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.
BEST OVERALL EPILATOR
Epilator Silk-épil 9 9-030
BRAUN
Minimizes pain
Versatile use, from legs to bikini
Speedy
Flexible head
Braun’s Silk Expert Pro 5 Epilator earned the top ranking in the GH Beauty Lab’s epilator test for good reason: Itreceived 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.
• Number of tweezers: 40
• Power: Cordless
• Usability: Wet & dry
• Settings: 2
• Attachments included: 6
BEST VALUE EPILATOR
Silk-Epil 3 3-270 Epilator
BRAUN
Multiple head options
Two speed settings
Great price
This more affordable Braunleg 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.
• Number of tweezers: 20
• Power: Cordless
• Usability: Wet & dry
• Settings: 2
• Attachments included: 3