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.