How To Shave Your Legs, How Often & In What Direction?

Are you a bath-balancer, in-the-shower-croucher or one-foot-up-on-the-toilet kind of girl? Whatever your leg shaving technique, chances are it’s something you’ve perfected over time: for most of us, keeping our legs silky smooth is a regular part of the beauty routine, especially in summer. But when something becomes routine, it’s easy to pick up bad habits – and, yes, bad shaving habits are definitely a thing, as you’ll know if you’ve ever experienced nicks, bumps or missed patches.

So, whether you’ve perfected your technique or never given any particular thought to how you shave your legs, here are our top tips:

Shaving your legs

Choosing your razor

Finding a razor that works for you will make such a difference, both to your level of comfort and the smoothness of the shave. Whether you decide to use a refillable or a disposable razor we recommend using a high-performance razor . It’s better for your skin, and the shave will last longer with a smoother finish and reducing the likelihood of skin irritation.

Exfoliating your legs

To reduce the chances of facing painful and unflattering ingrown hairs, it’s always best to exfoliate your legs before shaving. Use a body scrub or polish and gently rub your skin in circular motions using a loofah or exfoliating mitt – an easy step that will leave your skin feeling smooth.

Apply shaving cream

When it comes to actually shaving your legs, the first thing to do is make sure you hydrate your skin and use something to create lubrication such as shaving gel, shaving foam or even your shower gel. This is because shaving ‘dry’ means you aren’t adding any moisture back into your skin, and without that you are far more likely to experience cuts and bumps. Whatever you do, never shave your legs without water – imagine the horror...

Alternatively you can use a razor such as the Intuition Sensitive, Ultra Moisture or Dry Skin which has a built-in lather and moisturising bar, meaning there’s no need for shaving gel/foam.

Shave in both directions

Shaving against the grain – i.e. up the leg – supposedly gives a closer shave, but it also increases the risk of nicks, cuts and bumps. It’s best to start by shaving down the leg, in the direction of the hair’s growth. After that, you may choose to shave up the leg, but make sure you reapply shaving foam first to reduce the likelihood of irritation.

Our Intuition F.A.B razor makes shaving back and forth even easier – its unique bi-directional blades mean you can shave without ever having to lift the razor from your skin, and the water-activated gel that sits around the blade helps it move smoothly over your skin regardless of the direction.

Shaving aftercare

After you’ve finished, it’s always a good idea to moisturise. Not only will it help keep your legs nice and smooth, it also adds some much needed moisture back into the skin.

Tips for a smooth finish

Avoid applying pressure

Take it easy! There’s no need to press your razor hard – in fact doing so is more likely to cause nicks and cuts. If your razor doesn’t seem to be doing the job, don’t apply pressure, but consider changing your blade instead.

Change your blades regularly

The better the condition of your razor’s blade, the better it will perform, so it’s important to keep it well maintained. How often you’ll need to change blades will depend on how regularly you shave, but blades can last anywhere between 4 and 10 uses. You should notice when it needs replacing as the blades may look rusty, you’ll start getting more nicks and razor bumps, and you’ll find the overall shave is not as smooth.

Shaving your knees

It’s not uncommon for people to put their razors down, only to notice hairy patches on their knees. They’re an easy area to miss! Try bending your leg to tighten the skin on your knee for a cut-free knee-shave.

Keep your razor clean

Using a dirty razor can lead to irritation, razor burn and an unclean shave. To keep your razor clean, make sure to rinse between each stroke and use warm water to thoroughly clean between the blades once you’re finished using it.

Storing your razor

Finally, don’t fall into the habit of leaving your razor on the side of the bath. Always store your razor in a dry place, away from moisture, to prevent it developing rust on the blades.

So there you have it: how to achieve summer-ready legs, whatever your favoured shaving position.

We also have a range of guides on how to shave your face, how to shave your pubic hair and how to use a bikini line trimmer too, so you can get your whole body ready for the summer.