10 Tips & Tricks for Shaving Legs | Beauty Care slideshows | Well Being center

Shaving Creams Are The Same for Both Women and Men!

Do not allow yourself to be fooled by the common misconception that there is a specifically designed shaving cream for ladies, and another one for men. No way. Yes, ladies’ skin might be smoother, softer or more hydrated, but essentially, the same shaving cream can work very well for you and your beau. Chemically, the ingredients in both male and female shaving creams are the same, the only main difference being in the fragrance (more flirty or sensual for women, and more…masculine for men!) And this is simply for commercial purposes, anyway. The truth is, whether you are a man or a woman, it is always better to use a “fragrance-free” shaving cream anyway! The reason is, it causes less skin irritation. Also, when choosing your shaving cream, make sure you pick those that are rich in emollients (generally tagged as “for sensitive skins”) as they cause less skin dryness and start moisturizing your skin right away!

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Photo courtesy of CoffeeAddict by Wikimedia Commons : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crema_para_afeitar.JPG
http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/body-care/_/perfect-shave-art http://allwomenstalk.com/12-tips-on-how-to-shave-your-legs/4/

Find the Perfect Razor for You...

Finding “the one” is not an easy task, but it is definitely worth your while! Some women get it at the first try, but others have to get a couple of trials before hitting it right! And this applies to your razor blades too, ladies. You might have to try and experiment with a couple of razor blades (brands, types) before finding the right one for you. Remember, the same blade doesn’t always work best for everyone, simply because we have different skin types, hair types and gene types! However, it is important to start the search on the right track: look for razor blades with lubricated strips,. A razor with a pivoting head is also pretty cool and convenient, as it facilitates all your maneuvers. A lot of women like using Gillette Venus razors and Schick Quattro for Women (has 4 blades), so maybe you could start by trying them out!

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Change Your Razors Regularly

Just as you shouldn't use other people’s razors, you should change your own razors regularly. First of all, the longer you keep your own razor, the more rust it accumulates. And who says “rust” says “possibility for bacterial spores’ formation, more specifically clostridium tetani, the bacterial pathogen responsible for tetanus. And even if we are vaccinated, we don’t want to go there, just for the sake of smoother legs. Additionally, a rusty razor blade is definitely less effective at hair removal compared to a fresh, new blade. Lastly, using a rusty blade might also increase your risk of ending up with cuts, bumps and nicks.

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...And Never Use Someone Else's!

Yes, you know we were coming to that! It is highly recommended not to use someone else's razor, not even your bestie's! And the simplest and most direct reason for this is, for hygiene and health purposes. The most common viruses that are spread through blood are the Hepatitis B and C viruses, the HIV virus and the Herpes virus. And because those viral infections are latent in nature (and only get activated when the immune system is relatively weak), you will not know whether or not the owner of “x” razor has the disease, unless you ask him to do a blood test before using his razor…which is quite unlikely!

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Start by Wetting Your Skin

There are many reasons why it is recommended to wet you skin before shaving. First thing first, it is much easier to remove hair from a wet skin than from a dry skin. This is because when the hair is wet, it is softer, and thus more pliable. Plus, the water softens the skin and makes it less irritable, which lowers your risk of ending up with unwanted cuts or razor scratches that might ensue from the shaving process. Another reason is, because the top layer of the skin (stratum corneum) is made up of dried epithelial cells, this might clog up the razor blade and make it less sharp. So soaking your legs in water (while in the bath tub) before shaving is a great way to prepare your skin for the “beautifying” process it’s going to endure, and to ensure optimal shaving results.

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Photo courtesy of Betsssssy by Wikimedia Commons : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mujer_afeitando_sus_piernas.jpg
http://allwomenstalk.com/12-tips-on-how-to-shave-your-legs/2/ http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/body-care/_/perfect-shave-art http://beauty.about.com/od/hairremoval/a/shavetips.htm

Start at Your Ankles and Shave Up

This has nothing much (or nothing at all!) to do with going against gravity. The reason is quite simple: the hair on your legs grows from down to up, that’s why you should start shaving from your ankles going up at the top of your legs. Compared to your armpits for instance, you would shave from the top to the bottom, as the hair grows following that direction (some people would actually shave in all directions though, assuming that hair in the armpits grow randomly). It might also be helpful to elevate your leg while shaving your foot, to make it wasier.

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Consider Waxing

Finally, waxing is also an option, or rather a more sophisticated way of shaving. It is generally used for bikini shaving, though women have also been using the waxing technique to shave their legs. The truth is, compared to regular shaving waxing leaves less skin bumps and causes less skin irritation This is due to the fact that with waxing, the removal of hair is more direct, more radical and involves a much larger surface for each application. This also resolves in a neater and smoother appearance of the legs, as the waxing creams actually tend to remove the hair from its most superficial root. Waxing is generally recommended for shaving in sensitive areas, as well as for those who tend to have coarser hair than normal.

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Or Simply Use Grandma's Recipe!

And if you rather use natural remedies to soothe and hydrate your skin, turn to Grandma's recipes, they always work! (that's why they are Grandma's!) Home remedies to soothe the skin after shaving include Aloe vera gel, Aloe vera creams or any Aloe-based product, as a matter of facr. And if you even have the plant itself growing in your garden, help yourself. Nowadays, the wonders of Aloe Barbadensis in wound healing and soothing of minor skin irritations (burns, mosquito bites, cracks, etc.) are not unknown to the world, so it's all good for the skin of your legs. Olive Oil and honey-based concoctions also work very well, so you could use them after shaving as well.

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Next, Exfoliate...

Exfoliation completes the process that water had already started on the skin: that is, removing the dead cells at the surface. Those dead skin cells could clog up your razor blade, thus giving you unsatisfying shaving results. You could use a mild exfoliating scrub for feet, or if you do not have any, the exfoliating scrub you generally use for your face could also do. After wetting your feet, apply a sufficient amount of exfoliating cream in the palm of your hands, and rub the leg areas to be shaved. Be careful though, do not “over-scrub” your skin or it might become overly sensitive. Some ladies also tend to use tools like an exfoliating brush or exfoliating gloves, which both work perfectly well.

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Photo courtesy of OttawaAC by Wikimedia Commons : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Exfoliation_tools.jpeg
beauty.about.com/od/hairremoval/a/shavetips.htm
http://www.realbeauty.com/skin/advice/how-to-shave-your-legs#slide-1
http://beauty.about.com/od/cleansers/a/How-To-Exfoliate.htm

Apply Oil or Moisturizer After Shaving

The act of shaving depletes our skin from its protection. Believe or not, the hair on the skin has a specific duty, which is protection. And as you remove the hair, the skin is rendered vulnerable, even more since the epidermis has become sensitive following the shaving process. This is why applying a moisturizing cream (or lotion) is required as part of the steps in shaving. Not only does it help you to soothe your skin and decrease irritation, it also relieves and tightens your skin pores. Additionally, it provides moisture to your skin, which is required as the pores are regenerating.