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There are several different ways to get rid of unwanted facial and body hair. If you want to avoid the frustration of shaving or the troubles of using hot wax, you should certainly look at an epilator. The epilator removes hair directly from the roots and produces long-term results.
The downside: using an epilator can cause some degree of pain. But for most users, the benefits outweigh the pain. You can remove hair and have smoother skin without going to a salo. Plus, the results last longer than many other hair removal methods.
In this article, we’ve gathered and reviewed the top epilators available in the market today. We’ll start with the Best Epilator, the Braun Silk-epil 9 9-579.
Contents [show]
Best Epilator
Preview
Top Choice!
Runner-Up
Budget Pick
Best for Beginners
Best for Portability
Name
Braun Silk-epil 9 9-579
Panasonic ES-ED90-P Epilator
Remington Smooth & Silky
Braun Silk-epil 5 5-620
Philips Satinelle
Price on Amazon
$193.72
Price not available
$14.99
$69.94
Price not available
View on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Our Top Pick: Braun Silk-epil 9 9-579
Key Points at a Glance
- MicroGrip tweezer technology
- Wet and dry use
- Includes facial brush
- Wider pivoting head
- Cordless and rechargeable
The Details
Braun has an outstanding line of epilators, and has been making many of the Best Epilators for years. Unfortunately, their name scheme is terrible. Regardless, the Silk-epil 9 9-579 is one of their latest models, and is an outstanding choice.
One of the best things about this epilator is the wide epilator head. The wide head helps it cover a larger area so you can remove hair faster. This is especially useful when you’re going through larger areas of the body like the legs.
It runs on the MicroGrip tweezer technology. This ingenious design consists of longer tweezers and wider wings for more efficient hair capture and plucking. With this, it was able to pull hair out more efficiently. Most users describe this as having a much closer pull. Even shorter hairs, which waxing could miss, were pulled out when this epilator is used.
Most people who use epilators will say that pain is part of the process. However, many customers were impressed that this didn’t hurt as much as they expected. Some found that it hurt initially but as they went through sessions, the pain level declined.
It is also beginner-friendly and the speed can be adjustable for comfort. Massage heads on the head also provide vibration to lessen the pain.
Different head attachments are included. These are tailored to work in various body regions — some larger areas and others for tighter or smaller areas like the face.
Many buyers loved that this unit is cordless and watertight, so you can use it in the bath. Although it isn’t quiet, it functions well enough that almost all buyers are willing to ignore the sound it produces. This is the Best Epilator available.
Braun Epilator Silk-epil 9 9-579, Facial Hair Removal for Women, Facial Cleansing Brush, Womens Shaver, Wet & Dry, Cordless and 7 extras
- World’s #1 epilator brand for up to 4 weeks of...
- Epilator removes more hair in one stroke*
- Epilation removes hair 4x shorter than wax
- Wet & Dry epilation - virtually painless with...
- 13 extras including shaver head, trimmer cap and...
$193.72
Buy on Amazon
Our Runner Up: Panasonic ES-ED90-P Epilator
Key Points at a Glance
- Powerful 2-speed motor
- Dual-disc epilator head
- Fast-charging time
- Wet and dry use
- Multiple head attachments
The Details
A good alternative to the one on the top of our list is our runner up pick, the Panasonic ES ED90-P Epilator. Like the Braun Silk-epil 9, this also has multiple attachments that make it useful as an epilator for larger areas and for smaller areas.
It also has a beginner cap, that allows only a limited number of tweezers to work on an area. This helps beginners get used to the sensation of plucking multiple hairs at a time.
Another good aspect of this epilator is the swiveling head that helps follow the natural curvature of the body. It can swivel forward and backward at a 30° angle. It is also a rechargeable unit and many loved that but some hoped for a battery upgrade so it can last longer.
A lot of customers say that it is very painful. Some customers noted that the manual says it shouldn’t be used on the underarms or bikini areas, which disappointed some of the customers. This is because it has a tendency to snag loose skin. However, it works really well for the legs as the skin in that areas is tighter.
Some people have also used this for their underarms and have said that it is very painful to do so. However, after a few sessions, they were able to use it more comfortably and now enjoy the perks of flawless, hairless skin.
Best Budget: Remington Smooth & Silky Facial Epilator
Key Points at a Glance
- 6 tweezers
- Small and compact
- Includes a cleaning brush
- Battery operated
The Details
For buyers who have a low budget, we’ve still got you covered. The Remington Smooth & Silky Facial Epilator is suitable for you. It doesn’t have different attachments and just provides you with the basic epilator function but it works well.
There are six tweezers in this unit which makes it suitable for use on the face and other smaller areas. However, many users were still able to use it on larger areas like the legs. One of the best things about this epilator is the compact size. It can easily be packed with you even when you travel.
It works with 1 AA battery and so you simply have to replace it. There is no need to recharge or plug the unit in for it to work. It also includes a handy brush that you can use to clean out the hairs from the unit after use.
Due to the affordability, it does have a few limitations and there are clearly other better units like our other top choices. However, for a basic epilator that won’t cost you a fortune, this one is one of the best. Some customers had great success using it on their faces while others found that it wasn’t able to get the smaller hairs. Some also had red bumps on their skin that usually goes away after a few days.
Best for Beginners: Braun Silk-epil 5 5-620
Key Points at a Glance
- Speed setting for beginners
- Micro-grip tweezer technology
- Wide epilation head
- Wet and dry use
- Senso Smart feature
The Details
Using an epilator for the first time can be scary because of the pain associated with it. However, there are epilators made especially for beginners like the Braun Silk-epil 5 5-620. This is designed for beginners. It has a gentler speed setting that’s great for beginners. Once you’re used to epilation, you can choose to speed it up.
The anti-slip grip also helps beginners to easily control the epilator even when used in wet environments like the shower. It is also waterproof so you can epilate with warm water for a gentler experience. For an even better experience, a massage cap can also be used over the head to help the epilation session to be less painful.
Additionally, there is also a Senso Smart feature that warns users when they are putting too much pressure on the epilator. This can greatly help beginners refrain from hurting themselves further when using the epilator.
This epilator has 28 tweezers that function with the Micro-Grip technology to remove shorter hair that even wax can’t catch. There is also a shaver and trimmer attachment to provide other means of getting rid of hair. Most users loved how it helped them achieve smoother and hairless skin but there are some who still find the epilator too painful to use.
Best for Portability: Philips Satinelle Advanced Epilator
Key Points at a Glance
- Wide Epilation head
- 32 ceramic tweezing disks
- Wet and dry use
- Includes carry pouch and 2 caps
- Rechargeable and cordless
The Details
For a full-body epilator that you can bring with you anywhere, the Philips Satinelle Advanced is a suitable choice. It is designed to have a wider head and a slender body, which makes it compact and easy to travel with. Plus, there is a pouch included so you can easily travel with it. It can be used for the face and body so you don’t have to use multiple epilators for different areas.
The 32 tweezing discs are made from a ceramic material that helps improve the grip on the hair. This helps lessen missed hairs so you won’t have to go over the same area multiple times. It is even capable of pulling hairs 4 times shorter than waxing can.
A precision cap can be placed over the epilator head so that only a small number of tweezers are exposed. This is best used on smaller areas such as the face or the bikini line for Brazilians. Most buyers who got this product were very happy with their purchase because they were able to use it for their whole body effectively.
Many also liked the slender body of this epilator. Unlike the bulkier alternatives, this was much easier to hold and control or position. Also, it has two-speed settings. The slower one is useful for delicate or hard to reach areas while the faster one can be used in larger areas like the arms or legs.
Epilator Buyer’s Guide
Smooth and hairless skin is now possible with a variety of products in the market. An epilator is a great choice because it removes hair down to the roots — similar to home laser hair removal. With this, you can expect that it will take time for the hair to grow again before you need to undergo another session.
Epilators are great for people who can’t stand to shave every day just to keep their skin smooth and hairless. Plus, shaving just doesn’t produce skin that’s as smooth as an epilated one. Shaves can easily accidentally nick the skin easily because they make use of sharp blades.
Using epilators is also a good substitute for those who are sick and tired of burning their skin because of using hot wax. Although cold wax is also another option to remove hair without scalding yourself, some short hairs can’t be removed by it. Wax doesn’t provide enough grip for shorter hairs, unlike epilators.
Important Features to Consider
Wide VS Thin Epilator Head
One of the most important things to consider when buying the epilator is the width of the head. A wider one means that it will be able to cover a larger area for each pass. This makes it an efficient tool to use especially if you are likely to use the epilator on your legs.
However, epilators with wider heads aren’t ideal for small areas like the face. Those with smaller heads will fit better and are more ideal for the face. The good news is that there are epilators that come with caps so that only a few of the tweezers are exposed. With this kind of attachment, you can now use epilators with wider heads on tighter areas.
Number Of Tweezers Vs Design
Epilators are similar to using tweezers manually but instead of removing hair one at a time, you’ll be able to remove multiple hairs at a time because multiple tweezers are also used. With that, we can say that the more tweezers in the epilator, the faster you’ll remove the hairs in a certain area. The less likely you need to go over that area again because each hair is pulled by the tweezers.
However, the number of tweezers shouldn’t be the only consideration. More importantly, you should also consider the design of the tweezers. Manufacturers may have similar designs when it comes to tweezers but there are others who put more into their design to make their tweezers more efficient. Some improve the design of the tweezers so they will be able to catch even the short hairs that waxing misses.
Multiple Speed Settings
Being able to control the speed of your epilator feels much more comforting especially if you are new to using epilators in general. The fast speed can look scary but being able to turn it down can help you decide to use the product. Slower speed settings are not only great for beginners but they are also great to use in areas requiring more precision.
As you get used to using the epilator, faster speeds may be chosen. Faster speeds are great because that means you can run the epilator through the area faster too. This is great for those who like to epilate but don’t have much free time to do so.
Plugged-in VS Rechargeable VS Battery Operated
Epilatorsunits
Rechargeable units are also great because you simply have to charge them to use them. They are also usually the ones that you can use wet or dry. The drawback is if you forget to charge them earlier, you have to wait for them to finish charging before using them. Also, some may take about an hour to charge and you can only use them for 30 minutes before you need to be charged again.
Battery operated units are another option. These are usually compact ones but you should make sure you have a supply of batteries to use them. If they run out, you can easily change the batteries. Check how efficiently your epilator works when they run on disposable batteries. Sometimes, they can still run but not as efficiently anymore because the disposable batteries are already running out. Don’t just change batteries when they completely stop working.
Swiveling Or Rotating Head Design
The body is not flat and straight. It has many curves and contours so a flat head won’t work efficiently. Having heads that swivel or rotate at certain angles helps the epilator follow the natural curvature of the body. With that, the tweezers can catch the hairs more efficiently as the head swivels to move in closer to them.
Most high-end epilators have movable heads that will help automatically follow the curve of the body. For more budgeted pieces that have a fixed head, you just have to figure out how to hold them at an angle to reach the hairs. Movable heads will help make the epilation process easier to do.
Grip And Comfort
Although using the epilator doesn’t necessarily take hours to do, you should still find the ones that are comfortable to hold. Many epilators have a silicone cover or area on the handle to help with the grip. These can also make the epilator softer or more comfortable to hold.
Another thing that can also affect the comfort in using the product is the shape of the handle or body of the epilator. Some are wider while others are narrower. Although they may be designed differently, it is best to figure out what it is more comfortable to hold. Those with smaller hands might choose slender handles over wider ones.
Wet And Dry Use
Some epilators can only be used dry while others can be used wet while in the shower or bath. Depending on when and where you want to use your epilator, you may choose to go for a waterproof one. Most manufacturers that produce waterproof ones suggest using them under warm water. The warmth of the water helps open up the pores so it can be less painful to epilate hairs. Many also find warm water to be comforting.
Included Caps Or Heads
Epilators can come with detachable heads or caps. There are some that can be interchanged with shaving heads, buffing heads or even facial brushes. These provide more functionality to the units. If you are simply looking for an epilator, you might not need or want other extra heads.
Caps, on the other hand, are useful for epilators. Some have caps that have massagers attached to them so that the skin is massage as the hairs are removed. There are also caps that have large windows or smaller windows. Larger windows are useful when using the epilator on larger areas like the legs. Smaller windows, on the other hand, are useful for tighter areas like on the bikini line.
Added Extra Features
Some manufacturers have added extra features in their epilators to make them look more attractive to customers. Before you purchase an epilator just because of their special features, consider if you really need that feature or if its absence will greatly affect your epilation sessions.
For example, the brand Braun has a SensoSmart technology that is good because it helps users determine whether they are putting too much pressure on the epilators. This can be great for those who are new to the use of epilators. It can guide them to not put too much pressure on the device. However, if you’ve already been using epilators before and are just looking for a replacement, this feature may not be as useful to you as to a beginner.
Another would be the light system for epilators. It does help you better see if there are still hairs on the area you are working on but you can still do well without it. You just need to do your sessions in a well-lighted room. Plus, if the epilator is really good at its job, it won’t miss a lot of hairs and you don’t have to go through areas over and over again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it painful to use an epilator?
The short answer is yes. We are not going to lie here: pain is probably the biggest disadvantage of epilator use. Plucking a single hair can be painful, now imagine plucking multiple hairs at the same time. However painful it sounds, many people still choose to do it.
Many agree that the first session is the most painful of all. This is because there are many hairs to pull and you are not used to the sensation. Of course, other techniques like waxing and laser hair removal are painful as well.
Hair grows in cycles so only some hair grows at a time. Using the epilator for the succeeding sessions can be less painful because there isn’t that much hair to pull. Also, people say you get used to the pain and it is all worth the smoothness of the skin you get afterward.
How do you lessen the pain?
Different peopledifferent things
Many find that using the epilator with a hot shower or bath works quite well.
The warmth is comforting to the skin and it also opens up the pores. On the other hand, some suggest using ice to numb the area for a short while before running the epilator. A moisturizer can also be used in the area after the session to calm the skin and help with the redness.
Do epilators cause ingrown hairs?
Epilators won’t usually cause ingrown hair, especially if you use high-quality ones in the right way. To prevent ingrown hairs after using an epilator, make sure you taut the skin when using an epilator. In this way, the epilator can grab the hair near the roots and pull it. The hair is less likely to snap and break.
Also, make sure that the epilator is working close to the skin. If it grabs the tip of the hair rather than the ones near the roots, it can break and cause an ingrown hair. Also, make sure your epilator is high quality so the hair doesn’t slide out of the tweezers.
Don’t forget to exfoliate regularly to remove the dead layer of the skin that can cause the hair to grow inward instead of outward. Exfoliation is a process that speeds up the shedding of the skin. Those who are prone to having ingrown hair may have skin that doesn’t shed fast enough. Help through exfoliation is needed in this situation.
Other Products We Looked At:
Emjoi eRase Dual Tweezer Head Epilator
No products found. This epilator efficiently removes hair with the use of the 84 tweezers in the head of the device. With that great number of tweezers, you can expect hair removal sessions to be quicker. However, some thought that although it has a lot of tweezers, it wasn’t still able to remove all hair.
It also has a special design with the dual opposing heads. These turn in the opposite direction, which is designed to stretch the skin to make hair removal more comfortable. It is designed to be used on dry skin only.
The epilator can be used when plugged in, which makes it useful at any time. It also comes with a small brush that you can use to clean the unit. For hygienic purposes, manufacturers recommend that the unit should only be used by one person.
Key Points at a Glance
- 84 tweezer discs
- Dual opposed heads
- Glide Technology
No products
VOYOR Hair Removal Epilator
The VOYOR Hair Removal Epilator is another multi-function device that has various heads for different functions. It can be used as an epilator, a shaver, and a callus remover. The epilator has 32 tweezers that are capable of removing hair that’s as short as 0.5mm.
This is a rechargeable epilator and that is great because it can work without the cord. However, some found that the charge doesn’t last long. That means that if you take too long to use it in an area, you can end up not finishing the whole area until you recharge it again for 2 hours.
There are also 2 speed levels available in the epilator. Although this product works, some still find that it doesn’t get all the hairs. It sometimes misses hair especially if it isn’t sticking straight. Some suggest slowing down the speed will help users to get all the hair.
Key Points at a Glance
- Multi-function heads
- 2 Speed levels
- Cordless and rechargeable
E-CONORO Epilator For Women
This epilator has two interchangeable heads. One is the epilator and the other is the shaver. The epilator is fitted with 30 tweezers which pulls hair from the roots. It can be used for wet and dry use. It can also be used in various areas of the body like the bikini line, legs, chin, and upper lip.
The 2-speed option helps make it suitable for sensitive skin too. Some people who find the epilation too painful can also choose the slower speed to make it more comfortable for them. Although it can remove hairs, it will not remove them in just a single pass. Some users needed to go through the area 4-5 times to completely remove the hairs per session.
The head has a floating design, which can be rotated to help it better follow the natural curve of the body. It is also fitted with an LED light to help you clearly see whether there are still hairs in the area.
Key Points at a Glance
- 2 in 1 set
- For wet and dry use
- 2 speed settings
Conclusion
Even if epilators can cause pain when used, a lot still choose them as a means to keep areas of their body hairless. With all the epilators available in the market today, we found that the Braun Silk-epil 9 9-579 is the best one of all. The Micro Grip technology and the wider head simply makes the epilation session fast and easy. It even has different attachments for various uses.
Taking the second spot on our list is the Panasonic ES-ED90-P Epilator. It is designed with a dual-disc head that tilts backward and forwards to follow the contour of the body. It can be used wet or dry and like our top pick, it also has different attachments for added use.
Lastly, we didn’t forget about our budgeted readers too and we chose the Remington Smooth & Silky Facial Epilator for our budget pick. It is the most affordable and just offers the basic epilator functions but it works well. It is also suitable for smaller or tighter areas because it only has 6 tweezers and is powered by a single AA battery.
