A Step-by-Step Guide to Shaving Your Legs Correctly

ImageSource:Getty/MoyoStudio

Didanyoneteachyouhowtoshaveyourlegs?Formanypeople,it'soneoftheearliestbeautyritualswetakeon,andyet,veryfewhaveactuallybeentaughthowtoshavetheareatherightway.We'reallsortofjustwingingit.Thoughyoumayhavegottengoodatavoidingnicksandcuts(atleasttosomedegree),achievingperfectlysmooth,hairlesslegscanstillbetricky.Nottomention,ingrownhairs,razorbumps,anditchyskinoftencomewiththeterritory.Witharazorinonehandandshavingcreamintheother,youprobablyjustgototownandhopeforthebest—butthere'sabetterway.

It'snevertoolatetolearnhowtoshaveyourlegscorrectly,justasit'snevertoolatetolearnhowtoshaveyourpubichairoryourarmpits.Astheweatherwarmsupandyoubegintodigoutyourshortsfromthebackofyourcloset—or,ifyouresideinacity,fromsomeobscurehidingplace,likedeepunderyourbed—thenit'sasgoodatimeasanytogetalittletutorialonshavingyourlegs.

Ahead,abodyhairremovalexpertsharestipsonhowtoshaveyourlegstherightway.

Step1:GrabaBodyScrub,Razor,andShavingCream

Firstthingsfirst:gatherallyourtools.Inadditiontoafresh,cleanrazorandashavingcreamofsomesort,you'regoingtowanttogrababodyscrub.Forrazors,welovetheEstridRazorStarterKit(£8)."Shavingwithadullbladecanleadtonicksandcuts,sobesuretoalwaysshavewithasharpbladeandswitchoutyourbladeeveryfourtosixshaves,"LeslieTessler,thefounderofHanni,tellsPOPSUGAR.

Tohydratethelegswhileyouexfoliatetheskin,lookforarichshavingcreamliketheEosSensitiveSkinShavingCream(£7).

Step2:ExfoliateYourLegs

Beforeyoupickuptherazor,you'regoingtowanttopreptheskinforshavingbycleansingandexfoliatingwiththebodyscrubofyourchoice."Exfoliationiskey,"saysTessler."Drybrushingorusingaphysicalexfoliator,likeagentlescrub,aregreatoptionsforpreshaveprep."WeliketheMarioBadescuCoconutBodyScrub(£13).

ImageSource:Getty/JavierZayasPhotography

Step3:ShaveUpwardinShortStrokes

Nowthatyourskinispreppedandready,it'stimetopickupyourrazor.Becausethemoistureandwarmthofthewatercansoftenthehair,it'srecommendedthatyouwaituntiltheendofyourshower—afteryou'veshampooed,conditioned,andwashedyourbody—toshaveforasmootherresult."[This]happensnaturallyintheshowerwithwarmwaterandsteambutcanalsobeaccomplishedbyapplyingahydrating,conditioningproduct,"saysTessler.

Withyourfootelevatedslightly,likeonthesideofthetub,coatyourleginshavingcreamforlubrication.Startattheankle,andholdyourrazorwithlightpressure(ornopressureifyou'reusingaweightedrazor),andglidethetoolupyourleg."Moveinshortstrokesacrossyourskin,"shesays.Afteryoufinishasection,rinsetherazorunderrunningwatertocleanthebladebeforerepeatingtheprocess.

Step4:ShaveYourKneesLast

Kneesaretrickyterritoryforshavingbecausethey'rebumpyandtheskinisoftenlooser,butwithTessler'stips,you'llbeamasterinnotime."Forbonybitsorsmallcrevices,thekeyispullingtheskintautasyoushaveandrememberingtomoveinshortstrokes,"shesays.Whenyou'refinished,rinseoffyourlegsunderrunningwater.

Step5:MoisturisetheSkin

Theshavingportionmaybedone,butyourworkisn'tfinishedquiteyet.Onceoutoftheshower,youwanttomoisturiseyourlegswithabodylotion,oil,orcream"ideallywithcalmingingredientslikealoetolockinmoistureandsootheskinpostshave."

WeliketheNuxeRêvedeMielMeltingHoneyBodyOilBalm(£15).

Step6:TreatRazorBumpsandIngrownHairs

Ifyoushaveyourlegscorrectly,ingrownhairsandrazorburnareunlikely,butiftheydooccur,thereareproductsformulatedtohelpalleviatetheissue,liketheTheInkeyListPHAToner(£10),FurIngrownEliminatorMitts(£18).