How to Shave Your Legs

From LoveToKnow Hair

Once puberty hits and leg hair begins to grow it can become bothersome, and not to mention, unattractive, but knowing how to shave your legs properly can make keeping smooth easy. Most ladies incorporate hair removal into their many grooming habits to rid themselves of unwanted leg and body hair.

Get a smooth shave!

Leg hair can be coarse or fine, dark or light, depending on your genetics and coloring. Learning how to shave without inflicting painful cuts and scarring is one of the first grooming skills women learn as they enter into their early teen years. The following shaving tips for women will ensure a smooth and painless shave each and every time.

Focus on How to Shave Your Legs

Whether you're tired of the length of your leg hair or find the coloring unattractive, to rid yourself of the burden, you'll need to rely on a hair removal technique. There are several traditional forms of temporary hair removal , including but not limiting to: shaving, waxing, depilatory creams, and an ancient practice known as threading. Shaving is by far the easiest, most affordable approach to temporary hair removal and can be done in just a matter of minutes.

If you are working with a razor for the first time, be careful! Although razor blades are thin and small, they can slice and nick the skin quickly. For an easy, safe shave, remember…

Clean Razor: Never shave using an old rusty razor. Old razors can nick the skin quickly and prevent a close shave. A clean, sharp razor is a must each and every time you shave. If you opt for disposable razors, plan on tossing them after every two to three shaves at the most. For those who rely on replacement blades, blades tend to last a bit longer than a disposable razor, so use your best judgment and toss them when you see even the slightest wear or dulling of the blade.
Supple Skin: Never shave dry skin! In order to prepare skin for shaving, take a bath or shower in warm water for at least five minutes. By opening the pores and softening your skin first, you'll prevent ingrown hairs and ensure a close shave while preventing razor burn.
Lubricate: Although a quick shave can be done with just warm water and softened skin, using a shaving foam or lubricant will ensure better results and a slicker glide. While some women find a shaving cream is essential, others may rely on bar soap or conditioner. No matter your moisturizer of choice, make sure you apply a liberal amount and rinse the blade thoroughly after each glide to prevent residue build up on the razor.
Angle: In order to shave the hair as close to the skin as possible, you'll need to angle the razor at about a 45 degree angle out from the surface of your legs while shaving against the direction of hair growth. Depending on your hair growth, you may need to experiment with several angles for the closest shave.
Moisturize and Tone: Once you've finished shaving your legs, you'll want to pat the skin dry and apply a thick moisturizer while the skin is still moist to prevent chaffing and dry itchy skin.

Razor Bumps

Razor bumps are a painful reminder that shaving too quickly or shaving a dry surface is always a bad idea. Razor bumps are caused by hair that turns and curls back into the skin and appear quickly after shaving in the form of red, irritated bumps. To prevent this painful condition, always make sure you follow all of the leg shaving tips listed above each and every time you shave.