The Benefits

Unlike shaving, an epilator pulls the hair out at the roots, acting essentially like an electric tweezer. This means that one session will last several weeks – much longer than shaving. Shaving can also irritate the skin. Depilatory creams, another common option, contain harsh chemicals which can damage your skin. They dissolve visible hair, but again they don’t remove the roots. Also, creams can be expensive and need to be purchased regularly – you can but an epilator once and use it for years. Waxing is also an effective solution, but it can be messy and painful.

Read this post on hair removal choices for a more in-depth look at the options available.

The Downsides

Unfortunately, epilation is not without it’s drawbacks. The main one being that it can be quite painful. This isn’t surprising when you consider how an epilator works. That being said, most women say that it becomes much less painful with time. This is partly due to improvements in technique acquired by practice, and partly because hairs tend to grow back finer with regular use, and they therefore can be removed more easily. Take a look at these facial epilator tips for more information.

The Best Epilator for Women

There are many epilators available on the market, and with so many to choose from, it can be difficult making a decision which one to buy. Epilady, the inventors of the original epilator, are a well-respected brand and are well rated in customer reviews. Some of their newer models, such as the Duet range, have a built-in exfoliator (exfoliation is recommended after epilating, since it helps to prevent ingrowing hairs).

Braun is another big name in the marketplace. Their Silk-épil range includes wired and cordless (rechargeable) versions, and even a wet and dry model which can be used in the bath or shower. Emjoi are probably the third most popular manufacturer. They produce a model with a massive 72 tweezer heads which can remove many hairs in a single pass, reducing the irritation that can occur if you have to go over the same area of skin multiple times.

There’s nothing wrong with buying a basic model which doesn’t have the added extras, but it does pay to buy a good quality epilator from one of the major brands. These will generally give a better result and last longer than cheaper offerings.

It’s important that you prepare your face by removing all traces of makeup, so wash your face gently but thoroughly. The epilator needs to be clean as well, you can use alcohol for this.

Using the Epilator

Place the epilator at the correct angle on your face (the exact angle will depend on the brand you choose, but it will not work properly unless you pay attention to this). Use your free hand to keep your skin taut at all times, this helps pull the hair up and prevents your skin being pulled instead of the hair. It will also work better if you go against the direction your hairs are growing. You don’t need to press down hard, just pass the epilator lightly over your face. For multi-speed models, it’s generally better not to use the highest speed in the hope of finishing quicker – a slower speed will make it less likely that hairs will break off, rather than being removed. When you’ve finished, use a good moisturiser.

Remember that it gets quicker and easier with practice!

When it comes to removing unwanted body hair, the most common method used is that of shaving. Many women, often a weekly basis, shave their unwanted body hair on their legs and armpits. While shaving is nice, it is a hair removal method that is temporary. That is why many women often end up saving once or even twice a week. It is also important to mention that shaving in certain areas, especially the face, can make unwanted body hair even worse. That is why you may want to take the time to examine your other options.

Waxing is a popular hair removal method, as there are a number of different ways to undergo it. Waxing is commonly offered as a service at many hair salons, beauty salons, and spas. With that in mind, there are also home waxing kits that you can buy to perform your own wax jobs right in the comfort of your own home. Additional reasons as to why waxing is a popular hair removal method is because it is affordable and more permanent than shaving.

Another one of the many ways that you can remove your unwanted body hair is by using hair removal creams. Hair removal creams are often marketed as an easy way to remove unsightly body hair. While this is true, not all hair removal creams work the same. This means that you may have to experiment with multiple brands of hair removal cream to find the cream that works the best for you. Should you decide to use hair removal cream, as a way to remove your unwanted body hair, it is important that you read all directions, as some hair removal creams can only be used on certain areas of your body safely.

Although waxing is more permanent than shaving, many individual who use waxing to remove their unwanted body hair have to do so on a monthly basis. If you are looking to remove your unwanted body hair for good or at least for a period of one year or more, you will want to examine laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is one hair removal method that is rapidly increasing in popularity, as it is often permanent for many individuals.

Despite the fact that laser hair removal is increasing in popularity, there still many women who opt not to undergo a laser hair removal procedure. One of those reasons is due to cost. Yes, it can be expensive to undergo a laser hair removal procedure, but you need to think long-term. When compared to the cost of shaving, waxing, or buying hair removal creams overtime, you may be able to save a considerable amount of money with laser hair removal.

The above mentioned laser hair removal methods are just a few of the many that you have to choose from. If your unwanted body hair is such an issue that you hate going out in public, you may want to consider consulting with your primary care physician for professional advice.

Lasers are intense beams of monochromatic and coherent light. These light beams are produced by laser devices that contain either minerals or gases. The four main types of lasers are solid state, semiconductor, gas and dye.

An electric current stimulates the gas or mineral properties which excites the atoms. The atoms then emit narrow, cohesive, parallel light beams which are all the same wavelength. The light beams are focused just for a fraction of a second on the dark hair pigment at the matrix of the dermal papilla, which is the small, cone shaped indentation at the base of the hair follicle that the hair bulb fits into. The light beam is absorbed and heats the pigment which vaporizes the dermal papilla. The more intense the light beam the hotter it makes the pigment. This results in the dermal papilla being severely damaged or destroyed.

Most people believe that laser hair removal works best on hair that is in its anagen phase. This means that the hair is actively growing and is attached to the dermal papilla. The theory behind this belief is that if the dark pigment in the hair shaft extends all the way down to the dermal papilla, it will be destroyed and vaporized by the coherent light beam that is focused upon the area. This happens because the light beam will follow the dark pigment all the way down to the derma papilla.

Visible light has wavelengths that range from 390 to 770 nm, or nanometers. Lasers operating in this range allows for successful laser hair removal without causing any damage to the dermal tissue. Lasers with a light source that operates between 700 to 1000 nm targets melanin in the hair shaft effectively. For example, the wavelength of an alexandrite laser is 755 nm, which is red in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum, making its target melanin. The stronger, or greater, the wavelength, the deeper it penetrates target selectively absorbing the wavelength.

Laser hair removal uses several varying wavelengths of laser energy. These wavelengths range from near infrared radiation to visible light. The three most commonly used lasers for hair removal are Alexandrite, Pulsed diode array, and NeoDymium Yttrium Aluminum Garnets, Also know as Nd:YAGs. The wavelengths of these lasers are 755nm, 810nm, and 1064nm respectively.

Laser hair removal utilizes a complex system of science and physics which are precisely balanced to work effectively and safely on the human body. As technology continues to advance in laser hair removal, this process continues to grow in popularity.

Some of the most popular facial epilators are produced by Epilady. This company has been producing shavers and epilators since 1986, and is widely respected in the marketplace. Their Epilady Esthetic model is specially designed for use on fine facial hair, it’s battery-operated and comes with a small coil head for easy and accurate control.

Some new epilators, for example the Braun Silk Épil 7 Pro, even have an integrated massage function which helps to soothe the skin during epilation and makes the process more comfortable.

Other than using a facial epilator, there are other methods you can use to remove facial hair. A popular, though time-consuming method, is called ‘threading’. This is where a length of cotton is wrapped around the hair, which is then pulled out by the root. It does require a certain amount of practice to get right, but it’s a good method of removing even very fine hairs. There are also many depilatory creams on the market which work by dissolving the hair. However, as the hair is not removed by the root, it will tend to grow back quite quickly, and these creams can also cause skin irritation.

Expensive methods using electrolysis and lasers have to be carried out by competent professionals. They can be very effective, though may be more painful than some other techniques and can cause scarring if not performed correctly.

Of all the methods available, using a facial epilator is one of the cheapest and most effective solutions to unwanted facial hair.

Preventing Ingrowing Hairs

There are several steps you can take to prevent ingrowing hairs from appearing in the first place. Regular exfoliation with a gentle face scrubbing product will remove dead skin cells and unblock follicles, allowing the hair to grown normally. If you shave, then avoid shaving too closely and don’t shave against the direction of growth.

Facial Epilator

A facial epilator has a rotating head which acts in a similar way to tweezers, removing the hair by the roots. It’s clean, quick and easy solution which will last for 4 to 6 weeks. The more you use a facial epilator, the easier it will become, since hairs tend to grow back finer than before.

Waxing and Sugar Waxing

Waxing and sugar waxing are very popular methods. Both hot and cold wax products are available and give good results. A layer of wax is applied to the skin and then pulled off in the opposite direction to the growth of the hair, the hair is removed along with the was. The process can be a little messy when compared to using an epilator. The results last roughly the same length of time.

Threading

This method involves using cotton thread to grip and pull hair out from the root. If you plan on doing it yourself, it does take a little practice, but has the advantage of working on even the finest, smallest hairs, which means that, unlike waxing, you don’t have to wait for the hair to grow back a certain amount. If you use the method every couple days, the area will remain completely hair-free.

Depilatory Creams

These creams contain chemicals which effectively dissolve the hair. The problem is that they don’t affect the hair beneath the skin, so the results don’t normally last that long. If you choose this option, make sure you use a product which is specially designed for facial usage and test is on a small area first as the chemicals can cause quite severe skin irritation.

Laser Hair Removal

This expensive technique should only be carried out by a professional, as there is a risk of burning or permanent scarring. A laser beam is pulsed over the affected area, damaging the hair follicles. The results can last for up to a year.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal method which uses an electric current to destroy the hair follicles. Several treatments are necessary and it can be very expensive. As with laser hair removal, there is some risk of scarring if the treatment is not carried out correctly.