New to epilation, should I go expensive or basic?

Mumolulu

I am very intrigued as to epilation and how well it works. I have read some reviews about some epilators, generally braun ones, but I need a bit more advice!

Should I just go full whack and £70 it, or should I start off low and try a basic one so I know what I'm letting myself in for?

I dont want to buy a cheaper one, love the effect, but know it could be better, then have to buy a more pricey one.

Any suggestions? Or recommendations?

x

Material_Girl_2

That is a difficult decision. Whilst an Epilator is supposed to last years, so is more or less an investment, if you don't use it it's wasted money. Having said that, I think the technology is more or less the same so I don't think that a more expensive one will be less painful!

I have a Braun epilator that I have had for years now and I do not use it a lot so speaking from expierence here:)

I could have bought a cheaper one but just like you I wasnt sure if they are just as good and whilst I don't regret my epilator choice I would have been just as happy with a cheapie one.

purplerose

I have the Braun 5270 Silk X'elle Body System Epilator which I bought in a January sale at half price about 2 years ago for around £30. I can't compare it to any other epilators as I've never owned another but it works fine for me and the reviews for most of the Braun ones seem to be pretty good. I like mine, it's good and quick for legs but I still shave or wax underarms/bikini line as I find it too painful for those areas.

Amanita_2

They are often on offer- I got mine about half price and Sainsbury's has the Brauns discounted the other day.

jenniewb

I have a Braun Silk Epil Xelle which I got about 4 years ago- I have no idea what the code name for it would be- (its blue grey and sparkly) but I paid around £40 for it with my Boots points (it had been reduced). It has various different sized heads and I had hoped it would be a way out of paying for any more wax, removal creams or razors.

I would not recommend it!

I guess it depends on what your expectations are and if you dislike the pain (and blood) it causes. I am sure perseverance would pay off with this thing and my legs are fine to do- rarely get a problem (aside from needing to wait for the hairs to be long enough which I rarely seem to be able to do!). But for me, to have spent that amount of money and have nothing more then a way to de-fuzz my legs (if I could let them grow) I am not happy. I did try to get used to the underarm hair but just seemed to cause myself more cuts then I did remove strands of hair. I didn't bother attempting to put this thing near my face (despite it saying it would be OK on the box). As for bikini hair....

I'd say shell out on whatever claims to be the least painful, the ice-pack sold with epilators is a bandwagon and IMO not worth it- just use a bag of frozen peas- at least that way it wont have all become warm by the time your halfway done. Look for models that promise any sort of a money back guarentee if it doesn't work out and make sure you take some pain killers before attempting your first go!

shandyclover

I'd recommend if you have a close friend who uses an epilator you borrow hers and practice before you invest in your own. I have a very close Japanese friend who introduced me to epilating. I went over to hers one day and she showed me exactly how to use it. Actually we made a whole girlie evening of it and since she had been epilating since she was 14 so she gave me all the tips etc. It does hurt especially the first few times, but after that its fine. After a few goes I was sure it would work for me, my hubby brought me one back from France on one of his work trips - for some reason they are alot cheaper on the continent.

Kitchenbunny

I bought a £60 Phillips one about 7 years' ago and am still using - I have thought about changing it for a newer model but I haven't. Mine did come with an ice pack attachment and I do like it but it is quite localised and takes a while to work. A bag of frozen peas would work better, I agree. Except we don't have any in the freezer and I don't think a tin would have the same effect. I think if you can stretch to a good mid-range one and learn to use it well that'll be more effective than buying the top of the range, bells and whistles version and plunging in. There's some care involved - exfoliating once a week and moisturising to reduce the possibility of ingrowing hairs - but I would not switch back. In fact, my friend had the same dilemma as to whether to go for an expensive one as opposed to a basic model and she did choose a cheaper model. As far as I know she has had no problems at all with it.

Best of luck!

KB xx

clairibel

I've had both a cheap one..emjoi it was called, very basic but still did the job and then i bought a braun couple of years ago due to the fact that it had different heads and a shaver and i do find i use all but one head on different area's as i find some heads less painful than others....like say on my bikini line i can't stand the big head that rips loads out at once and have to use a small head that i can do bit by bit to minimise the pain ...so for me was well worth the extra.

I use the shaver a lot as well

Theres a new wet and dry one just come out which i would like to try but very expensive...i'll wait until its a lot cheaper.

DaisyDaisy82

I've got a braun Xelle epilator which i got for about £40 when they were doing the half price offers last summer.

I always find that if I have extra hairy legs (I know!) after being hidden away all winter its a lot easier to get them waxed first and then just go over your legs once a week/fortnight to get the strays.

If you can keep on top of it, its great, especially over the summer

ivylinn

I bought the Philips one with the ice packs and shaver attachment around 4 years ago and it is still in regular use.
When I tried using the ice packs I found that they got in the way which was far more annoying than any discomfort so I gave up on them.