Some time ago, I had a coupon and bought a Braun Silk-Epil Xelle epilator (see link for manufacturer info, including some pretty sparkles that follow your cursor around 
). A couple nights ago, I had the chance to try it out. I had a few days’ growth of leg hair after shaving, which is probably just about the right length — maybe 2-3 mm or thereabouts.
For those new to the idea, it’s a small device, a little smaller than an electric shaver, that has a bunch of tweezers that rotate and pull out your hair. It’s supposed to be like waxing, both in pain level and in how long it lasts.
First impression: WOW! There’s a lot of hair under the skin! The ones it pulled out were much longer than I expected them to be.
Second impression: WOW WOW! It does a good job. As good as waxing (haven’t waxed myself, but have had legs waxed a couple times). Once the hair is gone, there’s no stubble and nothing visible under the skin (my hair is very dark, so in some places slightly visible after shaving).
Third impression: OW! This thing can be quite painful. On the shins/calves and knees, it was great — not bad at all on the pain-meter. On the outer thighs, it was OK as long as I did it in stages (first, I did the “baby tweezers” at high speed, then I did the “real tweezers” at low speed). The front thighs were more painful. The inner thighs, ZOWIE did it hurt. Maybe I just don’t have a woman’s tolerance for pain, but I just couldn’t do it. So I stopped.
Fourth impression: YOW OW OW! Despite my luck with the thighs, I went ahead and tried it on my chest. The hair was about the same length, and about the same density. But this was simply intolerable, and the few hairs that got pulled left bright red bumps. This happened when I had my chest waxed (four days of hydrocortizone — it didn’t hurt, but defeated the purpose of low necklines ), so I guess it’s back to Nair for that part.
As for results, the shins/calves are great — smooth and silky. I LOVE IT! And regrowth seems to be much slower than normal. I got a few bumps on my thighs (no bleeding, but red bumps) but have been going at them with the loofah to prevent ingrown hairs.
So, considering what waxing costs, it could be a good deal. In my case, I think I’ll use it on the calves and knees and worry about the rest some other way.
Overall, Robin gives it an “ehhhhhh.” The Braun is a nice device, and it can work well, but it can also be exquisitely painful — much moreso than waxing, in my humble opinion.
Regards!
Robin