According to manufacturer Epilady, their electric hair remover --- the first of its kind --- hit the market in 1986. Now widely available in drugstores as well as online, epilators offer an alternative to waxing or shaving. Users praise the epilator's long-lasting results, while detractors cite the potential for pain.
Identification
The epilator is an electronic device designed to remove unwanted hair, most often used on the legs. The device includes a body, used as a handle, and a movable head. According to manufacturer Epilady, attached to this head are numerous tiny "tweezers" that grasp unwanted hair and pull it out from its root. Manufacturer Emjoi notes that the tweezers are not blades and thus never need to be sharpened.
Benefits
Epilady compiled a list of benefits that epilators provide, gathered from customer feedback. According to their customers, using an epilator provides superior results to shaving. Although the process takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes per leg, you only need to do it once a month. Women who epilate claim they no longer need to fuss with razors in the shower or worry about stubble the day after they shave. Customers also report their hair grows back slowly, softly and with less pigment, thinning over time.
Considerations
The three main drawbacks of using an epilator are the initial investment, the time required and the potential for pain. According to retailer Folica.com, as of October 2010 epilators cost between $30 and $150 on average, depending on the features offered. For some, this is too hefty an investment to make as compared to inexpensive razors or waxing kits. According to Epilady's estimate, epilators require between 30 and 40 minutes to use on both legs. Epilady also warns users to expect "a little discomfort" the first 2 to 3 times they use an epilator, but they also note the discomfort vanishes after several usages. Manufacturer Emjoi agrees, noting first-time users will probably feel a "prickling sensation" as the machine pulls hair from their roots.
Features
Common retail brands include Epilady, Braun, Panasonic, Emjoi and Remington. Desirable features offered by these brands include cordless units, waterproof units suitable for in-shower use, multi-use units that epilate as well as shave and exfoliate, multiple operating speeds and attachments suitable for use on delicate areas, such as the underarms and bikini line. Basic models usually have fewer tweezer heads and may only offer one or two speeds.
Shaving vs. Epilating
The main difference between shaving and epilating is the position at which the hair is removed. When you shave your legs, the blade cuts the hair close to the surface of the skin. When you epilate, the device pulls the hair out of its follicle, removing it entirely. Hair that's simply cut tends to grow back faster. Hair that needs to resurface from beneath your epidermis will take longer to appear, giving longer-lasting results. Manufacturer Emjoi cites 4 to 6 weeks as the period depilated hair needs in order to grow back.
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