I've Been Using This $40 Emjoi Epilator to Remove Body Hair for a Decade

Kayla Hui
·4 min read
I've-Been-Using-This-Epilator-to-Remove-Hair-From-My-Armpits-and-Legs-for-a-Decade-and-Here's-My-Honest-Review-GettyImages-1255076780
I've-Been-Using-This-Epilator-to-Remove-Hair-From-My-Armpits-and-Legs-for-a-Decade-and-Here's-My-Honest-Review-GettyImages-1255076780

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Not to brag, but having grown up with a licensed cosmetologist as a mom, I always had access to the best beauty advice, from hairstyling to makeup tips. And I will say, her expertise came especially in handy when it came to removing unwanted hair.

When my mom realized I was taking a razor to my legs and armpits, she immediately schooled me on why I should switch to an epilator, which removes hair at the root (like tweezing), causing less irritation, ingrown hairs, and damage to skin than shaving and waxing. Since making her case for epilators, I've been using the Emjoi Soft Caress Cordless Epilator to remove body hair for more than 10 years. (Psst, Amazon shoppers say this Braun epilator is even "better than waxing.")

Unlike razors, which cut hairs at the skin's surface, this Emjoi epilator uses 36 rotating tweezers on a spinning wheel to pluck and remove multiple hairs — even the tiniest ones — in minutes. What makes this epilator my preferred hair removal tool of choice is that it effectively and efficiently gets rid of unwanted hair at the root. Another benefit? "Epilators leave the newly grown hair thinner than before, and it takes much longer for hair to grow back in the first place compared to shaving and hair removal creams," Miami board-certified dermatologist Stacy Chimento, M.D., previously told Shape.

Not to mention, it's so easy to use. After turning it on, I glide it across my skin and it plucks strands in the direction of hair growth (which helps keep ingrown hairs to a minimum). It helps to epilate on dry skin and exfoliate the day before to prevent ingrown hairs. When I first used the Emjoi device to epilate my armpits and legs, I noticed that they felt softer and smoother, and my hair didn't grow back until five days later. Compared to shaving, I had fewer ingrown hairs, and my hair grew back thinner, saving me time during my next epilator session. (Related: Everything You Need to Know About Trying Laser Hair Removal at Home)

Emjoi epilator for hair removal
Emjoi epilator for hair removal

Amazon

Buy It: Emjoi Soft Caress Cordless Epilator, $40, amazon.com

Hair removal is not always a pleasant experience, but as someone who has used this epilator for more than a decade, I can attest that it's not as painful as it sounds (it's the same feeling as tweezing, but faster). And Amazon shoppers agree, with one first-time epilator user noting that their experience with the Emjoi device was "virtually painless." Pro tip: You may experience some tenderness and redness after your first session, but if you epilate when your hairs are shorter (as small as 0.5 millimeters to be exact), it'll be less painful, Dr. Chimento said.

One Amazon reviewer wrote: "I'm so tired of shaving my legs, I thought I'd give mechanical hair removal another shot. These new ones claim to get hair as short as half a millimeter! Well... they do! This is great, I am never shaving again. I run it over my legs when watching TV every other night or so. This way, I'm never ripping out ALL the hair at once, and it's no problem, barely a little random stinging. Not even pain. Seriously. I love it!"

If you struggle with sensitive skin and eczema like I do, I've also found that the device doesn't cause irritation thanks to the hypoallergenic tweezers and sensitive attachment for the epilator head. Plus, it's designed with a security guard, so you never have to worry about the tweezers pulling or pinching your skin. Amazon customers with "very sensitive skin" say they wish they had gotten the Emjoi epilator sooner and that it doesn't aggravate their skin.

"​​It is surprisingly gentle and very powerful," said another happy shopper. "It will make quick work of removing your hair even on the most sensitive areas of your body! The higher speed was actually more comfortable — much as you could expect pulling hair out faster is more comfortable than prolonging the pain! Even with the exposed head, there was very little risk of catching your skin as the sides do a decent job pushing your skin lightly away."

Also great? The epilator is cost-saving and long-lasting (some say they've had the same device for more than four years), so you can eliminate razors and waxing appointments. The Emjoi Soft Caress Cordless Epilator has changed my hair removal game for more than 10 years, and it could be the solution you've been searching for, too. Swap your razor for the $40 tool on Amazon — you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.