Epilating vs Waxing: Everything You Need to Know About Epilating

I had been thinking about purchasing an epilator for a long time but was always hesitant because of the pain. My pain tolerance is a bit low, so I enjoy painless hair removal techniques like shaving. However, because waxing has a longer-lasting effect, I have been waxing since college. A while ago Braun reached out to me to collaborate on a campaign, since they were launching a new product: Braun Silk-Epil 9 Flex. It was the perfect opportunity for me to try out epilating. In this post, we’ll dive into epilating vs waxing, and I will share my personal experience with epilating, lessons I’ve learned, and tips!

For full disclosure, I was hired to work with Braun on Instagram only. I decided to write this post on my own and all opinions are my own.

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What exactly is epilating?

Epilating is a less popular form of hair removal. I had never heard of epilating until recently and thought waxing, shaving, and laser were my only options to remove body hair.

An epilator is an electronic device designed to remove hair directly from the roots. There is a dry epilator and a wet epilator, which can be used for removing hair while in the bath or shower. An epilator plucks away hair as you move the device over different parts of your body.

Think of it as a device with a bunch of tiny tweezers that move from side to side plucking away the hairs as you move it around. Sounds painful, right? It seemed painful to me until I tried it and I was surprised it really wasn’t all that painful. More on this below, keep scrolling.

Benefits of epilating

You’ll get smoother skin

Epilating keeps your skin smoother for longer. This longevity in smoothness is a key selling point for those considering epilating over other methods. The reason why epilating contributes to smooth skin is because it removes hair from the root. When hair is removed from the root, your skin remains smooth until the hair begins to grow back, which can take several weeks. Additionally, because hair regrowth tends to slow down over time when epilating regularly, fine hair becomes less noticeable and feels softer to the touch.

Lastly, there is an exfoliation effect when using an epilator. As the device moves across the skin, it can help remove dead skin cells along with the hair.

Epilation removes shorter hair

Waxing isn’t always effective on short hair, but epilation definitely is. That alone was a big selling point for me. I didn’t enjoy it when the wax strip didn’t get all of the hairs, and the technician had to go in again – seemed unnecessarily painful.

Modern epilators are designed to effectively remove even very short and fine hairs that other hair removal methods, like waxing, might miss. This precision makes epilating a great choice for maintaining areas like the eyebrows or bikini line.

Cost-effective over time

While the initial investment in a good epilator might be higher than a pack of razors or wax strips, over time, epilating becomes more cost-effective. For reference, the Braun Epilator Silk-épil 9 retails for $150 as it is on sale. It seems like a big investment, but it has lasted me for 3 years now and I use it regularly.

Convenience and privacy

Unlike waxing, which often involves salon visits, epilating can be done in the comfort of your own home. If you’re a busy girl like me, then going to the salon seems like a hassle. You have to drive there, and make an appointment, and sometimes that can be inconvenient.

Slower hair regrowth

Epilating reduces the volume and thickness of your hair in the long term, so hair grows back softer, and finer and it may even regrow at a slower rate.

Reduced irritation

For many, epilating leads to less skin irritation compared to other methods like shaving or waxing. Less irritation means your skin can maintain its natural smoothness without the bumps, cuts, or rashes that can accompany other hair removal techniques.

The first couple of times I used an epilator, my skin did get irritated. But after a few times, it became used to it and now it doesn’t irritate easily.

The reason why I think this happens is because the epilator is pulling on the hairs and depending on how close to your skin you hold the device, sometimes it might not even touch your skin. On the other side, when waxing, hot wax is applied to your skin and then stripped. This might cause more irritation than epilating.

Epilating vs waxing

I believe I touched certain comparison points in the “epilating benefits” section, but here are the most important ones.

Process differences

Epilating: This method involves using an electrical device (epilator) that grasps multiple hairs at once and pulls them out from the root as you glide it across the skin. Epilating can be done at home, at any time, offering convenience and privacy.

Waxing: Waxing requires spreading a layer of warm wax over the skin, then pressing a cloth or paper strip onto it and ripping it off against the direction of hair growth. This method often involves salon visits for professional application, though at-home waxing kits are available.

My opinion: For me, epilating is easier and requires less effort. When it comes to waxing if you’re going to the salon it requires a higher time commitment and planning. But, even if you have your at-home waxing kit, it is easier to make a mess with all the waxing beads, strips, etc. Epilating works better for me because you can do it anytime, the most planning you have to do is charge your epilator. You can also use a wet epilator and do the process in the shower.

What about pain?

Both methods can be painful since they involve pulling hair out from the root. However, the pain level often decreases over time as the skin becomes accustomed to the sensation and the hair regrowth becomes finer.

Some find waxing to be more painful due to the sudden removal of hair over large areas, whereas epilating can be more controlled and gradual.

My opinion: I did find epilating as painful as waxing at first. After, you become used to it. However, because you have more control it makes the process a bit easier. However, if you’re someone who gets very nervous, you’ll have a harder time because you’re essentially inflicting pain on yourself… (all the things we do in the name of beauty).

There are also different methods to lower the pain, such as using numbing creams. I use a numbing cream when I am epilating a very sensitive area like armpits or bikini line.

Cost implications

Epilating: The initial cost of purchasing an epilator can be higher, but it’s a one-time investment. Epilators have a long lifespan, often several years, making this method cost-effective over time.

Waxing: Regular salon appointments can be costly, and even at-home waxing kits need to be repurchased. Over time, waxing can become a more expensive option compared to epilating.

My opinion: The Braun Epilator Silk-épil 9 retails for $150 as it is on sale. It has lasted me for 3 years now and I use it regularly. For waxing, I am going to use NYC prices as I live here. But, waxing both your legs at the European Wax Center is $89. In just two visits, I would have spent around $160, without considering tips and taxes.

Tips + FAQ

How to use it?

It might seem complicated to use an epilator, but trust me, it is very easy! First, you want to charge your device, of course. Then, you might want to exfoliate. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells which prevents ingrown hairs.

I don’t recommend pressing the device against your skin, since it might cause irritation (speaking from experience). Just hold it against your skin and move it slowly in the direction of hair growth. Some epilators have different speed settings, start slow and move up when you feel more comfortable.

Can you use it to remove pubic hair?

Yes, you can use an epilator to remove pubic hair, but it’s important to proceed with caution due to the sensitivity of the area. Before epilating this region, ensure the hair is trimmed to a manageable length to reduce discomfort. It’s also advisable to choose an epilator designed for sensitive areas, which often come with attachments specifically for this purpose.

Tips & Tricks

Use it at night: Consider using the epilator at night since you might experience redness. Which is completely normal! If you experience redness and irritation when you wax, you’re very likely to do so when epilating.

Emphasize after-care: It is important to apply moisturizer and even a body oil after epilation. Especially if you feel some tingling, dryness, or irritation.

Clean your epilator after each use: This includes disinfecting it with alcohol. Not cleaning your epilator can cause infections.

Use a numbing cream if it’s too painful: If you find it too painful, you can always grab a numbing cream at your local drugstore. Just look for a pain relief cream that contains Lidocaine. Obviously, as with any other medications and products, make sure to patch test first to make sure you don’t have an adverse reaction to it.

My personal trick for dealing with the pain: A weird trick I have for easing the pain is to pinch myself in some other area of my body. The science behind it is that when you pinch yourself in another area of your body, you distract your brain and focus on that area rather than what you’re going through at the moment, whether it is epilating, getting a vaccine, an injection – you get the idea.

I really hope this was helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions! I definitely recommend Braun Epilator Silk-épil 9 if you’re going to give epilation a try! It is currently on sale on Amazon – save $30!