I feel like Chicken tonight (Braun Silk epil Xelle Solo)

Member Name: rrrrachel

Product:	Braun Silk epil Xelle Solo
Date:	18/02/09 (172 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Saves on razor blades

Disadvantages: Did I mention it really hurts?!

For some reason, despite being blonde and fairly dainty in other respects, I've been cursed with leg hair that belongs to someone else - someone like my big grizzly bear of a boyfriend! It grows so fast that I usually have to shave my legs every day in the summer, which is a right pain. I've tried hair removal creams and found it just took longer, smelt horrible and didn't last any better, and waxing which brought me out in nasty bumps and didn't even get all the hairs. Bah. Anyway, I thought I'd give this a try as I had nothing to lose other than the 50 quid it cost me from Argos (although it's probably available cheaper online), and I've probably spent that loads of times over on razors and shaving foam... I was drawn in by the promise of smooth legs for 4 weeks - too good to be true?...

The Silk-Epil looks rather pretty and is definitely designed to appeal to girls, with its tasteful pastel colours and smooth lines. As gadgets go it looks pretty nice in the bathroom or on your shelf. It is operated by a mains adaptor which is a bit of a pain as you need to sit by a plug, but I normally use it while I'm sitting on the sofa watching TV. It is operated by a slidey switch, which has two settings (slow and fast), and is very easy to control. Also integrated into this switch is a nifty light, which shines down onto the skin you're using it on, and makes it very easy to see little hairs you've missed.

One thing I did notice when I first used this is that it makes quite a bit of noise so I have to turn the TV volume up! Goodness knows what the neighbours make of the loud buzzing emanating from our flat, occasionally punctuated by yelps and shrieks! (More on that later...) Anyway when I plucked up the courage to touch my leg with it, MY GOD it hurt! It hurt more than anything else I've ever done; it was all I could do to force myself to keep it in contact with my leg and move it slowly down the length of my leg, as per the instructions. It felt like waxing in slow motion. I had to go over each part of my leg a couple of times to get all the hairs, but once I'd completed a bit it really did feel smooth. I had the brainwave of using a bag of frozen peas to numb the pain, and that did help. I stuck with it and was surprisingly impressed with the results. My legs looked like a plucked chicken but there was no stubble in sight!

When I woke up next morning, the angry bumps had calmed down and my legs were lovely and smooth. This smoothness lasted a couple of days, and then I started to get a few stubbly ones growing back. I was a bit disappointed by this, but this time when I used the epilator, it didn't seem as painful - I suppose the hairs were shorter and/or finer, or perhaps I just knew what to expect. Anyway after that, I didn't need to do it again for at least a week, and then it was just 'top-ups' - the pain seems less each time, and the frozen peas definitely help (don't laugh!) I also find it helps to use it after a hot bath - or alternatively after a couple of big glasses of wine ;-)

I still shave my legs now and again when I'm in a hurry, and to avoid the plucked chicken look if I'm going out, but I'm definitely a convert. This gadget has made hair removal much less of a chore, and the pain really does get better with time. Give it a go - you won't look back.

Summary: Worth the pain for the gain