Better quality devices usually have a higher number of tweezers in the head.

“Wet and dry” models are less painful because the warm water opens your pores and relaxes your muscles. If you have previous experience with epilators, you may want to go with a dry model. Some people feel that they grip the hair better and remove it more cleanly. You’ll also be used to the sensation, so pain is less of a factor.

You can also look for devices with hypoallergenic ceramic disks if you have sensitive skin.

If you have very sensitive skin, you may want to stick to epilating your legs and arms and avoid doing the more sensitive areas.

Remember to exfoliate before every epilating session.

Avoid epilating right before you have to leave the house. Even if you’ve epilated before, you will have some redness and a few bumps afterward.

If you’re especially worried about pain, consider investing in a topical numbing cream like lidocaine. This can be a bit expensive, but if you’re very sensitive, it may be worth the cost. Don’t worry—the process will get less painful over time!

Consider taking a longer bath before you epilate to loosen your hair follicles and make epilating easier. If you’re using a dry model, be sure to dry your skin thoroughly before you get started.

Pushing the epilator into your skin can cause pinching and may not remove the hair thoroughly. Try epilating a small, less sensitive area, like the calf, first to get a feel for it.

Expect to feel a stinging sensation as the epilator does its job. This is normal! If you’re epilating your legs, you’ll be working from bottom to top to epilate against the grain of hair growth. You can also use slow, circular motions to remove hair growing in different directions.

Don’t worry, over time you should develop a tolerance to the sensation.

Try to avoid scented moisturizers and products for 24 to 48 hours after epilating, so your skin doesn’t become more irritated. Any redness should subside within a few hours.

Be sure to dry the head completely after cleaning it. Avoid storing your device before it’s completely dry.