Never Do These 6 Things When Shaving Your Legs
Why shave? Some say it’s for easier care of road rash. Others say for more comfortable massages. And some, like Ritch Viola, triathlete and founder of Every Man Jack, which makes skin-care and shaving products, say doing so before a race helps serve as a reminder that it’s “go time.” No matter the reason, there’s a right way (and many wrong ways) to shave your legs. Here, Viola tells us the six things you should avoid doing for your smoothest legs.
Skip the clip… Immediately dive in with the razor and you’re in for a long, tedious process. Before the razor makes an appearance—especially for first-timers—get out the clippers and trim those strands short. This sets the stage for a fast, clean shave.
…Or the soak. Shave after a hot shower or after taking a warm bath to help soften hairs and get your skin ready for what comes next.
Avoid lubrication. Shaving creams or oils soften skin and lubricate the blade as it glides along, which can reduce the chances for cuts and nicks.
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Hurry. If you’re going to shave, make it a ritual worthy of a slow approach. Hurrying leads to nicks and cuts—especially around tricky areas like your Achilles and around your knee (the back and the front are both trouble spots). Settle in, put an inch or two of hot water in your tub to use for your shave, and shave away.
Lack lotion. Apply lotion to your legs right after you shave, and for a few days after the initial shave. “This really helps reduce razor burn,” Ritch says, “and more importantly, it can help prevent ingrown hairs, which can be very painful.”
Leave a mess. Put a towel down to catch the hair from the initial clipping. When you’re done, clean it up. (Ball it up and leave it, and you’re likely to forget when you pick it up later…and you’ll spread clippings everywhere.) Also clean out the tub—nobody likes shaving scum.
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