Review by Sophie for Braun SE7280 Silk-Epil Xpressive Epilator Body System, Corded
Rating:
Edit: One year later, I must report a complete reversal of opinion. Please read my new comment, which is 7th in the comments section.

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I am so glad I gave this product a shot. I was skeptical because my mom said she had tried something like this in the 80s or whatever, and she said 1) it hurt too much 2) it didn’t really work (i’m assuming she meant it didn’t get all the hairs.) Well, this thing DOES get all the hairs, and read on for my description of circumventing the pain involved.

First let me say that the product that my friend recommended to me was actually the Braun 5270 Silk-épil X’elle Body System Epilator but I got this one because it was the one in stock at Bed Bath and I wanted it immediately. We’ve compared notes and they seem to get the job done exactly the same. This one comes with more extras, I think. .

Ok, so you will know that this review is for you if you can relate to the following analysis. I have very fair skin and very dark, thick hair, which is a total nightmare on my legs. I have never figured out a truly sustainable hair removal system, until (I hope I don’t jinx myself) now.

Shaving was always problematic: 1) all the hairs were visible from under the surface immediately after shaving, 2) as soon as I got goosebumps (all the time), they poked out above the surface (especially annoying when you are trying to enjoy the pool), 3) razor burn like WHOA that eventually meant I couldn’t shave more than twice a week and it was painful and ugly.

Then I went to Argentina for a study program and did the whole waxing thing. It was nice because I could experience smooth, smooth legs and also avoid razor burn, but of course there’s: 1) it’s too expensive to be sustainable in the US on my budget, 2) you have to be hairy while you let it grow out to lead up to waxing, 3) itching like whoa while the hairs were growing back – I just couldn’t exfoliate enough to keep ahead of them. They would grow in under the skin and I would have to pick them out with a pin. Gross. They didn’t get inflamed like ingrowns, but they would just lay under the skin and itch.

This epilator is my answer. With it, my legs aren’t perfectly smooth (not like after an Argentine waxing session) but it’s sustainable daily and the results are good enough for me. If I want to be super smooth, then I can just shave one day for the pool or a wedding, but I don’t need that every day. This is good enough to wear shorts. It might not be good enough for some people who have light/fine hair (eff them), but after battling my leg hair for a decade, my standards are lower than what they used to be. My legs don’t feel perfectly smooth, and there are a black dots where hairs are growing in, but man, I can throw on shorts EVERY SINGLE DAY and it makes me SO HAPPY. I can finally accept a spontaneous invitation to go to the pool. Oh thank god. It’s like a part of teenhood I never had.

Oh, also, I still get the itchy hairs growing in and laying under the skin, but it’s not nearly as bad as waxing just because they aren’t all coming in at once. Also, I just have to be committed to exfoliation and moisturizing and I can keep it under control. Itchy hairs growing in are way, way better than razor burn, so that’s why it doesn’t get me down. My leg skin has improved in tone now that I am exfoliating, moisturizing, and not hurting it with razor burn.

Basically, my new Hairy Days are smoother than my old Hairy Days, and my new Smooth Days are smoother than my old Smooth Days. Yay yay yay.

There are loads of helpful reviews to check out at the link for the X’elle that I posted above, and here’s my little tutorial on how to get it done. When people say it is painful the first time, oh my god, it is. I couldn’t have done my whole leg in a million years. I bought some VEET Ready to Use Wax Strips – Normal to Dry Skin: 20 Count and over the course of a week or two, I waxed my legs in shifts (you can do it all at once but it’s tiresome and then you get the itchy regrowing hairs all at once). Waxing barely hurts, like ripping a band-aid, no big deal. It’s nothing compared to epilating for the first time. Then as the hair started to grow back in shifts, I would start epilating it. Epilating hair that’s growing back in doesn’t hurt at all. The hair is sparse, and additionally, it’s like in the first week or so of it growing back, it hasn’t had time to really attach firmly at the root (it doesn’t have that little bulb on the end) so it barely feels like anything.

I would imagine that if I stopped epliating for a period of time and then tried to start it up again, I would have to redo this whole process, because of my theory about the pain being a result of pulling a hair that has had time to firmly attach at the root. I don’t intend to have any breaks though, because I don’t have the same incentive as I used to (to take a break from shaving in the winter). I’ll just, and I recommend to, keep it up consistently to avoid starting over.

Also, my friend who made the recommendation to me said to only epilate after a shower or bath when the pores are open, or else you might get little bloody dots. I have followed her advice, and no bloody dots.

Love you all,

Sophie

Review by C. Klaassen for Braun SE7280 Silk-Epil Xpressive Epilator Body System, Corded
Rating:
I am a bit of a body hair-phobe. Shave in all areas (legs, bikini, underarms) daily. Waste lots of time, water, and razors that way, but maintain my sanity. I saw this epilator when it was a gold box deal. Had a Christmas gift certificate, so thought, “why not?”

In all my years (and there are getting to be distressingly many of them) I have never epilated or waxed in any of the relevant areas. My sister-in-law once described her bikini wax in infinite detail – enough to put me off body waxing for good. I saw a friends epilady years ago and immediately recognized it as an implement of torture. So I slogged along year after year with my daily defoliation. Until I saw this new creation. It looked practical, sounded reasonable and the reviews were good – so I bought it.

Day one – tried it out on the kids and husband first. (Never said I was a saint.) Kids said that it “tickled” and pinched a bit. Husband screamed in agony. Decided to trust the kids.

Day two – after a hour of yoga and deep breathing plugged in the device. Several long minutes later, turned it on. Hesitantly applied it to my lower leg. (Leg hair with one days growth, naturally.) In general pain level was very mild, mostly a pinch and a pull, unfortunately I experienced no tickling. Once I a while there was a “YOW” moment, but nothing to go on about. Success, I love my epilator.

Day three – Legs remain pleasingly smooth, will move on to problematic underarm and bikini areas. How bad can this be? Answer: Very. Did not read review recommending three alcoholic beverages prior to use, now understand the need, would recommend general anesthesia instead.

Days four, five and six – ponder impending sale of nightmare inducing epilator. Will anyone in their right mind buy an used epilator?

Day seven – notice offensive leg hair is returning. Eye epilator. Begin yoga and deep breathing sequence. After plugging in epilator have to take break due to spasmodic hand trembling. Contemplate alcoholic beverages, as it is ten in the a.m. consider this ill advised. Tenatively begin use, after first pass regain enthusiasm. Not as bad as first time at all.

Resolution – will continue to use on leg area. Bikini and underarm areas will remain unmolested.

Epi-log (Sorry could not resist.): Have been using epilator for about a month now. It has become a good deal less uncomfortable. Have found that using it after soaking in a hot tub is best. The hairs come out easily and with minimal pain. So far have not had any ingrown hairs or other complications! (Note: still limiting use to leg area – wimpish character remains intact.)