If you prefer to be hair-free (hey, it's a personal choice), an epilator is a surefire way to achieve that silky smooth finish, meaning body hair won't get in the way and snag on your autumn layers layers during runs. So, we've put them to the test in our lab, to help you decide which model to invest in.
With our selection of the best epilators starting from as little as £60, there’s never been a better reason to upgrade from your manual shaver.
Best epilators for runners
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2
Best multi-use epilator
Remington Smooth & Silky EP7 7-in-1 Epilator
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3
Best epilator for you gym bag
Braun Braun Silk-épil 9 Flex 9100 BS 40 Tweezers Gold, White
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4
5
6
Best epilator for beginners
Braun Silk-épil 9 9/980 SkinSpa SensoSmart Epilator
Read more
7
See AlsoTop 5 Best Epilators for Women in [year] - Benzinga GuidesBest Epilator For Women - Top Epilators, Reviews & Buyer's Guide5 Best Epilators - Feb. 2024 - BestReviewsBest electric epilators for women | February 2024
Is epilating better than waxing?
One isn't necessarily better than the other, so it’s completely down to personal preference. They both provide effective hair removal by lifting hairs from the root; they just use slightly different methods.
Epilators feature a row of tiny tweezers that pluck the hairs, whereas waxing involves pulling hairs out rapidly by hand. There’s less risk of allergic reaction, infection and scarring with epilating, so if you suffer from sensitive skin, this could be a better option.
Neither method is totally pain-free, though. Epilators do tend to reach more of the teeny-tiny hairs, which some may argue makes it more painful, whereas waxing tackles only what’s on the top layer of the skin.
Do epilators stop hair regrowth?
While epilators do provide long-term results, they won’t magically make your hair disappear forever. An epilator can keep you hair-free for up to four weeks, so if you prefer the smooth look, you can chuck on your running shorts without a second thought.
When hair does grow back, it will be lighter and finer, so it won’t be as noticeable if you skip a week of epilating.
How we test
Our panel of testers tried a range of epilators, assessing how easy each one was to use, how effectively they removed hair, and how much regrowth they spotted over a period of four to eight weeks of use.
1
Best epilator
Braun Silk-épil 9 9-561 Wet & Dry Epilator
If your arms are aching from your workout, the last thing you’ll want to do is spend an hour holding a heavy gadget. But we found this epilator incredibly lightweight, especially considering how effective it was at picking up the tiniest hairs.
It features an in-built light that allows you to see any spots you’ve missed and it worked well on both wet and dry skin. Testers did experience some discomfort when going over the underarms and the bikini area, but this is hard to avoid.
Key specifications
| Able to use both wet and dry | Yes |
|---|---|
| Type | Cordless |
| Included | 6 head attachments (shaver head, trimmer cap, efficiency cap, precision cap, massage pad, exfoliating brush) and charging stand. |
2
Best multi-use epilator
Remington Smooth & Silky EP7 7-in-1 Epilator
2
Best multi-use epilator
Remington Smooth & Silky EP7 7-in-1 Epilator
Coming with an impressive choice of heads that allow you to do everything from trim your bikini line to exfoliate your feet, this is a great multi-purpose product.
It did a good job at removing hair and we found it reduced regrowth in just four weeks. It wasn’t too fiddly to use either, and allowed us to get into those hard-to-reach areas that require a bit more dexterity.
Key specifications
| Able to use both wet and dry | Yes |
|---|---|
| Type | Cordless |
| Included | 7 head attachments (Ultimate Contour Cap, Massage Cap with Aloe Vera, Detail Cap, Shaver Head, Bikini Comb, Exfoliating Brush & Pedicure Head). |
3
Best epilator for you gym bag
Braun Braun Silk-épil 9 Flex 9100 BS 40 Tweezers Gold, White
3
Best epilator for you gym bag
Braun Braun Silk-épil 9 Flex 9100 BS 40 Tweezers Gold, White
Now 50% Off
If you’ve got a busy day ahead, this multi-functional gadget will take you from park run to brunch, thanks to its array of attachments. It excels at its primary function, with our whole panel saying it stopped and slowed hair growth during the eight-week trial period. On top of that, the facial cleansing brush head came in handy for a deep cleanse, post-sweat session.
Testers loved how convenient it was to use — from its agility and versatility to the neat zip-away carry case — and told us its compact design was ‘perfect for travel, or on-the-go.’
Key specifications
| Able to use both wet and dry | Yes |
|---|---|
| Type | Cordless |
| Included | 8 head attachments plus caps (FaceSpa, Shaver Head, Exfoliator, 4 Facial Brushes and 3 Caps) |
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4
Best for use on wet skin
Panasonic ES-EL9A-S511 Epilator
This epilator comes with a handy exfoliator head that will help prevent any painful ingrown hairs. It performed better on wet skin and testers noticed a reduction in hair regrowth after eight weeks of use. The hair that did grow back was also finer and more sparse.
Key specifications
| Able to use both wet and dry | Yes |
|---|---|
| Type | Cordless |
| Included | 8 head attachments (epilator head, gentle cap, sensitive area cap, shaver head, pop up trimmer, bikini comb, sonic scrub brush, foot care head), pouch and cleaning brush. |
5
Best corded epilator
Braun Silk-Epil 5 Power Epilator
If you don’t want to spend a lot while you’re experimenting with different hair removal methods, this model is currently reduced to under £60.
Testers said it was more effective than their usual hair removal method and found the pain was tolerable (apart from the underarm area, which tends to be more sensitive). Just be mindful that, due to the price point, it isn’t cordless, which does restrict movement.
Key specifications
| Able to use both wet and dry | No, only dry |
|---|---|
| Type | Corded |
| Included | 6 head attachments (shaver head, trimmer cap, sensitive area cap, facial cap, massage cap and skin contact cap) and cooling glove. |
6
Best epilator for beginners
Braun Silk-épil 9 9/980 SkinSpa SensoSmart Epilator
6
Best epilator for beginners
Braun Silk-épil 9 9/980 SkinSpa SensoSmart Epilator
Now 50% Off
If you want the most high-tech device, this is the one for you. It features a smart sensor that will flash red if you’re applying too much pressure, making it great for beginners.
It removed hair immediately, and panellists spotted less regrowth over the testing period. It comes with a range of different attachments too, but we particularly liked the exfoliating brush for helping to prevent ingrown hairs.
Key specifications
| Able to use both wet and dry | Yes |
|---|---|
| Type | Cordless |
| Included | 7 head attachments (razor, trimmer, massager, optimal skin contact attachment, facial epilator attachment, peeling brush, gentle peeling brush), bikini trimmer with 2 attachments, 1 x AAA battery and a storage bag. |
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7
Best for long-lasting results
Philips Wet and Dry Epilator BRE740
If time isn’t on your side, this epilator claims to leave legs smooth in just 10 minutes. Testers found there was less hair regrowth after eight weeks, and it even disappeared completely in some areas on the leg, bikini line and underarms. Overall, this epilator provides an easy epilating experience.
Key specifications
| Able to use both wet and dry | Yes |
|---|---|
| Type | Cordless |
| Included | 8 head attachments (shaving head, trimming comb, bikini trimmer head, bikini trimmer comb, body exfoliation brush, pedicure foot file, delicate area cap, optimal contact cap,), pouch and cleaning brush. |
Tested byNora Merik
Beauty and Grooming Tester
Nora is our Beauty and Grooming Tester and has a master's degree in cosmetic science. She is using her expert knowledge of product development, formulation, product evaluation and market research to test a wide range of hair and beauty products in the beauty labs for Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, ELLE, Men’s Health. In the lab she uses a variety of methods such as the Diastron, The Multi Skin Test Centre, The VISIA Complexion Analyser to test anything from hydration, skin barrier function, pore size and more.
