Shaving is one of the primary ways women remove hair from their legs. Before I get into the discussion about how best to tackle this often-daily event, you might want to read Chapter Twenty-Four, Hair Removal, which presents the various options for this repetitive task.
Most women barely get out the door on time with their teeth brushed, their kids off to school, and their makeup on evenly before they commute to the office, so shaving is a luxury that gets put on the bottom of the to-do list. But when the long, cold days of winter are a memory and the shorts and no-nylons time of year begins, there is no more hiding. Women, bring out your razors!
Several lines of cosmetic products are dedicated to the art of shaving. A brochure for one of these lines says a perfect shave requires an understanding of the fundamental principles of wet shaving and the use of five easy products (their products, of course). But you can easily do the five steps and not use their products (which were way overpriced for what they contained, especially considering the few bells and whistles would just be rinsed down the drain). Shaving involves a few basics: getting the legs wet, applying shaving cream or gel, shaving, and rinsing. You only need two shaving products, the razor and a non-fragranced shaving cream or gel, followed by a moisturizer, a sunscreen for daytime if your legs are going to see daylight, and a well-formulated moisturizer for night if your skin is dry.
There is no real trick to shaving. We all know how to do it, but not everyone knows how to get the best results and the softest legs. The following tips are the basics of a great, smooth shave:
• It is essential for your legs to be wet for at least two or three minutes before starting. Few things are as irritating or chafing as shaving dry or slightly damp legs.
• Find a razor that works well for your skin. Given the pressure you use while shaving, the texture of your skin, and the density of hair growth, this takes some experimentation. No single type of razor works well for everyone, but the three – and four-bladed razors are gentler by far and produce better results than throwaway or single-use razors. After that, the main thing is to change the blade frequently—dull razors make for poor shaving results.
• When it comes to shaving creams, for both men and women, those that contain emollients (usually those identified as being good for sensitive, dry skin) work perfectly on the legs! There is absolutely no reason to buy shaving gels or creams in pretty pink containers when in truth they are virtually identical to those in more masculine or unadorned packages.
• Avoid shaving products that contain irritants. Used over newly shaved skin, irritating ingredients can cause red bumps and ingrown hairs. When I find myself without shaving cream in the shower, I use hair conditioner or body wash instead, which is far easier on the legs than bar soap or bar cleanser.
• For best results, shave against the growth of hair, and be careful.
• After you are done, do not use a loofah or washcloth; shaving is enough exfoliation for your legs. Any extra abrasion can cause too much irritation and create problems.
• At night, apply a moisturizer, and during the day, if your legs are going to be exposed to sun, apply a moisturizer with sunscreen (SPF 15 or greater) that contains the UVA-protecting ingredients avobenzone, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, Tinosorb, or Mexoryl SX.
• Do not use an AHA or BHA lotion over newly shaved skin; they can be unnecessarily irritating at this time.