What are the different types of epilators?
Written by Heather McClure on epilators, personal care blog
Choosing an best epilator at first seems like a fairly simple process. Just pull your hair like tweezers, how complicated can it be? But do some more research and you will find that there are many different types of epilators on the market today. So many, in fact, that choosing one to buy is overwhelming.
In this article, I will analyze the three main types of epilators for you, as well as explain all the other main variations on the market. With this information, you should have a good basis for deciding your next epilator purchase.
The three main types of epilators
If we divide epilators by the way they grab hair, then there are basically three types of epilators: spring, disc and tweezers.
Spring epilators
In 1986, an Israeli company called Epilady launched the first epilator. This epilator was a spring type. Spring epilators have metal coils that rotate and move in a way that pinches the coils together and then separate so that they can grab the hair, pull it out and then open it to free the hair.
Here is an Epilady spring epilator:
The springs on these wear easily and need to be replaced frequently. They also have a greater chance of pinching the skin and generally require multiple steps to remove all hair.
Spring epilators lost popularity when new designs were created, although there are still some manual spring epilators available for purchase, such as this:
Rotating disc epilators
The spring epilator was a commercial success, but the low durability of the springs made them far from ideal. In response to this, Remington used the Epilady epilator concept, but slightly modified the design, using an element made of rubber discs instead of springs.
These discs were stronger and lasted longer. However, the discs work the same way as the springs, they rotate and come together to grab the hair and pull it out, then separate to free the hair. But compared to metal coils, these discs were stronger, lasted longer and were less painful to use.
This spot of the 1989 Lady Remington Smooth & Silky epilator shows how this type of epilator works:
What are the different types of epilators?
Written by Heather McClure on epilators, personal care blog
Choosing an epilator at first seems like a fairly simple process. Just pull your hair like tweezers, how complicated can it be? But do some more research and you will find that there are many different types of epilators on the market today. So many, in fact, that choosing one to buy is overwhelming.
In this article, I will analyze the three main types of epilators for you, as well as explain all the other main variations on the market. With this information, you should have a good basis for deciding your next epilator purchase.
The three main types of epilators
If we divide epilators by the way they grab hair, then there are basically three types of epilators: spring, disc and tweezers.
Spring epilators
In 1986, an Israeli company called Epilady launched the first epilator. This epilator was a spring type. Spring epilators have metal coils that rotate and move in a way that pinches the coils together and then separate so that they can grab the hair, pull it out and then open it to free the hair.
Here is an Epilady spring epilator:
The springs on these wear easily and need to be replaced frequently. They also have a greater chance of pinching the skin and generally require multiple steps to remove all hair.
Spring epilators lost popularity when new designs were created, although there are still some manual spring epilators available for purchase, such as this:
Rotating disc epilators
The spring epilator was a commercial success, but the low durability of the springs made them far from ideal. In response to this, Remington used the Epilady epilator concept, but slightly modified the design, using an element made of rubber discs instead of springs.
These discs were stronger and lasted longer. However, the discs work the same way as the springs, they rotate and come together to grab the hair and pull it out, then separate to free the hair. But compared to metal coils, these discs were stronger, lasted longer and were less painful to use.
This spot of the 1989 Lady Remington Smooth & Silky epilator shows how this type of epilator works:
Shortly thereafter, this design started using rotating metal plates, as seen on this 1990 Braun Silk-épil model:
tweezers
After more years of perfecting the epilator design, most companies are now selling tweezers. As the name suggests, they function as clamps. These epilators have a head with multiple metal plates. The plates rotate continuously to move together like tweezers, remove the hairs and then release them.
This video shows how the gripper epilator works:
Other types of epilators
The spring, disc and pliers are the three main types of epilator designs. However, there are many other ways to classify epilators. Let's explore some of the other types of epilators.
Corded and cordless epilators
You can find wired, cordless and double epilators on the market.
Corded epilators have a connected cable that must be connected to the wall when using the epilator. In the past, almost all epilators were of the thread type.
So there are cordless types that run on batteries. These have less power, but are generally smaller and more convenient for traveling.
Today, most epilators are a type of combo similar to cell phones: they have a rechargeable battery and a removable charging cable. Connect the epilator for charging and then you can remove it from the cable to use the epilator more easily. However, if you don't have time to fully charge it before you have to use it, you can leave it plugged in and charged while in use.
Dry and wet epilators
Thread epilators are always dry epilators. This means that they cannot be used in water. For many users of the epilator, this is not a big deal.
However, water makes epilator pain less intense, so many epilators are now designed to be waterproof. These "wet and dry" epilator models are corded / cordless, so you can charge epilators, then remove the cord for use in the shower or tub.
Manual epilators vs electric epilators
All mechanical epilators are electric epilators. They will not work without a power source. Most epilators fall into this category.
But there are also manual epilators. These are super simple versions of the spring epilators.
They are basically just a long spring with handles on each end. Hold the handles and roll the spring against the skin. As it rolls, the coils grab the hair and pull it out.
These are really cheap and don't use electricity, but they lack durability and don't work very well. Most people use them for peach blurring or small areas of facial hair, like in this video:
Body epilators versus leg epilators
You may notice that some descriptions of epilators seem to distinguish between leg epilators and body epilators. It seems strange because the legs are generally considered part of the body, right?
The main difference is that leg epilators can generally quickly cover a larger area and pay less attention to reducing irritation and pain. Legs can generally require more pain and speed and should not be handled with the same delicacy.
The designated body epilators are generally designed for sensitive areas such as armpits and bikini areas. They have a smaller head for waxing a small area at a time and can have lower speeds.
Most of the epilators you will find are for legs and body. They usually do this by having several hats to wear on their heads. They can also have different speeds so you can use lower speeds in more sensitive areas.
Facial epilators
There are very few epilators on the market designed specifically for facial hair only. These models are smaller and lighter, with narrow heads so you can navigate gracefully around the face to remove hair from the upper lip, chin, forehead and eyebrows. They use less energy, often making them a bit slower and quieter, offering a smoother experience for the most delicate areas of the face.
In addition to the face only epilators, most of the best epilator models are supplied with accessories so you can use them for your face. This can work well for many people, but larger and more difficult epilators to maneuver around the face.
Epilators for women vs epilators for men
If you could not distinguish the feminine designs and the excessive abundance of purple, pink and blue, almost all epilator models are designed and marketed for women.
But there are some epilators marketed specifically for men. There are three characteristics that generally distinguish them from other epilators on the market:
Men's epilators are typically black or another "manly" color. I have to love gender stereotypes, right?
They are also usually designed to remove thicker hair, as body hair for most men is slightly thicker and thicker than women's body hair.
And men's epilators generally come with a coating accessory.
However, almost all the best epilators for women these days come with accessories for cutting and can remove thick hair, so men don't need it
Written by Heather McClure on epilators, personal care blog
Choosing an best epilator at first seems like a fairly simple process. Just pull your hair like tweezers, how complicated can it be? But do some more research and you will find that there are many different types of epilators on the market today. So many, in fact, that choosing one to buy is overwhelming.
In this article, I will analyze the three main types of epilators for you, as well as explain all the other main variations on the market. With this information, you should have a good basis for deciding your next epilator purchase.
The three main types of epilators
If we divide epilators by the way they grab hair, then there are basically three types of epilators: spring, disc and tweezers.
Spring epilators
In 1986, an Israeli company called Epilady launched the first epilator. This epilator was a spring type. Spring epilators have metal coils that rotate and move in a way that pinches the coils together and then separate so that they can grab the hair, pull it out and then open it to free the hair.
Here is an Epilady spring epilator:
The springs on these wear easily and need to be replaced frequently. They also have a greater chance of pinching the skin and generally require multiple steps to remove all hair.
Spring epilators lost popularity when new designs were created, although there are still some manual spring epilators available for purchase, such as this:
Rotating disc epilators
The spring epilator was a commercial success, but the low durability of the springs made them far from ideal. In response to this, Remington used the Epilady epilator concept, but slightly modified the design, using an element made of rubber discs instead of springs.
These discs were stronger and lasted longer. However, the discs work the same way as the springs, they rotate and come together to grab the hair and pull it out, then separate to free the hair. But compared to metal coils, these discs were stronger, lasted longer and were less painful to use.
This spot of the 1989 Lady Remington Smooth & Silky epilator shows how this type of epilator works:
What are the different types of epilators?
Written by Heather McClure on epilators, personal care blog
Choosing an epilator at first seems like a fairly simple process. Just pull your hair like tweezers, how complicated can it be? But do some more research and you will find that there are many different types of epilators on the market today. So many, in fact, that choosing one to buy is overwhelming.
In this article, I will analyze the three main types of epilators for you, as well as explain all the other main variations on the market. With this information, you should have a good basis for deciding your next epilator purchase.
The three main types of epilators
If we divide epilators by the way they grab hair, then there are basically three types of epilators: spring, disc and tweezers.
Spring epilators
In 1986, an Israeli company called Epilady launched the first epilator. This epilator was a spring type. Spring epilators have metal coils that rotate and move in a way that pinches the coils together and then separate so that they can grab the hair, pull it out and then open it to free the hair.
Here is an Epilady spring epilator:
The springs on these wear easily and need to be replaced frequently. They also have a greater chance of pinching the skin and generally require multiple steps to remove all hair.
Spring epilators lost popularity when new designs were created, although there are still some manual spring epilators available for purchase, such as this:
Rotating disc epilators
The spring epilator was a commercial success, but the low durability of the springs made them far from ideal. In response to this, Remington used the Epilady epilator concept, but slightly modified the design, using an element made of rubber discs instead of springs.
These discs were stronger and lasted longer. However, the discs work the same way as the springs, they rotate and come together to grab the hair and pull it out, then separate to free the hair. But compared to metal coils, these discs were stronger, lasted longer and were less painful to use.
This spot of the 1989 Lady Remington Smooth & Silky epilator shows how this type of epilator works:
Shortly thereafter, this design started using rotating metal plates, as seen on this 1990 Braun Silk-épil model:
tweezers
After more years of perfecting the epilator design, most companies are now selling tweezers. As the name suggests, they function as clamps. These epilators have a head with multiple metal plates. The plates rotate continuously to move together like tweezers, remove the hairs and then release them.
This video shows how the gripper epilator works:
Other types of epilators
The spring, disc and pliers are the three main types of epilator designs. However, there are many other ways to classify epilators. Let's explore some of the other types of epilators.
Corded and cordless epilators
You can find wired, cordless and double epilators on the market.
Corded epilators have a connected cable that must be connected to the wall when using the epilator. In the past, almost all epilators were of the thread type.
So there are cordless types that run on batteries. These have less power, but are generally smaller and more convenient for traveling.
Today, most epilators are a type of combo similar to cell phones: they have a rechargeable battery and a removable charging cable. Connect the epilator for charging and then you can remove it from the cable to use the epilator more easily. However, if you don't have time to fully charge it before you have to use it, you can leave it plugged in and charged while in use.
Dry and wet epilators
Thread epilators are always dry epilators. This means that they cannot be used in water. For many users of the epilator, this is not a big deal.
However, water makes epilator pain less intense, so many epilators are now designed to be waterproof. These "wet and dry" epilator models are corded / cordless, so you can charge epilators, then remove the cord for use in the shower or tub.
Manual epilators vs electric epilators
All mechanical epilators are electric epilators. They will not work without a power source. Most epilators fall into this category.
But there are also manual epilators. These are super simple versions of the spring epilators.
They are basically just a long spring with handles on each end. Hold the handles and roll the spring against the skin. As it rolls, the coils grab the hair and pull it out.
These are really cheap and don't use electricity, but they lack durability and don't work very well. Most people use them for peach blurring or small areas of facial hair, like in this video:
Body epilators versus leg epilators
You may notice that some descriptions of epilators seem to distinguish between leg epilators and body epilators. It seems strange because the legs are generally considered part of the body, right?
The main difference is that leg epilators can generally quickly cover a larger area and pay less attention to reducing irritation and pain. Legs can generally require more pain and speed and should not be handled with the same delicacy.
The designated body epilators are generally designed for sensitive areas such as armpits and bikini areas. They have a smaller head for waxing a small area at a time and can have lower speeds.
Most of the epilators you will find are for legs and body. They usually do this by having several hats to wear on their heads. They can also have different speeds so you can use lower speeds in more sensitive areas.
Facial epilators
There are very few epilators on the market designed specifically for facial hair only. These models are smaller and lighter, with narrow heads so you can navigate gracefully around the face to remove hair from the upper lip, chin, forehead and eyebrows. They use less energy, often making them a bit slower and quieter, offering a smoother experience for the most delicate areas of the face.
In addition to the face only epilators, most of the best epilator models are supplied with accessories so you can use them for your face. This can work well for many people, but larger and more difficult epilators to maneuver around the face.
Epilators for women vs epilators for men
If you could not distinguish the feminine designs and the excessive abundance of purple, pink and blue, almost all epilator models are designed and marketed for women.
But there are some epilators marketed specifically for men. There are three characteristics that generally distinguish them from other epilators on the market:
Men's epilators are typically black or another "manly" color. I have to love gender stereotypes, right?
They are also usually designed to remove thicker hair, as body hair for most men is slightly thicker and thicker than women's body hair.
And men's epilators generally come with a coating accessory.
However, almost all the best epilators for women these days come with accessories for cutting and can remove thick hair, so men don't need it