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 comprises a hair removal arrangement, a support structure and a skin stretching device attached to the support structure and comprising at least two leading surface portions for skin contacting and stretching. The apparatus has a main movement direction in which the apparatus is to be moved relative to skin during use. The hair removal arrangement comprises a skin contact portion for contacting a user's skin during operation, wherein the skin contact portion extends at least along a primary axis extending perpendicularly to the main movement direction During operation, the skin stretching device provides a stretched skin portion between the at least two leading surface portions.