Hair

Shaving for ladies
Shaving for men

Shaving for ladies

Like many other culturally influenced notions on beauty and appearance, the attitude toward body hair varies in different cultures. For example, Cleopatra went great lengths to keep her body hairless and smooth. Other cultures, even today, do not see the point in women shaving. Was it just me or did you see that female runner in the Olympics raising her country's flag and showing her underarm hair at the same time? Some women feel that shaving is one of the gender issues regarding beauty, and choose not to shave, to make a point against expectations of how to look beautiful. So it is completely up to you whether you shave or not. As far as we know, there are no advantages or disadvantages of shaving on your body's health. But if you choose to shave, here are some pointers:

Choose the method that is right for you

You can shave with a razor, you can use wax, or you can permanently remove body hair by cosmetic procedures. You need to decide what suits you, depending on the time and money you can allot toward shaving.

  • Shaving with a razor: the most common method. We don't recommend using body soap because it will dry your skin. You can purchase shaving cream or gel, and use it with your razor. Make sure your razor doesn't rust in the shower. If it does, it's time to change your razor. Old blades can be damaging to your skin. Watch out for razor burns. Be extra careful when you shave along the shins and around the knees and ankles as these areas are easy to nick. Do not shave right before you go to the beach. Your skin may itch in the salt water! After you shave, follow up with moisturizing lotion to keep your skin soft and smooth.
  • Waxing is not as convenient as shaving, but produces more lasting effects. You can purchase wax at any drug store. Read the directions carefully, test it on a small part of your body, and wait at least 6 hours before you proceed.

Shaving for men

Men do shave all parts of their bodies for various reasons. Some competitive sports such as swimming or cycling require men to shave their legs, arms and/or torsos to reduce drag and increase their speed. Body building requires men to shave these regions to accentuate their muscles during competition and judging. Still other men shave or wax their back or shoulders because they feel their thick hair is unappealing. In any case, for shaving areas other than your face, you can follow the guidelines above for women. Make sure to proceed with caution the first couple times you try shaving. Your shins, knees, the tendons behind your knees, your ankles and your shoulder blades are all very easy to cut accidentally with a razor. So be careful. Your armpit will be especially sensitive if you shave it. Any product containing alcohol that gets in your newly shaved armpit will send you crying for your momma!

Now for the manly man stuff: the facial hair.

We recommend a shaving gel and a Gillette razor. First rinse the skin you're about to shave with warm water. This will get rid of goosebumps and create a nice smooth surface to shave. Apply shaving gel to the skin. Rub it around so you get a nice lather. Pick up your razor. Make sure there is a nice new sharp blade on the razor. The sharper the blade, the less painful shaving will be. Dull blades tend to pull your hair. Drag the razor along your skin in the direction that the hair is growing. Dragging in the opposite direction could give you in grown hairs. Be careful around the chin and jawline. Also be careful not to cut your lips. Even though you don't shave your lips you are moving the blade around your lips and if you are careless you could slice yourself. Your lips can take hours to stop bleeding because of the dense network of blood vessels within them. If you're careful and you don't rush it, you should be fine. When you have finished shaving, rinse your face with cold water. This will close up your pores and give you a nice smooth result. Apply aftershave if you like. It will sting if you've nicked yourself.

Back to Top

  • Appearance Topics

Related Info

Hair transplants are a permanent solution for male and female hair loss. Find out more about hair loss restoration.