If waxing and shaving do not do it for you when it comes to hair removal, you should look to epilating. Epilating requires nothing more than an epilating machine to work. The machine has tiny tweezer arms that pick up hairs and rip them from the root. This can be painful, but it is a very effective hair removal method, often leaving the skin smooth and hair-free for weeks.
When it comes to removing sideburns, epilators are a good choice. Make sure to use an epilator that was designed for facial hair, as these are usually smaller than normal epilators, which allows them to be more precise with the removal of the hair.
So, what is the best way to epilate sideburns? The best way to epilate sideburns is to glide the machine in the direction of hair growth, pulling them from the root. You should also take proper preparatory and post-epilator precautions so that you don’t have any ingrown hairs or acne after epilating.
I will show you exactly how to epilate sideburns and avoid ingrown hairs and acne below.
Epilating Sideburns – Step By Step
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to effectively and safely use an epilator to get rid of sideburns.
Choose Your Epilator
As previously mentioned, you should purchase an epilator which has been designed to be used on facial hair. The smaller size allows you to remove the hair more precisely from the natural contours of the face, for precision and safety. Some epilators can be used in the shower, with wet hair.
This often makes the process less painful as hair softens in water, and is easier to remove. If you are worried about the pain, definitely purchase an epilator that can be used wet or dry.
Clean Your Face
It is so important to cleanse your face before using an epilator. Use a gentle cleanser or face wash to remove any build-up, oil, dirt or makeup that may be on your skin.
Pull your hair back into a ponytail, or by using a headband, to ensure that all longer hairs are off of your face. If these are caught in the epilator by accident, it can be really painful and might even clog up the machine.
Trim Longer Hair
Epilators are capable of removing fairly short hair, measuring down to 0.55mm. It is best to trim any longer sideburn hairs and any long hairs in the general area.
It will be easier to use the epilator on your face if the hair is kept short, so grab a pair of small scissors and trim the hair down to under 1.00 mm in length.
Use The Epilator
Turn the epilator on, and glide it over your sideburns in the direction of the hair growth. If you go against the hair growth, you might break the hairs instead of pulling them from the root.
Remember to not move too close to your hairline, as some of your hair may become stuck and it might remove hair outside of your sideburns. Try and not make your sideburn lines too drastic, as this appears very unnatural.
Remember not to push the epilator into your skin, just hold it at a 90-degree angle and gently glide it along using upward strokes.
You may notice that your skin becomes red and tender, so try and avoid using the epilator before going out.
Tweeze Stray Hair
If you notice that some stray hairs have been left behind, use a set of tweezers to pluck out the hair, especially focussing on the hairs close to your hairline.
Clean the Machine
You need to remember to clean your epilator machine after every use. There will be trace amounts of hair, blood, and skin left on the blades, which is not hygienic to leave as is, and then use again.
Remove the head from the epilator and use a soft brush to sweep out any loose hair. Then use some rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab to clean the tweezers or blades of the epilator.
How To Prevent Breakouts When Using An Epilator For Sideburns
Many people experience breakouts when using an epilator on their faces, and especially in the sideburn area. The pimples or red bumps are caused by follicles becoming inflamed. This is known as folliculitis, which is treated easily.
At times it can be difficult to determine if the inflammation and red spots are caused by folliculitis or ingrown hairs, but if the red bumps appear straight after epilating, you can bet that it is folliculitis. This happens because the follicles becomes swollen and inflamed when the hair is ripped out, but it will usually calm down in a few hours, and the occurrence of folliculitis lessens as you epilate more.
Preparation
Preparing your skin for epilation is a good way to reduce the risk of breakouts and irritation. If you are currently experiencing a breakout, it is best to wait for it to clear before you epilate your sideburns.
As the hair is removed from the root, the follicles are open to the outside, on the surface of the skin. This makes it easy for bacteria to enter the follicles and cause an infection, so it is really important to make sure you cleanse the area of skin before epilating, and then again after the epilation is done.
To prevent ingrown hairs, you should exfoliate your skin before epilation. This removes a build-up of dead skin cells and bacteria, which all work towards causing ingrown hairs. Just before epilating, you should take a warm shower, and use a gentle face wash to cleanse the sideburn area.
Once you have done this, you can even apply a natural antiseptic such as 100% witch hazel or 100% tea tree oil to remove the bacteria from the skin.
Remember to also clean the epilator head by gently brushing it with rubbing alcohol.
Aftercare
Aftercare is just as important as preparation to help reduce the risk of pimples and breakouts. The follicles remain open for around 24-48 hours after epilation and are vulnerable to infection during this time.
Try to avoid feeling how smooth your skin is, as your hands will hold bacteria from touching other surfaces, which could then infect your skin.
It is best to keep the area as dry as possible and avoid sweating. This will clog up the follicles and cause pimples and inflammation. To try and combat sweating on warm days, you can apply a light layer of baby powder to your skin to absorb any excess sweat and oils.
In the 2 days following epilation, you should avoid the following:
- Hot baths
- Saunas
- Perfume
- Tight clothing
- Exercise
- Makeup
- Touching the skin
Remember that it is normal to expect some irritation, as your skin will not be happy that hairs are being ripped out from the root, and this inflammation should go away soon. However, if the irritation stays, try and cleanse the area and use a baby rash cream to bring back some hydration, and to reduce the inflammation around the area.
Over time your skin will become used to epilation, and the irritation will be less and less with every use.
Related Questions
What should I put on my sideburns after epilating?
After epilating your sideburns, you can apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer to your skin. Non-comedogenic means that the moisturizer does not contain any ingredients which could clog up pores and cause irritation to the already irritated skin.
The moisturizer will help to heal the damaged follicles and will soothe the inflammation of the skin. It is best to moisturize twice a day following epilation.
How can I calm my skin after epilation?
One of the best ways to calm your skin after epilation is to use 100% aloe vera. This is even more effective if the aloe vera is kept in the fridge, so it is cooling when applied to the skin. If you have red bumps on your skin, you can use calamine and Benadryl to heal the skin and reduce irritation. If you notice the area starting to look red and infected, you can use Neosporin, witch hazel and tea treat oil to fight off bacteria and germs.
Should I epilate wet or dry?
It is perfectly fine to epilate dry, but many people find that it is more convenient and less painful to epilate on wet hair. The reason for this is that the hair is softened when wet, which makes it easier to remove. Pores also open more during a shower, making it less painful when the hair is pulled from the root.
Will epilating slow hair growth?
If you epilate regularly, and over a long period of time, you might notice that your hair grows back thinner and more slowly. Some people have noticed a huge reduction in hair growth. This is similar to waxing, and epilating does pay off in the long run.
Epilating Sideburns
Epilating your sideburns might be slightly painful, but in the long run, it could reduce hair growth, and cause hair to grow back thinner and fairer. This is a big benefit for facial hair, as you don’t want it to grow back blunt or thicker overtime.
Using epilation to remove sideburns is completely safe, but it will be worth your time to purchase an epilator that is suited to be used on facial hair, to have a more precise finish.
