Shaving is something we all do. Whether it’s your face, your underarms, your legs or your bikini area; the chances are you shave pretty regularly. For most of us, this, unfortunately, means becoming accustomed to shaving rashes, ingrown hairs, cuts and sensitive, dry skin. But shaving doesn’t have to cause these uncomfortable results.

By shaving correctly, you can avoid damaging your skin. We’ve put together four steps that you can take to get the smoothest possible finish and the least possible side effects. Taking these steps before and while you shave will give you beautiful skin that looks and feels amazing.

Step by Step Guide to Shaving Your Legs

Step 1: Exfoliate: Exfoliation before shaving can make a real difference to your result. Exfoliating lifts the hairs away from the skin and prepares them for a closer shave. It also gets rid of dead skin cells that can clog up your razor and make it blunt. Rather than exfoliating furiously pre-shave, which can make the skin even more sensitive, gentle exfoliating twice or three times a week is best.

Step 2: Choosing the right razor: The razor you use can have a huge impact on not only the closeness of the save but also the effect on your skin. Believe it or not, most men’s electric shavers can be used by women. They’re not just for the facial hair you know!

Disposable razors have come a long way in recent years and are certainly less damaging than they used to be. But, as is usually the case, it’s better to opt for a more costly razor than the cheap disposables.

A good quality razor will be designed with a pivoting head to follow the contours of your skin. It should also have a soft spongy material around the blades to create a nice glide across the skin. Finally, avoid single blade razors when possible. Okay, you can use them occasionally if you’re in a hotel or something, but for everyday shaving its best to opt for a four or five blade razor.

Oh and don’t forget to change the razor blade often. Typically a razor blade should last for up to ten uses before it needs to be replaced. There’s no use spending lots of money on the fanciest new razor if you’re going to be using a dull blade.

Step 3: Lathering it up. Never dry shave. However, this doesn’t just mean that your skin should be wet. More than that, it needs a lather of some sort. Shaving gels are best for this as they are catered specifically to the task at hand. But shampoos and conditions work just as well if you have none to hand.

Wet the area a little first and then apply shaving cream. Work a really good lather up before you start shaving. This will massively reduce your chances of the dreaded “razor burn” and the rash it causes. It also softens the hair and can make for a smoother finish.

Step 4: Close Shave Technique: When shaving your legs, underarms or bikini area, the direction of the shave is really just a matter of personal preference. Shaving against the hairs will always give you the close shave you’re looking for. On the other hand, shaving in the same direction that your hair grows will reduce the chances of ingrown hairs, shaving bumps, rashes, nicks and cuts.

Healing Properties of CBD to Help Side Effects of Cuts

Shaving can be dangerous at times, but most people experience dry, sensitive, cracked, reddened and cut skin as a reult of over shaving or not shaving correctly. If you experience any symptoms relating to shaving, the good news is that CBD might just be able to help you and your skin.

The beauty industry has recently recognized that CBD has medical properties. Due to this, many beauty brands and companies have started to create CBD-infused products including shaving creams, moisturizers and more. CBD has shown to hold antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and more which may be beneficial to have in your shaving routine to reduce redness, inflammation and dry skin.

What Do the Experts Say?

Experts recommend that you shave with the hair initially. Then, reapply your shaving gel and go against the hairs. This, they claim, will give you the close shave you want without the irritation.

The choice is yours of course. If you have sensitive skin, of course, you’ll have to be extra careful when shaving.

Using the right products in your daily skincare regime, exfoliating the parts of your body that you shave a few times per week, and never shaving in a rush can really make a big difference.