Smooth, silky legs and stubble-free underarms are part of a groomed appearance, but depending on your hair texture and color, stubble can reappear in as soon as a day. Waxing, depilatories and laser hair removal give longer-lasting results, but none is as easy, inexpensive and quick as shaving. Though you can't stretch the time between shaves much more than an extra few days, those precious saved minutes simplify your busy mornings.
1 Shower or bathe in warm water. Hot water dries out your skin, and cold water creates goose bumps that make it difficult to get a close shave.
2 Shave at the end of your shower. This is when your hair and skin are the softest.
3 Apply a thick coat of shaving cream or gel to your legs and underarms. Choose a moisturizing formula that slows down hair regrowth.
4 Starting at your ankles, shave each leg upward against the hair growth. This gives the closest shave, giving you a little extra time before stubble reappears.
5 Run your hands over your legs to check for remaining hair. Shave any missed spots.
6 Shave your underarms from top to bottom, then from bottom to top, then sideways. Hair grows at various angles under the arms, so you need to angle your razor in different directions for a close shave.
7 Rinse away any remaining shaving cream with warm water.
8 Pat your skin barely dry, then smooth your legs with a moisturizer that slows hair regrowth.
9 Apply deodorant that cuts down on hair regrowth to your underarms.
Items you will need
- Women's shaver
- Shaving cream or gel
- Hair-minimizing moisturizer
- Hair-minimizing deodorant
Tips
- Exfoliate your legs once or twice per week with a body scrub, loofah or rough washcloth. This removes dry skin so you can get closer shaves.
- Replace your disposable razor after five or six shaves.
- Choose a razor with a moisturizing strip and multiple blades for a close shave without irritation.
- Deodorants and lotions that slow hair growth require repeated use before you will see results.
- Use a manual razor, not an electric shaver, for the closest, longest-lasting shave.
Warning
- Keep razors out of the reach of children.
References
Photo Credits
- Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images