Epilation – experience using SILK-EPIL/Braun etc

[Anonymous]

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I have tried many styles of hair removal over the years with mixed results. I used to wax my face and once had a Beautician nearly in tears with the blood loss, had laser, waxed, plucked, etc etc. I had used an Epilator [2 types] but always got ingrown hair problems, not a good look. I recently bought a $45 Braun SILK-EPIL unit from Kmart , after going back to shaving for many years ,and I find it the most convenient to use, it will work on hair only 2mm long, so, quick turn around unlike wax where you need to grow longer than 2mm. I am talking about body hair here. I get far less ingrown hairs now.
I shave inbetween if needed, Science says that it does not thicken hair, it is only the feeling of sharp hair ends that we feel after shaving. Now that I am going greyer it means that my face is easier to make up as the hair is paler.and I don’t need to wax anymore.
As for pain, yes they all hurt. Just tell yourself how tough TG folk have to be to express themselves in a BI-Gender world! Mind you, I have to be in the mood for a “RIP” session but afterward I have two weeks of smooth bliss[ it’s sad that most men never feel the joy of a swishy skirt on smooth legs…]

Hi Christina..I read your post with much interest as im trying to epilate and ive been doin it for about a year…its good , only thing is the ingrown hair. My daughter suggested i use a loofer on dry skin, havent tried it yet. But the main problem i have is that it seems to cut the hair midshaft sometimes in places.And yet my legs below the knees are silky smooth where the hair is pulled out by the roots.
I think there must be a distinct difference betwen men and womens hair mehanics, if it works better on genetic women. I have a silk epil too, i was told by a friend that i should try an emjoi.
Nonetheless it was good to read your thaughts on this subject which drives me nuts sometimes!!! i just dont want to go back to shaving.
Good luck darling

Hugs

Joanne

[Anonymous]

Ladies,

I have been using Emjoi’s for quite a few years now and only have to do a quick run over every couple of weeks or so. The hair does thin with regular epilation, but as with all things will grow thicker the longer they are left.

Joanne, your daughter is spot on, use a loofer ever time you shower and always moisturise after you have patted dry your skin.
Unfortunately the only thing you can do with ingrown hairs is to lift them with a sterilised pin, after epilation, then quickly whip over with the epilator again to get the strays. Next shower using a loofer (as stated before).

My hair after years of epilation and occasional shaving grows back softer now, because of the regime I follow. I moisturise every night just before bed too, even after I have already moisturised after my shower. After shower I use St. Ives Smooth Legs moisturiser, and before bed I use a sorbelene based moisturiser that I have added Lavender and Ti Tree Oil to.

I use this regime for body hair as well. As for facial hair I shave in both directions (with and against the grain) when I’m getting dolled up, and moisturise straight after shaving (whether I am dressing or not), otherwise I can wait ’til I have the finances to have electrolysis.

Hope this helps.

Big Hugs
Jules xxx

[Anonymous]

I thnk that males have thicker skin than females and so the new hairs ,now a bit weaker through having to regrow and being softer , have trouble breaking through the skin. This causes the ingrowing and so by softening the skin by moisturizing and by dermabration [the loofah] it allows the hair out easier. They definately get weaker but as we all have several hairs in each follicle the process is long. Face hair is the toughest as it, like head hair has no regulator to determine its length. This is of course a bonus for Sikhs and Indian Fakirs [not to mention ZZ Top impersonators] …but a pain for we TG folk!!
I know many women who have the same problem , however.

[Anonymous]

Well ladies thanks for that insight , im keen to continue the epilator. Give me 6 months and il hopefully report back a success story. Well that depends on my lady mind…hehe

Hugs to you

Joanne

[Anonymous]

Interesting discussion. I have used a Braun Epilator for the last couple of months and love it, except for the pain the first time (itis now relatively painless) and the in grown hairs; I shall take your advice and try a loafer to see if that improves things; I shall also try lavender and tea tree oil as both are good antiseptics. My arm and leg hairs are now quite sparse and fine and only need a touch up every couple of weeks. There are also sufficient fine fair hairs remaining not arouse any suspicion when I am in male mode, unlike shaving.

I recently purchased an Epila laser and will try it this week. I recommend their web site as it contains a lot of info on hair growth. Obviously the epilator is not suitable for facial hair ( or maybe I am just a sook) so I am hoping the laser will solve the problem. I shall post a message after I have tried it

[Alice]

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I have used a Braun Epilator for the last couple of months and love it, except for the pain the first time

I generally suggest paying to have the area waxed before the first attempt at epiling. It’s easier to deal with the initial pain if someone else is waxing it for you.

Be aware, however, that if you don’t keep epiling regularly, you will eventually have just as much hair as you had before you started.

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(itis now relatively painless) and the in grown hairs;

The green Nads ingrown hair solution seems quite effective. A male friend of mine started with the green, tried the blue “for men”, hated it and has gone back to the green.

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There are also sufficient fine fair hairs remaining not arouse any suspicion when I am in male mode, unlike shaving.

This also looks more natural en femme, particularly on the face, where women usually have vellus hair and don’t shave…

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Obviously the epilator is not suitable for facial hair ( or maybe I am just a sook) so I am hoping the laser will solve the problem.

It must just be you. :p I’ve been epilating my face for several years. It’s quite difficut to get started but it’s very effective. Waxing or, as I did, tweezing the whole lot by hand first makes it easier to get started.

I also have a mini epilator that is ideal for doing brows but I don’t think that they are made any more.

Alice

[Anonymous]

Hi Girls
I get full body waxes regularly and use an epilator in between (a medieval torture device but effective I guess). I am considering investing in a more ‘permanent’ solution. Can anyone give me good advice on electrolysis vs laser treatment. I have researched both but would like to hear of real life experiences.
Love
Chrissy 😉

[Amanda here!
Please don’t use this thread Epilation for a discussion about electrolysis or laser.

There is already a thread for discussion about Laser

http://forum.tgr.net.au/cms/forum/F309/857-57

And a forum dedicated to Hair Removal
viewforum.php?f=120

(which is probably where these two threads are heading soon)

Remember – keep the threads on one topic please!
Thanks
Webmistress ]

Ooops sorry.

[Anonymous]

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Well ladies thanks for that insight , im keen to continue the epilator. Give me 6 months and il hopefully report back a success story. Well that depends on my lady mind…hehe

Hugs to you

Joanne

Well hello Ladies again, i have some exciting news.

The EPILATOR REALLY WORKS!!!!!!.

My legs are silky smooth and im happy…….this calls for a celebration.

Thanks all for the words of advice.

Hugs

Joanne

[Melissa_Mills]

I think I will have to try epilators. I have been shaving my chest for quite a while now and have relatively recently moved onto doing my arms but most times, I usually manage to cut myself and have been getting quite a collection of scars.
I guess its either epilating or waxing now. Is the braun silk one the best for arms would it be just a matter of personal preference?

Melissa

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I use the Emjoi Gentle Gold for my legs. It work great, but takes forever. I have noticed that I seem to get more ingrown hair if I use it, rather than waxing, but at least it saves me $35 each time.

Robyn

[Melissa_Mills]

Does it make any difference if you let the hair grow a bit before attempting to epilate on your body or is it no difference if you do it every day or if as soon as you see hair regrowing?
I do it when I can and I have a braun silk epilator but it doesnt seem to be very effective at picking up my arm hair. I dont know if I am doing anything wrong but it seems to miss plenty of hairs when I give it a go

[Anonymous]

Hi Melissa,
You need about 1 cm to pick up the hairs. Dirfferent attachments (heads)are better for different parts of the body so you might like to try different ones.
Take care
Gwen

[Anonymous]

I have just recently purchased a Braun Silk-epil Xpressive 7000 Series, and yes the pain I felt the first time I used it wasn’t that bad. But I started below the knee to test the unit and have found one problem I’ve been confronted with, and that is the great number of pimples I now have!

I have followed all the information on the box plus used use the pre-epilation wips from Olay that came with the unit and and used a loofer when showering.

I normally shave my legs but I thought having their hair pulled out would work better, but now found this new problem has anyone else suffered from this and is it normal when you start ?

Penny

[Anonymous]

Sometimes these devices can snap off the hair at the skin rather than pulling it out, depends on how tough the hairs are. It does leave a rash for an hour or two but it goes by the next day( on me) though waxing used to give me more ingrown hairs. I shave some areas and Epil others , usually due to the pain factor but now, the Epilled areas create no more than a mild sensation and I don’t have to wait till the hair grows longer like waxing. I find that 1-2 mm is long enough for the machine to work I only chose the Braun as it was $ 40 rather than over $ 100 for an Emjoi . I can give myself a ” once over” while watching TV , much easier than an afternoon hot waxing and cleaning up as I used to do.
Penny, as others have suggested perhaps a few goes with wax will soften the hair enough to use the Epil.

[dee88]

I used to use one one of these epilators. But then i thought why not try waxing. I found a beautician who works out of home …….plenty in the paper and yellow pages and asked if she would wax me. i just gave assurance who I was and to meet with no obligation. I now have a appointment every 3-4 weeks and I get full legs, close bikini, under arms and chest which is nearly naturally hairless. I find it is not very painfull at all. I am now starting to see the results of continuous waxing with finer and less regrowth.
Smooth all over feels great.Moderator

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Off topic – thread title is Epilation experience using SILK-EPIL