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Epilators are among my favorite tools for hair removal. But it can be costly. Because they have motors. Anything with a motor is liable to break down over time. I never gave it too much thought. But what would I do if my epilator stopped working? Would I hunker down and try and fix it or just buy a new one.
And sometimes when you buy and open straight out the package, it may not even work. Majority of the time, they stop working on its own. Either I dropped it, too much hair caught in it or something. So, over time I’ve come to find ways to make sure they can last a long time.
What to do when your epilator stops working?
The first thing anyone should do. Is to stop running it in the first place. Immediately stop using it. Most likely the problem is the head is broken and not pulling hairs out efficiently, the motor has run its course and is now shot (meaning it no longer works), or maybe you have too many hair follicles stuck in the head and it needs a thorough cleaning.
In that case, you should have the necessary tools and equipment to take apart your epilator in order to clean it. A simple screwdriver such as this one is sufficient enough to get the job done.
I recommend you watch this video below to get a better understanding of how to take apart your epilator for cleaning. sometimes epilators will come with manuals that may go into detail on how to take it apart and clean it thoroughly.
How to clean an epilator
In order to maintain/clean your epilator. You can grab a few cotton swabs, alcohol, a clean rag, a little brush. Some manufacturers equip their epilator devices with a cleaning brush. So, it depends on what brand you buy, then there might be a cleaning brush that comes along with it.
If yours comes with one. USE IT.
Cleaning your epilator on a regular basis will prevent it from not working.So, here are the steps to cleaning an epilator.
Step 1: Get a cleaning brush and brush it
Turn your epilator off and unplug it. If you can remove the tweezer head, then do it. Most epilators come with a brush, so you can just use that. If you’re on the unlucky side and yours didn’t come with an epilator, then you can dry using a small paintbrush. And if you’re desperate, you can use a hairbrush or a toothbrush.
Rotate the epilator, so that every part can get get cleaned good. And between the tweezers of the epilator. That part the epilator head is where most of the hair gets stuck in. You should be able to separate head from body. I think most epilators come with the ability to do so.
On the sides of your epilator should be some buttons or by the tweezers connectors. Pressing them should release it from the rest of the body. If you can’t find them, then look back over your manual. You also have to detach the epilator head from the body. There are buttons on the side of the epilator that can separate the head from the body when pushed. Sometimes they can be located on the tweezers
I like to turn it upside down. So the running water can get underneath the epilator head. I like to skip using the brush or tweezer and just cleaning out with the computer air compressor.
Step 2: Clean the epilator head
Give your epilator a bath it desperately needs. There’s no science to it. Just hold it under the water and turn it consistently so the water hits every spot. All it needs is a minute or two under the water and that is it. Make sure its hot water.
Step 3: Kill off any bacteria
Take a cotton ball that has been soaked in some rubbing alcohol and rub it along the tweezers of the epilator. I like to take water and fill it into a bowl, add some antibacterial dish.Take the head, put in the water and shake it around a little. Then rinse it off with some more water.
Step 4: Let the water dry
Just let it rest for a few days. I like to place mines on a towel. I do this until there is no more water.I never really pat it down or rub the water off. I fear that I might dull the tweezer blades.
Put together the head back on the epilator and you’ll be fine.
Another way is to take actual tweezers and pluck out the hairs stuck in your tweezer head. This is a method I use to do, but it was annoying as hell. A lot of time and a steady hand is needed.
There are 2 tools I use after I epilate to provide it with a quick clean. Those 2 tools are…
- Toothbrush
- A toothbrush because it has the bristles that are long and skinny, they reach into those little crevices on the tweezer head. You can dampen the brush if you like and once you are finished epilating. You quickly brush the tweezer head a few times. And dig deep in the little tight places. This helps because, after every use, you use a toothbrush and prevent those little hairs from accumulating on the tweezer head. (I like to use a soft toothbrush)
- If you can’t grab hold of a toothbrush, then you can use a regular brush
- Computer keyboard air compressor
- The compressor is my favorite tool to use. Its perfect for the keyboard which has tight small places that dirt and dust can get into and accumulate over time. Once your finished epilating, take the compressor and give the tweezer head a few passes. I like it better than the toothbrush because that burst of air is powerful for pushing away the hair. This helps to prevent any hair from accumulating over time.
Why did your epilator stop working in the first place?
There are a few reasons as to why this may have happened. The first that I can think of is it probably overheated or is in danger of overheating. Remember it has a motor. Anything with a motor can overheat.
Some epilator devices will have certain ways of telling you that it is about to overheat. Some will have the charging light flashing multiple times in a certain color. Most likely the color will be red. Another way you can tell if the epilator is about to overheat is by feeling it. Does it feel like its too hot to touch? Then put it down for a while and let it cool down.
Dead batteries. Hard to tell when your batteries die. But once again, the epilator will have a way of telling that it needs recharging. Most likely the light will flash continuously also. But in a different way that it may overheat.
Or maybe you’ll turn it on to find out that it’s not working. If you know you haven’t don’t anything to it. Then just change the batteries. That’s probably all it needs. Travel lock. A travel lock is there to prevent it from turning on when you have packed it in your luggage. So, when you travel you won’t have to worry about it turning on during flight. So, maybe you’ve forgotten to turn it off.
Every brand of epilators is different therefore they’ll have different ways of turning on/off their travel locks. Something is stuck. Most likely hair. This is called overload protection. Protecting the epilator device from any more damage and prevent it from breaking. You’ll just simply have to clean it.
Another reason overload protection will happen is if you press too hard into your skin. You are supposed to let the epilator do its job
How often should you replace your epilator head or should you?
First, you should make sure that you bought an epilator device that allows for this configuration. Some allow you to remove the tweezer head and others don’t. These devices can last a long time with plenty of proper maintenance. Some a decade.
The only time you should consider replacing an epilator or even its tweezer head should be when the tweezers at the top start to become dull and are no longer effectively pulling the hair. Also, you may want to upgrade just because of technology. You may want to change your epilator type because the one your using isn’t up to par or there is a better one on the market. Or If you find the tweezer head continuously gets stuck, well maybe the motors may not be working efficiently, and you’ll have to change that. But some last for 2,3,4, even 10 years.
Some suggestions for you while cleaning an epilator
Don’t soak the whole thing in water. Other times you can just take a damp rag and clean it with that. Don’t use any abrasive items or harden substances in or on your epilator. It’ll damage it.
Don’t use any corrosive liquids to clean your epilator neither. In my experience only, water and few drops of dish liquid soap. Don’t use too much alcohol because it’ll dry out the lubricant in the motor.
I like to use WD – 40, sewing oil or any lightweight oil on your epilator. Only a little bit. You can use your hands by rubbing the driving gears together in order to work the oil through it. I found that when i do this sometimes an epilator that I’ve had for quite sometime works almost like new.
How often should you clean your epilator?
I would say you can clean it after every 2 or 3 uses. only because cleaning it after every use can get a little tiring. Sometimes you just want to epilate and go on about your business.But I would quickly clean it after every use. Since I’m a bit lazy. I would forget or not even bother to clean it later on.
You can quickly clean it with a toothbrush or the computer keyboard air compressor I spoke about above. You quickly cleaning it after every use is beneficial because it’ll ensure that no dead skin cells and hair follicles clog up the tweezer head.
If left untouched the hair can accumulate over time to the point that is now a serious problem and the epilator no longer works. So, clean it after every use.
How can you change a bad battery in Braun Silk Epil epilators. Here’s a video demonstrating a way to replace your battery. Batteries are one of the many reasons epilators go bad.
Do epilators wear out?
Ofcourse they do. And they eventually will. The motor can die out. The battery can run bad. The blade / tweezers can become dull and no longer pull hairs effeciently. Most epilators only last about 1 or 2 years before you want to start looking for another. The faster they wear out depends on the brand and materials used to fix it.
How long should an epilator last?
They should last only up to a year or 2. Some can make it up to 5 years or even 10. But how long they last depneds on how fast they wear out and how often you use it. How often you maintain them also will help make sure they last a long time.
A good first epilator for you to try?
A good epilator for you to try so you can get accustomed to the epilator would be Braun Silk Epic 3. This epilator is a great choice to due its price and easy cleanup. It comes with a small brush so you get in the tiny grooves and clean the hair out. The head of the epilator doesn’t need to be replaced, since it can last for years. As long as you clean it.
Epilator Still not working. You can reference this section to better help you.. If you have a different brand or model of epilator you can still find some use in it. Since most epilators are made the same.
What can you do when your epilator doesn’t work at all?
The overheat protection that is within the device has been activated. I would let the epilator cool off. There will be lights flashing when it stops. These lights should stop after about 15-30 seconds.
When it gets a little rest, then you can turn it back on. If it hasn’t cooled down properly then the lights are going to flash continuously.
The batteries could be dead
So, if the battery died, then you charge them back up.
The travel lock may have been turned on. So, now you must deactivate it. Most epilators you can hold the on/off button for 3 seconds. This sometimes can turn them off. But every epilator is different, so refer to your devices manual to figure out how to turn off the travel lock if you have one.
Now you have the overload protection
This is what happens when too much hair gets caught in the tweezers when they are in motion. Or a piece of clothing can get caught also. Or if you push the epilator on to your skin real hard.
you’ll know if there is overload protection because the indicators may flash red. But to solve this, you can take your thumb, turn the tweezers yourself. Do this till you’re able to remove whatever that is blocking the tweezers from rotating. Then try to switch it back on.
What happens when the epilator doesn’t remove hair properly?
This is a common issue among all epilator users. But such an issue comes with easy solutions.
- You need to clean your epilator.
- Make sure before you start to epilate, that your skin is clean, dry, and clear of grease or oil.
- Make sure your hair isn’t too long. It should be about 3-4mm.
- Make sure to hold at a good angle, preferably a right angle.
- Move the epilator slowly against the grain of your hair.
What can I do when epilator doesn't start when i press the start button?
The reason why this is happening, maybe because of the travel lock, and that may be activated. There are wet and dry models. Maybe you have a dry model and got water into it.
Solution: Push the on/off switch for 3 seconds to unlock it. Then unplug it. (that’s only if your epilator has the travel lock feature)
My epilator isn’t charging completely but the light keeps blinking
Reason for the problem: it must be the ambient temperature. The temperature may be out of its valid range. Solution: The recommended temperature is 5 °C to 35 °C.
Charging my epilator is start at all. Especially when connected to a power socket or put in clean & charge station
Reason for the problem: there are about 4 different reasons for this problem.
The first: its not properly placed in the charge station. Sometimes what can happen is the charging is delayed. This can happen when you’ve had it stashed away for a long storage. The battery may need time to charge up. The cord may not be plugged in properly.
Solution: place in the charging station properly. Make sure the contacts of the epilator and aligned with the contacts of the charge station. Be patient and wait for the charging to start.
See the question above for recommended ambient temperature. There may also be power failure on your side. So make sure the socket in which you connect the epilator is live.
There’s an unpleasant smell from my epilator head
This is where cleaning is a top priority. Clean the epilator head often. Every week or so. Maybe after every 5 uses. Another way to get rid of the smell from an epilator is once your finished cleaning it. You can take a bowl of water and add a few drops of vanilla extract or any other fragrance extract to it. Then dip the epilator head in the water and shake it around a bit. It usually leaves you a nice smell.
Further Reading:
If you would like to know more about your epilator as far as knowing what to do when its broke and is not working, or the history of the epilator, or how to deal with the pain of using an epilator. Check out these links.
Conclusion
Epilator has a motor. And like everything with a motor, eventually it can stop working. With the case of an epilator, the first thing that you may need to pay attention to is the cleanup. Probably just dirty. If not then replace the head. Push come to shove you’ll end up buying a new one. I hope you got some good information from this article and now you know what you can do when your epilator stops working.