Once we’re younger and first studying to shave our legs, it may well take a little bit follow to excellent your method, and it’s possible you’ll get just a few nicks within the course of, in addition to the dreaded razor burn. Listed here are the highest belongings you’re doing unsuitable when shaving your legs — keep away from them and get smoother pores and skin than ever.
1. Exfoliating too quickly earlier than shaving
Shaving is definitely a type of exfoliation, so when you rub your pores and skin too uncooked and take away all these useless pores and skin cells, it means an excessive amount of irritation. After scrubbing, the pores in your legs are left extra open, which is able to trigger extra cuts. As an alternative, do it at the least 48 hours beforehand.
2. Lengthy strokes are key
Brief, uneven strokes will get you narrow up very quickly. Be certain that your razor isn’t clogged with hair or shaving cream. As an alternative, give attention to small sections and do lengthy, sluggish strokes to keep away from needing to patch up your leg with bathroom paper.
3. Lotions with alcohol
Should you’re utilizing a shaving lotion with alcohol, it may well dry your pores and skin out additional. Our legs are already dry after we shave, and when you’re involved about what substances work greatest, think about coconut oil or Shea butter to remain hydrated and easy.
4. Sharing razors
Although it could be handy, it’s positively not secure or hygienic. Sharing razors can unfold fungi, micro organism, and different gross stuff. With blood current, you possibly can even contract hepatitis B and C. Staph infections are additionally doable.
5. Outdated razors
Utilizing an previous disposable razor is a no-no! Even in case you have one with ejectable blades, changing these are essential as properly. When blades get duller, it’s a must to go over sure spots onerous, growing danger of minimize. Boring blades additionally trigger razor burn.
6. Shave with no bathe
You may suppose it makes no distinction, however shaving mid-shower will permit your legs to soak up moisture higher. It’ll prime the follicles and soften them, making the troublesome activity of shaving a lot simpler.
7. Swimming afterwards
Whether or not it’s the chlorine in a pool or naturally exfoliating sand beneath your pores and skin, your pores are open and delicate throughout shaving, and doing this exercise in any setting proper after will go away your legs in chaos. As an alternative, wait a day and you need to be within the secure zone.
8. Utilizing cleaning soap as an alternative of shaving cream
Shaving dry is absolutely the worst factor that you are able to do, and can rapidly trigger ingrown hairs, razor burn and cuts. Cleaning soap scum will construct up in your razor and make it much less efficient — as an alternative, go for shaving gel — ideally one with aloe vera.
9. Switching instructions
All the time shave in the identical route. Should you don’t, you’ll really feel tremendous irritated and have razor bumps for days. Going in opposition to the grain causes nicks and in addition tugs on the hair, whereas getting into the identical route is safer. Should you do want that shut shave simply watch out once you’re getting these difficult spots.
10. Not lotioning up afterwards
Identical to utilizing a shaving cream or gel with moisturizing substances is important, placing some lotion (or oil) onto your still-damp pores and skin will lock within the water, trapping it in your pores and skin and maintaining your hair extra versatile.
11. Should you’re a girl, utilizing a single-blade males’s razor
Greenback retailer razors are tempting resulting from being so budget-friendly, however these single or double blade monstrosities don’t work properly with the curves of a girl’s physique. As an alternative, go for extra blades — with a 5-blade choice from manufacturers like Venus or Schick which is able to comply with your form a little bit higher and is most certainly infused with a moisturizing strip.
12. Making use of agency stress
Urgent onerous doesn’t equal a better shave! Actually, the firmer stress you apply, the extra you traumatize the pores and skin. A lighter contact with newer blades is the best way to go. Simple gliding ought to get the job completed.
13. Leaning it on the bathe ledge
Attempt to not hold your razor in a spot right here will probably be always soaked in water. It may possibly uninteresting it sooner and hold it soiled. In spite of everything, it’s mainly simply sitting in a puddle of nonetheless water with useless cells. Attempt to dangle it up someplace or place it in a much less humid space of the lavatory. Yuck.
14. Take higher prevention strategies
Upkeep is essential to stopping razor burn earlier than it occurs. Whenever you shave to shut, you trigger ingrown hairs. To fight this (and long-term scars that may develop from it) use a physique wash with exfoliating energy, or a further exfoliating scrub twice every week. This can shed the pores and skin that’s trapping all these pesky hairs. Should you do have ingrown hairs or bumps, apply a heat compress to chill out the hair.
