Depilation of legs at home - how to do it correctly

Despite the fact that there are a large number of ways to effectively remove unwanted hair from the body that you can use on your own, many girls still resort to shaving. An excellent replacement for a razor is an epilator. It pulls out hairs with follicles, which provides a long-lasting smooth skin effect. Knowing how to properly epilate with an epilator, you will no longer want to return to your previous methods of hair removal.

Advantages and disadvantages

An epilator is a small device that fits comfortably in your hand. It has special roller attachments that, passing over the skin, capture hairs and pull them out with bulbs. This total removal of unwanted vegetation ensures the high efficiency of the procedure.

Hair removal with an epilator has many advantages:

The result lasts up to 2-2.5 weeks. Hair begins to gradually appear just a couple of weeks after hair removal;
Cumulative effect. With prolonged use of the epilator, the hairs begin to grow more slowly, become lighter and softer, which is why they are not so noticeable when growing back;
Saving. The epilator replaces the constant purchase of machines or consumables for other methods of removing unwanted hair (waxing, sugaring, etc.);
Wide range of models. In addition to choosing attachments, you can choose a device with a cooling effect or backlight. The sizes of the epilator also vary.

Also, epilating your legs with an epilator is quite clean. If working with wax and sugar paste can leave sticky residue in the bathroom, the epilator wins in this regard.

However, before using the epilator for the first time, pay attention to the disadvantages of the procedure:

Soreness. The sensation of removing hair using this method can be compared to a large number of sharp tweezers that simultaneously grab and pull out unwanted hairs. Especially with a low pain threshold, it will be difficult for a girl to endure the first procedures;
Duration of work. Unlike shaving, hair removal using an epilator takes up to 40-60 minutes;
Epilator price. A good device is quite expensive, but with long-term use the price pays off. Another question is whether this technique is suitable for you, and will you use it?

Is it possible to do depilation with a razor?

The easiest way to remove unwanted hair at home is to use a razor. This method is very tempting for many, because:

the process does not take much time;
there is no pain.

However, experts recommend depilation with a razor only in exceptional cases, because when using the machine:

irritation and inflammation often occur (especially when depilating the bikini area);
Ingrown hairs may appear;
there is a risk of cuts;
the result does not last long, usually for 1-2 days;
hair grows back coarser and thicker after shaving.

However, most girls from time to time have situations when they need to remove hair as quickly as possible. To reduce the risk of undesirable consequences, you need to follow certain rules:

Before the procedure, take a warm shower or relax in the bath to thoroughly steam the skin.
Using massage movements, treat the skin that will be exposed to the razor with a soft scrub.
Wipe the body dry and apply shaving gel to those areas of the body from which unnecessary hair will be removed (can be replaced with shower gel or shampoo).
Using a razor (it is important to use special razors designed for women), remove hair, making movements strictly in the direction of hair growth.
Rinse the skin and apply hydrogen peroxide (you can use Chlorhexidine or another disinfectant), and then a moisturizer with a soothing effect.
Do not dress for a while (you can wrap yourself in a towel or throw on a robe).

Types

Visually, the body of the epilator can be divided into two parts - the main one, which we hold on to, and the upper head, which is responsible for removing vegetation.

There are two main types of epilators:

Disk. The head contains up to 30 disks, arranged in pairs. As you move the epilator over the skin, hairs are pinched between these discs and then pulled out.
Tweezers. Small needles, reminiscent of tweezers, grab and pull out hairs, giving the girl less pain. There are from 10 to 20 such tweezers in the device; the effectiveness of the epilator and the speed of removing vegetation depend on their number.

Also keep in mind that any epilator may have additional functions that significantly simplify or speed up the hair removal process:

Speed controller. It is recommended to set the speed lower on more sensitive areas, and higher on the legs and arms;
Backlight. Even with good lighting in the bathroom, you will not be able to clearly see the area where the epilator moves. Lighting will help you do this;
Vibration. Helps reduce the pain that occurs when pulling out unwanted hairs;
Cooling effect. Often, epilators have a cold air function that helps reduce discomfort during the procedure.

Before using the epilator, carefully study all its functions and features in order to minimize pain and increase the efficiency of hair removal.

Why do ingrown hairs appear on legs and how to get rid of them?

Often, after depilation at home, girls begin to notice the appearance of ingrown hairs, which prevent them from fully enjoying their smooth legs.
These hairs actively appear in girls during adolescence, girls during pregnancy, in connection with some endocrinological diseases. Some people are predisposed to them. No matter what method of hair removal they use, ingrown hairs will still appear early. With frequent friction, which occurs when wearing synthetic clothing, this problem is expressed very actively. Often, in the form of ulcers. And the main cause of this disease is the incorrect technique of the procedure.

How to deal with it?

First, you need to assess the scale of the incident. If there are few ingrown hairs and inflammation does not appear, it will be enough to monitor and care for the skin. However, a worse scenario is also possible, when ulcers and dark-colored spots appear at the site of the ingrown hair. Here the care will be very long, and you should pay even more attention to your feet than to your face.

Ways to get rid of ingrown hair

Most often, simply by steaming your legs, the hairs find their way out and the problem no longer causes inconvenience. And as an additional effect, you can rub the skin with a hard washcloth or glove without pressing too hard. At the end of the procedure, moisturize the skin with cream.

There are also cases when a regular bath does not help. This means that the hair has grown to a deeper distance. You can try the scrub here. It will not only eliminate the disease, but will also help reduce its occurrence.

Read more about this in our article: How to get rid of ingrown hairs after depilation

General tips for use

Knowing how to properly epilate with an epilator, you can quickly remove unwanted hairs, preventing skin irritation.

Use the epilator carefully:

Do not apply pressure to the device while moving it over the skin.
Perform the procedure smoothly, without sudden movements with the epilator.
Change the speed if you see that the epilator is not doing the job.
Guide the device in the direction against hair growth.

IMPORTANT! To avoid severe pain when removing hair from the body, it is recommended to carry out the procedure in the evening or at night. At this time, the body relaxes as much as possible and prepares for rest, which is why the pain threshold increases.

Before shaving with an epilator, you will have to grow the required hair length - 4-5 mm. This usually takes about ten days. However, keep in mind that you should not use the device on hair that is too long, as it will cause you a lot of unpleasant sensations.

How to do waxing yourself

Before applying depilatory wax, prepare your skin as described above. Do not neglect these tips to prevent pain during work and poor results.

It is recommended to perform waxing at home in the evening. At this time, the body begins to prepare for sleep, which causes the pain threshold to increase.

After preparing the skin for the procedure, start heating the wax. In a wax melter it usually heats up for 20-30 minutes; when melting it in a water bath or in a microwave oven, it will take less time, but be sure to use a thermometer so as not to overheat the composition.

After preparing the skin and wax, you can begin the procedure:

Using a spatula, scoop out a small amount of wax.
Spread a thin layer of wax over the skin. Hot and warm wax is applied according to hair growth, polymer and film wax - in any direction.
When performing the bandage technique, without waiting for the solution to harden, apply a special strip to it. Press it firmly against the skin.
After 10-15 seconds, stretch the area to be treated and, with a sharp movement of your hand, rip the wax off the skin.
If there are still hairs on the skin, repeat the manipulations again. But you should not depilate one area more than three times to avoid irritation.
Disinfect your skin with hydrogen peroxide or a special solution after depilation.
Apply caring lotion or gel.

When choosing a cold depilation method, you just need to follow the manufacturer's recommendations indicated on the packaging. Most often, before the procedure, you need to warm up the strips between your palms, then apply them to the skin, smooth them thoroughly and sharply tear them off in the direction of hair growth.

Waxing at home should be done no more than once every 3-4 weeks. Be sure to take into account the minimum hair length for the procedure - 4-5 mm.

Skin preparation

In addition to the fact that you need to give up any hair removal methods for two weeks in order to grow the required length, immediately before the procedure, pay attention to preparing the skin.

It is recommended to take a hot shower or bath first to steam the skin. This will make the procedure less painful. Additionally, use a scrub to remove dead epithelial cells.

Removing hair with an epilator is a dry procedure, so be sure to dry your skin before doing it. You can use paper towels for this. Also treat it with a disinfectant solution of Chlorhexidine.

Features of treatment of different areas of the body

You can use an epilator to remove hair all over your body, but the specific treatment for different areas varies. Knowing how to properly use the epilator on different areas will prevent accidental damage to the skin, increasing the effectiveness of the technique.

Let's look at the main features of the different zones.

Zone	Features of hair removal
Legs	Most often, girls use the device on their legs, but they also have the largest area, which is why the procedure takes up to an hour. When passing areas where bones protrude (ankles, knees), you should be as careful as possible. These areas are less painful, but the risk of skin damage is higher.
Hands	Hairs on girls' arms are removed quite rarely, which is why they are usually 1-2 cm long. Before starting work, it is recommended to cut them to avoid severe pain. After performing the manipulation, do not wear tight-fitting sweaters with long sleeves.
Bikini	This is a highly sensitive area that needs to be epilated as carefully as possible. You will feel more discomfort when removing hairs on the labia, less discomfort on the pubis. It is recommended to use a pain reliever.
Armpits	This is quite a difficult area to work with an epilator. Sometimes girls have to buy an additional narrow nozzle, which would be convenient for treating their armpits. When removing unwanted hair, stretch the skin with one hand and operate the epilator with the other.

Waxing: types of wax for hair removal

Wax for cosmetology is available in several forms:

in special cartridges;
in disks, granules;
applied to fabric strips, ready for use without additional preparatory work.

There are such types of it according to the method of application:

hot;
warm;
cold.

You can also prepare a waxing product yourself at home.

Hot wax

Hair removal with hot wax is considered the least painful, the most effective, but at the same time unsafe. The material is usually sold in the form of tablets or granules, which need to be melted in a special device - a wax melter. The disk or granule is heated to a temperature of 45-50 degrees, and the product is applied to an area of the body. This temperature helps to warm up the skin, open the pores and make hair removal easier: you just need to pull the frozen wax against the hair growth. But this hot product can burn the skin, so cosmetologists advise using warm wax at home.

Warm wax

Epilation with warm wax is more painful, but less traumatic. To carry it out, wax is used in cartridges, which has a lower melting level (about 40 degrees), and is also heated in a wax melter or in a water bath. On specialized websites you can order cartridges of different sizes for hair removal on different parts of the body (narrow for bikini and armpits, wide for legs and arms) and with various additional ingredients for sensitive skin (chocolate, aloe, green tea).

Cold wax

The product is recommended for removing lightly coarse hair on the face and hands; it does not require special preparation. The wax is applied to narrow strips - Velcro, which should be heated in the palms to body temperature. The strip must be applied to the area from which vegetation will be removed, smoothed in the direction of hair growth, and then sharply pulled to the side against their growth.

Pain relievers

With a low pain threshold, many girls apply a local anesthetic before hair removal or take tablet analgesics, which help them endure the unpleasant procedure painlessly.

Here are some effective painkillers:

Emla cream;
Spray Lidocaine;
Veet Cream;
Gel Acriol.

Tablet analgesics should be taken carefully; it is recommended to first consult with your doctor so that he can prescribe you the best pain reliever.

Depilation of legs at home: TOP - 5 products

There are many ways to remove hair, but not all of them will be suitable for every skin type and meet the needs of everyone. Therefore, when choosing, you need to fully consider all the pros and cons of the possible options, and also be sure to know how to properly depilate your legs so as not to harm the skin.

Removing hair on legs using an epilator

From the outside, the epilator looks like an electric razor, but despite the external similarity, their operating principles are different. The razor shaves only part of the hair, and the epilator removes it from the root. Thanks to special plates or disks that synchronously rotate and touch, the hair is pulled out completely - along with the bulb.

Benefits of the epilator:

The skin hair removal system allows you to get rid of it for a long time. With frequent use of the device, the hairs become lighter and grow less frequently.
The epilator is easy to use and does not take up much space or time for the procedure.
The device also does not require replacement or updating for a long time.

Flaws:

Low pain threshold in girls when using the device can cause severe pain, so it is not suitable for everyone. In this situation, special attachments or pain-relieving creams can help.
Ingrown hairs may appear after using an epilator. Here the solution will be exfoliating creams, scrubs and special attachments.

Precautionary measures:

Varicose veins, spider veins, sensitive skin - if at least one point is present, it is not recommended to use an epilator.

Removing hair on the legs using creams and mousses

Creams and mousses, unlike epilators and razors, do not cause pain, leaving the same long-lasting effect. Due to the impressive chemical composition that destroys the hair structure and the high pH level, hair removal occurs instantly.

After using the product, hair may not grow from several days to 2-3 weeks.

Before use, the skin should be steamed and then the product should be applied to the feet, leaving it on for 3-15 minutes (depending on the composition). You can remove the product with a soft cloth or scraper.

Advantages of creams and mousses:

Very easy to use.
They are inexpensive and do not take up much space.
Suitable for travel.
Completely painless.

Flaws:

High likelihood of allergies.
Possibility of ingrown hairs.

Precautionary measures:

Chemical components can cause allergies. Therefore, after purchase, you need to conduct a test - apply cream or mousse to a small area of skin. If your skin starts to turn red, tingle, tingle or itch, the product is not suitable for you.

Post-procedure care

Often after epilation (especially after the first use of the epilator), the skin becomes slightly irritated or dry. To bring sensitive skin to a perfect and velvety state, it is recommended to follow the following recommendations for caring for it:

Immediately after using the epilator, treat your skin with Chlorhexidine and apply a soothing lotion.
For three days after the procedure, avoid using abrasives, scrubs, washcloths and brushes.
For a day, avoid sunbathing and visiting the bathhouse, sauna, or swimming pool.
After 3 days, use a natural scrub to enhance the effect of smooth skin.

Skin care after waxing

Even after proper depilation, it is important to pay attention to the care of sensitive skin. It will not only prevent irritation of the epidermis, but will also extend the period of preservation of the effect of manipulation and the smoothness of the treated area.

After the session itself, you need to apply a moisturizing lotion, gel or cream intended for skin care after hair removal to the area to be depilated.

Also pay attention to the recommendations after depilation:

It is not recommended to sunbathe for two days after depilation to prevent inflammation and tissue pigmentation;
3 days after the session, treat the skin twice a day with Chlorhexidine;
If microcracks or minor burns occur, apply Bepanten or Panthenol to problem areas;
After 3 days, treat the skin with a natural scrub;
If ingrown hairs occur, continue to scrub the epidermis every three days.

Waxing on your own does not always ensure complete removal of hair from the body. Sometimes after work, single hairs remain on it, which are carefully pulled out with tweezers.