Top 5 compared
The best epilators
Hair pulled out at the root rather than cut at the surface, so smooth skin lasts for weeks.
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The top 5 at a glance
An epilator runs rows of spinning tweezers over the skin, catching hairs and plucking them, and Braun and Philips both put the smooth spell at up to four weeks. The first one on sale, the Epilady, arrived in 1986. Corded models run from the wall and are used on dry skin; cordless, waterproof ones go in the tub or shower, and many add shaver and trimmer heads.
The first few sessions are the hardest. Most come with a massage cap, a gentle cap or rollers to ease the start, and Braun says epilating in a warm bath or shower is less painful. An exfoliating brush or head, included with some, helps keep ingrown hairs down between sessions.
What matters
- More tweezers cover more hair in each stroke.
- Two or more speeds, with a slow one for sensitive areas.
- A light that picks out fine hairs.
- Run time per charge, on a cordless one.
#1Panasonic ES-EY30 Wet and Dry Epilator
$75–$100
Two discs with 60 tweezers work one behind the other, the second catching hairs the first missed, and Panasonic says they open 140% wider to take more hair per pass, down to 0.02 inches. The head pivots through 90 degrees to follow knees and underarms, with three speeds, a pressure sensor and an LED that picks out fine hairs.
What owners say: Powerful and quick, owners say: legs come up very smooth, it glides over knees, and one gets both legs and arms done in under 20 minutes. Pain splits them, from none at all to a lot, and so does how long the battery holds out.
Heads up: The battery gives about 30 minutes from a one-hour charge, enough for legs but worth charging before a full-body session.
A closer look: Start with the gentle cap, which Panasonic suggests for a first go or for sensitive areas, and the slowest of the three speeds. In the shower, a little bath gel on the head makes a foam that helps it glide, and the body and attachments rinse clean under warm running water afterwards.
- Second disc catches missed hairs
- Head pivots through 90 degrees
- Grips 0.02-inch hairs
- Pressure sensor
- Rinses under running water
Best for: Speed, with 60 tweezers
- Tweezers
- 60 (two discs)
- Speeds or modes
- 3
- Wet and dry
- Yes
- Power and run time
- Cordless, up to 30 min
- Light
- LED
- Heads and extras
- Gentle cap, pouch, brush
#2Philips Epilator Series 8000 5-in-1 (BRE740/14)
$100–$150
One handle with five jobs: the epilator head plus shaver, bikini trimmer, pedicure and body exfoliation heads. Philips’ ceramic discs have a micro-ridged surface to grip hairs as short as 0.5mm, a built-in light shows up the ones left behind, and it works wet or dry, without a cord.
What owners say: Plenty comes in the box, owners say, the heads swap simply and it handles easily. Pain, speed, battery life and value all split them, a few have had one stop charging, and some mention skin irritation.
Heads up: Philips has discontinued the BRE740; its current Series 8000, the BRE708, runs for 60 minutes but comes without the extra heads. New BRE740s are still sold by third-party sellers.
A closer look: Fit the delicate area cap for the underarms and bikini line, and use the plain head on legs. Going over the skin with the exfoliation head between sessions is a common way to keep ingrown hairs down, and the drawstring pouch keeps all nine accessories together in a drawer.
- Grips 0.5mm hairs
- Delicate area cap
- Exfoliation glove included
- Drawstring pouch for accessories
Best for: Legs, feet and the bikini line
- Tweezers
- 32
- Speeds or modes
- 2 speeds
- Wet and dry
- Yes
- Power and run time
- Cordless, up to 40 min
- Light
- Built-in
- Heads and extras
- Shaver, trimmer, pedicure, exfoliation
#3Braun Silk-épil 3 Corded Epilator (3-270)
$30–$50
The corded Braun that beginners have been starting with for years: 20 tweezers, massage rollers to soften the sensation, a Smartlight that shows up fine hairs, and shaver and trimmer heads for underarms and the bikini line. Plugged in, it runs the whole session without a charging break.
What owners say: Better than shaving or waxing and a saving on razors over time, owners say, with skin staying smooth for weeks. They part company on the pain and on how much hair it catches in a pass, and some get red bumps or ingrown hairs afterwards.
A closer look: With a cord, it needs an outlet within reach, so it suits a bedroom or a vanity rather than the shower; it’s for dry skin only. Pull the skin taut with the free hand, move it slowly against the direction of growth, and use the shaver head on the underarms until the skin there is used to it.
- Massage rollers soften the sensation
Best for: Corded epilating with every head
- Tweezers
- 20
- Speeds or modes
- 2
- Wet and dry
- No
- Power and run time
- Corded
- Light
- Smartlight
- Heads and extras
- Shaver and trimmer heads, brush
#4Braun Silk-épil 7 Wet and Dry Epilator (SE7-141)
$100–$150
Braun’s wide head covers more skin per stroke than its Silk-épil 5, with 40 MicroGrip tweezers that catch hairs as short as 0.5mm and a massage roller cap that Braun says takes the edge off. It’s cordless and waterproof for the bathtub or shower, and the box adds a shaver head, a trimmer comb and a Venus razor for sensitive areas.
What owners say: Silky smooth skin that lasts is the common thread, and owners find it easy to use. Whether it hurts, and whether it’s worth what it costs, are the open questions; one or two mention bits coming loose.
A closer look: A first session in a warm bath or shower with the massage roller cap fitted is the gentlest way in, and Braun says wet epilation is less painful. The exfoliation brush helps keep ingrown hairs at bay between sessions, and the shaver head and trimmer comb cover quick tidy-ups.
- Wide epilation head
- Grips 0.5mm hairs
- Massage roller cap
- Exfoliation brush included
Best for: Shower or bath sessions
- Tweezers
- 40
- Speeds or modes
- 2 (gentle and power)
- Wet and dry
- Yes
- Power and run time
- Cordless, up to 40 min
- Light
- SmartLight
- Heads and extras
- Shaver, trimmer comb, razor, brush
#5Philips Epilator Series 2000 (BRE227/00, corded)
$30–$50
A palm-sized corded epilator with one speed and a massage cap Philips designed for first-timers, and Philips says both lower legs take as little as 10 minutes. It’s a lower-priced way to find out whether epilating suits you before spending more on a cordless one.
What owners say: Quicker than waxing, cheaper over time and smooth for weeks, owners say. Beginners don’t all find it easy, it misses hairs for some, and it’s loud; pain and ingrown hairs are the other mixed points.
A closer look: Use it on clean, dry skin with no lotion on, and keep the massage cap on for the first few sessions, which is what Philips designed it for. The head comes off to wash after each use, and the whole thing disappears into a toiletry bag for trips.
- Washable epilation head
- Anti-slip handle
- Grips 0.5mm hairs
- Palm-sized for a toiletry bag
Best for: First-time epilating
- Tweezers
- 20
- Speeds or modes
- 1
- Wet and dry
- No
- Power and run time
- Corded
- Light
- No
- Heads and extras
- Massage cap, brush
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Panasonic ES-EY30 | #2Philips Series 8000 5-in-1 | #3Braun Silk-épil 3 | #4Braun Silk-épil 7 | #5Philips Series 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Most attachments | Best corded | Best budget | ||
| Picked Rating | 8.5 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 8.2 |
| Price | $75–$100 | $100–$150 | $30–$50 | $100–$150 | $30–$50 |
| Tweezers | 60 (two discs) | 32 | 20 | 40 | 20 |
| Speeds or modes | 3 | 2 speeds | 2 | 2 (gentle and power) | 1 |
| Wet and dry | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Power and run time | Cordless, up to 30 min | Cordless, up to 40 min | Corded | Cordless, up to 40 min | Corded |
| Light | LED | Built-in | Smartlight | SmartLight | No |
| Heads and extras | Gentle cap, pouch, brush | Shaver, trimmer, pedicure, exfoliation | Shaver and trimmer heads, brush | Shaver, trimmer comb, razor, brush | Massage cap, brush |
| Best for | Speed, with 60 tweezers | Legs, feet and the bikini line | Corded epilating with every head | Shower or bath sessions | First-time epilating |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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