How To Epilate Your Underarms In 12 Easy Steps
Are you tired of shaving or waxing your underarms? You might want to think about getting an epilator.
What Is An Epilator?
An epilator is an electrical device that acts like tweezers on your hairs. It grabs several hairs at once and pulls them out. Because it pulls out the hairs, they are removed at the level of the hair root. Epilators can be used to remove unwanted hair from the face, underarms, bikini area, legs, and other areas.
Epilators look like electric razors. Instead of a blade, an epilator has lots of tiny tweezers that open and close very quickly to remove hairs. Some epilators have metal coils that grab onto the hairs. Many others have hypoallergenic ceramic disks to reduce skin irritation.
Because epilators pull the hairs out at the roots, your skin stays smoother for longer. And even if you do spot a few stray hairs, you can quickly get rid of them. In fact, epilators can remove hairs that are as short as one millimeter long!
The first few times you use an epilator, it will hurt. You will get used to it, though. If you are particularly sensitive, buy a slow-speed epilator with a smaller head. That means that fewer hairs will be pulled out each time, and it’ll hurt less.
12 Tips To Make Epilating Your Underarms A Breeze
- Two or three days before epilating, shave your underarms. This will ensure that the hairs are short and less painful to remove. Also, exfoliate your underarms to remove any remaining deodorant or dead skin.
- Make sure your epilator is charged, and switch it to its lowest setting. Cordless epilators are the easiest to use.
- It is advisable to epilate the night or day before you are going to wear a sleeveless outfit. That way, any redness should have disappeared. Apply an ice pack to the affected area after epilating if you are sore, red or sensitive. A towel containing ice cubes will work just as well.
- Before you epilate, jump into the shower. The warm water will help to open up the pores of the skin and soften the hairs. This will help to reduce epilator pain. Redness and pain are perfectly normal when you first start epilating. Your skin will get used to the process in time.
- Make sure your underarm skin is dry before using your epilator. If your pits perspire during the process, apply a little talcum powder. Epilate when your underarm hair is short. This will make the process less painful and ensure good results. If your hair is long, shave first and then use the epilator.
- Lift one arm above your head. Try to stretch your underarm skin so that it is pulled tight. You can use your free hand to keep the skin stretched while epilating . Check your skin in the mirror to make sure it is taut. This will prevent catching skin in the device.
- Place the device at an angle of 45 degrees to your skin. This will ensure that only half the head of the epilator pulls out hair. This allows you to become accustomed to the pain. Make a few strokes at this angle.
- Make sure you use quick, light strokes to get used to the discomfort. Don’t push down on the epilator, or your skin might get caught in the device. If the pain is getting too bad, switch to the other armpit for a while. Switching back and forth ensures that any one area does not become too painful or irritated.
- Now place the epilator at an angle of 90 degrees to your skin. Hold it close to the skin, and move in the opposite direction to hair growth. Because underarm hair is tough, go over the area a few times until you are satisfied. Use your fingertips to feel if there are areas that need to be redone. Repeat with the other armpit.
- Now take a damp washcloth and wipe the skin clean. It will feel tender and sore, and will probably look red. Apply a lotion containing Aloe Vera and cortisone to soothe the skin and deal with any irritation. Do not apply cortisone creams to broken skin. Witch hazel can also help with redness.
- The good news is that the more you epilate, the less your hair will grow. As with plucking your eyebrows, removing hair at the root on your underarms slows down hair growth. In time, epilating underarms will become painless and easy!
- Even more good news is that new epilators are coming onto the market that can be used wet or dry. This means that you can use them in or out of the shower. Word is that these devices cause less irritation.