Epilator

[Neptune34]

So I just heard about these things...
Does it last as long as waxing? Do you ever have to replace it?

[Betty300]

I have one..mind you I have never tried waxing..
Using it is quite painful and I assume it would last as long as waxing since it plucks the hair right out..

[Calee]

I have one and use it all the time. At first it hurt just like waxing, but now that I've done it for so long it's not as bad.

[fittness93]

You will get the same results as waxing, i.e. the skin will get less coarse over time. Hurts like a mofo though!

If you use Retin A or some kinds of prescription acne treatments, you shouldn't be waxing because of skin damage anyway, and these epilators are a good replacement if you can handle the tugging. You do get used to it.

[Lunu]

I used to use mine all the time but lost the plug into the wall part when we moved house!

Definitely quite painful at first but I used to even do my bikini line so it's not so, so bad.

[Raspi]

Yes, painful! Waxing is tamer in the sense that it takes care of a long stretch of skin, rather than gliding an epilator across.

Btw, these things are mad loud. =/

[V.I.C]

Why noy just get laser hair removal and be done with it?

[goalorientgirl]

Why noy just get laser hair removal and be done with it?

Because that's substantially more expensive and requires many, many initial treatments and still requires a yearly treatment to maintain?

[V.I.C]

Because that's substantially more expensive and requires many, many initial treatments and still requires a yearly treatment to maintain?

But in the long run would this not work out more time and cost effective plus less painful?

[goalorientgirl]

But in the long run would this not work out more time and cost effective plus less painful?

Not necessarily, honestly. Laser will cost you $1000s, depending on the size of the area (and it's certainly not pain free), over the course of your life. It's hard to imagine spending that much on razors. Shaving, waxing and epilatoring also make it harder for the hair to grow back eventually, so even though it takes longer, it does become easier with time. Shaving, waxing and epilators also have no real risk of scaring or skin discoloration that lasers do.

[oregonchick76]

I have one, doesn't hurt *too* bad, but my hair is blonde and fine. I have a lot of problems with the hair growing back under the skin though... don't know why.

[NOVA888]

I've never tried it, but I'm interested.

To those that have tried it, I have a few questions...

1. Does it get all the hairs, or do you still have to do a once over with a razor after using this?

2. Does it leave razor bumps or redness?

3. What about ingrown hairs? Do you get these more or less with this machine?

[oregonchick76]

I've never tried it, but I'm interested.

To those that have tried it, I have a few questions...

1. Does it get all the hairs, or do you still have to do a once over with a razor after using this?

2. Does it leave razor bumps or redness?

3. What about ingrown hairs? Do you get these more or less with this machine?

You have to go over the same area back and forth about 20 times to get every hair. It's a long slow painful process (in my opinion). At least the first time, but after that fewer hairs grow back so it's a little less painful.

It makes your legs red and irritated - my normal moisturizer burns really bad after I use the epilator, so I have to use some special lotion.

I get pretty bad ingrown hairs and the hairs often grow underneath the skin instead of coming out like they should.

[NOVA888]

You have to go over the same area back and forth about 20 times to get every hair. It's a long slow painful process (in my opinion). At least the first time, but after that fewer hairs grow back so it's a little less painful.

It makes your legs red and irritated - my normal moisturizer burns really bad after I use the epilator, so I have to use some special lotion.

I get pretty bad ingrown hairs and the hairs often grow underneath the skin instead of coming out like they should.

That's a lot of passes! I easily get ingrown hairs on the back of my calves. I'm also prone to leg irritation. I can't even stand in salt water after shaving my legs, because they feel as if they're on fire. I guess I'll keep shaving them in the meantime.

Thank you so much for your response.

[goalorientgirl]

That's a lot of passes! I easily get ingrown hairs on the back of my calves. I'm also prone to leg irritation. I can't even stand in salt water after shaving my legs, because they feel as if they're on fire. I guess I'll keep shaving them in the meantime.

Thank you so much for your response.

Do you have the same problem with waxing? I find I don't get any ingrown hairs, except maybe one or two near my bikini line, if I wax instead of shave.

[CATRACCOM]

I had one. I liked it at first, didn't mine the pain so much...but I ended up with ingrown hairs. I just got one of these but haven't used it yet. http://www.triabeauty.com/tria-laser...val-system.htm

[Neptune34]

OP here, thanks for the responses everyone Everyone seems to emphasize how painful it is, lol, but I don't think I'll mind too much if it pulls the hair out from the root. I have a problem with my hair root showing after I shave; not a good look. For ingrown hairs, I think I'll just try exfoliating afterwards.

[NOVA888]

Do you have the same problem with waxing? I find I don't get any ingrown hairs, except maybe one or two near my bikini line, if I wax instead of shave.

I tried waxing once with an at home kit. Didn't fare well, and didn't grab any hairs. But in general, I am prone to ingrown hairs on the back of my calves, so I have to do a lot of exfoliating with the Buf Puf to prevent those.

For bikini line I find that the Venus razor (with three rows of blades), prevents razor burn and itching. Best razor I've ever tried!

But I was hoping that someone would invent a simple machine to solve everything. Based on what I read here, it's too bad the Epilator doesn't seem to be that silver bullet.

[goalorientgirl]

I tried waxing once with an at home kit. Didn't fare well, and didn't grab any hairs. But in general, I am prone to ingrown hairs on the back of my calves, so I have to do a lot of exfoliating with the Buf Puf to prevent those.

For bikini line I find that the Venus razor (with three rows of blades), prevents razor burn and itching. Best razor I've ever tried!

But I was hoping that someone would invent a simple machine to solve everything. Based on what I read here, it's too bad the Epilator doesn't seem to be that silver bullet.

I've never been able to successfully home wax. I have no idea why, honestly. When I do it at home, I never get nice results, but when I have it done I'm always so happy with the outcome. I like the Venus razor too, but I still really prefer the bikini wax (I'm getting one tomorrow, in fact). I used to have issues with ingrown hairs, but they seem to mostly in the past (I think because I rarely shave these days).

[AJBBMan]

just use a hair clipper /trimmer

painless and takes 3 mins or less

[UnaChispita]

Why noy just get laser hair removal and be done with it?

Laser removal is costly and painful.

I've never been able to successfully home wax. I have no idea why, honestly. When I do it at home, I never get nice results, but when I have it done I'm always so happy with the outcome.

I might have to do with the way you are pulling--hair (particularly pubic hair) grows in different directions. You need to wax, put the strip on and pull against how it grows. Also, I've heard bruising is more likely to occur depending on where you are on your cycle.

[aristomeow]

Epilation causes the worst ingrowns out of all methods. Its the most cost effective but side effects aren't worth it imo.

[SultanaK]

I've done waxing, laser hair removal, and epilating, and the epilator hurts the most. Why? Because you have to roll it more than once over your skin while it tugs. Plus, it's loud. I don't like others knowing what business I'm taking care of in the bathroom lol. I used it on my upper lip, and there is no way I would let it near my bikini area or underarms.

[mrshester]

Laser removal is costly and painful.

And there is a chance of it either not working or getting burns. A former coworker's wife had her underarms done and ended up with scars.

[SultanaK]

And there is a chance of it either not working or getting burns. A former coworker's wife had her underarms done and ended up with scars.

The last time I went in for my upper lip, she cranked it up higher than normal and it ended up giving me a fine line near my mouth. I know it's from that, but it appeared instantaneously and because I don't go out in the sun often.

It's worth it, but just be careful.

[aristomeow]

I've done waxing, laser hair removal, and epilating, and the epilator hurts the most. Why? Because you have to roll it more than once over your skin while it tugs. Plus, it's loud. I don't like others knowing what business I'm taking care of in the bathroom lol. I used it on my upper lip, and there is no way I would let it near my bikini area or underarms.

Yeah I've had my friend awkwardly knock on the door and ask why I was..vibrating.

[prudenceclaire]

Just for clarification, the term "epilation" refers to any hair removal method that pulls the hair out from the root: waxing, plucking and epilators all do the same thing but in different ways. I used to get my arms and legs professionally waxed at great expense. Then I bought an epilator for $100.

I find that it's a slow process and I have to go over the area several times, but I get less itchy red bumps and less ingrown hairs than with waxing. I find it more painful than waxing because of the fact that it's slow and only a few hairs at a time. I found waxing of my arms and legs basically painless where as the epilator does make me wince.

And lastly, some people can't get laser hair removal because their hair is too fair. I have quite tanned skin and blonde hair which means that laser would not work on me. The best combination is very white skin with very dark hair. I've asked several laser places and they've all told me "Don't even bother". DAMMIT!!

[juju82]

I've mostly just shaved all areas, including privates my whole life-of course after puberty. Body hair sucks .y do we need this anyways? Is it really THAT necessary? Anyways, this is what lead me 2 a well known high-ranking home epilator, electrical plug in/ portable which I bought at Ulta, just 2 get these suckers from the root-once and 4 all! What I didn't know was that I was going 2 be stuck with never before experienced ingrowns and scars as a result of me removing them w/ epilator. Its been over a yr, still not the same. Have had to spend 40$ on lightening cream 4 a bottle alone 2 remove ingrown hair scars. Bottom line is -from personal experience-epilators have put me through misery that shaving and/or waxing has never put through b4!:l Never had ingrown hair probs until I epilated! Theres ur answer. Stick 2 waxing.

[juju82]

To reduce inflammation/scarring/ redness, and increase smoother results, bathe with hot/warm water & all natural lavender soap(calming & healing), then exfoliate with a good scrub. Then do whatever, hair removal of preference minus nair. After hair removal is done, epilating or shaving or waxing, follow regime: apply alcohol with cotton pad on areas, except anal areas and other delicate areas like inner labia,only surrounding it not directly though. After, apply 100% tea tree oil 1-2 times/daily, especially b4 going 2 bed. If u get ingrown hairs, pull hair from underneath skin surface with needle. 1 superficial pierce, into & under hair, pull up. Remove w/tweezer. Dab w/ alcohol follow steps above. If cut is deep or scar occurs, apply neosporin and cover, repeat steps above until fully healed. Use lightening cream until mark fades. Lol. Its a lot but it's the only way it's worked out 4 me :l.

[mom1130]

Tried the epilator a long time ago, done sugaring and waxing. I wax myself and my daughters with professional wax at home. The epilator def. hurt more due to the fact you are constantly going over the area. Waxing i prefer quicker can be messy but i enjoy the results more. With everything you get use to the pain. There are lotions to apply after waxing that help slow down the hair growth and to soften the new hair. To avoid ingrown hairs you need to use a luffra over the waxed area, normally ingrowns are caused by the hair getting trapped under the skin or not moisturizing your skin enough