What is an Epilator? A Simple Guide to How They Work

Alessia Rizzo | Posted on March 14, 2024 |

For a long time, people have been removing hair from their bodies. This practice started with ancient civilizations and has changed a lot over time. In the beginning, it was done for cultural or religious reasons, but now it’s mainly for beauty and cleanliness. The ancient Egyptians were one of the first to remove hair for beauty, using things like seashells as tweezers and pumice stones to get smooth skin. Since then, many ways to remove hair have been invented, such as shaving, waxing, sugaring, and creams that dissolve hair.

But there’s one method called epilation that is really good at keeping skin smooth for a long time because it pulls hair out from the root. This means you won’t see your hair grow back as quickly as when you shave or use hair removal creams. A study from the National Laser Institute showed that epilation, especially with laser technology that started in 1998, can give a more lasting solution to getting rid of unwanted hair. Nowadays, many people choose epilation when they want a method that works well and lasts longer.

What is an Epilator?

An epilator is a small device you can hold in your hand that helps remove hair. It works by grabbing many hairs at the same time and pulling them out from where they grow. There are different kinds of epilators, like ones that work with tweezers, spinning discs, or springs to catch and pull out the hair. The main goal of an epilator is to keep your skin smooth for a longer time than shaving. Shaving just cuts the hair off at the surface of your skin.

Epilators are great because they can make your skin stay smooth for up to four weeks. This is because they pull the hair out from the root, which takes longer to grow back. When you compare epilators to other ways of removing hair, they have some nice advantages.

Saving money: After you buy an epilator, you don’t have to keep spending money on things like new blades or wax strips.
Easy to use at home: You can use epilators in your own house. There is no need to go out for salon visits.
Good at catching short hairs: Epilators can grab and remove really small hairs that sometimes waxing can miss, helping your skin feel very smooth.
Works on many body parts: You can use epilators on different places like your legs, arms, and even sensitive spots.
Private: It’s nicer for some people to remove hair by themselves at home instead of going to a salon.
Easy to carry: Epilators are usually small, so they’re easy to take with you, keeping your skin smooth wherever you are.
Better for the planet: Epilators can be used over and over, so you’re not throwing away lots of razors or wax strips. This is good for the environment.
Might not irritate your skin as much: Some folks find that using an epilator doesn’t bother their skin as much as shaving or waxing, especially after they get used to it.
Hair might grow back finer and less thick: If you use an epilator regularly, over time, your hair could start growing back softer and less dense because pulling it out can damage the hair root.
Gentle for sensitive skin: Many epilators are made to be gentle, which could be better for people who have skin that gets upset easily by shaving creams or the roughness of shaving.

Maximizing the Effectiveness of Using an Epilator

To achieve the best results from epilation, there are key considerations and practices to follow:

Scrub Your Skin First: Rubbing your skin with a scrub before you use the epilator can stop ingrown hairs. It gets rid of dead skin that might block pores.
Check Hair Length: Make sure your hair is the right length, usually between 2-5 mm, like the epilator instructions say.
Pull Skin Tight: If you stretch your skin, it hurts less and the epilator can pick up hairs better.
Start Slow: Epilators have different speeds. Begin with the slow one if you’re not used to it, then go faster as you get comfortable.
Hold It Right: Keep the epilator straight up against your skin for the best hair removal.
Care for Your Skin After: Put on some soothing lotion or cream after you’re done to help with any redness and to keep your skin soft.
Drink Water and Moisturize: If your skin is moist and hydrated, it’s easier and hurts less to epilate because soft hair comes out easier.
Pick a Good Time: Your skin might be more sensitive sometimes. Try doing it in the evening so your skin can relax through the night and it might hurt less.
Go Slow and Steady: Don’t rush. Taking it slow helps catch more hair and hurts less. Move the epilator against how your hair grows to get them out better.
Keep It Up: If you use your epilator often, you’ll have less hair grow back, making it quicker and less ouchy each time.
Don’t Do It Hot: Don’t epilate right after a hot shower. Hot skin is more sensitive. Wait until your skin cools down for a nicer experience.
Stick to a Routine: Using it regularly not only makes it work better over time but also keeps your skin smoother since hair grows at different speeds.
Listen to What Your Skin Says: If it’s really hurting or getting upset, take a break. Doing it too much can make your skin sore or irritated.

Finding the Perfect Epilator

To sum up our talk about removing hair, there are lots of different ways to do it and lots of tools you can buy. The price of epilators, which are gadgets that pull out hair, can change a lot. Some are cheap, around $20, and some are expensive, more than $100. The price changes because some epilators have special things like extra parts for different areas of your body, ways to take care of your skin while you use them, or don’t need a cord.

There are so many kinds of epilators out there, so everyone can find one that works for them. Whether you need something simple for now and then or something fancy with the newest features, there’s an option for you. You can find epilators just for sensitive spots or ones that work all over your body, depending on what you’re looking for and how much you want to spend.

Buying an epilator can save you money in the long run because it lasts a long time and you only have to buy it once, unlike throwaway razors or paying for waxing at a salon. With all the choices out there, if you spend a little time looking, you can find the perfect epilator that does what you need without spending too much.