Tips for shaving your legs the first time

With the weather getting warmer and spring just around the corner, it’s time for my annual shaving kick-off! I figured I’d share my process for that first shave in case anyone is curious, along with some of my experiences. The initial step involves gathering the right supplies:

1. Razor: I use a men’s disposable one; they’re easier to find at the store.
2. Shaving cream: I prefer something containing aloe.
3. Bath sponge or luffa: A bath sponge is my preference.
4. Exfoliating body wash
5. Lotion
6. Electric clippers When starting with the first leg, the thing i do when drawing the bath is to give my legs a complete once-over with the electric razor. This removes most of the hair and makes the actual shaving much easier later on. Once the bathwater is ready, lay out your shaving mats around the tub and get in to soak. For the first five minutes or so, just let your legs warm up in the water while tossing your sponge and razor into the bath to wet and heat them. When your legs are sufficiently wet and warm, grab the exfoliating wash and load it onto your bath sponge (or luffa). Start with whichever leg you plan to shave first. Give that entire leg a vigorous, thorough scrub. This step softens up your skin and preps the hair for removal. Now you’re ready to shave. I recommend tackling half of one leg at a time. My routine is always lower left, then lower right, upper left, and finally upper right. Don’t go too fast; let your shaving cream last, as it will be slow going during that first attempt. To begin, take a good handful of shaving cream and work it into a rich lather. Apply the cream to the area you’re about to shave, ensuring every inch is covered. I always start at the bottom and move upward against the grain because i like how close it gets. Always shave an area that still has cream on it, using short strokes. Rinse the razor after each stroke so all hair comes off the blade, leaving a clean razor for your next pass over the skin. During that first time shaving, I suggest very short (4-6 inch) strokes since you’ll be pulling up quite a bit of hair. After completing one section of the leg, rinse it off and make sure the next part is nice and wet before attending to it. The best advice i can offer for a smooth shave without razor burn is to always shave over a wet, creamed area and avoid going back over dry spots without re-wetting and adding more cream. Once you’re finished shaving and out of the tub, dry off. When drying, pat your legs rather than rubbing them. This is also when i recommend applying lotion if these are some of the first times they’ve been shaved in a while; it helps prevent skin from drying out. Now that everything is all shaved, it’s time to try on dresses and skirts with those smooth legs you’ve always wanted and enjoy the lovely feeling of a cool breeze across them.