Tips on Shaving Your Legs

Arguably, the beauty routine that women dislike most is having to shave their legs. It takes a long time, demands agility and can be hazardous if you cut yourself with a dull blade. Removing the hair from your legs doesn't have to be a chore. Using these steps will give you a perfect shave every time.

1. Start with water that is warm. As you shave your legs you should use warm water to in the shower or bath. Wait for the skin and hair to get softer. When hair and skin are cold, you have more potential for cutting yourself or missing spots.

2. It is important to exfoliate. Do not skip over this step if you have dry skin or are even just shaving for first time this summer. When you shower, use loofah or abrasive mitt and scrub it onto your skin in small circles. This is going to ease hairs which tend to grow back into the skin, will take away the dead skin, and make the hair rise sightly for ease of cutting.

3. Rub your legs all over with shaving cream. There are various choices out there. Select a product that is good for dry or sensitive skin, or one that includes a soothing ingredient such as aloe. If you don't have shaving cream, a creamy body wash will do the trick. Put a thin coat of the cream on your legs from your hip all the way to your feet.

4. Elevate your leg in order to shave your foot. Shave over your toes and the bridge of the foot. You shouldn't have to do this every time you shave, but maybe every 3-4 times. Just decide how often this area needs doing. Be aware that the skin on our feet is thin and can be cut very easily.

5. Put your foot up on something. Through propping your foot up and bending your knee you should be able to reach the whole leg to shave it.

6. Begin at the ankle. In slow, even strokes bring the razor up from your ankle to just under your knee. It is important to do the entire length of the area with one solid stroke. Shift an inch around the leg and repeat. Continue shaving until all hair and shaving cream is eliminated from the entire lower leg.

7. Wash out the razor. Following every two or three strokes, wash the razor under running warm water. The blade can be dulled prematurely and prevent from getting clogged with hair if you rinse frequently.

8. Make sure that you shave your thigh. Begin using a razor for the upper portion of the leg with a stroke above the knee and keep shaving until you reach the top of your thigh. Move all the way around until your thigh is smooth.

9. Knee area. The most difficult area to shave on your body is around the knee. When you are trying to access different areas and different angles it is best to be gentle and shift your leg so you can access the area. Once you have done some strokes, run your fingers over the spot to locate any areas you may have missed.

10. Do all these steps with the other leg.

11. Rinse off with warm water. Rinse off your legs thoroughly after you've shaved all of the hair.

12. Dry. If you have the time, allow your legs to air dry when you get out of the bath or shower. If not, take a towel to gently pat dry the skin. When it comes to skin lotions, rubbing is bad. To avoid breakouts, wait 2 hours or more before applying lotion.

Shaving your legs doesn't have to be something that causes pain. Ensure that the razors and clean and sharp for the best use. After that, shave frequently so your skin is familiar with the 'abuse of the razor'.