Shaving - women?

Sinisterly

I epilate my legs and arms and sugar my underarms and bikini area. I got ingrowns with the previous epilator (Braun) but not with the new one (Pansonic). It's a wet/dry, so I can use it in the bathtub. That lessens the pain. I also used to get ingrowns with waxing, but sugaring is much better. I bleed a lot less in sensitive areas as well. I also use a soap with salicylic and a lotion with lactic acid. That helps me so much with ingrowns and keeps me super soft.

Oh, and exfoliating gloves help too.

Bleeding?!
PAIN??
Oh my god, as much as I hate my sensitive skin, I never get any of that shaving with my Venus o.o

dintentions3

id KILL for laser hair removal too. my sister and my mom had it on their bikini lines and their legs. so lucky. im blonde but my LOWER leg hair has always been dark and thick..one day after shaving it feels like i havent shaved in a week. its such a burden. havent had a bf in a while so its been about a month since i shaved my legs but im ready to be fully hair free again. *dusting off the razor*

daw0518

I also have issues with red bumps & what are probably ingrown hairs on my legs, but I think it has more to do with the fact that I have keratosis pilaris than anything else. I have this ugly, rough, bumpy skin all over my body, so it's something I've just had to come to terms with. Shaving seems to help smooth out my legs, and when I'm not lazy I exfoliate my arms in the shower & use expensive lotion to keep them looking & feeling a little bit better. Either way, as others have suggested, I would see a dermatologist and see if you have an underlying skin condition that's causing these problems

As for razors, I LOVE the Intuition razors, but they're expensive & you don't get many uses out of them. I bought one on a whim last summer, and it was the best shave I ever had. Went really smoothly & my skin was so soft afterwards. Now, I usually just use Silk & a disposable razor & that works well, and it's pretty inexpensive. I actually think I got the full sized Silk shaving cream I have now at the dollar store!

Inner_Goddess

I used to have problems then discovered what works best for me.... Make a sugar scrub from olive oil, lemon juice and sugar. Apply it to your legs (I use exfoliating gloves to really get it in) rinse, shave legs (I make my own body lotion and love it For shaving my legs) then exfoliate them again using more of the sugar scrub. For the bikini area, I use the baby oil gel to shave with instead if the body lotion. And follow with the scrub. I haven't had any problems since. I also exfoliate my body daily which has seemed to help

Biggirllittledreams

My method is pretty cheap and quick- I don't.

stefsc1

I absolutely have to bathe in order to shave my legs, or I bleed everywhere and get ingrown hairs afterward. My legs need to be soaked in the hot water for 5-10 minutes before I even dare to start shaving. It really sucked when I was living in a dorm and only had a shower available! My legs were half mini-scabs where I had bled and half ingrown hairs, so awful. Luckily my fellow doesn't mind if I go a couple weeks between shaving my legs, he prefers it to seeing my legs covered in blood anyway, haha.

So since you said you shave in the shower, maybe try the bath and let them soak for awhile first? Your skin will expand with the heat a bit, so the shave won't be so super close, which causes my bleeding and ingrown hairs. My legs still feel super smooth afterward, though! The cut is still close enough to not leave stubble or anything.

sexforjaffacakes

all the comments on here about pain and cuts and bleeding and rashes is so depressing

like, does anyone else find it surreal how much we're socially conditioned? we'd rather mutilate ourselves than allow something perfectly natural to grow on our bodies.

not in a condescending or judgmental way; I shave certain areas for certain occasions

shaving or not is obviously a personal choice; but really would any of us put ourselves through this hassle if we didn't have it so drummed into us that it's "normal"?

anyway OP I hope you find a solution that saves you some pain.
if not; bleach and pink hair dye!

hww1

Try talking to a dermatologist. Sometimes specialist know exactly what will help. It sounds like you have particularly difficult skin for shaving. Good luck.

adorable_aly

OP have you tried an ingrown hair specific cream/ gel? The good ones have salicylic acid in them, which helps to exfoliate and reduce irritation. I don't know where you're from but if you're in the UK boots own ingrown hair gel thing is pretty good, you apply it twice a day.

I also find that keeping moisturised in general helps.

Unfortunately some people are just more prone to them.

Kabiti

I hate the hair... but it seems like I have to shave everywhere and every day, sometimes!!
I'm going to try the safety razor.... if only to save money. Right now it's a mix between Venus and a men's razor (the blades are angled differently) and skintimate gel.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

I use an electric razor on my legs. The end result is not as smooth but neither my husband nor myself care. My leg hair is pretty fine though, it's not very visible even if I don't shave.

TheNoLeafClover

all the comments on here about pain and cuts and bleeding and rashes is so depressing

like, does anyone else find it surreal how much we're socially conditioned? we'd rather mutilate ourselves than allow something perfectly natural to grow on our bodies.

not in a condescending or judgmental way; I shave certain areas for certain occasions

shaving or not is obviously a personal choice; but really would any of us put ourselves through this hassle if we didn't have it so drummed into us that it's "normal"?

anyway OP I hope you find a solution that saves you some pain.
if not; bleach and pink hair dye!

I am also bothered by social conditioning. There is nothing wrong with shaving, and there is nothing wrong with deciding not to shave. What bothers me is when people feel as though something is wrong with them if they don't abide by the ridiculous and shallow expectations society thrusts upon them. I'm also bothered by the number of people who shame or judge others for their personal choices. I did not start shaving until well after most of my peers and only started so people would stop criticizing me for it. I rarely shave now because I've realized It's ludicrous to allow others to have control over my personal choices. By the way, you're absolutely gorgeous. I love the dye.

fit_war

keep it fury and natural like back during the 70's :devil:

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

raneylfrick

I didn't know this was an issue for legs...??? Shows you how much I know! My leg hair grows in like 30 different directions, but I somehow manage to get it all....it probably looks like a circus act. Every once in a while I'll get an ingrown on my bikini line, but never anywhere else....I use a triple-blade disposable and H2O shower soap and go against the grain. If I do miss any, though, it never shows up...I have clear hair on most of my body.

tl_dr

Ah, I have the same problem! I have tried EVERYTHING! Shaving with the grain, waxing, exfoliating before and after, countless different kinds of aftershave and astringent, special shaving creams, baby powder, salicylic acid... I am doomed to have bumps as long as I have hair! I get them even if I use clippers or don't shave at all. Often they become infected and scar very badly. Nasty stuff.

I've opted for IPL hair removal... I bought a discount package for a spa in a nearby city, so it rounds out to about $50 per trip. Not a whole lot more than a bikini wax, but much more permanent! It does smart, though.

Only thing is that you have to shave before every visit, so I still have to deal with ingrown hairs. I think it's worth it though. All of that will be behind me soon!

I definitely recommend it.

EvgeniZyntx

all the comments on here about pain and cuts and bleeding and rashes is so depressing

like, does anyone else find it surreal how much we're socially conditioned? we'd rather mutilate ourselves than allow something perfectly natural to grow on our bodies.

not in a condescending or judgmental way; I shave certain areas for certain occasions

shaving or not is obviously a personal choice; but really would any of us put ourselves through this hassle if we didn't have it so drummed into us that it's "normal"?

anyway OP I hope you find a solution that saves you some pain.
if not; bleach and pink hair dye!

Should walk around naked and grunting and eating garbage.

Clothes are a socially learned convention.
Language is a socially learned convention.
Eating standards and behavior same thing.
Shaving isn't mutilation unless you are doing it really wrong.

Social conventions aren't all that awful. Choose the ones you want to follow but, frankly, you don't need to start a movement about it because of "oh, noes, the hairz is mutilation".

Oh, and to the OP - as a guy that shaved my legs a while back (do you really want to know?), what worked for me was "legs down" after a long soak.

tlcarolinagirl

I shave, but I'm blonde so even if I miss a spot no one notices. Lol I don't really get ingrown hairs either. If I had that many problems, I'd most likely get laser hair removal. Sorry you're having issues with it

This. And i use Veet...it may be expensive but it's worth it to me. I use Veet and then I shave afterwards just in case, but being blonde you won't notice if i miss a spot. Also, when I shave, I make sure it's a sharp razor and i use hair conditioner as the shaving cream. )

rml_16

How does everyone shave? I keep saying that if I ever win the lottery, the first thing I'm doing is permanent hair removal... I'm so SICK of ingrown hairs!

I used to use Veet, but it got expensive, so I used an epilator, and got horrible ingrown hairs (that was 15 years ago). I tried to have it done with wax... hello ingrown hairs. Switched to a razor... still horrible ingrown hairs. I'm not gonna lie, I didn't touch a razor the whole Winter to let my skin heal... but it's getting nicer. So I tried Veet again today, it took me one hour to get everything done, and I had to shave my right leg anyway in the end because it didn't catch half of it.

So sick of it. How do you all do it? I use scrubs in the shower and everything, it's just very frustrating, my legs always look horrible, at the end of the Summer last year I didn't even dare wearing shorts anymore!

I just use a razor and water (not even shaving cream). I don't get ingrown hairs. It sounds like you're just prone to them.

Oh, also, I wash my body and hair first and shave last, so my skin soaks in the warm/hot water for a few minues first and it's easier.

all the comments on here about pain and cuts and bleeding and rashes is so depressing

I don't have any of those issues. I use a razor that has wires over the blades and it gives me a smooth shave (I actually like how that feels) without cuts, bleeding or razor burn.

Hannahp1402

exfoliate

Snow3y

How does everyone shave? I keep saying that if I ever win the lottery, the first thing I'm doing is permanent hair removal... I'm so SICK of ingrown hairs!

I used to use Veet, but it got expensive, so I used an epilator, and got horrible ingrown hairs (that was 15 years ago). I tried to have it done with wax... hello ingrown hairs. Switched to a razor... still horrible ingrown hairs. I'm not gonna lie, I didn't touch a razor the whole Winter to let my skin heal... but it's getting nicer. So I tried Veet again today, it took me one hour to get everything done, and I had to shave my right leg anyway in the end because it didn't catch half of it.

So sick of it. How do you all do it? I use scrubs in the shower and everything, it's just very frustrating, my legs always look horrible, at the end of the Summer last year I didn't even dare wearing shorts anymore!

Permanent hair removal, isn't even permanent.. Hair growth comes back, just lesser