The best epilators (2021): hair removal no matter your budget

published 9 September 2021

Hair removal - it's one of life's more annoying commitments. Time consuming, expensive and nearly always painful, it could rank as one of the more tedious beauty rituals we like (or don't like) to perform. But do you choose the best epilator on the market, a razor, wax strips, or hair removal cream?

We all have our favourites – and they all come with pros and cons. Hair removal cream makes your legs super smooth, but also sometimes smells pretty pungent. Shaving is quick and pain-free, but often leads to rashes or cuts. Waxing is great for long lasting smoothness but is, unfortunately, somewhat painful.

But what of the humble epilator?

If we’re completely honest, you’re unlikely to have a completely pain free epilating experience. But there are other things that make up for it. Epilating works a bit like waxing, pulling your hair from the root – which also explains why it lasts much longer than shaving.

It even works on hairs as small as 0.5mm, meaning the tiniest hairs will be removed. And you can even do it from the comfort of your own home. Bliss.

Not sure where to start? Here’s our guide to the best epilators out there.

Best mascara, tested first-hand. And if you'd rather go down the laser hair removal route, then the best IPL machines are for you.

Best epilators

A colourful addition to any bathroom, the Emjoi Emagine corded model has 72 tweezers to remove hair. That means more hair will be removed at once and you’ll spend less time epilating (the company also says this reduces skin irritation, so there’s another benefit too).The Emagine is designed with pain relief in mind – skin stretching caps mean that pain is likely to be decreased, and staggered tweezers help remove more hair on the first pass.Hair as short as 0.5mm will be removed – and skin will remain hairless for up to six weeks.

Yes, it’s pricey. But the Braun Silk-épil 9 9 epilator, exfoliator and skin care system is also one of the best epilators money can buy, frequently topping lists of best buys by experts.Braun describes the SkinSpa as the “world’s first smart epilator”. It says its pressure technology helps “guide your epilation” to remove more hair than ever. Exfoliation brushes mean ingrown hairs will be a thing of the past, and the model can be used either wet or dry.Where it really starts to shine is in its extra attachments. There are a whopping thirteen of the things. A shaver and trimmer helps you stay smooth in more sensitive areas, and an additional bikini trimmer is also included. And a smart light, much like the Satinelle’s, means you won’t miss a single hair.

Featuring 72 tweezers, this epilator is capable of plucking every hair from your body (although, in all honesty, we really wouldn't recommend it). It has Glide Technology designed to lift flat lying hairs to ensure a perfectly smooth finish. And Silver Ion technology claims to boost anti-microbial properties. Very fancy.If you're after a beginners' model, this probably isn't the epilator for you. However, if you're after a more advanced epilator, this can certainly claim to be one of the best on the market.