Must Know Facts About Shaving

from bath and body

Many people don't realize it, but shaving is a form of exfoliation, too. Shaving the legs first became popular for women around World War II, when a shortage of nylon stockings kicked off a bare-legged trend. Today, shaving is still the easiest, cheapest, and most convenient way to get rid of unwanted hair—under the arms, on the legs, and around the bikini line. The downsides are stubbly regrowth in two to three days and cuts and irritation. These are some reasons that make waxing a better choice for hair removal. But here are some tricks to smooth shaving and ways to cut down on irritation.

The trick to a close, smooth shave is to wet the area first, and wait a couple of minutes until the moisture soaks in. Then apply shaving gel, liquid body cleanser, or shower gel. (A squirt of shampoo will do in a pinch, but don't use soap if you want a close shave, and forget about dry shaving—bits of loose skin will clog up the razor.) Since your leg hair grows in one direction (down), start at the ankle and shave in an upward direction against the hair growth. Since underarm hair grows every which way, shave it in every direction as well. When you shave the bikini line, pull the skin taut to get a smooth surface. If you need to go back over an area, apply more gel first. Rinse the area when finished, pat dry, and apply oil or moisturizer.

Shaving No-nos