Epilating Sideburns – A Step By Step Guide
If waxing and shaving don’t work for you when it comes to hair removal, consider epilating. Epilating requires nothing more than an epilating machine to work.
The machine features tiny tweezers that gently pick up hairs and remove 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 designed for facial hair, as these are usually smaller than standard epilators, allowing for more precise hair removal.
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 to prevent ingrown hairs or acne after epilating.
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 to prevent 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 remove unwanted hair from the sideburn area.
Choose Your Epilator
As previously mentioned, you should purchase an epilator specifically designed for use on facial hair.
The smaller size enables the precise removal of hair from the natural contours of the face, ensuring both 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 becomes easier to remove.
If you are concerned about the pain, consider purchasing an epilator that can be used wet and 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 use a headband to ensure that all longer hair is off your face.
If these are caught in the epilator by accident, it can be extremely painful and may even clog the machine.
Trim Longer Hair
Epilators are capable of removing hair as short as 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 not to move too close to your hairline, as some of your hair may become stuck, and it might remove hair outside of your sideburns.
Try to avoid making your sideburn lines too drastic, as this can appear 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 focusing on the hairs close to your hairline.
Clean the Machine
Remember to clean your epilator 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 reuse.
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 whether the inflammation and red spots are caused by folliculitis or ingrown hairs.
However, if the red bumps appear immediately after epilating, you can be certain that it is folliculitis.
This happens because the follicles become swollen and inflamed when the hair is ripped out; however, the inflammation usually subsides within a few hours, and the occurrence of folliculitis lessens with continued epilation.
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 exposed on the surface of the skin.
This makes it easy for bacteria to enter the follicles and cause an infection, so it is crucial to ensure the area of skin is cleansed before epilating and then again after epilation is complete.
To prevent ingrown hairs, you should exfoliate your skin before epilation.
This removes a buildup of dead skin cells and bacteria, which all contribute to 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 apply a natural antiseptic, such as 100% witch hazel or 100% tea tree oil, to remove bacteria from the skin.
Also, remember to 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 approximately 24-48 hours after epilation and are susceptible to infection during this period.
Try to avoid touching your skin, as your hands can hold bacteria from other surfaces, which could then infect your skin.
It is best to keep the area as dry as possible and avoid sweating.
This can clog up the follicles, causing pimples and inflammation.
To combat sweating on warm days, apply a light layer of baby powder to your skin to absorb excess sweat and oil.
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 about having hairs ripped out from the root, and this inflammation should subside soon.
However, if the irritation persists, try to cleanse the area and use a baby rash cream to restore hydration and relieve the inflammation around the area.
Over time, your skin will become accustomed to epilation, and the irritation will decrease with each use.
Related Questions
What should I put on my sideburns after epilating?
After epilating your sideburns, you can apply a non-comedogenic moisturiser to your skin.
Non-comedogenic means that the moisturiser does not contain any ingredients that could clog pores and cause irritation to already sensitive skin.
The moisturiser will help heal the damaged follicles and soothe the skin’s inflammation. It is best to moisturise 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, allowing it to cool 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 tree 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 over a long period, you may 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 over time.
Using epilation to remove sideburns is completely safe, but it will be worth your time to purchase an epilator specifically designed for use on facial hair to achieve a more precise finish.
