Say hello to August, officially the last month of summer as well as being the hottest month of the year! Of course you want to be able to wear your summer skirts and sandals without worrying about stubbly legs or razorburn, but waxing can be a pain. Who has the time to wait weeks for leg hair to grow long enough to whip off? So here are some top shaving tips to get your legs as smooth as possible while the sun still shines.
Image via A. Page
1. Exfoliate, exfoliate! You’ll surely have heard this tip already, but it doesn’t hurt to say again. Regular exfoliation helps take off the layer of dead skin you carry around with you, making for a closer shave. A body lotion with glycolic acid in it can also help.
2. Don’t go too hot or cold, make sure you shave in lukewarm water. We know that cold water causes goose pimples, but did you know hot water causes the same reaction? Lukewarm is the sweet spot for getting the smoothest possible shave.
3. Dull razors are the main cause of nicks and scratches, so be sure you’re not using the same disposable time after time. Men’s razors are actually a little bit sharper than women’s, so they’re a good choice to go for if your normal razors are a bit too dull for the task at hand.
4. Moisturising is a very good idea whether or not you think you actually need it, especially since the skin on the legs tends to be drier that on the rest of the body; it’s to do with the number of oil glands over the surface area. Also, it can help to steer clear of lotions with fragrances as they have a tendency to aggravate skin. Oils, body butters and no-frills moisturising lotions are perfect; personally, I’m a fan of the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula line.
5. If you’re prone to ingrown hairs, using a five-bladed razor is the last thing you should be doing. Cutting the hair too close to the skin is a major cause of ingrown hairs, so don’t go over two blades if you’ve got a problem with it. Also, there are lotions on the market especially for staving off ingrown hairs. Boots has a few good choices.
Do you have any other shaving tips for our readers? Share them in the comments section below!
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August 3, 2011
Health and Fitness