Do Epilators Hurt? What to Know About the Hair Removal Devices

• Our top picks:
• 5) Braun Epilator Silk-épil 9 9-030 with Flexible Head
• 2) Silk-Epil 3 3-270 Epilator
• 6) Speed Corded Epilator
• Face Epilator Facespa Pro 911
• Emagine Dual Tweezer Head Epilator
• Epilator Silk-épil 9 9-985
• Hair Removal Epilator for Women
• 4) Cordless Shaver Epilator For Women
• 12) Smooth & Silky Total Coverage Epilator
• Facial Hair Remover for Women with LED Light
• How we tested
• What is the most effective mouse trap?
• How we tested
• How we test sunscreens
• How we tested

We updated this article in May 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive testing done by the Good Housekeeping Institute, additional expert commentary and two new expert-recommended products.

When it comes to hair removal, everyone has a favorite — but an increasing number of skincare and beauty pros are reaching for epilators, a handheld hair removal device that uses a rotating head equipped with numerous tweezers to pull unwanted hair from the root. In fact, it’s the go-to method of hair removal for many Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab pros! An epilator pulls hair out from the root, but is more convenient because “unlike waxing, you can epilate the moment you spot a hair; even hairs less than a millimeter long,” says Gretchen Frieling, M.D., a certified dermatopathologist at GFaceMD in Wellesley, Massachusetts. It also means you have more time in between hair removal sessions (usually about two to four weeks).

But what epilator you use is key and there are quite a few options out there. The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab is comprised of beauty pros and chemists who routinely test the latest skincare products for safety, efficacy and ease of use. We also conduct detailed consumer studies, testing the same factors, including consumer satisfaction. The recommendations below are a compilation of winners of such previous tests as well as Lab experts favorites and dermatologist-recommended picks, along with top rated epilators online, vetted by our editors:

Our top picks:

5) Braun Epilator Silk-épil 9 9-030 with Flexible Head

$179.94

Braun’s Silk Expert Pro 5 Epilator earned the top ranking in the GH Beauty Lab’s epilator test for good reason: It received perfect scores for tweezing hair in one pass, pulling hair without breaking it, not hurting skin, being easy to clean and leaving skin hair-free for at least one week. But the real kicker: the unique flexible head allows you to grab every little hair and reach every hard-to-reach spot. While it’s pricey, this all-in-one epilator has proven worth the long-term investment. “This epilator makes quick work of nabbing every last hair — even super short or super fine ones — from legs, underarms, bikini and beyond,” say GH Institute Deputy Editor Jessica Teich. “The operation is smooth and snag-free and never pinches, and the light is super useful for uncovering hidden or fine hairs. I love that it comes with so many attachment options, but I primarily stick with the classic head for regular maintenance to keep skin smooth and hair-free. I use it daily!”

Aral also loves this epilator and notes that it’s her favorite pick for the bikini area: “The flexible rounded head of this epilator fits perfectly along the bikini line and around the curvatures down there.” She advises beginners to use it with the attachment with the small oval window first, as this only exposes a fraction of the entire number of tweezers and the hair is not yanked all at once, making it less painful per pass. “Remember to pull the skin taut, and if hair is not long enough, make sure to press gently against the skin when the attachment is on for effective removal in one pass,” she adds.

2) Silk-Epil 3 3-270 Epilator

$39.94

This more affordable Braun leg and body epilator will get the job done with its 20-tweezer heads. While we haven’t Lab tested this pick, we love that its simple three-head system includes a shaver head, trimmer cap, and massage roller head for easy comfort. It also features two speed settings so you can epilate at your own pace. “This product does what it’s meant to do,” an Amazon reviewer notes.

6) Speed Corded Epilator

$45.00

Epilady was the first company ever to market an epilator, thus making the brand the mother of all epilating devices. Newer models have been released since then, and while it hasn’t been tested in the Lab, reviewers love that that this one is especially great to use on the bikini area and pubic hair. “It’s not as painful to shave down there,” one Amazon reviewer say. “Pulling your skin taut is key,” another reviewer advises, and Dr. Frieling agrees.

Face Epilator Facespa Pro 911

$92.23

When looking for an epilator specifically for the contours of your face, you want one that has the right size head. While we haven’t tested this one in the Lab, Teich is a big fan and loves that “it comes with multiple useful attachments and the head is small enough to easily maneuver on the face.” The additional heads help cleanse and tone skin, making this an all-in-one face beauty tool.

Emagine Dual Tweezer Head Epilator

$101.12

In Lab tests, one tester said, “This epilator removes more hair faster and it’s light and easy to use.” That’s because the 72 tweezer heads on this Emjoi epilator rotate in opposite directions to remove more hair in one glide, while their “lifting finger” technology works to lift and remove shorter hairs. This means capturing more leg hair, and every last hair, with less passes — making it a good candidate for those with a lot of hair or a lot of stubble.

Epilator Silk-épil 9 9-985

$165.00

Compared to some fellow Braun epilators, the Silk Epil 9 features a wider epilation head to remove more hair in one stroke, plus seven attachments so you can switch between face, body, and sensitive areas. Once charged with the included cord or powered by batteries, you can use it on dry skin or in the shower. “I followed the advice of others and used it every few days the first two weeks or so,” says one reviewer. “Now when I feel a bit of stubble, I use it and am done in five minutes or less.” Our GH Beauty Lab Director personally loves and recommends a similar but older version of this model.

Hair Removal Epilator for Women

$24.99

The two adjustable speed levels on Voyor’s epilator allows you to customize your hair removal experience to be more gentle if you have sensitive skin — or powerful if you need a stronger version. The hypoallergenic and stainless-steel blades and foil covers are also beneficial to those with easily irritated skin, as per the brand. One Amazon reviewer shares that “it leaves your skin feeling so soft and smooth.” Bonus: It includes an electric callus remover for super soft soles.

4) Cordless Shaver Epilator For Women

$84.99

In past GH Beauty Lab tests, an older but very similar Panasonic model scored well and we feel confident that this recommendation performs similarly. This model looks different with its sleeker profile, but it performs similarly (and better), showcasing a triple-speed motor and five snap-on attachments that conform to your body. The built-in LED light helps you and the device better detect each hair. “I like that is has the light to help you see the fine hairs and stubble,” shares one Amazon reviewer. “The rotating head is wonderful, it always keeps the epilator against your skin at the right angle.”

12) Smooth & Silky Total Coverage Epilator

$34.97

First time using an epilator? Try this one from Remington. According to one Amazon reviewer who used it as her first, “this epilator is small and easy to handle.” Another epilation newbie agreed and added that the directions were really simple to follow. While this hasn’t been Lab-tested, we love that the epilator’s angled head catches even the shortest hairs and it has two speed settings for fine or coarse hair.

Facial Hair Remover for Women with LED Light

$26.99

When it comes to the upper lip, you need something gentle enough to not irritate your skin but strong enough to catch the fine hairs. This Leuxe epilator effectively removes mustache hairs when rubbed in circular motions. Our beauty pros love that it’s waterproof, so you can run it under water to clean when you’re done. “I love that this didn’t irritate my skin or leave it red at all,” says one Amazon reviewer. Another reviewer says her makeup sits and glides on better thanks to this tool.

How we tested

To find the best epilators on the market, the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab selected products across different price points and ran a consumer study with 22 testers (who are all existing epilator users) to find the best epilators in terms of ease of use, performance and consumer satisfaction. The Lab disguised any branding on the epilators to prevent implicit biases that might influence testers’ feedback before sending to consumers.

Our testers use the product at least once on either their legs, underarms or bikini area, observe the hair regrowth and fill out a detailed questionnaire weighing in on attributes ranging from ease of use to level of pain experienced to how effective the device was in removing hair in one pass.

What is the most effective mouse trap?

According to Dr. Frieling and GH Beauty Lab experts, finding the best epilator comes down to a number of factors:

✔️ Wet and dry use: Most newer epilators let you use them in the shower or on dry skin, but be sure to check water-resistance or waterproofness before buying.

✔️ Corded versus battery-powered: Battery-operated epilators are less expensive, but tend to lose their power with use and time, while corded epilators pack more power.

✔️ Device size: Dr. Frieling suggests using smaller epilators for hard-to-reach areas, including facial hair (like eyebrows), upper lip and peach fuzz, while a larger device might be best for larger areas like arms and legs.

✔️ Number of tweezers: Epilator devices can have anywhere from one single tweezer to over 70 tweezers. “Since epilation is already time-consuming, it’s better to go with a higher number of tweezers” for maximum efficacy, Dr. Frieling says.

✔️ Speed settings: If you have coarse hair, look for epilators with a high speed setting function to quickly power through tougher hair.

✔️ Built-in light: Wizemann likes “epilators that are easy to clean and have a light, which helps when trying to reach areas at the back of lower legs.” These handy lights help you see and nab every last hair.

How we tested

Every hair removal method has its pros and cons. Epilating can keep your skin smoother for longer, and helps hair grow back more slowly and finer than before. “The niche for an epilator is that it can remove short regrowth and is less messy” than other types of hair removal, like depilatory or waxing, explains Birnur Aral, Ph.D., Director of the GH Beauty Lab.

How we test sunscreens

“I would lie if I said it didn’t hurt the first time,” says Sabina Wizemann, Senior Chemist at the GH Beauty Lab. For this reason, Aral adds, “I recommend epilators to those who are used to waxing, as there is a certain degree of pain involved with the process.”

To mitigate the pain, our pros recommend epilating on wet skin if you can: “Although it’s slower than dry epilation, wet epilation is more convenient and less painful,” Dr. Frieling says. Aral agrees, saying that wetting the skin can help create friction and give better grip on some hairs.

How we tested

Birnur Aral, Ph.D., Director of the GH Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab, has 15 years of leading clinical and consumer testing in the Beauty Lab and R&D experience through her seven-year stint at Unilever U.S. She has contributed to content in countless beauty categories ranging from anti-aging products to sunscreen safety. She also has written explainers that tease out the science behind beauty products and debunk misconceptions.

Dori Price has over 15 years of experience researching and writing skincare stories, combining her knowledge with the expertise of top industry professionals including dermatologists and aestheticians. She is an expert in all face and body skincare product categories, from cleansers to toners, serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, exfoliators, masks, professional treatments and more.

Shanon Maglente worked as the former Products & Reviews editor for the Good Housekeeping Institute covering the best deals and products across home, appliances, health, beauty and parenting.