The 10 Best Epilators to Buy in 2026

When you think about hair removal, you most likely think of the three most common methods: shaving, waxing or lasers. However, you may not know that there actually is a fourth option out there for you, and that option is epilating!

Lots of people are choosing epilators over previous methods of hair removal. For one, you can avoid the dreaded razor bumps that pop up after shaving. Additionally, waxing and laser hair removal can be quite costly.

Though you may be scared about the initial ouch-factor involved in epilating (and that’s a legitimate concern), you just might find yourself throwing out your razors and switching over to epilators after you learn more about them.

Important Factors to Consider When Buying an Epilator

Before shopping for an epilator for the first time, it’s helpful to consider the following factors.

Where You Need to Use It

Where you intend to use the epilator will be a key factor in determining which one is right for you. Look carefully over the details related to where they can be used on your body. Some work all over the body, while others are made for specific parts. There are a few that are safe to use on your face, but these work best on thin hairs.

The Power and Speed Settings

People with coarser hair should purchase epilators that have high-speed settings. These quickly power through tough hair. Having a choice of speed settings is ideal for new users to get used to how it feels. Higher quality epilators will usually have varying speed options to help you customize your epilating process.

Corded or Battery-Powered

Epilators that are battery-powered tend to be less expensive. However, though you can move around more easily with them, the downside of a battery-powered epilator is how quickly they lose power. Wet/Dry epilators are always cordless. Corded models are the better choice for people who don’t want to use them in the shower and for people who want it to power up at a moment’s notice.

The Pivoting Head

A pivoting head is ideal in an epilator. It follows the contours of your body as you epilate, so you can get into every curve of your body. The pivoting head also keeps the head as close to your skin as possible so that you will pull out the hair closer to the root, causing less pain and irritation.

The Number of Tweezers

Using an epilator can be quite time consuming, so you should choose one that has a high number of tweezers. That way, you can remove more hair from your skin with each pass across your skin. Cheaper epilators will have around twenty tweezers or less on its head and will be less effective at removing large amounts of hair in one go. This will mean that you have to go over your skin several times, which can cause irritations.

Types of Epilators You Can Buy

While all epilators work in a similar fashion. There are a few different designs, each with their own benefits and drawbacks.

Spring Epilators

Spring epilators have a coil spring and rotating mechanism that flexes in turns on alternating sides. As you move a spring epilator over your skin, the coils grab the hairs, and the rotating motion pulls them out. These days they are mainly used to remove facial hair.

Rotating Disc Epilators

Rotating disc epilators use small metal discs to remove hair from your skin. The discs rotate quickly and have moving tips that work like tweezers. The tips move close together and grab hairs from your skin, and the rotating motion pulls them out.

Tweezer Epilators

Tweezer epilators are the most common types of epilators you’ll find today. They feature tips that move on plates. When the head rotates, the tweezer tips come together and catch the hairs. They then pull apart to release the plucked hairs.

Features to Look For

Finally, once you know what kind of epilator you need to get the job done, you can shop for features that make life easier. Some buyers like to spend extra for these convenience features while others prefer to save and opt for a more bare-bones model.

Wet/Dry Use Features

There are some epilators that can only be used on dry skin, but there are more modern ones that have the option for shower use. Wet/Dry epilators are typically cordless, and although wet epilation is slower, it does help to lessen the pain experienced as the water softens your skin and opens up your pores.

Additionally, wet/dry epilators are more versatile and convenient to use if you want to save time by epilating during a shower or bath. An added bonus is that you can simply wash your removed hairs down the drain when you’re done!

Light Features

Well-lit rooms are not always enough for effective hair removal. Having a light on it makes it even easier to get to those hard-to-reach, and/or difficult-to-see areas of your body (i.e. the back of your legs, knee caps, etc.). A decent light can also make the shortest and finest hairs super visible.

Massage Features

A massage feature can help to increase the blood flow on the upper layer of your skin before you begin epilating. This will help you feel less pain while removing hairs.

Pain Reduction Features

If you are worried about the pain, you should use a Wet/Dry epilator, so you can use the shower to “warm your skin up,” open up your pores and relax before you begin the process. Look for an epilator that has a sensitive area cap, which also helps to reduce discomfort. Caps are especially important for first-time users.

Additional Attachments

You might want to choose an epilator that comes with removable heads as a long-term investment. You’ll get varied uses out of your epilator that way. Comprehensive epilator packs will come with a selection of caps for different uses that fit over the tweezer heads.

The various caps serve to spread your skin more evenly for more effective hair removal. They also make it possible to use the epilator on your face. Some even come with a shaving head that you can use to trim down long hairs before epilating, making the process quicker and less painful.