6 best epilators 2023 — top at

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Slow hair growth with the help of one of these powerful gadgets

Hair removal isn’t the most glamorous — or enjoyable — part of our beauty regimes, so the less you need to do it (if that's what you choose to do), the better. Enter the epilator, which can offer you up to four weeks hair-free — enough to get you through a holiday without a top-up.

Ready to start shopping? Here are our standout devices at a glance, but read on for more detailed reviews below.

Note that epilators do require investment upfront, but you'll often find savings on our top-rated models – you can currently get £200 off our best runner up and £140 off this easy-to-use Braun Silk-épil.

Epilators contain rotating tweezers, which remove hair straight from the follicle to prevent any tugging or pulling on the skin. They can also remove smaller hairs compared to your average wax, leaving you with smoother, better results.

Epilating is known for being painful (you are pulling hair right from the root, after all) but the good news is the pain normally decreases each time you epilate.

To minimise discomfort, make sure you apply warm water to the skin before you start. This helps to open up pores, making it less painful. Alternatively, choose one of the epilators from our list that can be used wet when bathing or showering, so you can thoroughly soak skin beforehand.

It ultimately comes down to personal preference but the main difference between the two is that hair will start growing back straight away with shaving, while epilating can give you as long as four weeks hair-free.

An epilator won’t catch every single hair though (like a high-quality razor would), so if you’re looking for perfection, epilating may not be the right choice. Shaving is also pain-free, whereas epilating pulls hair from the root, which can cause slight discomfort.

Unlike other hair removal methods, epilating does provide long-term results, leaving you hair-free for up to four weeks. It won’t banish hair for good, but it will give you significantly more time in between treatments than shaving would.

An added bonus is that new hair will likely grow back lighter and finer too, so even if you do leave it longer than four weeks, you’ll notice the hair less.

You can buy epilators with heads specifically designed for different areas of the body too — such as arms, bikini lines and underarms — to really get your money's worth.

Most epilators work best on hairs that are between 3-5mm long. You may prefer to start epilating as soon as hair is visible though, as this is less painful and should avoid ingrown hairs.

There are a number of ways you can prep skin before epilating. Exfoliating with a scrub will help avoid ingrown hairs and bathing in warm water will help to open up pores. Although make sure the water isn't too hot, as this could lead to skin irritation.

Some epilators are waterproof, which can also help with keeping pain to a minimum, so be sure to check if the model can be used in the bath or shower before you buy, if that's a priority.

We asked 22 testers to try a range of epilators to see how effective they were at removing unwanted hair.

Our panel also assessed how easy each one was to use, as well as how much hair regrowth was spotted after four and eight weeks of continued use.

Score: 85/100

If you want to remove all unwanted hair in one go, it’s important not to race through the epilating process, which means you could be there a while. Thankfully, this epilator is lightweight to avoid any arm ache, while the built-in light helps you get every last tiny hair.

We found it did well on both wet and dry skin, with most testers finding the pain tolerable. They did report some discomfort around the bikini and underarm area (as to be expected) but overall, it scored well across the board.

Score 84/100

Testers loved how effectively this epilator removed hair and that it slowed and lessened hair growth after eight weeks. They also noted how quick the removal was, even on shorter hairs, which are notoriously harder to get rid of, and reported an even finish thanks to the light. The epilator can be used in the shower – even underwater – which testers said was a real "bonus", adding that it was "easier to use on wet skin rather than dry”.

However, some noted that it wasn't the easiest to use on underarms, reporting some discomfort. The battery didn't last as long as they'd have liked it to either.

Score: 79/100

Coming with a range of heads that tackle everything from de-fuzzing your bikini line to exfoliating rough skin on your feet, this epilator performed well across the board. Among our panel, most said it successfully removed hair immediately, with over half finding hair regrowth was reduced after just four weeks.

All said they were satisfied with its overall performance too, with many finding it was easy to use, even in those hard-to-reach areas. In the lab, we found the device lived up to its claims, without causing any irritation to the skin.

Score: 79/100

Coming with an impressive selection of accessories, this epilator is the brand’s most advanced option yet. It features a “smart” sensor, which is there to help you apply the right amount of pressure to remove hair. We found if you pressed too hard, a red light appeared to warn you to ease off, making it ideal for beginners.

Testers said it was effective at immediately removing hair and noticed a reduction in regrowth over the testing period. The exfoliating brush head also helped to avoid any ingrown hairs, which was a big plus point.

Score: 74/100

Claiming to leave you with smooth legs in just 10 minutes, most of our panel found this epilator reduced hair regrowth after eight weeks of use. One tester even fed back that "hair growth has reduced and almost disappeared in some places on my legs, underarms and bikini line."

Others also noted how effective the hair removal process was, seeing a “lasting finish." Overall, almost all were satisfied with the product after just four weeks, and found it to be effective when used wet or dry.

Score: 73/100

Here’s another epilator that doubles up as a foot care tool. Our panel appreciated how well the attachments worked — especially the trimmer and exfoliator brush, which helped prevent ingrown hairs — and found it was most effective when used on wet skin.

After eight weeks, three-quarters of our panel noticed a reduction in their hair regrowth. Plus, the hair that did grow back was noticeably finer and sparser.

Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy.

Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.

With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.

When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits.

Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites

Maria is our Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager, and since joining in mid-2022, she has managed the testing for over 20 categories including scalp scrubs, collagen supplements and retinol serums. In addition to her master's degree in chemical engineering and a diploma in cosmetic science, she recently received her MBA from the London College of Fashion, focusing on case studies within the beauty industry.

Prior to joining the company, she worked within the global technical team at the Estee Lauder Companies for over six years, collaborating with the chemists and engineers to launch luxury beauty products at scale and to quality.

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