How to Use an Epilator

SELECT THE RIGHT EPILATOR

The first step to getting the desired epilating result is buying a quality epilator. There are many types of epilators, but it is advisable to buy the 'Wet and Dry' kind of epilator because it is more flexible than the rest. The wet and dry epilator allows epilating in the shower. It also allows you to epilate dry skin. This flexibility is good news for a newbie because warm water helps to open your pores for easy epilating and eases your muscles to reduce the tension. The water also activates a chemical in the skin called endorphins; this is your body’s natural pain killer. When you exfoliate on wet skin, the nervous system tends to concentrate more on the sensation of the water than the stinging from the tweezers. Besides, wet and dry epilators are not as messy as exclusively dry epilators because the hair glides directly into the drain. You may opt for the dry epilator if you are used to epilating dry skin because although it stings more than the wet and dry, it removes hair quickly and effectively. Another consideration is the number of tweezers the epilators have. The more the number of tweezers, the higher the effectiveness of the epilator. Please note that you must never use a dry epilator in water to avoid electrocution. Use whatever kind of epilator you buy according to its functionality and design.  

PRE-EPILATION: SHAVE AND EXFOLIATE

After you have decided on the epilator you want, the next thing you should do is get your skin ready for epilation. You do this by first shaving your skin about three days before you epilate. Shaving the hair before you epilate ensures the hair does not get trapped in the epilator and that the hairs of your skin are equal when it is time to epilate. The next pre-epilation step you must do is to exfoliate your skin. You exfoliate your skin by scrubbing out dead cells using natural scrubs or gentle exfoliation products. Exfoliation one day before the D-day helps to remove dead cells from the skin. It also stops the appearance of in-growth hairs that may appear after you epilate your skin. 

WARM WATER TO OPEN THE PORES

If you chose a dry epilator, then your next pre-epilator step is to take a warm bath or clean the area with warm water and soap. This act helps to open up your pores, reduces the tension from your muscles, and also prevents bacteria from occupying your pores. After cleaning, you must dry up thoroughly because you chose a dry epilator.  If you choose an epilator that allows epilating in the shower (like the wet and dry epilator) then you can skip other steps after exfoliation and hop in the shower.  You may additionally take a pain reliever such as ibuprofen to reduce the stinging that comes with epilating.

NIGHT TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME

At night, your body is more relaxed and open to epilating. The night time is also when you are less prone to distractions. It is also when you have enough time because epilating requires that you are careful and not in a hurry. Depending on the areas you wish to epilate, it is advisable to spend at least 30 minutes doing this. You can spend hours epilating; that's fine as long as you have enough time in your hands. The careful you are while epilating the better the result; especially if this is your first time. 

START EPILATING

Turn the epilator on and reduce the settings to their slowest; this will help you gradually adapt to the sensation that comes with epilating. You may increase the speed as you get used to it. Another way to further reduce the stinging sensation you may feel at your first attempt is to start epilating from a less delicate area of your skin; for instance, the lower part of your leg.  Start by stretching your skin taut with one hand to make it easy for the epilator to pick the hairs. Stretching is compulsory in flabby areas of the skin or areas with loose skin such as the thighs to ensure it's flat enough.  Use your other hand to keep the epilator at a right angle to your skin (about 90 degrees); ensure it is resting lightly on your skin; avoid pressing it down forcefully against your skin. When you hold it lightly against your skin, the tweezers will have the opportunity to grab the hair effectively. The best way to glide the epilator is from the opposite direction of your hair growth. For instance, if your hair grows downwards, then the best way to glide the epilator is upwards. After you finish using the epilator, clean it well with the accessories that come with it. Most people clean the dry epilators with alcohol to disinfect them.

POST-EPILATION: MOISTURIZE WITH SOOTHING GEL

After epilating, it is normal for your skin to feel or look inflamed. You may soothe your skin with a cooling product like aloe vera itself or a moisturizer containing aloe vera or witch hazel. 

POST-EPILATION: EXFOLIATION

After about two days of epilation, you need to exfoliate the skin again to remove an in-growth hair that may come up. 

CONCLUSION

Epilators are essential beauty products any beauty enthusiast should have. However, the wrong epilators can frustrate your efforts; which is why you must buy authentic ones. 

How often you choose to epilate depends on how well you can adapt to it. We recommend that you epilate once every two weeks; repeating the same processes we explained above. Exfoliation is an important part of the entire process so try not to skip it (before and after epilating).