The present invention relates to hair removal, and in particular to a handheld hair removal apparatus. In order to reduce pain during hair removal, the handheld hair removal apparatus (10) comprises a hair removal arrangement (12), a support structure (14) and a skin stretching device (16) attached to the support structure and comprising at least two leading surface portions (18a, 18b) for skin contacting and stretching. The apparatus has a main movement direction (26) in which the apparatus is to be moved relative to skin during use. The hair removal arrangement comprises a skin contact portion (30) for contacting a user's skin during operation,wherein the skin contact portion extends at least along a primary axis (32) extending perpendicularly to the main movement direction (26). The at least two leading surface portions,seen in an imaginary plane comprising a base line (27) and extending parallel to the main movement direction (26),are arranged at opposite inclinations of at least 20° with respect to the base line (27), which extends perpendicularly to the main movement direction and parallel to the primary axis, and are each provided with a skin touching surface portion (34a, 34b) having a main direction of extension that is inclined a tan angle of at least 20° with the base line seen in said imaginary plane. During operation, the leading surface portions are brought into contact with the skin to act on the skin with a pushing force(42) having a first vector (38), parallel to the skin's surface, in a first direction (Y) parallel to the main movement direction, and a second vector (40), parallel to the skin's surface, in a second direction (X) perpendicular to the main movement direction. In an operational position, the skin stretching device is arranged in front of the skin contact portion with respect to the main movement direction. During operation, the skin stretching device provides a stretched skin portion between the at least two leading surface portions.