fed up waxing - views on IPL or Epilators?

[bulge]

Have hairy legs above and below knee. Can't afford salon waxing anymore and i can DIY but was wondering if one of those epilator machines would be any good? Or go for broke and buy IPL machine?
I used an epilator about 20 years ago and the pain was too much for me, but have read they're better now and if you wax some days before it's better.

Or, would an IPL be better? I have v pale skin and the hair is mostly darkish. I would love the idea of something with results a bit more permanent (but i know results aren't 100%/permanent).

Anyone with experience of waxing, epilator or IPL able to offer some words of wisdom.

Don't want to waste money on a gadget I'll not use. Which IPL machines are good?

I have a Braun Silk Epil (sp?) epilator and much prefer it to shaving. My regrowth feels softer and I can get away with doing it once a week, instead of shaving every other day.

It did sting a fair bit, the first time I did it, but that reduces as time goes on, so from my pov, it's worth persevering. I get a little rash/redness for about half an hour when I do it, but it fades quite quickly.

If you buy an epilator, get one with 40+ pluckers (sorry, can't think of the right word), rather than 20 as it will be more efficient.

I have epilator but it gives me hellish ingrown hairs on my legs.

I bought an IPL machine last year. It is the best thing ever - well worth the price. I had about 6 months with NO hair on my lower legs.

Ingrown hairs are almost inevtiable with epilators because they just rip out the hairs from any old angle rather than doing it neatly from one direction as with waxing. I really really regret ever having used one. I don't know anything about IPL machines to can't comment on them.

Braun Silk Epil epilator gets a vote here too. not used IPL. But MUCH better than those horrific epilators of 20 years ago! I would also recommend you have a wax at first (esp if you have been shaving) and then use epilator for maintenance every couple of weeks. works a treat!

I've just bought the upgraded Boots IPL machine - you can't use it and get tanned at the same time so I wanted to get going with it over the winter. Need 6 weeks before I can give a verdict on it though!

I had hellish ingrown leg hairs the first 2-3 times I used my epilator but dug them out with a safety pin Now I'm on a epilate 1 week and shave the next, the shaving works as exfoliation. I've got one with face and armpit attachments but once you get used to it, it's easier/quicker to use the ordinary bit. Second the suggestions to get as many pluckers as possible.

thanks for replies! ingrown hairs is one of my problems with waxing too! It hadn't occured to my epilators would cause that as well.

Does IPL hurt? Can you do it on face?

with the boots one needing to be tan free... how would that work with going on holiday, would you just have to make sure you used it several weeks before and then just shave anything else that grew in meantime?