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!

Legs doesn't hurt me anymore.

Bikini is hell. I keep trying but I cant deal with it.

The first go was not fun at all. Getting used to it now. Will keep on top of the different hair cycles and do it when the hair is short. Can't believe I managed the armpits. They were my biggest fear. How are you getting on OP?

I’m in Gran Canaria, epilating up a storm! I managed all of my legs but the bikini just didn’t seem to be coming out so I whipped the razor over it. Still pretty good and I just do
30 seconds each evening through slightly gritted teeth

This has reminded me I’ve got a Braun silk epil languishing in a cupboard somewhere. I really must give it a go again. I remember it being excruciatingly painful the first few weeks then it did improve.

I do underarms and bikini line. I find it’s most effective on dry skin with a bit of baby powder on, helps it glide smoothly over skin

I recommend the Philips Lumea, not an epilator but a home light treatment that massively minimises growth. Before using it I would have had to shave every day but can go for weeks now and no ingrown hairs! Expensive but worth it for sure

I tried doing my legs. I did about 3 cm and couldn't stand any more. So if I do it a couple of days after shaving, it won't be so sore?

sonja if you shave on day 1 and epilate days 3, 5, 7 etc (for about two weeks) it really shouldn't cause you any problems at all. If your hair is very dense and grows quickly you can try epilating more frequently but I'm a bit of a hairy beast and the every-other-day schedule suits me. If you're doing every other day and it doesn't hurt and/or you don't see regrowth try every three or four days if you like, it really depends on how dense the growth is.

You aren't likely to need to carry on epilating at that frequency btw, this is just a first-time thing. (If I stop epilating in winter this is what I do for the first time in the spring.)

Everyone is different and it may take a little longer to get on top of your growth cycle so you may need to epilate every two weeks for a few months before you can leave it a month or 6 weeks (and in the summer if you're wearing a swimming costume you may pay closer attention iyswim). Eventually you'll just have a swipe when you see you need it.

If it really is uncomfortable try taking paracetamol half an hour before epilating (if you can safely take paracetamol obvs). If you have a tendency to get ingrowing hairs any product with glycolic acid in should sort that out, in addition to exfoliating.

Great, thanks! I’ve give it a go tomorrow.

I have a lumea. It made a big difference to my bikini line but not much to my legs. Maybe due to the thickness/coarseness of the hair?

I tried epilating about 10 years ago- I can still feel the pain if I think about it too long!

Fair play to anyone Shia kept it up- I'd sooner go through childbirth again!

Are the lumea any good on fair fair? Mine is quite blonde. I'm a strong biker for a gadget.

Enjoy the hols OP

Aha ha ha strong biker. I meant sucker 🙈

Yes, your skin gets used to having the hair pulled out so you'll adjust. Some people find underarms difficult but hold your arm up as if you really really really want the teacher to pick you in class, that keeps it taut as possible.The only bit I find too painful is right between the legs, I can do the front bit of the bikini area ok, a little at a time, but between the legs is too painful for me. You can buy numbing cream which I did but not got round to trying it.

If you’re epilating dry, a light dusting of talc really helps.