An epilator is an electrical device used to remove hair by mechanically grasping multiple hairs simultaneously and pulling them out. Epilators remove hair directly from the roots, leaving your skin smooth for up to a month. They work similarly to waxing, but unlike waxing, they do not remove cells from the epidermis. Epilators may use an electric motor or be manually powered with a spring, and they may come with various attachments, like a smaller head to help with epilation of hard-to-reach areas or an exfoliation head that may help exfoliate the skin before and after epilation.

Epilation can be painful to some people because, as with waxing, it involves pulling hair out of the roots. Because the first epilation of an area is often especially painful, some people prefer to have the area professionally waxed first, then use epilation to remove regrowth. Pain from epilation is sometimes mitigated by reducing the speed of the device, relaxing the skin with a hot shower or bath, or using a numbing cream on the skin before epilation.

Epilators can be used at home or at a clinic, depending on the type. There are three different types of epilators: needle, tweezer, and electrolysis. Needle epilators have a fine wire that goes under your skin to reach the hair follicle. It sends an electric current to destroy the hair root, loosening the hair. You can then remove the hair with tweezers. Tweezer epilators, on the other hand, use multiple pairs of tweezers to pull out hair. Electrolysis epilators use a small needle to deliver an electric current to the hair follicle, destroying the hair root.