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For most of us ladies, summertime means wearing less clothing, & therefore, (obviously) exposing more skin. The only downside to this, is that we no longer can get away with slacking on shaving our legs/bikini areas quite like we did during the winter months. Shaving, while not exactly a “fun” activity, can be a dreaded one. Especially for those of us who can’t seem to avoid stubble, razor burn, & the irritation that comes with it. Coupling the aforementioned problems with any other pre-existing issues like dry skin, eczema, etc.. the baby soft leg & bikini dream can seem wildly unattainable. Wouldn’t it be lovely if someone could offer some “tricks of the shave”? (pun intended)
Fear not, babes. I’ve test driven every theory when it comes to achieving the smoothest shave possible. I’ve dedicated many Google hours to this mission. It wasn’t until maybe two years ago that I developed a routine based on a shit load of trial & error (seriously – it took me until my late twenties to figure this the fuuuck out.) I want to share my tips & tricks with you, in hopes I can help save you some stubble this summer.
And maybe, just maybe, help you ward off stubble, razor burn, & ingrown hairs forever.
(Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which loosely translated means I may make a small commission if you choose to purchase any of the products I recommend. This blog is 100% powered by its readers.)
1.) Get yourself a men’s razor.
It’s an unfortunate truth (at least in my experience) that the razors designated for us girls pale in comparison to the ones for the boys. Men’s razors are designed to be gentle enough for their faces, while still maintaining a close shave. I use the Dollar Shave Club razor with 6 blades (pictured below). I switched to this one maybe a year ago & have been using it ever since. Not only has it been on point, it’s reasonably priced, & you can use it a few times before replacing the cartridge.
Side note regarding replacing cartridges –
make sure each time you shave your legs/vag area, you’re using a sharp blade. If you’re using a dull razor, you’re asking for stubble. (Hahaha kinda like asking for trouble, but STUBBLE. Tricks of the shave. I’m full of puns today.)
Another side note –
I always wondered why dudes shave literally every day/every other day & never have the same issues as women with stubble. My theory is that it’s because they shave OFTEN, & we try to wait as long as we can. As annoying as shaving is, the minute I started to commit to this process & do it the minute I felt hair growing back.. the less irritation I experienced overall.
Just to quickly recap here.. get a men’s razor, make sure the blade is sharp as shit, & shave more often. Got that? Moving on..
2.) Wait until you’re nearing the end of your shower to shave.
This way, your hair has softened up and will be easier to remove. Otherwise, it’s like doing a dry shave, which should be criminal.
The idea is making my skin burn just thinking about it.
3.) EXFOLIATE. EXFOLIATE. EX-FUCKING-FOLIATE.
Not everyday, but 2-3 times per week/DEFINITELY prior to shaving. Don’t just lather up & rinse & think you’re all set. Use a quality body scrub & an exfoliating mitt to really get the job done. Avoid scrubbing too hard, because that will aggravate your skin before you even start.. think less “force” & more “time”. You can’t drag a razor down a bumpy ass surface, right? You’ll miss spots, cut others, & wind up with red bumps everywhere.. & then you’ll have ingrown hairs to contend with.
Ingrown hairs are the devil.
I’ve been using Dove Body Polish for about six months & I love it. It’s inexpensive & works really well.
Prior to that, I was using Tree Hut Scrubs.
Every so often, I throw together a scrub that I read about somewhere on Pinterest. Make sure you take note of this, because it’s GOLD as far as tricks of the shave are concerned. All you do, is throw together a mixture of sugar, olive oil, & lemon juice. If you’ve got bumpy skin on your legs as a result of dry skin or whatever else, I highly recommend the homemade scrub first. This will really prime your territory. It leaves everything smooth af, and is an awesome way to reset your skin for the summertime.
4.) Oil up.
If I could shout this trick of the shave from the mountaintops, I would. My skin used to be super dry & sensitive even post exfoliation, so I’ve gotten into the habit of putting body oil onto my legs before I even start shaving. I use Dr. Teals Body Oil (pictured below) & I will ONLY use Dr. Teals. Dr. Teal’s body oil is the absolute best – it actually penetrates & moisturizes your skin unlike other ones that just lie on top of it. My favorite one is the spearmint eucalyptus scented one, but there’s other scents like lavender & coconut if that’s not your cup of tea. After exfoliating, I put the oil on both legs to further soften & prepare them.
5.) if you’re especially prone to stubble/razor burn, use a little bit of lidocaine.
An even/thin layer on both legs will do, no need to glob it everywhere like a deviant. Lidocaine is the main ingredient in every shave irritation gel out there. Here’s a little secret from my deepest & darkest tricks of the shave – it’s cheaper if you just buy a store brand version of it. Use this if you get any razor burn or stubble once you’re done shaving, too. Your skin will clear right up & the it’ll soothe the pain almost immediately.
6.) Use a quality shave gel/cream.
I used cheap ones for years because I didn’t think it mattered. The gel/cream helps you get a close shave without cutting the hell out of yourself, so it’s muy importante.
What’s funny is I’ve found that men’s shaving cream works better in this category too. EQUAL RIGHTS MY ASS. Between the razors, the shaving cream, the differences in flannel shirts, the pay gap.. WHAT the fuck people. Girls run the world. You better LEARN that TODAY.
UP UNTIL.. I bought this product called Brazilian Bare Shave Syrup from Target on a whim (see above photo, the brown bottle). Although it’s $13, one bottle lasts me over a month. You only need a dime sized amount at a time, because you work it into a lather. I’ve noticed a huge difference with ingrown hair since I’ve been using it. Therefore, I’ve deemed it “worth every penny”. You can use this stuff everywhere, from legs to bikini line, to your petunia 🌸.
7.) Shave AGAINST the grain.
I read so many articles saying to shave with the direction of hair growth, & doing so made ingrown hair & stubble WORSE for me. Plus, your hair grows back in two seconds with this method, which completely defeats the purpose. If you’re experiencing a lot of issues going against the grain, get your skin used to shaving & keep it hydrated before you give up. If you commit to it, you’ll see a difference after a few weeks.
8.) Once you’re done shaving, put more body oil/a dab of lidocaine on the area as a preventative.
If you shaved your petunia, put some baby powder on it too before you get dressed. <-one of the best tricks of the shave told to me personally by a stripper. And who would know better than a chick who HAS to maintain that area? Obviously, it works!
9.) Clean your razor.
Use rubbing alcohol, & rinse it completely clean. Finally, store it somewhere that it’s not going to become riddled with bacteria before your next shave. Bacteria in your razor will 100% cause rashes & bumps. You can easily avoid this just by cleaning your blade. Can’t even classify this as a trick of the shave – it’s GENERAL HYGIENE, PEOPLE. Practice it!
10.) Lotion up when you’re done.
I recommend doing this if your skin is especially dry. Before I got a routine going, I did this just to get my skin back to square one & it really helped. Use Cerave or Vaseline.
11.) Every day following a shave, moisturize your skin.
If you have skin irritation, keep using the lidocaine. After you get your skin accustomed to being shaved more often, you’ll find that you’ll need it less & less. Commit to daily moisturizing not only as one of the tricks of the shave, but because it’s what’s best for your skin.
Follow this step by step & I can guarantee you’ll have the silkiest, hair-free skin for the entire summer. Good luck, girls!
*If you’re looking for some maxi dress inspiration to show off those freshly shaved legs, click here for my most recent summer fashion post.
