Hi Lovelies! I’m glad I can help. Even with a very high quality epilator, your technique matters. I always put on some music while epilating. Right now I am addicted to heavy metal. Ha! Ha!
I remember when I first starting epilating, it took me some time to develop a routine that gave me the results that I wanted. I want you to get great results quickly. Since I started epilating, I’ve listened to estheticians, beauty bloggers, and actual women who use epilators. Here is what you should know.
Questions And Answers
What is the Best Length For Hair?
Always trim the hair. It hurts way less. I have found the ideal length is around 4 mm which around the number 2 guard on a man’s clipper. Some epilators we reviewed come with trimmers that trim hair to the correct length. As a quick test, hair should cover over half of your pinky nail. If you shave, 2 days growth is usually good to start with.
When doing any form of hair removal against the root, it is normal for a few of the hairs to be snapped instead of pulled at the root. However, 90% of hair should be plucked cleanly. If you find that the epilator is breaking your hair, here is what is happening: The epilator is not gripping the hair properly. It could be that the epilator is gripping the hair at the tip instead of the root causing it to break. Be sure to hold the epilator perpendicular to the skin. You also have to experiment with the correct length. Epilating hair that is too long or too short results in broken hairs.
If your hair is breaking, switch to a lower speed setting on your epilator. If you have super fine hair, do not choose a big powerful epilator that spins very fast. It is more likely to break hair. Additionally, make sure you hair is completely dry. Some women like to dust the area they want to epilate with a drying powder like a talc free baby powder. This will help the epilator grip the hair better?
How Do You Prepare For Epilation?
Here is how I prepare my skin for epilation. I trim the hair to about 4mm but you can also let the hair grow out after shaving, depending on your hair growth.
One day before, I exfoliate the area I want to remove hair on with spa gloves. Don’t do this right before epilation as it could lead to inflammation.
I always take a shower to soften hairs. I like to place a warm towel on the area I epilate. You can nuke it in the dryer or use a towel warmer. I find it really helps make the skin more pliable, making it easier to pull out. Rub your hair with a towel in the opposite direction of hair growth to dry hair and make hair stand up. Some women like to dust the area to remove any moisturizer.
What About Pain?
LOL! I know pain is a big thing with this. It only hurts the first couple of times. The first time is the worst. It feels like tiny pin pricks. After about 3 or 4 sessions, it’s not as big of a deal. The hard part is making it there.
I haven’t found any of the attachments to really reduce pain that much. Here is what I found makes the pain more manageable.You don’t have to remove all the hair at once. At the beginning, I think it helps to do a little at a time and don’t be afraid to stop. Add a new area each day and quickly run over the previous areas. Before you know it you will get through all the hair. Once you get through initially removing all the hair it is easy to maintain because hair grows back thinner and sparser. The hardest part is getting through it once. Epilating wet is another option, but it takes much longer to epilate. Alternatively, you also wax first and epilate the re-growth.
Also, when you first turn on any epilator it can be loud and intimidating. Here’s a trick: Place the epilator on an area with no hair. It won’t hurt at all. Somehow it lets you get over your fear.
Will Hair Grow Back Thicker?
Studies actually show that the reverse is true. The hair gets thinner and lighter with repeated epilation.
What’s Your Technique?
Always use a light hand when epilating. Let the epilator do the work. Never ever push down on the epilator. The tweezers should never come in contact with the skin. I know it can be tempting to get that last straggler. Don’t do it. Let it go. If a hair is too small just let it grow out a bit longer.
Find a way to create a flat surface for the epilator even if you have to twist your body like a pretzel. These things are designed for flat surfaces. Pull your skin taut with your free hand. Stretching the skin makes it so much less painful.
Work in small sections, move the epilator in the direction opposite of hair growth against grain. Hair on the legs grows down so we go up. On the outside of the thighs, move the epilator upwards in a diagonal direction. Pay attention to the growth of your hair. I find removing hair from the right direction is the key for best results. For stubborn hairs, take a towel and rub them in the opposite direction to make them stand up. Then use a scooping circular motion with the epilator as if to lift hair away.
What Should You Do After Epilating?
Do not apply anything to your skin after you first epilate. You want to see how your skin reacts. The first time I epilated my skin was angry red and covered with irritated bumps. My skin looked yucky. It was mad at me. I felt like a plucked chicken. Lol! This is normal and it clears up in a couple of hours. It is called erythema. It is the redness of the skin. Although it looks icky, I promise it is temporary and it will clear up quickly. As your follicles get used to letting this will subside over time.
Only apply a lotion on your skin, if your skin hasn’t been badly irritated. I like to use a lotion after, but you can use anything with aloe or witch hazel.
Where can epilators be used?
Most women use epilators on their legs because they tend to work better on flatter surfaces, but they can be used anywhere you have hair.
Some epilators even include specific attachments for epilating the underarms and epilating the bikini area. Even with the facial caps, I don’t recommend using a regular epilator on the face. There are specifically designed models for the face.
How Important Is Exfoliation?
Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! I can’t say that enough. Ingrown hair is a big problem because so many people ignore it. After hair removal, ingrown hair can occur when hair doesn’t break through the skin surface. The best way to eliminate ingrowns is to prevent them from occurring. Some of the newer models come with an exfoliating cleaning brush, but there are also some great products designed for ingrowns.
I know many women swear by Tend Skin or PFB Vanish, but I have found that manual exfoliation works better. My favorite way of exfoliating is to use a pumice stone, soft bristled brush, or an exfoliating glove. Start exfoliating 2 to 3 days after epilating. Every morning, gently rub the area you want to exfoliate in a circular motion. You can do it in the shower, but I find dry exfoliating works better. Be careful, as too much of force or time can cause a nasty scrape on the skin which takes forever to heal. When done regularly, you will notice less broken hairs and you’ll greatly reduce your chance for developing ingrowns. Regular epilating will thin your hair, reducing the occurrence of ingrowns.
Will I Be Smooth?
You will not be completely smooth like shaving after epilating. Hair grows in cycles, each which lasts 28 days. It will take a couple of months to catch all your hair growth at the same time. An epilator can only grab hairs when they reach a certain length. If you have to be 100% smooth on a particular day, you can shave off the short stubble. You will be much smoother than just shaving alone. I don’t mind the short hairs because you can’t really seem them unless you get super close.
The skin looks smooth but it might not feel completely smooth like shaving. As you continue epilating properly, you will notice that you can experience longer periods of time of hair free skin.
Do you have any questions about epilation? Leave a comment below.