Epilation and depilation are often confused and used interchangeably. However, they do not mean the same thing.
Epilation refers to removing hair by the root. The most popular epilation methods are: waxing, epilating, laser, and IPL (Intense Pulsed Light technology).
Depilation, on the other hand, removes the hair only from the surface of the skin and leaves the hair root intact. The most popular depilation methods are: shavers, razor blades and depilatory creams.
Electric epilator: advantages and disadvantages
Before you make the choice to buy an epilator, you should be aware of the pros and cons.
Advantages
- Effectiveness
Unlike the razor, with which the hairs grow back in 2 to 3 days, the electric epilator promises weeks of smooth skin. In addition, this technique promises finer regrowth gradually as the roots of the hairs weaken.
- Adaptable for a variety of people
Some will prefer epilators with air flow adapted to sensitive skin, others will appreciate the exfoliating heads that erase imperfections or the waterproof mode to calm pain and save time. There are many options available on the market.
- An accessible investment
Much cheaper than pulsed light technology and waxing, quality electric epilators are accessible for less than 100 euros and even offer all kinds of accessories for this price.
Disadvantages
- Fairly painful technique
Electric hair removal is quite painful since it consists of plucking hairs at the root. Even if some models offer pain-relieving technology, it is still less pleasant than shaving or other methods of hair removal.
- Time consuming
It is often necessary to go over the same area several times in order to eradicate all the hairs. Thus, it sometimes takes several tens of minutes to fully epilate your body parts. This does become more manageable after frequent use.
- Not well suited to all areas
While other methods can be used everywhere, electric epilation can be unbearable in certain areas that are very sensitive. In addition, it is absolutely not recommended on the face.
How to choose the best epilator?
There are plenty of epilators to choose from on the market today, so how do you know which one is right for you? We will take you through the most important features to consider to help you find one that is suitable for your needs.
Power: do I need a corded or battery operated epilator?
Some epilators work using standard batteries. These might be a good choice if you’re new to epilating and don’t want to spend a lot. However, if your plan is to epilate often, a corded or rechargeable model would suit your needs best. Corded epilators are generally more powerful and maintain optimum performance throughout an epilation. Rechargeable instead will offer you more movement freedom but might lose their power if the battery is running low. Modern rechargeables are getting better and better with both battery life and power, so these may be more expensive but are often the best option.
Number of tweezers
In a nutshell, epilators work in the same way as your everyday manual tweezer, but are able to pluck multiple hairs at once. That’s why the more tweezers the epilator head consists of, the quicker it will be able to cover larger areas. So when considering your purchase, you need to think about the number of tweezers in conjunction with which areas of the body you will be covering. Tweezer heads can have from 9–10 tweezers (for delicate facial areas) up 72. It is also worth mentioning that the more tweezers the epilator has, the more pain that will be felt but, because more tweezers are quicker, the pain will not last as long.
Wet, dry or both?
Although epilating works best on dry skin, many recent models can be used in shower or even underwater. Usually these models will cost more. Since it makes epilation less messy and painful, you would probably like to have this option available. When submerged in water, your body is less sensitive to the plucking sensation, and the skin is less irritated as warm water helps to relax. The downside of epilating in the shower is that the whole process will likely be less effective, since the hair will stick to the skin and won’t be grabbed by the device. However, the percentage of eliminated hair can be increased when epilating while completely submerged in the water. Wet and dry models are designed to be waterproof and they also automatically shut off when plugged into a power socket for safety reasons. The battery life also tends to get shorter when epilating under water. Obviously, for safety reasons, cable powered epilators cannot be used in wet conditions.
Epilator accessories and extra features
In addition to the basic features above, you can also look for extra features to make the whole process more effective and less painful. Consider your own needs and choose the features that will help you remove hair as easily as possible.
Cleansing and exfoliating brushes
Exfoliating before and between hair removal with epilator is important to reduce ingrown hairs, one of the common side effects from any method involving plucking from the root. Included as an optional head, it has the advantage of ensuring that you get a good amount of use from your epilator. Some epilators come with a separate exfoliating brush, but the ones with interchangeable head are the most convenient.
Cap attachments
Most epilators will have one or more caps that are added to the epilator head depending on what part of the body they are used for. Usually, there is a sensitive area cap for use on underarms and bikini-line, and, if the epilator is designed for facial use, there may be a facial cap. These cover part of the head so that the number of tweezers in use is decreased. Some also have massage caps. These are designed to make the process more comfortable, using rollers to help stretch and vibrate the skin when epilating.
Built-in light
Some epilators have a built-in light which is positioned to illuminate the hairs in the immediate area being epilated. This can help you to see hairs that are flat against the skin or particularly fine, so that you can epilate efficiently with less need to go over the same area again and again. Users swear by this feature as a must have.
Dual speed
Most of the epilators designed for full body use have a dual speed function: slower for gentler epilation of sensitive areas and faster for quicker, more efficient coverage of larger, less sensitive areas. This is a nice feature to give you some control over the speed of your epilator.
Extra-wide epilator head
A wider epilation head covers more surface area, for a faster and more efficient hair removal process.
Hypoallergenic ceramic discs
If your skin is sensitive or you’re concerned about developing an allergic reaction to metal coils, opt for an epilator with ceramic disc tweezers. These will remove your hairs effectively without the risk of irritation.
Coolers and massages
Some users describe a burning feeling when they use the epilator, especially the first time. With that in mind, some manufacturers include cooling gloves with their epilators to give you a cooling sensation that can bring immediate relief. Some even have built-in integrated skin coolers to continuously cool the skin while epilating. Others include massaging heads as well.