Shaving/waxing at home

Hi all

This is probably a bit random sorry, but I'm after some advice. When I shave my legs, a couple of days later they are insanely itchy and I scratch my legs to bits. My poor legs are a right state. Would it be better to wax? Or epilate?

Thanks x

Has this always been the case or just started? Could you be having a reaction to the shaving gel? Do you moisturise a ton afterwards?

Lollipop2123 said:

Hi all

This is probably a bit random sorry, but I'm after some advice. When I shave my legs, a couple of days later they are insanely itchy and I scratch my legs to bits. My poor legs are a right state. Would it be better to wax? Or epilate?

Thanks x

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This happens to me too and I just put it down to me not moisturising often enough. And also not shaving often either.

It may be the type of razor? What kind do you use? I have always used the Intuition razors (the one with the thick soap around the edge that you just buy refills for) and I never had itchy legs using them. They are quite pricey (but then so are most good razors). Recently I thought I’d just buy cheaper razors because the intuition can get expensive. I just used £3ish ones on oh my god I’ll never complain about the price of a good razor again. The itch after was insane! Suppose you are getting what you pay for.

Other things to try
- Using a small bit of conditioner to shave with
- Letting your legs soak for a bit first. I don’t know why but I sometimes just feel like it’s more gentle on my skin then my legs and hair have been soaking for a while before I shave
- Moisturise after

I’ve thought about trying Veet but there’s so many different options and again they can be quite pricey so I don’t want to buy a certain version that doesn’t work.

So this is what I do and my legs are never itchy afterwards, it might help you:

- exfoliate beforehand, any body scrub will do
- use a shaving cream (sensitive skin ones are great)
- use a GOOD razor, men’s ones are always better. I recently started a subscription to a brand called “Estrid”, they’re fab, change blades regularly
- I shave in the opposite direction to the hair for a smoother shave, but I’ve heard shaving WITH the hair can help ease irritation
- aloe Vera gel to calm the skin or a thick moisturiser. I’ve attached a great baby aloe Vera oil, which is amazing!

Good luck xx

Lollipop2123 said:

Hi all

This is probably a bit random sorry, but I'm after some advice. When I shave my legs, a couple of days later they are insanely itchy and I scratch my legs to bits. My poor legs are a right state. Would it be better to wax? Or epilate?

Thanks x

Click to expand...

I used to have the exact same thing. I now epilate, it's best thing I ever did!
It can be a bit painful at first but even after doing it a few times the hair grows much finer (weirdly much more so than whenever I waxed) and it's not as bad, or you just get used to it
Sudocrem or aloe vera work well to calm the itching down or if it's really bad I've had to use an antihistamine.
Alternatively you can grow furry legs, it's winter after all

I used to have the same thing, if you don't mind me asking, do you have quite thick coarse hair and are prone to ingrowns? Being of Indian descent I had hair like that and got laser hair removal which has been one of the best things I've ever done. I do need more sessions as the hair isn't completely gone but I'd say the growth is 75% less than it was and all ingrowns are gone! I still shave every now and then.

There's a few things that really help and is what reduced my itching when I used to shave all the time pre laser:

- 100% as other posters have said, use a decent mens razor with the built in moisture bit, I use a Gillette mens one which you just buy refills for.

- Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. I exfoliate my whole body every time I shower using either cheap exfoliating gloves or one of those bath puff things with lots of Dove body wash on it. When I need to shave legs I spend a bit longer exfoliating my legs. Make sure you're really warm in the shower beforehand as all hair follicles open up then, so give it at least 10 mins before starting to shave.

- For me, shaving creams and gels etc are a complete waste of money. I just use normal Dove body wash and really create a lather with it using the exfoliating glove or bath puff and keep topping the lather up as I shave through it. Dove is much more moisturising than any other body wash IMO.

- After showering, moisturise ASAP, like literally straight after gently drying, and spend time really working the Moisturiser in. For me best body lotions to prevent itching are cocoa butters such as Palmers or Body Shop, or just a bog standard aqueous emollient cream (although apparently if you have actual eczema it can worsen this so be careful). Top up Moisturiser during the day if you can.

- Also I remember itching often used to be worse if I wore tight jeans the day of shaving. Maybe the friction of material against freshly shaved legs causes this as often I would uncontrollably itch. So if possible try to wear loose clothes eg skirts etc on the day you shave. Tights didn't seem to be an issue with me.

Hope that helps!

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied. I'll be honest - I've become very lax with exfoliating and moisturising so that might be the problem. I'm doing my weekly food shop today so will add in some suggested products and report back!

Lollipop2123 said:

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied. I'll be honest - I've become very lax with exfoliating and moisturising so that might be the problem. I'm doing my weekly food shop today so will add in some suggested products and report back!

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Did you have any luck?

I’ve always exfoliated after shaving my legs, have I been doing it wrong

Have you tried hair removal cream?

I heavily drench my legs in water, apply shaving foam, shave, rinse thoroughly and pat dry.

If I leave any of these steps out, they itch like crazy.

PS: I use disposable razors too, which I only use once. I have super-sensitive skin and used to find if I reused a razor (despite wiping the blade clean and putting its cover back over in between sessions), my skin would flare up.

Right then. I've followed all your instructions to the letter, so let's see what happens in the next few days. What I will say is that my legs feel really nice now! I'll definitely start exfoliating more often x

I hate shaving my legs and normally get them waxed every 4/5 weeks but during the last lockdown I had to give in and shave them and realised how uncomfortable it was. My legs feel jaggy the next day and look stubbly, feel itchy and horrible whereas with waxing although hair grows In and I need to leave it it’s soft and doesn’t feel horrible. I’m hoping to save for laser hair removal next year as I know I the long run it wil save me money