It’s baaack: shorts season. And if, like most people I know (OK, me), you’ve been kind of lax about keeping your legs hair-free while you’ve been covered up in clothes, warm weather means getting reacquainted with your razor. And maybe learning a few new tips, too, like:
1) Exfoliating first keeps you stubble-free longer. Dead skin cells can build up around your hair follicles, so your razor spends more time shaving away skin than it does hair. Keep a loofah or a scrub in the shower to give your legs a quick once-over.
2) Shaving shouldn’t be your first shower chore. Wait three minutes (no more) so the warm water can slightly dilate the hair follicles. That way the blade cuts the hairs farther down the shaft, for a smoother feel.
3) A double swipe stops ingrowns. I’ve read that you should shave “with the grain,” meaning in the direction the hair grows, to prevent ingrown hairs. But I find that doesn’t really give me a close shave, so I’m an against-the-grain shaver.
But you can get smooth and prevent ingrown hairs by doing both: Shave in the direction of hair growth first (downward on legs, upward under arms), then go over the area again in the opposite direction.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Want more from Lucy?
Subscribe to Self Magazine today and get two years for the price of one.
No time? No problem!
SELF Magazine's 15 Minutes to Your Best Self is packed with 573 easy, time-saving tips and tricks that you can do in under 15 minutes! Buy it now.
