I can shave my face okay because I've been doing it since I was 16 or so but now that I'm 40, I have no idea what I'm doing. Need some deforestation down south of the belt if I'm gonna rock a pair of leggings.
I tried the electric trimmer to cut it down and wet-shaving in the shower but there's still quite a bit of stubble and holy crap, am I PALE!
Should I skip the shave and go for a wax?
I use a Venus razor that is designed for shaving legs and under arms. I lather in the shower and shave while lathered. If I need a closer shave then I use shaving cream. If you have stubble, it is probably because the razor is not very sharp. Be sure to use a clean sharp razor. I generally dress en femme about once a week and I shave before I dress up. If I were wearing pantyhose every day, I would probably need to shave my legs every other day. After you shave be sure to use body moisturizer to keep your skin soft and not dry. I have never used an electric razor on my legs or under arms.
Three words: warm bubble bath! Relaxing and you can take your time with it and it is enjoyable and not so much a chore. :)
Quote from: Jessica Merriman on December 31, 2013, 03:06:11 PM
Three words: warm bubble bath! Relaxing and you can take your time with it and it is enjoyable and not so much a chore. :)
That does sound enjoyable and very relaxing.
It gets even better with a scented candle, lower lights, wine, chocolate and soft music. Totally girl heaven! :)
I've been shaving my legs and most of the rest of my body for over 10 years. When I first started shaving my legs it took a few months for my legs to adjust and shaving them got easier the more I shaved them. I use a good body wash when shaving in the shower and I always apply a lot of moisturizer to my legs when I'm done. Change your razor blade often...that will help.
Melissa
Quote from: Jessica Merriman on December 31, 2013, 03:40:04 PM
It gets even better with a scented candle, lower lights, wine, chocolate and soft music. Totally girl heaven! :)
Sounds romantic
Quote from: izzy on December 31, 2013, 04:30:52 PM
Sounds romantic
All of our younger sisters here should try it with someone special. Alas, as old as I am I will never find out. It is VERY relaxing though! ;) Makes you forget all about the birth defect down lower for sure! ;D
Once you have it down to a manageable trimmed level prior to close shaving, I found stretching the areas to be shaved prevented those nasty nicks that occur. especially around the more tender areas. Use a good moisturising shaving cream and a new sharp shaver. Shave while in a warm shower or bath. This will help soften everything up. Once done add some bath oil to the bath while you soak and relax or apply with a wipe in the shower. You will step out glowing and feeling awesome. :) Of course you will have to repeat regularly. Although I don't think that's to much of an issue. :laugh:
Quote from: Windy on December 31, 2013, 04:45:22 PMYou will step out glowing and feeling awesome. :) Of course you will have to repeat regularly. Although I don't think that's to much of an issue. :laugh:
Won't be for long anyway! *giggle* ;)
Skintimate shaving cream! You can thank me later. ;)
I've found that the best thing to do is to take it in short strokes. Work form the knee down and then from the thigh down to the knee with a good double razor. Recently I just got a palmperfect cordless electric shaver for women by Clio, and it is a litle easier than the regular razors are.
Fortunately I don't have much hair on my legs but other bits and bobs do require regular shaving. Keep at it. Make it part of your daily routine. Over time you will be pleased with the results.
If your starting with yeti legs then either the electric trimmer to get rid of the forest then razor, alternatively uses short back and forth strokes (not side to side Ouch!!) Pulling the razor towards you makes the cut (obviously) but pushing it away again whilst still on the skin frees the blade of the cut long hairs. Just be careful to not spend too long on one spot or press too hard, it may take a couple of shaves to get everything because unless you are very flexible, even with a mirror you will probably miss something and to minimise the razor burn you don't want to keep going over the same area in order to catch that last hair which may only be attached by soap and water by this stage anyway. Next time once its all gone do whatever works best for you, I tend to use long strokes up my leg, ankle to knee or knee to the top, but you need to feel which way the hair is growing in and cut against the grain for best results, or with the grain if your suffering razor bumps. An electric shaver may also be kinder on the burn if you are suffering but probably wont give as good a result as a wet blade
As for lubricant, Hair conditioner. Its amazingly slick and helps soften the hair for the cut as well. Just try it and see for yourself.
As for afterwards, moisturiser is nice and can help with the burn, but for a good while be prepared for the pimples, One thing I found when I had periods of not shaving (vacations and summer) was after each rest and grow out period the razor burn was not as bad when I shaved again. It tended to be constant or only slight improvement all the time I was shaving but significantly better returning to shaving after a 10 week rest.
Quote from: Jessica Merriman on December 31, 2013, 03:06:11 PM
Three words: warm bubble bath! Relaxing and you can take your time with it and it is enjoyable and not so much a chore. :)
Lol well this probably goes without saying but I just have this image of someone doing it for the first time that way and coming out the bath with hairs stuck all over their body. But for maintenance that sounds delightful!
Not to go against the flow... but I'd say give waxing a try. I use a hard wax made by Satin Smooth. It doesn't require cloth strips and is easier and cleaner to use than honeys, sugars or soft waxes. The 14oz tin also fits in a regular GiGi wax warmer, ($20 from Amazon).
The first time I tried it was a real bear. Hair grows in cycles and the first time you do it you'll be removing everything, but after its gone it will come in sparser since not all of the hairs will be coming in at the same time. (Initially you may need to rewax in a week, but eventually you should be able to get away with every 4-6 weeks.) Subsequent waxings are less painful unless you let everything grow back in again.
Best of all, no razor burn or itchy stubble.
If you've never had a wax before, you might want to have a professional do it your first time just to get an idea of how it's done. For the long term though, it's easy and inexpensive to do most of your waxing at home.
I used an epilator for a while which really thinned the hair out. First few times were painful
I usually buzz. No burn, no ingrown hairs.
But, given how much I've fallen in love with my double-edge razor, I think I may try that next.
I agree with Jessica that a warm bubble bath is very very lovely. I usually shave during bath as well. Can take my time and enjoy the warmth. Then there is the feeling of freshly shaved legs...such a great feeling. :p
I always shave pre shower. then let the warm water run over my nice smooth legs.
I still shave my legs with a razor. I use a thin layer of shaving cream. I normally shave while I am in the bath. I found shaving in the shower is little hectic..
The first time I shaved my legs, I did it after bathing I sat on the side of the bath and shaved with a razor. It took a while, but I was so happy with the results
I used to shave my legs but now the hair no longer grows back save a small patch under the front of each knee. Fortunately I never was the wooly mammoth type to begin with. Moisturizing is most important, especially for those on HRT as it does create dry skin on extremities like lower legs and forearms.
I found that depilatories like Nair and Veet work well for me. Be sure not to get the sensitive skin stuff; it is too weak for most male hair.
Yeah, I figured out how to shave Winky and his twin sons, Left and Right after much trial and OW-er!
In case anyone's interested, I used one of these at first to knock it down some (okay, a lot)
http://www.shopmasc.com/Philips-NT9110-Nose-Ear-Hair-Trimmer_p_285.html
I found that I couldn't trim it straight on. Otherwise, it would catch the skin hence, the OW! It took quick, angled, short strokes and that knocked it down really well with nary a nick.
and then used these:
http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00nelTCYdIQAcw/Hot-Shaving-Foam-and-Razors-Combined-Package-58g.jpg
It's starting to grow back now and it's itchy somewhat. Only took about a week to grow back to stubble.
Oh, and I've taken to shaving the upper part of my chest with the nose hair trimmer just because the majority of the shirts women's shirts I wear at this current moment in time have a low neckline. I may consider waxing for that. Home waxing!
I haven't touched a razor blade in years. the best shave was with a 3 blade razor and hair conditioner in the shower. now I use a epilator from the ears down. I found that the Remington with the concaved head from walgreens is less painful and half the price as the braun silk epi.
I have limited body hair these days and shave my legs once a week in the shower.
But in your case.
First you need to soak and soften the skin and hair. If you want to get really smooth, I mean all the way up to you know what then you need to be careful and go slow to avoid irritation and razor burn. Use an expensive 4 or 5 blade razor. It will do for one shaving of your body. You can try shaving cream but |I agree with one of the other posters, hair conditioner works better. Go slow and gentle. If you get irritation (likely) buy some bikini zone, it helps.
If this is serious for you make shaving a part of your routine so you are only ever dealing with stubble. Makes life much easier.
Waxing also works. If your hairy its gonna hurt like a mofo the first time but it gets better over time.
I have just started a using an epilator (a Braun Silk Epil 3). This yanks the hairs out by the roots, so it could be painful.
I foolishly started by stripping the hairs from my boobs, decolletage & nipples. I had to be very careful there! I pinched each nipple firmly with a clothes peg, pulled it out hard and shaved it as close to the peg as I could.
Each boob is now covered in a bright red rash, and my nipples are really aching from the pegs! I really can't understand those who get thrills from using nipple clamps.
I tried it briefly on my legs and it didn't seem so painful there.
It also creates a lot of nasty hair debris in the washbasin. I got rid of it with the vacuum cleaner, as I didn't want to clog the drain with my boob hairs!
I have razor burn up the freakin wazoo. Using lotion with aloe and calardyl lotion trying to clear it up. Always happens when I shave "down there".
I just use regular shave cream and a razor in the bath or shower. I shave the knee top with my knee bent, then straighten my leg to shave to bow of the knee. After awhile you get use to straightening things out before running the razor over them. After the initial shave, it's no big deal, because there's not much to shave. I wear leggings, hosiery and tight jeans so much I tend to grow very little hair on my legs anyway.