Let's be honest -- some types of hair are more embarrassing than others.
If you've got light, fine hair on your legs or underarms, few people are going to notice it. But if that hair is thick, dark and coarse, it's going to be visible.
And it's going to make you self-conscious. The best epilator for coarse hair helps to get rid of thick, dark hair quickly.
More importantly, it helps thick hair grow back finer and less noticeable. Learn more about the best epilator for coarse hair and why epilation can be the hair removal method of choice.
List of Best Epilator for Coarse Thick Hair
Product Summary: Best Epilator for Thick Hair
When choosing the best epilator for coarse hair, two things are particularly important:
- Wet/Dry Use
- Number of tweezers
The epilators on our list run the gamut when it comes to the number of tweezers they offer. At the low end, the Silk-épil 3 from Braun and the Satinelle from Philips offer around 20 tweezers each. Meanwhile, the Emjoi Emagine wins for highest number of tweezers, with 72.
We recommend using your epilator on dry skin if you’ve got thick, coarse hair to remove. You’ll get a better grip, and the whole process will work better. With one exception, all of the epilators we recommend are for dry use only.
Only the Braun Silk-épil 9 works in the shower or bath and is completely waterproof. The Silk-épil 9 also has a lot going for it regarding attachments and features, but the features it has aren’t necessarily ones that will improve the experience of epilating coarse hair.
Reviews of the Best Epilator for Coarse Hair
Braun Silk-épil 3-3270 Women’s Epilator – Best Overall Epilator for Coarse Hair
Sometimes, small but mighty is the way to go. Braun’s Silk-épil 3-3270 is the brand’s “entry level” epilator. But don’t let its small size and limited use options turn you off.
The epilator is designed for dry use only. You need to plug it in to use it, so you want to keep it as far away from water as possible.
It only has 20 tweezers, which can seem like a drawback when you’re dealing with a lot of coarse, thick hair. But a smaller number of tweezers can make the experience less frightening for newbies.
Braun recommends using the Silk-épil 3-3270 on the legs, but we find that it’s also suitable for use on other areas, including the underarms and bikini area, where you’re likely to have coarser hair.
People who’ve had a chance to try out the Silk-épil 3 have found it to be pretty good at removing hairs. Some have compared it to higher-end models from Braun and noted that it performs just as well, if not better, for a fraction of the price.
Things We Liked
- Size and shape make it ideal for coarse hair.
- Corded, so you don’t have to wait for it to charge or worry about the battery dying.
- Two speed settings which you can adjust based on your needs.
- Includes a massaging cap for improved comfort.
Things We Didn’t Like
- Has an included shaver cap, which seems redundant.
- Can only be used under dry conditions, which can limit its usefulness for some people.
Emjoi AP-18 Emagine Dual Opposed 72 Tweezer Head Epilator – Best Epilator for Coarse hair with highest Number of Tweezers
After looking at an epilator with just a few tweezers, let’s go to the opposite end of the spectrum and check out the best epilator for coarse hair that has the highest number of tweezers.
The Emjoi Emagine Epilator has 72 tweezer heads. That can sound terrifying, but think of how useful the device is when it comes to pulling out stubborn, coarse hairs.
Like the Silk-épil 3-3270, the Emagine Epilator is for use in dry conditions only. You need to plug it in to use it, which means you don’t have to wait for it to charge up.
Another feature that the Emagine has are little fingers that help to lift up hairs. That makes it easier for you to remove thick, short hairs that usually lie flat against the skin.
One piece of advice that users of the Emjoi Emagine have to offer is to go slowly when using it. The number of tweezers can make short work of epilating, even thick hair.
Just remember it’s not a race and you aren’t in any rush, and you should be fine.
Things We Liked
- So many tweezers!
- Plugs in, so no need to charge it up.
- The only epilator with Silver Ion Technology, which helps to slow the growth of microorganisms and keep your epilator clean.
Things We Didn’t Like
- Dry use only, which is both a plus and minus.
- No light.
- Lacking in other features, such as attachments or caps
Philips Satinelle Prestige Epilator – Best Multi-Use Epilator for Coarse Hair
The Philips Satinelle Prestige epilator is another small but mighty device.
Although it can remove very short (0.5 mm) hair, the manufacturer notes that it works best on hair that’s between 3 and 4 mm long.
The Prestige has two speed settings. For coarse hair, you’ll want to give the faster setting a try to get the best results.
It’s a cordless epilator, so you can also bring it in the shower.
If you’ve got coarse hair and are new to epilating, the Satinelle Prestige might be the device to try. Users of the Philips Satinelle Prestige tend to recommend it highly and state they’re happy to have made the jump to epilating.
It also has many functions. It’s a 4 in 1 epilator, electric shaver, exfoliator and massager. Accessories include a delicate area cap, facial cap, efficiency cap, shaver head, trimming comb, massage cap, body exfoliator, body massager, and storage pouch.
Things We Liked
- Small size makes it ideal for coarse hair and hard-to-reach areas.
- Includes two speed options.
- Has multiple accessory options
Things We Didn’t Like
- It’s recommended for longer hair, although it will remove short hair.
Braun Silk-épil 5 Power 5280 Women’s Epilator– Best Corded Epilator for Thick Hair
Braun does have “higher end” Silk-épil models, but we find that its less expensive models tend to be the best epilator for coarse hair. Along with the Silk-épil 3, we recommend the Silk-épil 5 for thick, coarse hair removal.
The Silk-épil 5 comes with a massage roller to improve your comfort and the overall epilating experience.
The 5280 model is meant for dry use only, which is a good thing when you’ve got thick hair to remove. There is another model in the 5 series that’s meant for wet/dry use, but we find that dry is better for coarser hair.
Like the Silk-épil 3, users of the Silk-épil 5 have called it a great starter model. If you’ve got thick hair and you’re not 100% certain about epilation, you don’t want to spend more than $100 on a device you’re not sure you’ll use.
The Silk-épil 5 is a more budget-friendly option compared to other Braun models. It has more features than the Silk-épil 3, but that’s not necessarily for the better.
Things We Liked
- Has a massage roller.
- Works on pretty much all lengths of hair.
- Plugs in, so you never have to worry about charging it up.
Things We Didn’t Like
- Includes a shaver attachment.
- Higher price than the Silk-épil 3.
- The cord is on the short side, which further limits use.
Braun Silk-épil 9 9-961V Women’s Epilator– Best Advanced Epilator for Coarse hair
If you’re ready to go all when it comes to epilation, then let us recommend the Braun Silk-épil 9.
Braun’s top-of-the-line model (at least for now), the Silk-épil 9 includes so many attachments and add-ons, such as a trio of exfoliation brushes.
It’s also got an epilator head that’s 40 percent wider than what you’d find on other Braun Silk-épil models.
The wider head means a wider area is covered at once. But since the head doesn’t have more tweezers than other models, it doesn’t necessarily mean more of your hair will be removed at once.
Those who have used the Silk-épil 9 961 have declared that it’s the best epilator they’ve used. Some have said that the device is a bit too intense and some have found all the attachments to be overkill.
The Silk-épil 9 can be used wet or dry, which might not be that amazing when you’re dealing with coarse hair. But if you have finer hair elsewhere on the body or want a more relaxing hair removal experience, it can be enjoyable to relax in the bath while you epilate.
Things We Liked
- You can use it wet or dry
- Loads of attachments, including exfoliating brushes.
- Charges up fast (1 hour) and works for about 40 minutes each charge
Things We Didn’t Like
- The width of the epilator head can be tricky for some users.
- Shaver cap attachment feels unnecessary
- Costs a lot more than other epilators.
What to Know Before You Epilate
We don’t want you to be surprised when you sit down with the best epilator for thick hair and get started. That’s why it’s important to know a few small details before you begin.
Here’s what you need to know:
- It’s going to hurt. Sorry, there’s no getting around this, unless you use a numbing cream or something. The good news is that the more you epilate, the less painful it is.
- Hair doesn’t need to be long. Most epilators can grab hairs as short as 0.5 mm.
- Coarse hair is better for epilation. The thicker the hair, the easier it is for the tweezers to get a good grip and pull it out.
- Speed and size matter. How fast the epilator moves and how many tweezers it has will influence how well it works.
The Benefits of Epilation
So why epilate if it hurts so much? Well, for starters, epilation typically offers some benefits.
One big reason to epilate is that the results can last for several weeks. That means you can go weeks with having to worry about hair removal. You’ll have smooth legs, underarms, or whatever.
Another significant benefit of epilation is that it changes the way your hair grows. When you epilate, you remove hair from the follicle.
The force of removal does cause some damage to the follicle, which is good news for you. New hairs grow in thinner and less coarse than the hairs you pulled out.
That means that over time, you can epilate less and less and still enjoy periods of smooth, hair-free skin.
The third benefit of epilation is that you can do it pretty much anytime, anywhere. Some devices are even made for use in the shower.
You can break out the epilator while binge-watching your favorite show. You can grab your device if you see a few stray hairs that need removing.
There’s no need to wait for the hair to grow out or book a salon appointment weeks in advance.
Epilation vs. Other Hair Removal Options
What does the best epilator for coarse hair give you that other hair removal methods don’t? Let’s compare it to a few popular options for removing coarse and thick hair.
- Laser hair removal. Laser hair removal was pretty much designed for thick, coarse hair, as it works best on dark hair. But it costs a lot and requires multiple treatment sessions before you see results.
- Chemical depilatories. Chemical hair removal products work by dissolving the hair, and some formulas are made explicitly for coarse hair. The results don’t last as long as epilation, though, and the products themselves can cause some irritation.
- Shaving. Shaving is a nightmare if you’ve got coarse hair. Sure, it gets rid of the hair, but for what seems to be a split second.
- Waxing. Epilation and waxing probably have the most in common, as both methods remove hair by the roots. But waxing also affects the skin and is usually something you need to pay someone else to do for you.
How to Epilate
Epilating isn’t that difficult, but it is something you want to be sure you’re clear on before you jump in. There are a few things to remember that will make your experience more enjoyable.
- Choose wet or dry. Some epilators can be used in the shower, but that might not be the best option for coarse hair. Although it might be more uncomfortable, we recommend using your epilator dry if you’ve got thick, coarse hair.
- Hold the epilator right. The epilator head should always be flat against the skin.
- Pull on the skin. Pulling on the skin as you work, so that it’s taut, will help improve the hair removal process and reduce the risk of pinching.
Review of List for Best Epilator for Coarse Hair
Final Thoughts on the Best Epilator for Coarse Hair
Sometimes, it’s best to keep it simple. That’s why we recommend the Braun Silk-épil 3-3270 Women’s Epilator as the best epilator for coarse hair.
The Braun Silk-épil 3-3270 Women’s Epilator doesn’t have a lot in the way of bells and whistles but it does have a track record of effectively removing thick hair, and really, that’s all you want from the best epilator for coarse hair.
If you want to see our overall best epilators for this year, click here.
