Epilation: 10 pros and cons of epilation listed
Tired of shaving multiple times a week? Want to enjoy a beautifully smooth skin for longer?
Then epilation might be the right choice for you.
Hair stays away for a longer period, so you don’t have to remove it weekly. Sometimes, hair can stay away for up to eight weeks.
But, there are also some downsides to epilation.
I’ve listed all the pros and cons for you so that you can make a well-informed decision.
What is epilation?
Epilation is a hair removal method where an epilator pulls out the entire hair, including the hair follicle. This means it takes much longer for the hair to regrow, so you don’t have to epilate as often.
However, the hair needs to be at least half a centimeter long to be effectively removed by the epilator. This makes winter the ideal time to start.
How long do the hairs stay away after epilation?
Every skin and hair growth is different, but in general, you can expect that hairs will stay away for around 3 weeks after epilation.
Since the hairs are removed in full, there won’t be stubble, but instead, soft hair that doesn’t stand out as much. Also, since hair grows in different stages and hair follicles become depleted over time and stop producing new hair, there will be less hair to remove after each epilation session.
Moreover, as you epilate more often, you will be able to enjoy a smooth, hair-free skin for longer periods—sometimes up to eight weeks!
The advantages of epilation
As I mentioned above, the long-lasting smoothness and the soft regrowth of hair (compared to shaving) is a major benefit of epilation. But, there are more advantages.
1. Epilation results in less and finer hair growth
When the hair grows back after epilation, it doesn’t stand out as much and feels softer. This is because the hair is completely new and has a soft tip. So, it doesn’t feel like harsh stubble but rather light, soft hair.
Also, there will be less hair to remove during the next session. This happens because not all hairs have the same growth cycle. Over time, some hair follicles will become depleted and won’t produce new hair (don’t expect miracles though).
2. It works for short hairs
An epilator can grab short hairs (as short as 0.5 cm), meaning the hair doesn’t need to grow too long between sessions. This is in contrast to waxing strips, which do not remove very short hairs effectively.
3. Epilation is a convenient hair removal method
Epilation isn’t difficult and can be done at home at your convenience. An epilator is small, making it easy to pack in your suitcase for travel.
4. It’s a ‘neat’ hair removal method
Unlike waxing, an epilation session doesn’t create a mess or sticky residue.
Some epilators can even be used in the shower or bath.
Other devices are only suitable for dry epilation.
5. Epilation prevents red bumps and pits (strawberry skin) after hair removal
After shaving, you may notice red bumps and pits. This is known as strawberry skin.
These bumps are caused by natural skin oils, bacteria, and dead skin becoming trapped in the hair follicle and turning black when exposed to oxygen.
During an epilation session, the hairs are pulled out with the hair root, so there is no risk of follicle blockage.
The disadvantages of epilation
As you’ve read, epilation has many advantages. Unfortunately, like shaving, waxing, and IPL, it also has some downsides.
1. Epilation is painful
Let’s be honest: epilation is, especially at first, quite painful.
You’ll need to grit your teeth!
This makes it less suitable for sensitive areas like your bikini line and underarms.
It’s possible, but it’s definitely not painless.
2. It causes redness and irritation
Epilation is a somewhat aggressive hair removal method, which can lead to redness and irritation, especially for women with sensitive skin.
You can reduce the chance of redness and irritation by, for example, scrubbing gently with a mild exfoliating scrub before and taking proper aftercare.
3. Epilation can cause discoloration of the underarms
Even if you work carefully, hair removal is always a bit stressful for your skin.
If your skin discolors easily, there’s a chance that ‘aggressive’ hair removal methods like epilation could cause pigmentation spots. This is because hair removal stimulates pigment production.
Dark underarms may be the result. If you suffer from discoloration, I recommend the YIONN Róa aftercare lotion. You’ll notice a difference within three weeks.
4. It takes a lot of time
Since your epilator doesn’t pull out all the hairs at once, it takes longer than shaving. You may also need to take breaks due to the pain.
Additionally, it’s important not to move the epilator too quickly, as this can cause hair to break and increase the risk of irritation.
5. It increases the chance of ingrown hairs
Epilation and waxing can cause more ingrown hairs than other hair removal methods, such as shaving and using hair removal creams.
When shaving, for example, you cut the hair close to the skin surface, creating a sharp point. This point can easily pierce the skin and grow back upwards.
With epilation, however, the hairs are pulled out from the root. This can damage the follicle, causing the direction of hair growth to change.
New hairs also lack the sharp tip needed to pierce the skin surface, causing them to become trapped beneath the skin.
Who is epilation suitable for?
I hope that based on the pros and cons of epilation, you can make a well-informed decision about whether epilation is right for you. I recommend epilation for women who:
- Have a relatively high pain threshold or not overly sensitive skin
- Don’t want to spend a lot of money on hair removal
- Want to enjoy smooth skin for a longer period of time
If your pain threshold is on the lower side, then shaving might be a better option. Or if you want to enjoy a hair-free skin for an even longer time, you can opt for IPL or permanent hair removal.
Every woman is unique, and depending on your schedule, budget, and pain tolerance, there is always a hair removal method that suits you perfectly.
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