Shaving question for women

[Fran27]

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!

 

[*blackrose]

I honestly just use the 5 blade razors and haven't had an issue. No special shaving cream or anything. I do go every other day on my legs/lady parts to avoid razor burn, but that's about it.

I occasionally get an ingrown hair on my thighs, but I haven't recently. Don't really know why.

 

[Romy]

Due to never ever ever wearing shorts or skirts shorter than ankle length my entire life, my legs are super duper pale. This worked out in hair removal favor, because I found an IPL system that actually works super well.

It's a Remington i-Light Pro. Sadly, IPL doesn't work on darker complexions or blond hair. I can only use it on my legs, but it's making a huge difference. I did two treatments on my right leg to compare and 90% of the hair is gone. Maybe I'll wear shorts this summer. Maybe. lol

Before I found that I was doing home electrolysis. That took for. freaking. ever. But I did manage to completely 100% get rid of a patch of hair on my leg. If you want to go that route since it's the most permanent way to remove body hair, I would recommend going to a professional electrolysist (is that a word?) and paying them to do portions as you can afford it.

I looked into that as well. Locally they charge $1.50 or so per minute. Which really isn't terrible. They work a lot faster than you can because they're more experienced, and it's the type of thing that needs to be done in sessions anyway. So if you set aside around $45 a month to do it, that would be one option.

Maybe add up how much you're spending on hair removal products every month and start budgeting that toward professional hair removal? If the IPL system didn't work, that's what I'd be doing.

 

[sparks19]

My hairs are blonde so I can get away with not shaving for quite some time lol. I just use a razor and make sure I have shaving cream slathered on or conditioner.

With my armpits I have to shave at night and then not put deodorant on until morning or I will get ingrown hairs there

 

[Fran27]

Romy that sounds so good! I'll think about it. My hair is dark so I don't think the first thing would work, but laser is something I'd really like to do eventually... but I can't really do it right now.

 

[Julee]

I just use a high quality five blade razor and switch out the heads frequently. No shaving cream or anything.

 

[sparks19]

For my legs i don't need any cream and can use a disposable if needed... Nothing bothers them. But my armpits have become a problem in the last year. Very weird

 

[FG167]

I shave every single day. I read an article that said the best way to prevent ingrown hairs was to either not shave at all, or shave every day. I use a cheapo disposable and lots of Suave hair conditioner.

 

[Julee]

I shave every single day. I read an article that said the best way to prevent ingrown hairs was to either not shave at all, or shave every day. I use a cheapo disposable and lots of Suave hair conditioner.

I've heard that as well, has it been working pretty well for you?

 

[sassafras]

In the winter, I really only shave intermittently, when I start to get itchy. For me it doesn't seem to matter that much what kind of razor I use. Some of the cheapie brands can irritate my skin but it's never been enough not to use them.

In the summers I wax... well, what I actually use is Nad's, believe it or not. I like that it doesn't have to be heated, the heat is what bothers my skin the most about waxing. Plus it's easier to use at home.

 

[FG167]

I've heard that as well, has it been working pretty well for you?

Yup! I've been thrilled. Honestly the combo of every day + conditioner and I rarely get razor burn either, which used to be a problem along with the ingrown hairs. I use it to shave DH's back too and he has also commented on what a huge difference it's made.

 

[Paviche]

I lucked out and am in a relationship with a guy who was raised by hippies, so he thinks hairless women are kind of weird and prefers I don't shave. lol

When I do shave (I do my armpits regularly in the summer, and will do my legs on very rare occasion, like last year when I wore a dress to a wedding reception) I just use disposable razors and sometimes shaving cream. I don't get ingrown hairs, but it is always much smoother with shaving cream.

 

[sassafras]

I can't remember where I first heard this, but I use hair conditioner instead of shaving cream or soap (or whatever) and it is the BEST.

 

[SpringerLover]

I can't remember where I first heard this, but I use hair conditioner instead of shaving cream or soap (or whatever) and it is the BEST.

I have never heard of this before, and now I must try it!

 

[Romy]

Romy that sounds so good! I'll think about it. My hair is dark so I don't think the first thing would work, but laser is something I'd really like to do eventually... but I can't really do it right now.

You might check into it. Dark hairs is good for IPL! The light is attuned to dark pigment, so it basically superheats the hair and kills the follicle. That doesn't work on darker skin though, because then you just end up with burned skin.

It works on a range from super pale to medium brown though. I'm not sure if you'd be at risk for burns or not. The unit I have has a safety sensor that you have to swipe your skin over to unlock the unit basically, so that people don't accidentally burn themselves. My arms can't unlock it but my legs can.

http://www.remingtonproducts.com/womens/ipl/about-i-light-pro.aspx

I was totally prepared for it not to work, but am happy it did.

 

[Saeleofu]

I use a decent men's razor (one with replaceable heads) and men's shaving cream, because theones make for women SUCK.

My brother gets his from dollarshaveclub.com and they're pretty good (not the $1/month one but the next step up)

 

[ThoseWordsAtBest]

I can't remember where I first heard this, but I use hair conditioner instead of shaving cream or soap (or whatever) and it is the BEST.

This was actually going to be my suggestion. Switching to conditioner has changed my life. If you want to spend a little and pick up All Soft by Redken, it actually softens hair more than regular conditioner and is AMAZING for shaving.

 

[Fran27]

What's the cheapest place to buy that conditioner?

Romy that machine looks great. I'll see when I can afford it, lol.

 

[Taqroy]

I can't remember where I first heard this, but I use hair conditioner instead of shaving cream or soap (or whatever) and it is the BEST.

I do this too. I use a fairly large amount of conditioner and I let it sit for awhile and it really helps. I don't get ingrown hairs but I do get icky bumps and those have mostly disappeared with the switch to conditioner.

 

[Dizzy]

I've always used conditioner. I thought everyone knew that trick! Honestly, I'm terrible though and I quite often don't use anything other than soap :yikes:

My hair and nails grow very fast, so I find I can't be arsed to shave as often I would need to to keep everything smooth all the time..... I wish I could have it all lasered off! Or something!