Epilation - tell me it gets easier

[TheGhostsOfPresidentsYetToCome]

I’m allergic to all hair removal creams I’ve tried, shaving leaves me in agony for a week with what looks like sunburn and I just never find time to go and get waxed. I decided to epilate and I’m throwing myself into it.

I bought a wet dry one and it’s defo not as bad in the shower as out but it’s still ridiculously painful. Over the last 2 days I’ve managed to get half of my legs done but there’s still a lot there

Does it get less painful? If so when? And how much less painful? Give it to me straight!

It does! I hardly notice it anymore. I'd say after the 2nd or third go it stopped hurting. Hold the skin taut for best results.

I used to watch a a programme on my ipad for distraction, but no longer needed.

Keep on epilating op, it's worth it.

Also if the hairs are long it will be more painful so the first time will be worse, next try don't wait til the hairs are more than a few mm long.

Not sore for me on my legs at all now. Can also do my face (!) and bikini line but still can’t do under my arms!

My biggest issue is still ingrown hairs on my legs. I exfoliate, I mouisturise but they are still very bumpy.

Ahhhhh thank you all. It’s awful at the minute but I’ll persevere! I’ve noticed pulling the skin taut makes a lot of difference.

It definitely gets easier.

Try doing it after you've had a bath - then the pores will be more open.

I use it for legs, bikini line and face, but like PiffPaffPoff I can't do under my arms.

I have been doing it for years and find it almost painless now. Definitely worth persisting!

I gave up after a little while and wish I had persisted with it.

You may have motivated me to give it another go!

It is so very definitely worth it!
I have very thick, dark hair and been epilating (legs only) for years now. I can’t imagine ever going back to waxing (time consuming and expensive) or shaving (always had scratchy stubble by the next day).

Agree with posters above that it is much, much more painful if the hair is long. Once you have got through the initial pain, just spend 10 mins running the epilator over every week or so and you will have continuously silky smooth legs and NEVER have to go through that initial ordeal again.
I spend 10 mins tops a week and find it quite a satisfying sensation now, not at all painful.

Top tips:
Put on something (music, tv) to distract you and do in short bursts (5 mins or so). I find the shins and ankles to be the most painful bits so once you have done these, the rest is easier.

Buy a good pair of scrubby gloves and use religiously every 2-3 days to prevent ingrown hairs. Don’t scrub for the first couple of days though as your skin will be a little sensitive after the epilating. The pink ‘Soap and Glory’ gloves from Boots are my favourite, they last forever and are vastly superior to the thinner, cheap white ones. Also, I find scrubbing can dry your legs quite a bit so moisturiser or body lotion is good too.

I never got on with doing bikini line or underarms with an epilator (the skin is looser and thinner and I found I gave myself very painful grazes). Still have to wax these areas but the time saved by epilating legs is a complete game changer. It really is worth persevering and it will get much easier I promise!

It definitely gets easier. I can do legs no problem - underarm made me pour with sweat the first time though sheer pain 😂 but now I can do it and it’s totally bearable.

Definitely exfoliate regularly.

Love the convenience and freedom from shaving!

It does get easier! I've done it for years in the summer - the first deforestation of the season is always the worst. I then just go over the areas every few days and barely notice it. I also do under my arms, but that does take some getting used to!

Much easier very quickly. I'm not at the stage I'd like a more aggressive one for efficiency. Even did my entire pubic and rear end area when no one would wax me due to a medical issue.

I barely notice it, but I've been doing it for 15yrs.

Definitely! And I agree that the shorter the hair, the less it hurts. A day or two after shaving (& usually quickly again the day after that) is the only way I can do under my arms or bikini line.

It only hurts if the hair is dense, like if you have a lot of regrowth and/or you're epliating for the first time.

Before my first go every year (after a winter of not doing it regularly) I always shave first, then epilate every other day for a week or two. If you're only dealing with one hair growth cycle at a time it is virtually painless (which is why waxing is nbd if you go regularly).

A couple of paracetamol (or co-codamol, even better) beforehand will help a lot.

It does get less painful but tbh I found it took a few months of weekly epilating my calves for it to get to a level I felt comfortable with and I still didn't like the odd sensation. I often felt like it was a prickling feeling and at its worst I would actually feel nauseous. Eventually it got painless but that was after a good few months of regular use and it took a few months more to sort my thighs afterwards. Unfortunately I got out of the habit eventually which is a shame but once I had gotten out of the habit I couldn't face trying it again because I know how awful it was to start with. I also found it very time consuming and difficult to get all the hairs, and also had the problem of lots of ingrown hairs despite regular exfoliating. I liked it because it didn't irritate my skin - I have eczema so that's why I got one. But I just find shaving much easier in every respect other than it being bad for my skin. Might go to back to it one day.

I do however only epilate my underarms. The first time I had to get DH to do it for me and I bawled my eyes out with the pain and it took ages because we had to keep stopping as I was in such a state! But it was worth it. It's never been painful since that first time. I usually do them about once a week and again my motivation was to avoid eczema and I'm soo much happier now than when I shaved my underarms without them being itchy and sore all the time with eczema. If you can grin and bare it just the one time it's really worth it long-term with your underarms. Much better for your skin, and much more convenient as the results last much longer than shaving.

I’m back! Thank you for all your replies.

It’s already 1000x less painful. I’ve spent 5 days so far trying to get it all and there are still patches on my inner thighs but in a sick way I quite enjoy it now! Just have to try and do it really regularly. Thank for all the top tips!

Have been thinking about getting an epilator and am a bit clueless to be honest. I normally wax but finding my schedule is all out of whack with events so have had to shave. Can anyone recommend a good epilator?

Glad to hear things are getting less painful for you OP

I have a Braun Silk Épil, not sure of the number/model as I think there are multiple but it won't be the most recent one as have had it around two years now and it's going strong.

It gets barely noticeable. I can do my arms now!

Thanks Meadow. Will take at look at those.

Braun silk epil here too, a cordless one. Had it about 5 years I think and no problems at all.

Learn to thread from YouTube, takes 5 mins. Takes bit longer to thread your legs, but painless and totally worth it.

Oh Christ I got my eyebrows threaded once. Have a high pain threshold but there was tears in my eyes. Don't think I could cope with doing my legs.

I get my whole face threaded every month or so and tolerate it ok but I can't imagine doing a very large area like legs, must take ages! I'd never be able to learn to do it myself though, got shite motor skills due to Asperger's.

My Braun Silk Épil is a cordless one too and you can use it wet or dry but I've always used it dry except for the first couple of times as I didn't find it more painful out of the shower and find that more convenient. I have a shower and then epilate my underarms after when needed.

Just bought a brain silk epil one and it was on sale. Will give it a go tomo, have a job application to finish this evening.