shaving my legs....

[Miss Natasha Cleaver]

I am beginning my transition and have run into a little issue. I am kind of embarrassed to ask...seeing as how this seems like a basic question. I have been shaving my legs for a couple of months now, and when I do I repeatedly end up with those horrible red bumps at the top of my thighs. They pop up and seem to laugh at me....they take pleasure in ruining my upper legs. They don't appear anywhere else on my legs....calves, knees, lower thighs are fine. What am i doing wrong. Like I said, I feel silly for asking, but I have run out of ideas. Thanks so much!

[xander]

exfoliating before shaving helps, make sure your legs are wet, shaving cream is better to use than soap and moisturising afterwards.
if there's any more tricks than that I have no idea, i was always lazy when it came to shaving my legs.

[Emmanuelle]

waxing?

Problem with the red bumps is that they are basically hairs trying to break through. The more you shave, the thicker the hair, the more bumps (I'm a wax fanatic, I don't like the feel of shaven legs in the morning). In any case: moisturizing always helps. Use something oily/greasy so you "help" the little hairs to pop up through your skin...

Love,
Emma

[Janet_Girl]

Don't go over the same area twice.  That cause imitation.  Use a very sharp razor and no pressure.

[spacial]

I hear that, with repeated eppilating, the hair eventually gives up trying. I read it on a thread in here a while ago.

[Miss Natasha Cleaver]

thank you for the advice! I will certainly take heed, and apply it.
One more question (once again of the beginner variety). I heard that you shouldn't shave your "upstairs area" a.k.a. nana area with a razor. Is this true? If so, why?

[Ashleyjadeism]

Lol I can't give ya any advice... I always end up shredding my legs with the dang thing!

You could always try stuff like nair? Haven't used it myself, but it's worth a try right?

[Lee]

I found that it helps to have the last stroke of the razor go in the direction the hair is growing and to not let the hair get too long (aka shaving at least every other day).  As for nair....ugh.  My mother talked me into trying it once, and it left a burn all over my legs while conveniently removing almost none of the hair.  Maybe it'll work better for you, though....

[chrishoney]

Natasha,

This will fly in the face of most the suggestions you've received already, but (you can google this by the way) try using hair conditioner instead of shaving cream for shaving your legs. It's especially good in the pubic area for getting a totally smooth shave and NO red bumps. I even use it to shave my face after I apply shaving oil (I haven't shave cream in 15 years or more; there are much better products). You will be surprised at how smooth a shave you get and for way less money. I use the cheapest conditioner I can buy that doesn't have a scent that makes me want to puke.

Smear it on with your skin still dry--don't shower first, or do it before you turn the shower on and get wet. I do it before I shower and then go over any spots I may have missed as I shower. If an area feels like it dries out before you've had a chance to shave it, just wet your hand and rub all over the 'dry' area again and it 'comes back," no need to apply more. I find that most of the precautions above are no longer necessary if I use conditioner: I can go over an area more than once with no irritation, I can use a razor for more than one shave, I can shave against the grain and so on. In fact, for the absolute closest shave (even on my face), I usually try to shave each area in at least three different directions with at least one direction being against the grain. Smooth as a baby's bottom with no razor burn, no ingrown hairs and no bumps if I use conditioner.

I avoid nair and other chemical depilatories as they can cause pretty painful chemical burns, especially on sensitive skin like the genitals and face.

And contrary to the popularly held myth, hair does not grow back thicker the more you shave. Shaving pretty much has NO effect on follicle density or thickness. Otherwise, all men would end up with so much, ultra thick facial hair as to make it impossible to shave, and your armpits would become shag carpets, and even gg's legs would become virtual lawns of follicles. Doesn't happen, never will, it's a myth.

But don't believe me--just try it.

[Janet_Girl]

I have hear of the conditioner trick before.  And I have even tried it.  I think it works because the skin is protected and the hair get softened.

[SarahM777]

It's just a suggestion if you do go the chemical route. I do have sensitive skin myself. I did find that the Nair and Neet are the worst. Veet does not seem to be quite as harsh and works almost as well. But i did also find a product that helps with the irritation afterwards.
It's called Perfect Finish Neutralizing After Wash and it's made by Epil-Stop. I have found it cuts down the irritation to almost nothing.
The only place i found it though is at the Dollar Tree here.

[rite_of_inversion]

I've found that shaving the pubic region causes severe-and I mean severe itching.  Usually in public.

I actually wear a woman's swimsuit AND men's swim trunks when I go swimming...  Or if I have to do something about the bikini line? I yank with pliers-needlenose for preference. 

Yeah it hurts for a bit-but it doesn't itch! And it takes a long time to come back, as opposed to a shave.

(Reminds me, my unibrow's growing, and I just got those really swell needlenose pliers for fence work...)

[xander]

the itching from shaving the pubic region stops if you shave it frequently.
i was a frequent shaver back in the day and i didnt have trouble with itching unless i let it grow out too much.
so if you want to shave that area, just keep doing it and you body adjusts.

[Emmanuelle]

And contrary to the popularly held myth, hair does not grow back thicker the more you shave.

Ow... you're right (just had to look it up). I stand corrected, and learned something new! *happy me*

[dyslexi]

Oh, just have to try the conditioner trick this morning. Great tip. Thank you.

[Miss Natasha Cleaver]

you are all wonderful! Thank you! i will let you know how it works out for me.

[Maegan]

I've been using conditioner as well. Works a treat! I'm not sure whether I may use any brand names here, so I'd rather not, but definitely try one of those battery powered 5 blade razors. " Smooth" is the name of the game here.
Waxing is the best, I guess, but I normally can't wait for the hairs to grow out long enough.
I can't stand the sight of long hairs on my legs. I keep on promising myself that next time I will let it grow a little longer so that I can wax them off, but then the sight of the "stubble" disgusts me, so, out comes the razor! It is a never ending circle!

Huggs

Maegan

[Miss Natasha Cleaver]

soooo...I tried the "conditioner method" yesterday. After shaving with the conditioner I put lotion on Guess what happened?....NOTHING! It worked really well. I think I might have found a winning combination! Thank you sooooo much for your all of your suggestions. As usual, the ladies of Susan's come through! Happy Shaving!