Most women have been shaving their legs for years, possibly even decades. But, have you been doing it right all along? If you’re still dealing with bumps, missed spots, and other less than desirable results, then here are some common mistakes you will want to avoid the next time you pick up a razor.
1) Shaving Your Legs The Minute You Get In The Shower
Most folks, men and women, want to get their morning routines underway as quickly as possible, but many experts recommend staying in the shower or bath for about 15 minutes before you start shaving. This will help soften the hair and open up follicles. Any longer however and your skin will start to wrinkle and swell, making it that much harder for you to get a close shave.
2) Shave First Thing In The Morning
Shaving at night will leave your legs smoother, but as you sleep your legs tend to swell slightly which can make hair retreat back into its follicles.
3) Using Bar Soap To Lather Up – Or Worse, Using Nothing At All
No matter how much of a hurry you might be in, never shave “Dry”. Make sure you lather up with a moisturizing shave cream to make sure your razor glides easily over your skin, doing so will make sure you avoid nicks and cuts. If no shave cream is available, hair conditioner will do the job, but avoid the bar of soap. Bar soap doesn’t provide enough lubrication for a razor to glide easily over your skin, which can just add to more nicks and cuts.
4) Using Single Blade Disposable Razors
Its okay to use them once in a while, if your staying in a hotel for example, but for everyday use its best to spend some money on four or five blade razors. The more blades, the smoother the results and they allow you to get those tricky areas such as your knees and ankles. Single blade disposables have a tendency to drag and not glide over your skin.
5) Not Replacing Your Razor Blade Often Enough
So, you go out and spend some money on a really nice razor, but, if you don’t change the blade out at the first sign of it being dull it just won’t do you any good ( five to ten shaves on average ). Old blades are ineffective and are more likely to cause bumps and redness and trap bacteria, which could cause infections.
6) Shaving Up Your Leg First Instead Of Down
Your first pass should be in the direction your hair grows, which is down the leg, but if you have sensitive skin, don’t shave up at all. Going against the grain will provide a closer shave, it also increases the risk of irritation, nicks, and cuts. As soon as your hairs are already short and your skin is warm and lubricated, shaving against the grain is much safer. If you’re looking for an even closer shave, reapply the gel and shave again, against the direction of hair growth.
7) Not Treating Or Preventing Razor Burn
Getting a close shave all the time can cause ingrown hairs, and if razor burn is left untreated it can turn into long-term scarring. In order to prevent those annoying red bumps, use an exfoliating body scrub twice a week in order to shed the skin that’s trapping hairs. To treat those annoying bumps place a warm compress on the affected area, the heat will relax the hairs. After showering, apply some lotion to soften the hair, this will help lessen the risk of infections.