Panasonic 3 Spin Disc System ES2067

Less painful than waxing and at least as quick – My thick, black, eyelashes have been known to draw compliments. Yes, they are natural, and to prove it I can show you the coarse black hair on my toes! I'm not joking! Body hair is one of those sensitive issues that raises lots of different opinions. Maybe we should all go 'European' and stop worrying about our body hair. Hmmm. Maybe not! If, like me, you're blessed with great eyelashes then some kind of efficient hair removal is a must. I've relied on shaving for years because I wasn't happy with most of the alternatives. Recently I saw ads for DIY light pulse and laser hair removal and spent some time investigating the new technology. What I discovered was that none of the 'permanent' hair removal products are really permanent, some of them are very slow and some, like laser, are invasive and potentially scarring.

As part of my search of online reviews I came across the Phillips triple head epilator. I've tried epilators before and found them extremely painful. The reviews on this one said it was much better than a single headed model and lots of people seemed really happy with it. With other hair removal products costing anywhere from $500 to $3000 I thought this product was also very good value; I found one on the Crazy Sales web site for just $109.

I'm pleasantly surprised with this product. Epilators essentially work on the same principle as waxing. Hair is plucked out by the roots and regrowth occurs after 6 to 8 weeks. The 'head' on an epilator operates like multiple rows of tweezers, pulling hairs from your skin. The triple discs on the Philips epilator seem to reduce the pain associated with this type of product. I find it much less painful than waxing.

The other advantage of this product is that you can use it wet, with soap to help lubricate the process. This also reduces friction and therefore associated pain. As an added bonus you can also use it dry, which is handy for touch ups and missed bits.

The triple head is a great design, especially for those parts of your body where hair grows in different directions, like underarms. It comes with a tiny single head for your bikini line and underarms but I find the triple head is faster and works much better than the single head. There's also a 'bikini comb' included which I assume is for trimming back your hair. I don't use this attachment.

My advice to anyone buying this product is to make sure you read through the instructions first. There's some specific advice about how to use the appliance that makes a big difference to performance. The key issues are to have your hair short (2 - 3 mm is best), keep the unit at a 90 degree angle and move it in circles over the area. The other critical factor is not 'over plucking' any area of your body. Press too hard or overwork and area and you'll wind up with a nasty, painful rash. You can expect some redness if you're using it properly but your skin shouldn't feel raw; it's the same kind of rash you'd expect from waxing.

Whatever you do, don't try this product on longer hair. Ouch!!!

To get the best use from this product I'd advise shaving the area and waiting two or three days, then going over the area with your epilator. Go gently! Return to the area every three or four days until you're happy with the hair removal. This process helps you get used to the feel of the appliance, progressively removes your hair without damaging your skin, and avoids a serious rash. I found that after the first couple of weeks I was hair free where it mattered. I give these areas a touch-up every fortnight.

Unlike a lot of hair removal methods this product is reasonably quick. It's just a little slower than shaving. Try showering, turning off the shower and then using it with some liquid soap while you're still in the cubicle. If you're going to use it wet and you're not in the shower it can get a bit messy. Make sure you keep rinsing it out or it becomes less efficient.

The only negative with this product is that if you have coarse hair it can take a few weeks to remove it all the first time around, but hang in there! With planning and patience you can reach a good maintenance level where you only need to touch up occasionally. Make sure you give any treated areas a good scrub to exfoliate regularly or you might get ingrown hairs. I think moisturizer also helps.

If you're thinking of any kind of home hair removal then do your homework. There are some horror stories out there and some products are just a waste of money! If you've got dark hair and you're looking for a great hair removal product then give this a try. Like me, you'll be wearing sandals and sleeveless dresses this summer! Not as painful as I expected and less painful than waxing. Quick. Efficient. Rechargeable so no cord to get in the way. Can be used wet or dry. If you have very coarse hair it can take a few weeks the first time around to get good results but after that the maintenance is easy. Like all 'plucking' products there's a risk of ingrown hairs. If you don't read the instructions you can wind up with a nasty rash.

Very happy with this epilator – I found the triple heads on this epilator to be very effective, fast, easy to use and most importantly, more gentle than my old Braun Silk Epil. Using it wet is better still. I barely noticed it pulling the hairs. The smaller head designed for underarm & bikini I found to be quite pinchy and painful. The triple head is much less painful and not too awkward. Comfortable to use, easy, wet or dry use, cordless, gentle on skin, quiet

Good – In general this is a fantastic epilator. My last one was about 5 years old and was finally giving up the go - now onto my 3rd epilator and technology has improved a lot. The main attachment picks up even the shorted hair on my legs and works wet or dry with little problem. Using wet offers a slower, but smoother result, but can slip from your hands if not careful. The small head is less efficient - I am hoping its just me learning how to use it... Great concept with triple spin discs for leg hair removal. Cordless operation is great, and wet/dry option offers great versatility Small epilation head difficult to use efficiently on underarms and bikini line