Ahhh, there's nothing quite like the feeling of a clean, close shave. There's something so elegant and dainty about velvety-soft skin. Below is my five-step guide to getting the closest, most intimate shave you've ever experienced. This is one beauty tip you can share with your honey, too!
To find out the secret behind some of the best body-shaving techniques (for those of you who voted that you do in fact shave, read more
- STEP 1: Feel the direction in which your hair grows; that is the direction in which you shave. Choose a razor that has multiple blades, since this will dramatically improve its performance. Also, I recommend changing the blade every five uses so that it retains its sharpness.
- STEP 2: Splash the area that you are shaving with hot water so that your skin will soften and your pores will open up. That is why shaving in the shower/bath is ideal. Next, use a small amount of shaving cream and lather it up well so that your hair is pulled away from your skin.
- STEP 3: Again, remember to shave in the direction in which your hair grows. With one hand, pull the skin taut so that it the surface is smoother (this helps prevent cuts). Use the other hand to shave, using light and slow strokes.
- STEP 4: Don't forget to rinse the razor off after every other stroke to remove hair and excess cream from the razor.
- STEP 5: When you are finished, rinse with cool water to help close your pores and refresh your skin. Pat dry with a clean towel and then apply your favorite body lotion to the area as a finishing touch. Now that the area is clean and smooth, the lotion will further nourish your skin!
Patrizia Pepe
Fornarina
Alviero Martini
Wait... I don't get the whole "shave in the direction of the hair bit"...
The hair on my legs faces down. So I should be shaving going down my leg, as opposed to the universally-accepted method of going up my leg????
1I love to throw some vaseline intensive care bath salts (the kind in the box that turn the water blue) in for a quick soak. I'm not kidding when I say that I don't get any razor burn as long as I use those!
2Mmmm I love my super soft legs after I shave! And they always feel soooo nice on my sheets when I go to bed
3Shaving the direction of the hairs reduces the risk of ingrown hair... but like you, I shave up my leg too.
I hate shavvvvving!
4Ya the whole shaving on the growth direction is a misconception I think...
5Yeah I shave against the grain... I tried shaving in the direction of growth a couple times and had a bunch of rebel hairs that resisted the shaving.
6I shave against too. And I use baby oil instead of shaving cream. It leaves my legs so soft and smooth.
7*sighs* so tedious.... but thanks for the tips, Bella!
8me 3... i shave against because if i dont it doesnt really get as close...
9Cool, thanks for the tips Bella!
10Thanks for the tip with the baby oil instead of shaving cream! I will try this tomorrow
11If you apply baby powder after you shave it will drastically reduce razor burn! I shave at night, then apply baby power, when i wake up in the morning my razor burn is gone
12I hate shaving, it's miserable for me. I'll try the baby powder thing though. Thanks for the tips!
13sooo......shaving "UP" your leg is bad =S, who knew that ?, I will try that next time...
14I have found that I have to avoid getting cold after I shave so that I don't get red bumps all over my legs (goose bumps = disaster!). If I slather on The Body Shop's Body Butter right after I hop out, I get smooth and silky stems for at least 12 hours. My fav scent right now is Rich Plum!
15This guide is almost similar to my routine except I add a few more steps that really add softness to my skin. I follow all those steps except before I shave I exfoliate my skin with a scrub, and then after I slather on the lotion I put tights on for like 15 20 minutes. When I take the tights off, my legs are smoother than ever!
16that picture is so awkward.
who would be interested in watching someone shave their legs? ha.
weirdo.
17Yeah, I am a shave up girl too. Who knew? I will try this tomorrow!
18Pretty much what I do w/ my face. Shaving against the grain might get it closer, but over time will give your skin an "over-shaved" look.
19How can you even get a close shave if you shave 'with the grain'? It's not logical! lol
I *hate* getting goose bumps right after I shave. I usually crank the heat up a few minutes before I get in the tub.
20thanks for the tip..
21i dont like seeing my legs with hair..
A mens Mach III razor, Zirh shaving cream or Skin Milk shaving cream followed by Ahava lotion afterwards does the trick for me!
22i also shave "up", though im constantly nicking myself, so im going to try to shave "down" next time! i also find that i get a closer shave if i shave at the end of a bath, as opposed to the shower. and i like to exfoliate AFTER i shave, and then i use st ives vitamin E body lotion, and if its really cold and i feel my skin is going to be raw, i use my Nuxe Dry Oil (which I always put on my knees, elbows, hands and feet in the winter so that they dont dry up)
23why shave in the direction of your hair growth?
24isn't it s'posed to be in the opposite direction...?
Shaving down the leg seems silly! Also, it would be really hard to do in the shower! And wouldn't you have to hold your had twisted around? It's just awkward!
That said, I love shaving. I hate the feel of hair inside my jeans, so I shave every morning. And then moisturize immediately after - I use Body Shop body butter as well, I loooove the cranberry scent!
25Okay so I tried shaving up - didn't work!!! razor burn big time ouchie
26i meant shaving down duh! i still have the razor burn today so now i can't even shave regular - so sad.
27i also exfoliate pre-shave. i make my own scrub with a little brown sugar & olive oil & never have to worry about running out. one question: what is the best direction to shave the hair on the back of your upper leg? seems like i can never get it perfect unless i shave this area in a bunch of different directions.
28I'm going to try these tips, and try making my own exfoliate, thanks bella and class!
xx-Morena
29just a note: for all you ladies who exfoliate after you shave, don't use a salt scrub!!! It'll sting like fire on all those fresh little wounds in your legs. Even if you don't cut yourself, generally. Use a sugar or jojoba-bead based scrub, to avoid the stinging, or exfoliate beforehand. I've forgotten and done this one a few times, v. annoying.
30soooooo.......i've been doing it wrong all these years. hmmmm....
31I normally shave against the grain too. I tried exfoliating before the shave, but to be honest I am too darn lazy to follow so many steps and have my hair grow back 2 days later. Maybe i will try waxing.
32thanks for the tips.. and AMP, baby oil sounds like a great idea, I'm gonna try it =)
33I tried going with the grain today, and as long as the razor is sharp enough, it generally works (I get a few stubborn hairs too) and then spot shave against the grain for places that weren't close enough. I used to have lots of problems with breakouts/ingrowns and I think this method is sooo much better. Glad I read the article - I was like, "what could I learn about shaving!?"
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