Pulling your hairs out from the root (Philips Satinelle Soft Epilator)

Member Name: paulpry118

Product:	Philips Satinelle Soft Epilator
Date:	28/07/08 (779 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Smooth Skin

Disadvantages: No pain no gain

I have been using an epilator for about 5 years now but have have this Phillips for about one year.

The Satinelle soft doesn't do a bad job but I must admit my old one was better.

This epilator is made from a soft moulded plastic and is about 7cm wide at the top tapering down to approx. 2cm, 9cm long and about 2.5 cm deep and is quite easily held in your hand. It is mains operated and comes with an adaptor that contains a transformer and plugs into our standard plug, it does not take a battery so is not suitable to take abroad unless you have a travel adaptor.

The top of the epliator is made of rotating teeth in order to pluck the hairs out at the roots. Behind this is a rotating round plastic thing, it looks like 12 plastic beads threaded onto a metal bar. This is the pivoting massaging system that helps to minimise the pulling sensation whilst epilating. It has two speeds.

The system can be used for hair removal on legs, arms, underarms and bikini line and works by plucking the hairs from the roots. Sounds painful you may say, but once you've used it a few times you don't notice the pain.

Legs and Arms.

It is very simple to epliate your legs and arms. The hairs need to be about 3 - 4 mm long. You run the epilator up your legs on the fastest speed against the direction of hair growth. I tend to rub my legs first to lift the hairs slightly. As you run the epilator up it pulls the hairs out from the roots, a bit like tweezers but a lot quicker. It takes me about 10 - 15 minutes per leg to do an expert job, 5 minutes if you just want a quickly. I do an expert job about once a month. When the hairs start growing back they grow back lighter and weaker. Some people say that using an epilator regularly can completely stop hair growth but I've been using an epilator for about 5 years and I only have a couple of bald patches on my legs and none under my arms.

Bikini line and underarms.

These areas are a bit more difficult. More pain for a start. You also need an extra pair on hands to hold the skin taut under your arms. The epilator comes with a cover to put over the the rotating teeth. It has a square cut into it about 1 cm x 2 cm. This is to stop the appliance trapping your skin and believe me, if you don't use the cover it does trap the skin under your arms (painful). However I think the hairs need to be longer than the 3 - 4 mm in order to get a good catch. You use the epilator at the slower speed for these delicate areas. It takes round 7 - 8 minutes per underarm and about 10 minutes to do your bikini line, obviously if you are doing more than your bikini line it will take longer.

Hair regrowth after epilating is supposed to take about 4 weeks but seeing as hair follicles continue to grow you can see some hair growth in 10 days.

I tend to shower after epilating and this is when I get the most pain. You get a stinging sensation for about an hour after the shower and a slight rash where the hairs have been pulled out. I leave using deodorant for about two hours after due to the stinging sensation.

I also think epilating dries your skin out so I use Nivea Creme on my legs every day after showering, it keeps my legs soft. I also use an exfoliating shower wash to try to alleviate ingrowing hairs as about two weeks after epilating my legs start itching when the the new hairs start to come through.

The depilatory is available to buy from Boots for £39.99,which I think is a very reasonable price and comes with a two year guarantee.

In my opinion it is worth using an depilatory as you do get smoother skin for longer than with shaving and it is cheaper than visits to the local beauty salon for waxing. Although before I go on holiday I tend to visit the local salon, just don't tell the husband.

If your not sure about getting one try using tweezers to pull a few hairs out on your legs you can then get a idea of the pain you will feel. 

Using an epilator is said to reduce your hair growth. I must admit, I have been using one for so long that I have noticed some bald patches on my legs. Maybe in another five years my legs will be completely bald.

Summary: They are worth the money if you can put up with the slight pain.