The Epilady Device
The Epilady hair removal device uses a plug-in or battery-powered electronic device to remove hair from smooth skin surfaces such as the legs and underarms. Also called an epilator, this device pulls out hair by the roots in order to make the skin smooth and hair-free. The process of using an Epilady is called epilation.
Hair Structure
Hair is made up of a few different parts: the hair shaft itself, the root of the hair and the follicle, where the hair root sits inside the skin. Epilady affects the hair at the root and follicle by pulling the surface hair and causing the root to separate from the follicle holding it in. An Epilady works best when used on dry, clean skin and when the device is moved along the skin surface against the direction of hair growth. Because the hair is pulled completely from the follicle, it can't grow back until the follicle creates a new hair root, which then grows a new hair.
Mechanics of the Epilady
The Epilady has an electric element that spins a set of 20 to 21 tweezers or a twisted coil, depending on the model. The tweezers or coil catch individual hairs and pull them free of the skin at high speed. Epilady devices often have two speeds, which can be alternated depending on user preference. The device must be powered by a battery or through a wall plug. Some models come with rechargeable batteries.
Removal at the Root
Because the Epilady acts to remove hair at the root, it sometimes results in pain--especially the first few times someone uses epilation for hair removal. There's often slight redness or swelling after an epilating session, which frequently goes away within a few hours. The pulled-out hairs collect in the machinery of the epilator or on the skin surface and can be wiped away with a damp tissue or small brush. Because of the nature of removing hair at the root instead of cutting it off at the skin surface, hair generally grows back finer and softer than with shaving.
Time
It takes a15 to 20 minutes to epilate one leg, a little longer than shaving usually takes. Unlike shaving, however, using an epilator device on body hair provides long-lasting effects, often removing hair for three to four weeks. Because of the staggered growth cycles of hair, epilating may need to be repeated after a few days the first few times to ensure that each cycle's hair has been removed.
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