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10+ Proven Tips to Make Epilating Less Painful Download ArticleExplore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Take a painkiller 45 minutes before you start. 2 Take a warm bath or shower before epilating. 3 Exfoliate your skin. 4 Get your skin wet if your epilator is waterproof. 5 Use a numbing cream. 6 Set the epilator at the lowest speed. 7 Hold the epilator at a 90-degree angle from your body. 8 Pull your skin taut. 9 Keep going. 10 Soothe your skin with aloe vera after epliating. 11 Do small touch ups throughout the week. + Show 8 more... - Show less... Other Sections VideoWATCH NOW Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Alicia Ramos and Hannah Madden
Last Updated: August 10, 2023 References
Download Article ARTICLE VIDEO X
This article was co-authored by Alicia Ramos and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Alicia Ramos is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Smoothe Denver in Denver, Colorado. She received her license at the School of Botanical & Medical Aesthetics, with training in lashes, dermaplaning, waxing, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels, and now provides skin care solutions to hundreds of clients. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 123,725 times.
Epilators are a great alternative to tweezing or waxing—but man, using one can be uncomfortable! If you’ve tried epilating before and are considering giving up because of the pain, there are a few things you can do to make your experience a little less excruciating. The good news is that epilation gets less painful every time you do it, so practice makes perfect!
Steps
1
Take a painkiller 45 minutes before you start.
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Painkillers can help reduce swelling and inflammation. Try taking ibuprofen or aspirin before you start epilating to help with the pain.
If you forget to take a painkiller before epilating, you can take one afterwards to help reduce the swelling.
Always follow the dosage recommendation on the back of the bottle.
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Take a warm bath or shower before epilating.
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When you’re warm, your pores are more open, which makes epilating hurt less. Indulge in a soothing, warm shower or bath before you begin.[1]XResearch source
As a bonus, your skin needs to be clean before you start epilating, so you can kill two birds with one stone.
Soaking in warm water also helps loosen the follicles, which means you'll have to do fewer passes overall.[2]X Expert Source Alicia RamosSkincare ProfessionalExpert Interview
3
Exfoliate your skin.
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Lots of dry skin can make the epilator hurt more. Rub an exfoliating cream over your legs, face, or arms, then rinse it off thoroughly.[3]XResearch source [4]X Expert Source Alicia RamosSkincare ProfessionalExpert Interview
This is especially important for areas on your face, since those tend to get the driest.
You can use a chemical exfoliator or a physical one; it’s your choice!
It can feel like a habit to put lotion on after exfoliating, but save that until after you’re done epilating. Lotions and body butters can clog your epilator up.
Exfoliating beforehand also helps the device get closer to the skin (every fraction of a millimeter counts here).[5]X Expert Source Alicia RamosSkincare ProfessionalExpert Interview
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Get your skin wet if your epilator is waterproof.
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If your epilator is waterproof, use it in the shower or the bath. Make sure your skin is dripping wet before you start.[6]XResearch source
The moisture will help the epilator glide over your skin more easily, leading to less pain and irritation.
If your epilator isn’t waterproof, make sure your skin is really dry to avoid damaging your device.
5
Use a numbing cream.
Download Article
Topical numbing cream can reduce pain by numbing your skin. Look for over the counter cream with Lidocaine in it, then spread a pea-sized amount on the area you're going to epilate.
Numbing creams can get kind of expensive, so save them for the really painful areas of your body, like your face and bikini line.
Always read the instructions on your numbing cream before you use it.
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Set the epilator at the lowest speed.
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Going too fast can lead to a lot of pulling and tearing. When you first start out, set your epilator to the lowest speed by moving the dial on the side.
Using a low speed will also help you get a closer, smoother tweeze.
If you feel like your speed needs an adjustment, you can turn it up after a few minutes.
It also helps to start on a less sensitive area, like the calf area of your leg. This helps you get used the sensation.[7]X Expert Source Alicia RamosSkincare ProfessionalExpert Interview
7
Hold the epilator at a 90-degree angle from your body.
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Tilting it too much could lead to pulling and tearing. Make sure your epilator sticks straight out when you first put it on your skin.[8]XResearch source
It can also help to start in an area that isn’t as sensitive, like your lower leg. Then you can work up to more sensitive areas, like your bikini line.
Advertisement 8
Pull your skin taut.
Download Article
This will give the epilator a smoother surface to work on. Use your free hand to hold your skin tight against your body as you go.[9]XResearch source [10]X Expert Source Alicia RamosSkincare ProfessionalExpert Interview
This is especially important in areas that have looser skin, like your face.
It will also help the epilator grab shorter hairs in hard-to-reach places.
9
Keep going.
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The more often you use your epilator, the less it will hurt. Try to use your epilator every time you remove hair to get your skin used to it.[11]XResearch source
Take a break in the middle of epilating if you need to!
Your first time epilating is always the worst, but it can only get better from here.
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Soothe your skin with aloe vera after epliating.
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Your skin might look a little red and bumpy afterwards, and that’s okay. Use a bit of pure aloe vera or aloe vera based moisturizer to soothe any stinging or burning.[12]XResearch source
Most skin irritation disappears overnight. If you don’t want to deal with red skin during the day, try epilating close to bedtime.
Make sure the moisturizer you’re using doesn’t have alcohol in it, as that can irritate your skin more.
Try to avoid using scented products for the first 24-48 hours while the skin heals, as your skin will be extremely sensitive (it may even bleed a little).[13]X Expert Source Alicia RamosSkincare ProfessionalExpert Interview
11
Do small touch ups throughout the week.
Download Article
Epilating a small area is usually less painful than a big one. If you notice a few stray hairs here and there, epilate them as you see them. That way, you can avoid epilating your entire body at once.[14]XResearch source
Some hair might grow faster than others, so you could vary which parts of your body that you epilate.
If your hair is growing back faster than it normally does after epilating, it might be because you snapped the hairs instead of pulling them up by the roots.
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Tips
If you’re prone to ingrown hairs, exfoliate your skin a few days after you epilate.[15]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 1
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Warnings
If your epilator isn’t waterproof, make sure your skin is fully dry before you start to avoid breaking your epilator.[16]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
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Co-authored by: Alicia Ramos Skincare Professional This article was co-authored by Alicia Ramos and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Alicia Ramos is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Smoothe Denver in Denver, Colorado. She received her license at the School of Botanical & Medical Aesthetics, with training in lashes, dermaplaning, waxing, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels, and now provides skin care solutions to hundreds of clients. This article has been viewed 123,725 times. 9 votes - 100% Co-authors: 8Updated: August 10, 2023 Views: 123,725 Categories: Featured Articles | Hair RemovalArticle SummaryX
Epilating is an effective method for removing hair, but it can be a little painful. To take the edge off, take a painkiller, such as ibuprofen, about 45 minutes before you start. It also helps to have warm, damp skin, since this will soften the hair and reduce friction from the epilator. Take a shower first and use a moisturizing exfoliator to keep your skin soft and supple. If your epilator is waterproof, you can even use it in the shower. If you’re still feeling a lot of pain, rub a small amount of a numbing cream, such as lidocaine, over the really sensitive areas before you epilate. Read on for more tips, like how to hold and move the epilator in a way that minimizes pain.Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Alicia Ramos Skincare Professional Co-authors: 8Updated: August 10, 2023 Views: 123,725100% of readers found this article helpful. 9 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote
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Download Article Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Take a painkiller 45 minutes before you start. 2 Take a warm bath or shower before epilating. 3 Exfoliate your skin. 4 Get your skin wet if your epilator is waterproof. 5 Use a numbing cream. 6 Set the epilator at the lowest speed. 7 Hold the epilator at a 90-degree angle from your body. 8 Pull your skin taut. 9 Keep going. 10 Soothe your skin with aloe vera after epliating. 11 Do small touch ups throughout the week. + Show 8 more... - Show less... Other Sections VideoWATCH NOW Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Alicia Ramos and Hannah Madden 
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Co-authored by: Alicia Ramos Skincare Professional This article was co-authored by Alicia Ramos and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Alicia Ramos is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Smoothe Denver in Denver, Colorado. She received her license at the School of Botanical & Medical Aesthetics, with training in lashes, dermaplaning, waxing, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels, and now provides skin care solutions to hundreds of clients. This article has been viewed 123,725 times. 9 votes - 100% Co-authors: 8 Updated: August 10, 2023 Views: 123,725 Categories: Featured Articles | Hair Removal Article SummaryX
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Painkillers can help reduce swelling and inflammation. Try taking ibuprofen or aspirin before you start epilating to help with the pain. 
When you’re warm, your pores are more open, which makes epilating hurt less. Indulge in a soothing, warm shower or bath before you begin.[1] 
Lots of dry skin can make the epilator hurt more. Rub an exfoliating cream over your legs, face, or arms, then rinse it off thoroughly.[3] [4] 
If your epilator is waterproof, use it in the shower or the bath. Make sure your skin is dripping wet before you start.[6] 
Topical numbing cream can reduce pain by numbing your skin. Look for over the counter cream with Lidocaine in it, then spread a pea-sized amount on the area you're going to epilate. 
Going too fast can lead to a lot of pulling and tearing. When you first start out, set your epilator to the lowest speed by moving the dial on the side. 
Tilting it too much could lead to pulling and tearing. Make sure your epilator sticks straight out when you first put it on your skin.[8] 
This will give the epilator a smoother surface to work on. Use your free hand to hold your skin tight against your body as you go.[9] [10] 
The more often you use your epilator, the less it will hurt. Try to use your epilator every time you remove hair to get your skin used to it.[11] 
Your skin might look a little red and bumpy afterwards, and that’s okay. Use a bit of pure aloe vera or aloe vera based moisturizer to soothe any stinging or burning.[12] 
Epilating a small area is usually less painful than a big one. If you notice a few stray hairs here and there, epilate them as you see them. That way, you can avoid epilating your entire body at once.[14]