What Is Epilation?

A concise definition of Epilation versus Depilation

Sometimes the best way to explain something is with simple words and with examples, so here goes.

• Depilation is removing hair from the surface of the skin, for example, shaving
• Epilation is removing hair from below the skin, by the roots so to speak. For example, plucking.

They are both used for hair removal, but with the epilation the entire hair is removed from the follicle, whereas with the depilation the hair is removed only to the surface of the skin . This is the reason why with epilation the hair grows a lot slower compared to depilation.

Depilation refers only to temporary hair removal. The most popular methods for hair removal through depilation are: shaving, depilatory and friction.

On the other hand epilation can be temporary and permanent. The different methods here are: temporary - electric epilators, waxing, sugaring, tweezing; permanent - laser, photo epilation, electrolysis.

Electric epilators have rotating heads that grasp the hairs and pull them from the follicle. This method is slower than waxing, as it can't pull many hairs at the same time.

Waxing is when you apply a layer of either hot or cold wax directly on the skin, which then you quickly pull with the help of a piece of cloth. It s fast end effective but it s also painful. People who use waxing on a regular basis say after the first several times the body gets somewhat used to the pain.

Sugaring is very similar to waxing. The only difference is that you use sugar-based substance instead of wax.

Tweezing refers to hair removal using tweezers to pluck hair from the follicle. It's an effective method but also very slow.

Laser refers to a method in which a beam of laser light is projected on your skin. This beam is then attracted by the dark color of the hair. It also causes permanent damage to the follicle. Although the laser hair removal is pain-free there are some limitations to it. First, it mainly works on dark hairs and fair skins. If you are dark tanned the laser hair removal will not be very effective. Second, there aren't strong evidences that this method provides a real permanent hair removal. Third, it s quite expensive.

Photo epilation, also known as pulsed laser, is a newer method, very similar to the laser hair removal procedure. A pulsed light beam is used to destroy the follicle s ability to produce new hair. This method is effective for any colors and types of skin but might be quite expensive, too.

In the electrolysis each hair is treated individually. A needle-like device is injected into the follicle and then an electric charge is run through it. This way the follicle roots are permanently damaged. This is a very effective method, but it s somewhat painful and it's also very slow.