Mistakes To Avoid While Shaving Your Legs

Shaving your legs can be a tricky task. If you're not careful, you can easily end up with nicks, cuts, and razor burn. One of the most common mistakes people make while shaving is forgetting to exfoliate first. If you don't exfoliate your legs before shaving, you're more likely to end up with nicks and cuts. Exfoliating helps to remove dead skin cells and other debris from the surface of your skin, which can clog up your razor and make it more difficult to shave smoothly (via Byrdie). To exfoliate your legs before shaving, use a gentle scrub or loofah in the shower.

Using a dull razor is one of the most common causes of nicks, cuts, and razor burn. When your razor is dull, it drags across your skin instead of gliding, which can irritate your skin and lead to razor burn. To avoid this, make sure to always use a sharp razor. If you notice that your razor is starting to drag, replace the blade with a new one. When you shave your legs, it's also important to shave in the direction of hair growth. Shaving against the grain can irritate your skin and lead to razor burn. If you're not sure which way the hair grows on your legs, try shaving both ways and see which one feels better.

If you want to avoid razor burn, you should make sure to use shaving cream or another product to create a barrier between your razor and your skin. According to Healthline, the safest alternatives to shaving cream are hair conditioner, cream-based body lotion, and aloe vera gel. Soap and shampoo are better than dry shaving, but these products won't offer much protection for your skin and can cause your razor to get dull more quickly.

There are other ways you can make your shaving experience better overall, with or without shaving cream. Put off the chore until you've been in the shower for at least 10 minutes to allow your skin to soften and hair follicles to open up (via Good Housekeeping). Invest in a razor with four or five blades to get the smoothest result. You should also change your razor blades every two to three weeks depending on how often you shave. Your post-shower technique can also prevent razor burn. Use a moisturizing lotion immediately after drying off to soothe your skin and prevent irritation.