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Original poster

Are epilators really that painful?

58 replies

CrabtreeEstate · 07/07/2020 19:08

I'm eyeing up an epilator in the sales. I've always wanted to try one. Obviously don't believe they are pain free but some of the reviews said "made them cry", "used once and straight back in the box", that it was "like sticking a red hot knife in your leg"!

Do you use one? How painful are they?

OP posts:

RaspberryToupee · 07/07/2020 20:01

I am used to waxing so that might influence my pain tolerance. Legs absolutely no pain for me, more itchy and just seemed to take forever. Epilator on legs was less painful than waxing but I can cope with waxing my legs. Underarms really painful and I find waxing to be a lot less painful. Or I guess it’s a short, sharp burst with an epilator being a similar level of pain but much more drawn out. Plus the itching as you do it. The discomfort doing my underarms is what stopped me using the epilator and I went back to waxing. My underarm hair is thicker though so that could have some impact too.

jackparlabane · 07/07/2020 20:07

Mine came with a less pain guarantee - if you thought it hurt too much after 4 months (3x6 weeks) then you could get a refund. I wonder if too many people did?

It's great on my legs, massaging them and removes hair easily, but it's way too painful on stretchy skin, so I use a classic razor under my arms.

Fluffycloudland77 · 07/07/2020 20:09

I can do legs and underarms but I’m not brave enough to do bikini line.

It’s not that bad.

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KitchenConfidential · 07/07/2020 20:19

I do think it depends on your pain tolerance and some epilators are designed better than others. I love mine and don’t find it painful really.

PineconeOfDoom · 07/07/2020 20:23

Get a lumea instead 👍

Thelnebriati · 07/07/2020 20:25

I gave birth to an 8 pounder on gas and air but a facial epilator made me cry.

Original poster

CrabtreeEstate · 07/07/2020 20:37

Mixed reviews then! I've never tried waxing before either. Always shaved.

Bikini line is what I was hoping to use it on seems like it might not be a good idea!

OP posts:

BarbedBloom · 07/07/2020 21:03

I have a pretty high pain threshold (walked around on a broken leg, put my own dislocated shoulder back in etc) but I found it too sore. I also hated how my legs didn't feel very smooth and it didn't seem to keep the hair away as much as waxing. I am saving up for a Lumea at the moment.

catfeets · 07/07/2020 21:09

I can only do my bikini line. I tried legs once but it was pure torture.
I find that it pulling out single thicker hairs isn't too bad, but the prickly feeling of it pulling out tens of hairs at a time is just too much for me.
I have the one with the ice pack attached but it makes no difference to the pain.

SummerSazz · 07/07/2020 21:12

You just reminded me I needed to do my legs so I have. Thanks! I used to wax my legs before and epilating is fine. I tried it under arms and bikini line and both ok to my surprise

IHaveBrilloHair · 07/07/2020 21:16

I've been using one for 15 years and barely feel it now, also the hair is si much finer and less anyway.

DramaAlpaca · 07/07/2020 21:18

I'm either well 'ard or have a high pain tolerance because I do all hair removal with an epilator, including bikini line, and don't find it particularly painful, probably because I've been epilating for over twenty years.

My top tip is painkillers a hour or so before, and a big glass of wine.

namechange30000 · 07/07/2020 21:27

Get a Lumea. Best thing I've ever bought.

namechange30000 · 07/07/2020 21:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bodgedboxdye · 07/07/2020 21:29

I do my foof (literally all off) and it doesn’t hurt.

You do need to pull tight when you get further down but the end result is so worth it.

Pleasance · 07/07/2020 22:15

Excruciating!

KitchenConfidential · 07/07/2020 22:43

Do not buy one unless you’ve worked out if you can cope with the pain of waxing your under carriage.

Bluewavescrashing · 07/07/2020 22:43

I do my foof (literally all off) and it doesn’t hurt. You do need to pull tight when you get further down grin but the end result is so worth it.

Either

A) Epilators have come a long way since I used one 5 years ago (just the once!)

B) I'm a huge wimp

C) You are well 'ard.

Lumea is painless!

GarlicMcAtackney · 07/07/2020 23:11

Definitely not for your genitals! use Veet. Epilator is bearable painful on shins, but agony on my armpits, and made them bleed

Elouera · 08/07/2020 03:50

I have a high pain threshold and tried 2 types of epilator. One was a 90's version which is a moving, metal coil that traps the hair. The next was more modern and more like multiple tweezers with a pinching motion to grab the hairs.

You've never felt pain till you've accidentally trapped a rather intimate part in those pincher things!!! Get an IPL instead, especially if you've never waxed before!

Nicknamegoeshere · 08/07/2020 04:10

I epilate my legs with no problems but wouldn't do anywhere else with it (too wimpy!)

Not so good at it when part of a mult-task though; trying to epilate at the same time as breastfeeding my four week-old led to some not-so-sexy and somewhat painful scratches!!

Pleasance · 08/07/2020 12:52

eloura ...me too!

I can laugh now but OMG, there I was, 'stuck' ...'within' the epilator and as a single parent with only my teenage sons at home.....couldn't even shout for help!

Elouera · 08/07/2020 14:33

@Pleasance- that has made me laugh. They are dangerous things those epilators!!!

NoMoreMrNiceGaius · 08/07/2020 14:53

I have a high pain threshold as well, have big tattoos in very delicate sensitive areas and didn't even flinch through those. Epilating on the other hand does occasionally make me want to chuck it out the window. It really depends on the area and person but inner bikini zone and armpits tend to be more painful than legs. Anyone who says it's painless is either lying, or has been doing it for 10 years and used to it, or have a physical quality out of the norm that makes them feel less pain, or is only using it on non-sensitive areas.

It's not that it's unbearable pain, it's really no worse than a lot of other things women put themselves through. The difficult part is that it goes on and on and on, especially at the beginning, it's not just "deep breath, go, done" like waxing for example. It takes a lot of determination to get through.

AtLeastThreeDrinks · 08/07/2020 15:02

I find it painful but still manage. However, mine's a Braun that claims to remove hair "as fine as a grain of sand". That is utter shit. Plus because your hair grows in cycles my legs always still feel a bit stubbly, it's never the smoothness you get with shaving.

I can just about manage my legs and have gotten used to doing my underarms. Can't go near my bikini line –it's eye-wateringly painful.

It hurts more at different times of your cycle, so sometimes I'll be unable to do my legs.

IMO:
Shaving – results don't last long enough
Waxing –never been able to do it myself and resent the time and cost of salons
Creams – shit
Epilating – painful and takes forever, patchy results. I wouldn't buy another

Keen to try a Lumea next

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