epilation
ep-uh-LAY-shun
/ˌɛpɪˈleɪʃən/
The removal of hair by pulling it out entirely from the root.
Refers to methods that extract the hair shaft along with its bulb, resulting in longer-lasting smoothness compared to surface removal.
The story behind the word. Adopted into English from the French word 'épiler', this term combines the prefix 'e-' (meaning 'out of' or 'away') with 'pilus' (hair). It was popularized in the 19th century as medical and cosmetic technologies advanced to target the hair root directly.
Word relationships
- plucking: Plucking is a manual, individual-hair form of epilation, while epilation is the overarching technical term for all root-removal methods.
- depilation: Depilation only removes hair at the skin's surface, leaving the root intact.
Commonly confused with
- depilation: Depilation cuts hair at the surface, while epilation extracts the hair root from the follicle.
Word family
- epilate (verb): To extract hair from the root.
- epilator (noun): An electrical device used to pull out multiple hairs simultaneously.
Collocations
- mechanical epilation
- epilation techniques
- long-term epilation
Example sentences
- "Because epilation damages the hair bulb over time, it often leads to finer and sparser regrowth." A clinical study comparing the long-term efficacy of different grooming techniques.
- "Waxing and threading are popular forms of mechanical epilation that offer several weeks of hair-free skin." An instructional manual for professional estheticians.
Memory hook
Think of the 'E' in 'Epilation' as standing for 'Exit' or 'Extracting' the hair root completely. E-pilation makes the root Exit.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to shaving or using chemical creams that only dissolve surface hair.
Fun facts
- The first mechanical home epilator, the 'Epilady', was invented in Israel in 1986 and used a rapidly rotating coiled spring to snag and pull out hairs.
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.