Dos And Donts Of Hair Removal Below The Waist

Do's and Don'ts of Hair Removal below the Waist

The removal of hair below the waist can be as frustrating as it is painful. For women, hair removal is usually a year-round job. During the summer months, women usually have the desire to have smoother and silkier skin as they wear revealing bathing suits and shorts. No one wants to experience raw, red skin after shaving or waxing. There are several ways to remove hair the right way without ruining the risk of red, bumpy skin. Here are a few do's and don'ts of hair removal below the waist.

Women have been shaving, pulling, or plucking unwanted hair for decades. During the middle ages, it is widely recorded that it actually become fashionable for women to pluck, pull or shave their all of their hair on their face including their eyebrows, temples and even eyelashes. This trend continued well into the 1770s when French women started shaving their heads in order to wear large wigs. Shaving the legs, however, did not become fashionable until around 1915 when an ad appeared in a magazine showing a woman with no armpit hair. This spurred women in the United States to start shaving. In fact, during World War II, supplies such as razors were hard to come by and many women found other ways to remove unwanted hair. Some even resorted to rubbing coarse sandpaper over their legs. Liquid depilatory was introduced and marketed towards women in the late 40s making it easier to remove unwanted hair from below the waist.

Shaving, waxing and using depilatory lotions and creams can be extremely confusing and uncomfortable if you are not sure what steps to take to make your skin smooth and hair free. In order to make hair removal less uncomfortable, consider the following do's and don'ts.

DO:

Do choose the right kind of tools. If you want to shave your legs or other areas below the waist, look for a good quality razor. Razors with the most blades often give the closet shave and will reduce the chance for razor burn. There are several kinds of blades available on the market. Disposable razors have plastic handles and are designed to be used two to three times. You can also purchase a razor with disposable heads. These are generally a little more expensive, but give a good shave. Also, check into electric razors. Other helpful products are shaving gels or lotions, which are available for almost any skin type and a small pair of scissors. If you are shaving an area with long hair, trimming the hair first will ensure a better shave.

Do use warm water while you are shaving. Shaving on dry skin invites bumps, nicks, cuts and razor burns. Always run the water warm and wet the skin thoroughly with the water and shaving lotion before beginning to shave the area. It is a good idea to soak the area you are shaving in warm water for up to three minutes before starting. The water will help the hair follicles open and will allow for an easier shave. This is especially true for coarser hair.

Do rinse often. This includes the blade and the area you are shaving. Rinsing the blade cleans it off before shaving the next area. If the blade is full of hair, you will not get a close shave. Also, thoroughly rinse the skin after shaving. Make sure all of the removed hair and shaving lotion is removed.

Do moisturize the skin. After you are finished shaving, it is always a good idea to apply lotion, aloe or other moisturizer. This will help reduce the chance of razor burn and will give you smooth skin.

DON'T:

Don't use an old razor or blade. Using an old or dull blade is an open invitation to cuts and razor burns. If you are unsure whether or not the blade is old or not, it is always better to get a new one.

Don't apply too much pressure. This is especially important for areas with sensitive skin. Applying too much pressure with the razor or blade can cause cuts on the skin.

Don't apply scented lotions, perfumes or other products for several minutes after shaving. This can cause burning and itching and cause red bumps. If a product stings the skin after shaving, do not continue using it.