Many of us go straight from the bed to the shower in the morning as a means of perking ourselves up. While a wake-up shower is a great thing, shaving in a wake-up shower is not. For a close shave, try to wait a minimum of twenty minutes after you roll out of bed. While you sleep, bodily fluids will puff up your skin, making it more difficult for the blade to reach the bottom of the hair. Move around a bit, maybe eat some breakfast, give that fluid a chance to reabsorb, and then hit the shower.
Scrub-a-dub-dub!
Dry, flaky skin can clog your blade and cause a less-than-perfect shave. Exfoliating prior to shaving is a great idea for two reasons: one, it will get rid of the dead skin, making your legs smoother to begin with, and two, it will help to plump up the hair in order to make it easier to remove.
You should always wet your legs for at least three minutes before you begin shaving, giving the hair time to absorb water and soften; dry shaving is a major contributor to razor burn. Even if you think your legs are wet enough, still wait out the three minutes.
Exfoliate while you’re waiting! Make sure the exfoliating cream you use is mild and gentle. You can even use sugar as a great, and cheap, alternative – try mixing it with a bit of oil or lotion.
Lather up.
Here’s another area where you don’t want to skimp. You’ve got to lubricate those legs with something before you shave, and soap can dry your skin, so the most obvious alternative is shaving cream. It doesn’t have to be formulated especially for women, though; shaving cream is shaving cream, whether it smells like flowers and comes in a pink can or not.
Men’s cream or gel will be just as effective. For the least risk of irritation, choose one that is fragrance-free and contains emollients – usually labeled as being for sensitive skin. Stay away from creams that contain things such as menthol or alcohol, as these can be drying.
Using shaving cream is a good idea because it surrounds each hair with moisture, reducing friction and softening skin. Cover the area you’re about to shave and let it sit for a minute or two before beginning, softening the hairs so they’ll come right off. Pssst… here’s a secret … a gentle hair conditioner works equally well.