Hair removal pain

[LadyPropane]

I have been epilating on and off for about 5 years. By "off" I don't mean I revert to another hair removal method, but I just sometimes go for a month or so without removing the hair. Mainly just because I can't find the time/can't be arsed/am not feeling brave enough)

My question is, when does it stop hurting?! Everyone says that after you've done it a couple of times it doesn't hurt anymore but I haven't really found this. The first time I did it was the most painful, but since then the pain has only reduced slightly. My legs are sore but quite manageable, but my armpits... Ouch! I have to shove a wooden comb in my mouth and bite down while I'm doing my armpits because it hurts so much!

I can't shave because I get horrible rash (and yes I've tried shaving the "right" way, using expensive fancy razors, with the grain, special products etc but it always results in a nasty shaving rash and then a load of ingrown hairs. I have very sensitive skin and it's been that way my whole life so shaving definitely isn't for me)

I know leaving the hair works for some but I don't like that look on me. I want hair free legs and armpits. Waxing gives me lots of ingrown hairs and is far too expensive, plus I'd end up having to pay for a babysitter too.

Epilating really does give me the best result. It's the only hair removal method I've tried that leaves me with smooth skin and doesn't result in loads of painful ingrown hairs.

So... When can i expect it to stop feeling like torture? Am I doing it wrong?!

I've been epilating for a very long time. It was ridiculously painful at first. However I don't find it hurts any more, most of my hairs have given up at this stage and stopped growing back!

I suggest taking a couple of paracetamol an hour or so before a session with the epilator. It helps a lot. I don't need to take painkillers now but I used to. Do you have a decent quality epilator? I found it made a difference when I swapped my first very cheap one, which I got in Lidl I think, for a better one.

For underarms hold your hand up straight up stretched like you're desperate to be picked by the teacher in class. Makes the skin taut.

Also maybe you could consider upgrading your epilator if it's an old one. I think Braun recently released a new one.

Last you can use numbing cream, forget the name, ask the pharmacist it's c£5.

I have a $400 epilator (think that's about £250) so it's decent quality. I used to have a very cheap one but I got this one for my last birthday and I did notice that the pain improved but not massively so.

The numbing cream is a great idea, I will certainly give that a go. I also hadn't thought to take painkillers beforehand so I'll try that too! Thanks for suggestions

@DramaAlpaca do you remember how long it took before the pain went away? I feel like after 5 years I deserve to have less pain. I'd get a shorter sentence for stealing a car

Oh gosh, no I can't remember how long it took to be less sore. I've been epilating for over twenty years so it's a long time.

Another tip - do it regularly. The shorter the hair is, the less it hurts.

That's possibly where I'm going wrong... I often leave it 3 or 4 weeks inbetween sessions. The hair is sometimes quite long when I finally get to it.

Actually, thinking about it, it could easily be more like 6 weeks

Honestly it was always painful for me. The best thing I ever did was laser treatments. No hair at all is so much better.

I'm new to epilating (why I don't know as its so much easier time wise). I did a few tests, as it was quite painful to start. I found the least painful time to do my legs is 4 days after I did a normal shave. Longer than that the hairs were too long. I haven't ventured to arm pits yet though. So I do think the length has a lot to do with it, prior to that I tried it on a 2 week (shaving) length and that was a solid nope.

Also not just before, during or after your period.

I have the newer Phillips and once I get going it isn't terribly painful. On the shorter hair length though.

Ok, I'm starting to think that the main issue here is that my hair is too long. I leave my armpit hair to get to about 1cm in length, maybe more, and I leave my leg hair until it gets to it's full length.

Now I'm typing this out it seems really stupid but I honestly hadn't thought about that before

Definitely don’t leave the hair to get too long or I would that it ‘snaps’ some of the hair rather than pulling from the root.

Can you get one you can use in the bath or shower? I find that helps to eliminate the ouch. Saying that I only use it for my legs, my armpits are far too sensitive for that!