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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think only absolute lunatics use epilators?

37 replies

NewNameWhoDis · 27/12/2017 16:57

Jesus Christ these things are not for the faint hearted.

Is there a nack to this? Should I use it wet (I'm trying dry, after a shower and exfoliation)? Should it be used on short hair (my legs are pretty hairy at the minute to be fair)? Should I drink alcohol while doing it?

AIBU in thinking you need to be nuts to prefer this to shaving?

OP posts:
treaclesoda · 27/12/2017 16:59

I'm clearly a machine, I find it barely hurts at all. Less painful than waxing I'd say, and less painful than a cut from a razor.

Some people say that taking a paracetamol beforehand helps?

19lottie82 · 27/12/2017 16:59

It’s really painful at first especially if you have a full growth (even trimmed), but do it regularly (once a week in my case) and it hardly hurts at all.

Madonnasmum · 27/12/2017 16:59

I could only bear to do a two inch bit on my leg. I have to say the hair has never grown back after 20 years!
I wish I'd done the rest!

Piffpaffpoff · 27/12/2017 17:00

It gets easier! Although I can only do it on my legs, tried it under arm and ow ow ow!!

lauryloo · 27/12/2017 17:00

i do mine after a glass (or 2) of wine!

Fluffyears · 27/12/2017 17:00

Take ibuprofen an hour beforehand do it on dry skin and don’t do it during your period (dunno why but waxing, plucking and epilating is more painful during menstruation). It does hurt but gets less painful the more you do it kinda like plucking your eyebrows.

ClarasZoo · 27/12/2017 17:01

It hurts less the more you use it. At first it does hurt!

Knittedfairies · 27/12/2017 17:01

I tried one, but threw it out as I didn't have access to local anaesthetics.

monkeysee100 · 27/12/2017 17:01

I can do my legs with no problem at all. I'd highly recommend a lumea too!

ny20005 · 27/12/2017 17:02

It gets easier. I had an ice pack attached to mine & used to do it bits at a time & stop. Now can do both legs with no breaks & no ice pack

It's more painful when hair is longer though

Original poster
NewNameWhoDis · 27/12/2017 17:02

I'll crack open the wine tonight and give it another go.

Do I go slow or whizz round (I've been whizzing) or should I shave now and then give it a day or two so the hairs are shorter?

OP posts:
OneOfTheGrundys · 27/12/2017 17:04

Press it down as you use it. Also, pull the skin tight as you go.

The first time hurts terribly but if you stay on top of it and do it while the hairs short and sparser it really hardly hurts at all.

I’m pale skinned with thick dark hair in all the wrong places and it’s the only thing to work for me. Persevere.

SmokingGun · 27/12/2017 17:05

Word of advise, do not attempt your bikini line until you are fairly comfortable using it. I thought I had ripped my labia off at one point Blush

Original poster
NewNameWhoDis · 27/12/2017 17:06

I thought I had ripped my labia off at one point

Oh sweet lord.

OP posts:
macnab · 27/12/2017 17:07

Definitely gets easier the more you do it, I barely feel it now. And taking ibuprofen does help if you’re finding it particularly sore to begin with (take it an hour before). I have a body brush and I use that to sort of lift the hair as I go along, might be worth a try - would be a distraction if nothing else!

wombatron · 27/12/2017 17:09

The first time I used it under my arms I could hear the hairs ripping through the epidermis 🤢🤢🤢but now.... I use every other week under my arms and much prefer it in the summer!

RobinHumphries · 27/12/2017 17:11

My advice is to have a professional wax first, then, as the new growth starts coming through start epilating. I find long hair painful

DramaAlpaca · 27/12/2017 17:11

It hurts at first, but the more you do it the less it hurts. A couple of paracetamol or ibuprofen beforehand helps. I've been epilating for so many years at this point most of the hairs have given up the ghost and don't bother to grow back. It's the only hair removal method I use.

Lilymoose · 27/12/2017 17:13

Yes to the wine beforehand, they are evil things!

SerPants · 27/12/2017 17:14

Your body definitely gets used to it, I can barely feel mine now. I epilate quite slowly so I can make sure I've got each hair. But I have a cheapo epilator, you may be able to whiz round with the better ones.

I've never tried it on full growth, but my husband once tried it out on his arm hair and declared it an instrument of torture. So maybe shaving then epilating after a few days is the way to go.

OneOfTheGrundys · 27/12/2017 17:15

Yikes! Not even I would attempt the underarm/bikini line! ✊🏻 You are hardcore.

thenightsky · 27/12/2017 17:16

I feel pretty much no pain at all doing legs now. Armpits are getting desensitized now too, after a year of doing it fortnightly.

Maria1982 · 27/12/2017 17:16

I do it once a fortnight. If I wait longer than that I have too much/too long hair and can't face the pain.

It isn't great fun, but I prefer the results to shaving (hate stubble) and cheaper than paying for waxing regularly.

I do under arm and lower legs. I would not do bikini line.
And yes to avoiding doing it before/ during period - much more sensitive to pain then.

Maria1982 · 27/12/2017 17:16

Oh and it gets better with practice. The first couple of times I tried it I agreed with you right now!

SorenLorensonsInvisibleFriend · 27/12/2017 17:17

I was paying £10 for underarm waxing. Love the effects, but not the cost. Now I'm somewhat immune to that pain, I'm finding my epilator a brilliant replacement - and I love saving money!