This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Hannah Madden is a writer, editor, and artist currently living in Portland, Oregon. In 2018, she graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Hannah enjoys writing articles about conservation, sustainability, and eco-friendly products. When she isn’t writing, you can find Hannah working on hand embroidery projects and listening to music.
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Epilators are a great alternative to tweezing or waxing—but man, using one can be uncomfortable! If you’ve tried epilating before and are considering giving up because of the pain, there are a few things you can do to make your experience a little less excruciating. The good news is that epilation gets less painful every time you do it, so practice makes perfect!
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 11:Take a painkiller 45 minutes before you start.
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1Painkillers can help reduce swelling and inflammation. Try taking ibuprofen or aspirin before you start epilating to help with the pain.[1]
- If you forget to take a painkiller before epilating, you can take one afterwards to help reduce the swelling.
- Always follow the dosage recommendation on the back of the bottle.
Method 2
Method 2 of 11:Take a warm bath or shower before epilating.
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1When you’re warm, your pores are more open, which makes epilating hurt less. Indulge in a soothing, warm shower or bath before you begin.[2]
- As a bonus, your skin needs to be clean before you start epilating, so you can kill two birds with one stone.
Method 3
Method 3 of 11:Exfoliate your skin.
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1Lots of dry skin can make the epilator hurt more. Rub an exfoliating cream over your legs, face, or arms, then rinse it off thoroughly.[3]
- This is especially important for areas on your face, since those tend to get the driest.
- You can use a chemical exfoliator or a physical one; it’s your choice!
- It can feel like a habit to put lotion on after exfoliating, but save that until after you’re done epilating. Lotions and body butters can clog your epilator up.
Method 4
Method 4 of 11:Get your skin wet if your epilator is waterproof.
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1If your epilator is waterproof, use it in the shower or the bath. Make sure your skin is dripping wet before you start.[4]
- The moisture will help the epilator glide over your skin more easily, leading to less pain and irritation.
- If your epilator isn’t waterproof, make sure your skin is really dry to avoid damaging your device.
Method 5
Method 5 of 11:Use a numbing cream.
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1Topical numbing cream can reduce pain by numbing your skin. Look for over the counter cream with Lidocaine in it, then spread a pea-sized amount on the area you're going to epilate.[5]
- Numbing creams can get kind of expensive, so save them for the really painful areas of your body, like your face and bikini line.
- Always read the instructions on your numbing cream before you use it.
Method 6
Method 6 of 11:Set the epilator at the lowest speed.
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1Going too fast can lead to a lot of pulling and tearing. When you first start out, set your epilator to the lowest speed by moving the dial on the side.[6]
- Using a low speed will also help you get a closer, smoother tweeze.
- If you feel like your speed needs an adjustment, you can turn it up after a few minutes.
Method 7
Method 7 of 11:Hold the epilator at a 90-degree angle from your body.
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1Tilting it too much could lead to pulling and tearing. Make sure your epilator sticks straight out when you first put it on your skin.[7]
- It can also help to start in an area that isn’t as sensitive, like your lower leg. Then you can work up to more sensitive areas, like your bikini line.
Method 8
Method 8 of 11:Pull your skin taut.
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1This will give the epilator a smoother surface to work on. Use your free hand to hold your skin tight against your body as you go.[8]
- This is especially important in areas that have looser skin, like your face.
- It will also help the epilator grab shorter hairs in hard-to-reach places.
Method 9
Method 9 of 11:Keep going.
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1The more often you use your epilator, the less it will hurt. Try to use your epilator every time you remove hair to get your skin used to it.[9]
- Take a break in the middle of epilating if you need to!
- Your first time epilating is always the worst, but it can only get better from here.
Method 10
Method 10 of 11:Soothe your skin with aloe vera after epliating.
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1Your skin might look a little red and bumpy afterwards, and that’s okay. Use a bit of pure aloe vera or aloe vera based moisturizer to soothe any stinging or burning.[10]
- Most skin irritation disappears overnight. If you don’t want to deal with red skin during the day, try epilating close to bedtime.
- Make sure the moisturizer you’re using doesn’t have alcohol in it, as that can irritate your skin more.
Method 11
Method 11 of 11:Do small touch ups throughout the week.
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1Epilating a small area is usually less painful than a big one. If you notice a few stray hairs here and there, epilate them as you see them. That way, you can avoid epilating your entire body at once.[11]
- Some hair might grow faster than others, so you could vary which parts of your body that you epilate.
- If your hair is growing back faster than it normally does after epilating, it might be because you snapped the hairs instead of pulling them up by the roots.
Warnings
- If your epilator isn’t waterproof, make sure your skin is fully dry before you start to avoid breaking your epilator.[13]Thanks!
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References
- ↑ http://www.epilatorcentral.com/epilator-pain/
- ↑ https://www.philips.co.in/c-e/beauty-tips-for-women/hair-removal-tips/hair-removal-methods/epilating-tips-for-pain-free-hair-removal.html
- ↑ https://www.oglf.org/how-to-use-an-epilator/
- ↑ https://gulfnews.com/lifestyle/fashion/10-top-epilation-tips-1.790029
- ↑ http://www.epilatorcentral.com/epilator-pain/
- ↑ https://lillysepilators.com/make-epilating-less-painful/
- ↑ https://www.oglf.org/how-to-use-an-epilator/
- ↑ https://hair.lovetoknow.com/hair-removal/upper-lip-hair-removal
- ↑ https://gulfnews.com/lifestyle/fashion/10-top-epilation-tips-1.790029
About This Article
Epilating is an effective method for removing hair, but it can be a little painful. To take the edge off, take a painkiller, such as ibuprofen, about 45 minutes before you start. It also helps to have warm, damp skin, since this will soften the hair and reduce friction from the epilator. Take a shower first and use a moisturizing exfoliator to keep your skin soft and supple. If your epilator is waterproof, you can even use it in the shower. If you’re still feeling a lot of pain, rub a small amount of a numbing cream, such as lidocaine, over the really sensitive areas before you epilate. Read on for more tips, like how to hold and move the epilator in a way that minimizes pain.
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