Epilation pulls hair from the root using rotating tweezers, which causes pain, especially during the first few sessions. The discomfort decreases over time as hair regrows thinner and your skin adapts. Proper preparation, technique, and timing can reduce pain significantly from the very first session.
How to Reduce Pain When Epilating
Epilation works. It gives you 2 to 4 weeks of smooth skin, and it costs nothing after the initial purchase. But it hurts, especially the first time. Most women who quit epilation do so after the first session because they were not prepared for the pain.
Here are 10 proven ways to reduce pain when epilating, so you stick with it long enough to see the results.
1. Take a Warm Shower First
Heat opens your pores and relaxes the skin. A 10-minute warm shower or bath before epilating makes a noticeable difference. The hair slides out with less resistance when your pores are open.
Do not epilate right after a very hot bath. Overheated skin is more sensitive. Warm is enough.
Dry your skin completely before using the epilator. Most devices, including the Kemei KM-189, are designed for dry use.
2. Exfoliate the Day Before
Dead skin cells can trap hair close to the surface, making it harder for the epilator to grip. Gently exfoliate with a scrub or loofah the day before (not the same day, as freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive).
This also helps prevent ingrown hairs after epilation.
3. Start on the Lowest Speed
If your epilator has multiple speeds, always start on the lowest setting. The KM-189 has 2 speed settings for this reason. Low speed pulls fewer hairs per second, which spreads out the sensation.
Once your skin adjusts after a few minutes, you can switch to high speed to finish faster.
4. Pull Your Skin Taut
This is the single most effective technique. Use your free hand to stretch the skin flat in the area you are epilating. Taut skin lets the tweezers grip hair cleanly at the base instead of tugging at the skin.
Loose skin bunches up and gets pinched. Pulling it tight eliminates most of that pinching sensation.
5. Move Against the Direction of Hair Growth
Hold the epilator at a 90-degree angle to your skin and glide it against the direction your hair grows. On legs, this usually means moving upward from ankle to knee.
Going in the wrong direction forces the tweezers to bend the hair before pulling it, which increases pain and can break hair instead of removing it from the root.
6. Start with Your Lower Legs
Lower legs are the least sensitive area on most women’s bodies. Start there to let your skin and mind adjust to the sensation before moving to more sensitive areas like the inner thighs or underarms.
Once your lower legs are done, you have already built up tolerance for the session.
7. Epilate in the Evening
Your pain tolerance is higher in the evening than in the morning. Your body produces more natural pain-dampening hormones later in the day.
Epilating at night also means any redness has time to fade overnight. You wake up with smooth, calm skin.
8. Trim Long Hair First
Epilators work best on hair that is 3 to 5mm long. Hair longer than 5mm wraps around the tweezers and pulls harder, causing more pain.
If your hair has grown out significantly between sessions, trim it down with scissors or a shaver attachment first. Then epilate.
9. Use a Numbing Cream for Your First Session
If you are nervous about your first epilation, apply a topical numbing cream (containing lidocaine) to the area 30 minutes before. This dulls the nerve endings temporarily.
You probably will not need this after the first 2 to 3 sessions, but it can make the initial experience much easier to handle.
10. Do Not Epilate During Your Period
Skin sensitivity increases during menstruation due to hormonal changes. The same epilation session that feels manageable on a normal day can feel significantly more painful during your period.
Schedule your epilation sessions for the week after your period when pain sensitivity is at its lowest.
Does Epilation Get Easier Over Time?
Yes. This is the part most first-timers do not know.
Session 1: The most painful. All your hair is at full thickness and deeply rooted.
Sessions 2-3: Noticeably less painful. Regrown hair is thinner and weaker, so it pulls out more easily.
Sessions 4-5: Most women describe the sensation as mild discomfort rather than pain. Some areas barely register.
After 2 months: Many women report that epilation on their legs feels like a light tingling. Some hair follicles stop producing hair entirely.
The key is consistency. If you epilate every 2 to 3 weeks, the regrowth stays thin and easy to remove. If you skip months and let hair grow back fully, you are starting from scratch.
Which Body Areas Hurt the Most?
| Body Area | Pain Level (1-10) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lower legs (below knee) | 3-4 | Least sensitive, start here |
| Upper legs (thighs) | 4-5 | Inner thigh is more sensitive than outer |
| Arms | 4-5 | Upper arms hurt more than forearms |
| Underarms | 7-8 | Very sensitive, pull skin very taut |
| Bikini line | 8-9 | Most sensitive area, go slow |
| Face | 9-10 | Not recommended, use a shaver instead |
For underarms and bikini area, go slowly, pull the skin as taut as possible, and use the low speed setting. These areas have fewer hairs than legs, so the total time is short even at low speed.
Choosing the Right Epilator Helps
A good epilator with the right features makes pain management easier.
Multiple speeds. Starting on low speed and switching to high helps you ease into each session. The KM-189 (₨ 2,249) offers 2 speeds.
Enough tweezers. More tweezers means fewer passes needed. Fewer passes means less time and less cumulative discomfort.
The Kemei KM-290R is another option if you want to compare features.
Both devices are available with cash on delivery across Pakistan.
For a full comparison of epilators and shavers (painless but shorter results), read our epilator vs shaver guide. If you are looking into how to use an epilator for the first time, check our how to use an epilator guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How painful is epilation compared to waxing?
Most women find epilation more painful than waxing during the first session. Waxing pulls hair in one quick strip, while an epilator pulls hairs continuously as you glide it. However, by session 3 or 4, epilation becomes less painful than waxing because the regrown hair is thinner.
Can I take a painkiller before epilating?
Yes. An over-the-counter painkiller like ibuprofen taken 30 minutes before your session can reduce discomfort. This is a reasonable approach for your first 2 to 3 sessions.
Why does my epilator hurt more on some days?
Hormonal changes, hydration levels, and time of day all affect pain sensitivity. Epilate in the evening, avoid the days around your period, and drink water throughout the day for the most comfortable experience.
Should I use ice before epilating?
You can. Holding an ice pack on the area for a few minutes numbs the skin slightly. However, ice also causes goosebumps, which can make it harder for the epilator to grip short hairs. A warm shower is usually more effective overall.
How often should I epilate to keep pain low?
Every 2 to 3 weeks. This keeps regrowth thin and easy to remove. Waiting longer than 4 weeks allows hair to grow back thicker, which increases pain during the next session.
*Last reviewed May 2026, Kemei Editorial Team*