do.

That said, many women are sensitive to the harsh chemicals in depilatory creams and experience some burning or tingling during use.

There’s also a mess involved after depilating because you have to clean off the thick cream and the dead hair.

And with epilation, you don’t have to contend with the strong odors found in the majority of depilatory creams.

Do epilators really work? Absolutely! It may take a little practice to learn how to use your epilator for the best results, but the effort is worth it: smooth, hairless skin that lasts for weeks.