We all know how much women love the feeling of smooth and silky skin. From the use of moisturizers to body lotions and body scrubs, a lot comes into play when aiming to achieve or maintain flawless skin.
With that said, there is so much more to the soft and velvety finish than just hydration and exfoliation. In fact, hair growth is another natural factor women have to consider on their journey to attaining the smooth skin of their dreams.
Among the most popular methods women use for hair removal is epilation. The epilator device makes use of small mechanical teeth that pull the hair from the roots, making them grow thinner and slower after every use. However, because of all this “pulling,” women complain about the pain they experience from having to use this device.
Today, we are going to address this issue, and share some tips on how women can use an epilator without pain. But before we do, let’s first compare it with another popular hair removal method women like to do—waxing.
Waxing vs Epilating
Waxing and epilating are similar, in that both methods pull unwanted hair from the root. For a full in-depth comparison of the two, let’s begin to address the important factors that make each one different.
Pain
When it comes to having a comfortable experience, both epilating and waxing require a higher threshold of pain compared to that of using a razor. While razors are almost painless, the same could not be said for these two methods. Skin sensitivity plays an important role as well, when it comes to the body part you would use these on.
Imagine pulling out body hair one by one using a pair of tweezers. With waxing and epilation, it’s like doing it all in one go or pulling multiple strands at a time; that’s the kind of pain you can expect to receive from either of these treatments. The only difference is that waxing is a bit faster and it involves instantly pulling out all the hair at once. This kind of pain feels a lot sharper than epilating, and you can definitely feel a warm, burning tingle afterwards.
On the other hand, epilating is like going over multiple strands of hair as the device’s mechanical teeth glide over them. The experience feels like pulling hair out with tweezers at a much faster pace. You can feel the slow discomfort and pain of pulling out hair one by one, as compared to waxing that leaves you with just one shock.
Regardless of their differences, it all boils down to preference and which one’s you’re more willing to get used to.
Hair Length
The next factor one should consider when it comes to waxing vs epilating is hair length. What this signifies is the required length of hair that would have grown from the area before you even begin to wax or epilate.
In order to properly perform a wax treatment, hair should at least be ¼ inch or 6.35 mm long. Alternatively, it should be enough that it covers your pinky fingernail at least half or three-quarters of the way. The only downside to this is you may have to wait around four weeks before reaching the suggested length of hair growth.
Epilation, on the other hand, requires pretty much the opposite when it comes to the length of hair. The device only needs about 3 to 5 mm of hair to run successfully. Any longer than ⅛ inch, and the hair may not be properly removed from the root, which can cause ingrowns. Contrary to pre-waxing methods, trimming is advised if hair is deemed too long.
Regrowth Speed
After taking the time to do either of these hair removal methods, the next question would be how much time it takes for hair to grow back.
If you were able to successfully pull out hair from the root, the speed of regrowth should be the same for either of the treatments. It would probably take around two to four weeks before you start to notice significant visibility.
However, because the epilator does not need longer hair for it to work, you can epilate the hair much sooner than you can wax. One common issue women face is the fact that hair cycles vary, and not all hair may grow out at once or all together. If you use an epilator as soon as you see signs of regrowth, you may have to do it more often because hair is growing at different times.
Compared to waxing, the long wait time ensures that the hair is all grown out before you even begin to remove them.
Is it Possible to Epilate Without Pain
Because epilating consists of tugging at the hair, it can be excruciatingly painful for someone who is used to painless methods, like shaving and using hair removal creams.
However, with proper preparation and aftercare, this pain can be reduced or completely alleviated depending on the measures you’re willing to take.
How to Lessen Epilator Pain
Below are a number of ways to help diminish the pain brought about by epilating. Follow these tips so you, too, can have a more comfortable experience while removing your hair.
Pick the Right Epilator
No matter how much you prepare, getting a good quality epilator would be your best bet towards avoiding any unnecessary pain. Choosing a reputable device, which also has skin simulating benefits, can assure you that it would get the job done and would provide you a better overall experience.
Do Not Epilate on Long Hair
Using the epilator on long, untrimmed hair can mean it will catch onto the blades, and make the pulling sensation more painful. If your hair has already grown out, trim them down to the recommended length so the device can smoothly glide along the skin.
Take a Warm Shower or Bath Prior
Before you begin epilating, it would be a good idea to take a warm bath or shower. The steam and warmth coming from the water will open up the pores, as well as your skin’s hair follicles, making for a swift and easy removal when you press the device slowly onto your skin.
Run Your Hand Over the Area
Moments before using the epilator, use your hand to massage the skin opposite to the direction of hair growth. This enables the hair on the body to stand up, making it easy for the epilator to grip them.
Use Talcum Powder
Talcum powder helps dry the skin and hair, giving it an even coating. Since not all epilators are good on wet skin, applying some powder over the intended area helps to prep the surface, and prevent any hiccups that may occur along the way.
Hold Your Skin Taut
Just with any other hair removal method, pulling your skin taut is a good step to ensure that you are efficiently able to pull the hair from the root. Before pressing the device onto your skin, pull your skin back and against the direction you’re going to epilate on. This gives the device easy access to the hair, allowing for a cleaner removal.
Go Over with a Light Hand
When avoiding pain and unnecessary scratches, avoid putting too much pressure on the device when epilating. Doing so can cause rashes, nicks or wounds that would have been otherwise avoided. Instead, firmly hold the device, and go with a light hand.
Don’t Epilate on Your Period
Due to hormonal changes in the body during menstruation, women’s skin has the tendency to be extra sensitive. If you want to avoid as much pain and discomfort, schedule your epilating sessions weeks prior or after your period. Trust us, this is the last thing you want when you’re already dealing with cramps and back aches, among other things.
Use a Numbing Cream
If you think that you can benefit from any form of numbing sensation before using the epilator, then there are a lot of topical creams on the market to choose from. Apply the recommended amount to the concerned area, and wait a couple of minutes for it to take effect before epilating. This way you’ll be able to enjoy a more pleasant experience while using the device.
Use a Painkiller
If numbing creams aren’t enough to soothe the discomfort away, pain killers are also great alternatives to ease the pain. Not everyone has a high pain tolerance, so it’s completely normal to resort to using one. These are available over the counter at the drugstore, so they’re readily available when you need them.
Aftercare Tips
Now that we’ve given you the lowdown on what to do before and during the procedure, here are some aftercare tips you might want to practice so you can soothe your skin or avoid further discomfort in the future.
Exfoliate
Using a scrub or any exfoliating product after the hair removal process helps to get rid of any leftover hair or debris on the skin. Once you finish exfoliating, you can immediately notice silky smooth results that are better than just using the epilator alone.
Clean Your Epilator
It’s easy to put the epilator down once we’re done using it. This practice is not only unhygienic, but it also breeds germs and bacteria that may cause us problems in the long run. In order to keep the epilator clean, pristine, and running in the best condition, throw the hair away from the cap, and go over the blades and container with a small brush.
Conclusion
There you have it! Using the epilator doesn’t have to be painful, as long as you know the extra steps to take to ensure a smooth and hassle-free hair removal.
At the end of the day, just always remember that it’s important to be hygienic and mindful when operating the device. Over time, you will find that you, yourself, are slowly getting used to it, until come a day when you’re no longer in pain at all.