If you decide to shave your legs, we want them to be silky. We want them to be smooth. We want them to be so smooth that we forget all of our little worries. Right? Right.
Our question is, do you actually know how to shave your legs? Do you know how to shave them in a way that will prevent razor burn, razor bumps, ingrown hairs, and skin irritation? We have some simple shaving tips that are going to make it happen for you. We promise.
You need a sharp razor
Shaving with a dull blade is not the plan here. Dull razors = dull shave, and we do not want that. We recommend changing your razor blade every 10 shaves, though if it feels rough on your skin when shaving or as though your body hair is being pulled, it’s time for a replacement razor blade.
Exfoliate!
Using an exfoliating body wash or body scrub before shaving will remove dead skin cells and dry skin, making your shaving result even smoother.
Say goodbye to skin irritation. It’s time to hydrate, hunny!
Before your start shaving, soak your legs in warm water for five minutes, the hair follicles will soften, making it way easier to shave. You’ll also avoid nicks, razor burn, and red bumps. Hoorah!
Lather on some shaving cream
After your legs have had a little soak, lather shaving gel all over them. Using a shave gel maintains moisture throughout the shaving process and helps the blade glide effortlessly across the skin. Using a shaving cream also helps to guide you on where you’ve shaved, and where you need to shave next. Going over and over the same spot can cause skin irritation, so it’s best avoided.
Shave the right way
When you start shaving, gently hold the skin taut with one hand and slowly glide the razor over the skin. Shave in long, steady strokes. You do not need to press down hard on your razor to get a closer shave. If your razor blade is clean and sharp, you’ll achieve a smooth finish. Some parts of your legs will be harder to shave – ahem, the kneecap and your ankles. Make sure you shave carefully in these spots to avoid nicks. Blood running down your leg in the shower after one little cut? We’ve all been there.
Rise your razor blade
Make sure you are rinsing your razor head between every couple of shaving motions. This will ensure you can unclog the hair in the blade and give you the smoothest shave possible.
Rinse it all off
Once you’ve finished your shave (and checked for any missed spots), rinse off any shave gel residue and hair stuck to your legs with warm water.
Pat dry and moisturize
Once all of the gel residue is off, pat your legs dry and use a moisturizing lotion or body oil. This will prevent skin irritation, keep your legs smooth, and soothe sensitive skin.
How to avoid razor burn
Razor burn is the absolute worse. Not only does it hurt, but it appears as little red bumps all over the skin, which is not the result you’re trying to achieve when shaving. The common mistakes people make that result in razor burn are:
- Dry shaving. Shaving dry hair without any body lotion and/or water is a no-go. The dry shave when you’re in a rush is just not worth it. Trust us!
- Using old razors. Tell us honestly, are you still using the disposable razor you got 6 months ago? Hunny, it’s time for that to go. Using a sharp razor is absolutely key to avoiding razor burn.
How often should you shave your legs
There is no right and wrong when it comes to how often you shave your legs (or if you even want to shave them at all!) it really depends on your personal preference. Do you like to keep your legs silky at all times? Perhaps you don’t mind a bit of stubble? In general, shave every couple of days for a consistently smooth feel, and every three to five days if you aren’t worried about a few prickles.
For the girlies who like to shave every day, it should be totally problem free! Just make sure you’re always using shaving gel, a sharp razor blade and body lotion afterwards. For some, shaving every day might cause irritation of the hair follicles, causing razor bumps. Everyone is different, and everyone’s hair is different, so do what is right for you.
How to avoid strawberry legs
If you’ve noticed little black dots on your legs after shaving, you may have what is commonly referred to as ‘strawberry legs’. If you happen to feel a tad insecure about this (let’s be clear, completely normal) skin texture and would like some handy tips, we’re here for that.
The appearance of strawberry legs is caused by hair follicles or enlarged pores that contain a trapped mixture of oil, bacteria and dead skin. When these fair follicles or clogged pores are exposed to air after shaving, they oxidise and turn dark. Following the shaving routine of using a sharp razor, exfoliating, shaving with the right technique, and moisturizing might be the answer to avoiding strawberry legs. If you’re following all of these steps and still seeing the little black dots on your legs, try swapping out a manual exfoliating body wash for a gentle chemical exfoliant with salicylic acid or glycolic acid.
Just remember, you don’t need to stress about hairy legs or textured skin – it’s completely normal and you don’t have to do anything to remove or ‘fix’ it if you don’t want to.
