The best epilators
Hair pulled out at the root rather than cut at the surface: four epilators compared, from simple corded models to cordless ones that work in the bath.
An epilator pulls hairs out from the root with rows of spinning tweezers, and Braun, Philips and Rowenta all put the smooth spell at up to four weeks. The first one on sale, the Epilady, arrived in 1986; today’s add more tweezers, massage caps and heads for shaving and trimming.
The first few sessions are the hardest. Philips says it gets less painful with regular use, and Braun and Panasonic both say using theirs in a warm bath or shower is more comfortable, which is what the two cordless, waterproof models here are for. The corded Philips and Rowenta cost less and run from the mains, so they’re used dry, near a socket.
What matters
- Tweezers and speeds: more tweezers cover more hair per stroke, and a slow speed helps on sensitive areas.
- Wet and dry: cordless, waterproof models can be used in the bath or shower.
- Corded or cordless: mains models never need charging; the cordless ones here run for 30 to 50 minutes.
- Extras: shaver heads, trimmers, massage caps and a light for spotting fine hairs.
#1 of 4
Best overall
Braun Silk-épil 9 Flex SkinSpa Epilator (9-481 3D)
£369.99 RRP
The head flexes through 360° to stay flat against knees, ankles and underarms while 40 tweezers catch hairs as short as 0.5mm, and it runs cordless for up to 50 minutes, in the bath or out of it.
What owners say: Owners like the way the flexible head glides over the skin and follows the body’s curves, and many find it more comfortable than other ways of removing hair.
Heads up: It comes with a two-pin plug, so charge it from a bathroom shaver socket or use an EU-to-UK adapter in an ordinary socket.
A closer look: A first session in a warm bath or shower, with the massage cap fitted, is the gentlest way in, and Braun says wet epilation is less painful. Between sessions, the shaver head and mini body trimmer take care of quick tidy-ups, and everything packs into the pouch for trips away.
- 40 tweezers on a 360° Flex head
- Wet and dry, cordless
- Up to 50 minutes a charge
- SmartLight
- Body trimmer, shaver head and exfoliation brush
Best for: Wet use and tricky curves
- Tweezers
- 40
- Speeds or modes
- 2 (Smart Touch)
- Wet and dry
- Yes
- Power
- Cordless, up to 50 min
- Light
- SmartLight
- Heads and extras
- Shaver, trimmers, exfoliator
#2 of 4
Runner-up
Panasonic ES-EY90 Wet and Dry Epilator
£199.99 RRP
Two discs with 60 tweezers work one behind the other, the second catching hairs the first missed, and the extra-wide head pivots through 90° to cover more skin with each stroke. An LED picks out fine hairs behind the knees and under the arms.
What owners say: Owners rate it in the bath or shower, find it close to painless, and say the battery goes on for longer than they expected.
A closer look: Start with the gentle cap and its skin guard, which Panasonic recommends for a first go or for sensitive skin, then move up to the faster speeds. A little shower gel poured on the head helps it glide in the bath, and the heads rinse clean under the tap afterwards.
- 60 tweezers on two discs
- 3 speeds: soft, normal and power
- Wet and dry, cordless
- LED light
- 8 heads, including a foot file
Best for: Speed and the most heads
- Tweezers
- 60 (two discs)
- Speeds or modes
- 3
- Wet and dry
- Yes
- Power
- Cordless, about 30 min
- Light
- LED
- Heads and extras
- Shaver, trimmer, foot file
#3 of 4
Best for beginners
Philips Epilator Series 2000 (BRE237/00, corded)
£59.99 RRP
A palm-sized corded epilator with one speed and a massage cap Philips designed for first-timers, plus a shaver head with comb for touch-ups on underarms and sensitive areas. Philips reckons both lower legs take as little as 10 minutes.
What owners say: Beginners pick it up quickly, owners say, and they like having a shaver head for underarms in the same box.
A closer look: Being corded, it never needs charging, but it does need a socket close by, so it suits a bedroom or dressing table rather than the bathroom. It works best on clean, dry skin with no body lotion on, and the epilation head can be washed after each session.
- Massage cap for first-timers
- Shaver head with comb
- One speed, runs from the mains
- Anti-slip handle
- Washable epilation head
Best for: First-time epilating
- Tweezers
- 20
- Speeds or modes
- 1
- Wet and dry
- No
- Power
- Mains, 1.8m cord
- Light
- No
- Heads and extras
- Shaver head, massage cap
#4 of 4
Rowenta Easy Touch Epilator (EP1110)
£30–£50 Price range
A plain, no-fuss corded epilator for legs, with a slow speed for sensitive areas, a fast one for getting the job done, and a massage system Rowenta says makes epilating gentler.
A closer look: Move it slowly against the direction of growth, holding the skin taut with the other hand, and let the tweezers do the work rather than pressing hard. The low speed is for sensitive areas and the high speed for getting through legs quickly.
- 24 tweezers
- 2 speeds
- Massage system
- Guide system for each stroke
- Runs from the mains
Best for: Simple corded epilating
- Tweezers
- 24
- Speeds or modes
- 2
- Wet and dry
- No
- Power
- Mains cable
- Light
- No
- Heads and extras
- Massage attachment
How they compare
| Feature | #1Braun Silk-épil 9 Flex | #2Panasonic ES-EY90 | #3Philips Series 2000 | #4Rowenta Easy Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Best for beginners | ||
| Picked Rating | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 7.7 |
| Price | £369.99 RRP | £199.99 RRP | £59.99 RRP | £30–£50 Price range |
| Tweezers | 40 | 60 (two discs) | 20 | 24 |
| Speeds or modes | 2 (Smart Touch) | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Wet and dry | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Power | Cordless, up to 50 min | Cordless, about 30 min | Mains, 1.8m cord | Mains cable |
| Light | SmartLight | LED | No | No |
| Heads and extras | Shaver, trimmers, exfoliator | Shaver, trimmer, foot file | Shaver head, massage cap | Massage attachment |
| Best for | Wet use and tricky curves | Speed and the most heads | First-time epilating | Simple corded epilating |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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