Does Epilating Feel Like Getting A Tattoo?

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Getting an epilator will give you smooth skin with less shaving in the long term. By removing your hair by its roots, you’ll have less regrowth and irritation. Epilating hurts! It feels sorta like getting a tattoo. But you’ll be rewarded with clear skin instead of a cool tattoo on your arm. 

In this article, we’ll answer the question “Does Epilating Feel Like Getting A Tattoo?”. We’ll give you tips on how to manage the pain from the epilator so that you can use it successfully. 

By the end of this article, you’ll get a clear insight into how epilators work, and how the pain level compares to other types of pain.

That way, you can decide if it’s the right skin care option for you. Let’s begin!


Contents

Does Epilating Feel Like Getting A Tattoo?

Does Epilating Feel Like Getting A Tattoo? The short answer is yes, the pain is comparable, esepcially at the beginning. 

When getting a tattoo, a needle is used to rapidly penetrate your skin in order to inject ink. The tattoo artist has to be careful throughout the process, as one small mistake can ruin the final result.

While it can be painful, the pain from a tattoo will subside after a few days.  

Braun Epilator

The Epilating process is similar to getting a tattoo, in a way. You’re placing a device on your skin to remove hair, pulling out individual hairs by the root. Both processes will involve skin penetration and some not insignificant level of pain. But the results are worth it. 

When using an epilator, decide if you’re going to use it on dry or wet skin. For wet skin, dampen the skin with water for approximately 10 minutes.

For dry skin, you can take a shower to weaken the hair strands and remove oils. 

Once you’re done, start using the epilator on the lowest setting. Based on your pain tolerance, you can increase the power to remove more hair at once. 


What is an Epilator?

Braun Epilator

An epilator is an electronic device that’s designed to remove hair from your skin. It’s a manual process, where you place the epilator near your skin and its rotating tweezers will automatically clear out the hair. 

If you’re looking for an epilator, here’s a list of some of our favorites.

For those that are uncomfortable about having a wax specialist remove their hair, an epilator is a great alternative. It can remove your hair up to ⅛ inches – 0.5 cm, so always make sure to grow your hair out before using it. 

Some areas of the body are more sensitive than others. So you’ll have to be precise and careful when targeting your body.

Fortunately, the epilator becomes less painful over time. So try to use it once your hair is slightly above the recommended cutting length. 


Is An Epilator Different Than Waxing? 

Philips Satinelle Epilator

The main difference between epilator and waxing is how it is used. Most waxing operations require a wax specialist to remove the hair from your skin.

Over time, this can become costly, especially if you’re taking appointments every 1-2 months. 

Epilators don’t require wax to remove hair from your skin. Instead, it uses electronic tweezers and batteries to operate.

They are more suitable for people who prefer a more private method of removing their body hair. 

It’s certainly less embarassing, if you’re working on your privates.


How to Use An Epilator

Like waxing, you have to prepare your skin before using an epilator. Start by pre-exfoliating your skin a few days early. Through exfoliation, you can remove ingrown hairs and dead skin as if you were using wax products. 


Benefits of Using An Epilator

Pain is one of the main drawbacks of using an epilator. However, it does offer long-term results on your hair and skin. Here are some reasons why you should use an epilator:

Reduced Hair Growth

Epilators allow you to slow down the time it takes for your hair to grow back. When the hair regrows, it comes back in a finer appearance. As a result, it’s easier to remove the hair once you use an epilator regularly. 

You can place your Epilator on different areas of your body. This includes your legs, pubic area, face, and arms. 

Removes Short Hair

Short hair can be removed easily through epilation. Waxing isn’t always good on short hair because the wax presses the hair onto the skin. For instance, when using soft waxing techniques, the hair won’t be removed from its roots if you’re using wax paper. 

If you want optimal results, give your hair some time to grow before using an epilator. Like waxing, having too short hair might be detrimental to what you’re trying to achieve. Once it reaches 0.5 in or higher, the machine will be able to remove it with ease. 

Smooth Skin

Using an epilator will give you smoother skin. In addition, the results of the epilator are longer than other methods (i.e. tweezing, shaving, or depilatory creams). 

While results may vary, you’ll have smooth skin for 4 weeks. This occurs because it will take longer for your hair to grow once it’s removed from the roots. 


How Often Can I Use An Epilator?

Since epilators provide long-term results, you don’t have to use them often. On average, your epilator results last for up to 3-4 weeks. But, if your hair takes longer to regrow, it will grow back slower. 

Here’s a rule of thumb, the more times you use an epilator the less likely your hair will regrow back. 


How Much Does an Epilator Cost?

On average, an epilator costs around $20-$100 dollars, depending on the features and options. If you’re planning on getting one, make sure it’s safe on your skin. Unlike razors, you don’t need to replace your epilator. 

For better safety, clean and store it properly so it lasts. Usually, your machine will have a warranty and multiple nozzles to change from. Just make sure to clean it regularly to ensure that it lasts. 


Post-Epilation Treatment

Once you’re done using an epilator, remove any remaining hairs to prevent an infection. Always moisturize your hair to reduce the chance of irritation. Once you’re finished with the device, use alcohol to clean it. 

After 24 hours, you can continue to exfoliate your skin. Don’t exfoliate 24 hours before using an epilator. If you do, you increase the chances of skin irritation and ingrown hairs. 

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Written by Kayla Young

Kayla is the founder of LuxeLuminous. She has worked professionally in the tanning industry for years. She has been interested in esthetics since childhood, and has tried every hair, skin, and makeup product ever produced (more or less).