Dry shaving your legs? Yes, it's possible! Read on to learn the best tips and tricks to shave your legs without water.
Summer is definitely on the horizon, so it’s almost time to unpack your warm weather wardrobe! If you’re anything like us, then you probably can’t wait to dust off the tank tops, shorts, dresses, and skirts to embrace the sunny skies ahead.
But what do you do if you want to wear those leg and underarm-bearing clothes and don’t have time to shave in the shower or bath? With a busy schedule, sometimes shaving with water just isn’t possible, but there is another way.
We’ve been taught all our lives to shave during bath or shower time, but can you dry shave your legs? Yes, you can! In this blog, we’ll talk about why you can shave without water, some best practices for doing it, and a Whish how-to guide to achieve smooth legs without water.
In a Pinch? It's Okay to Dry Shave Your Legs, Here's Why
As we said, we’re taught from the very beginning of our shaving journey to always shave with water to stave off that dreaded razor burn. But with life happening at the speed of light these days, it’s not always possible to shave in the bathtub or shower. Can you think of a time when you were caught in a less than opportune shaving situation? Camping? At the office late? Last minute dinner plans? These times are when dry shaving legs comes in super handy. Now, if you’re going to dry shave your legs, then it’s important to follow a few best practices that we’ve outlined in our how-to guide below.
Whish’s Best Practices & How-To Guide to Shaving Legs Without Water
1. P.M. Shaving Is Better Than A.M. Shaving
Did you know that if you’re going to shave, it’s best to do it at night? We know it sounds a little bogus, but beauty experts claim that when we sleep, our legs tend to swell up a bit—causing hairs that we missed while shaving to sink back into the follicle. When you wake up the following morning, you’ll notice legs feel and appear smoother because they’re still a bit swollen from the night before. So if you’re looking to achieve a soft and sleek look, then try shaving at night (preferably before bed). Yes, even if you’re dry shaving legs.
2. Use a New Razor
Sharpen those razors! Better yet, use a brand new razor when dry shaving your legs to avoid ingrown hairs and razor burn. If you’re also guilty of pulling your skin tight to get that extra close shave, it can cause hairs to remain below the skin’s surface once tension is released—putting you at further risk for painful and unsightly ingrown hairs. A dull razor can cut and irritate skin and who has time for that? It’s preferable to use a fresh razor with a conditioning and moisturizing pad to achieve a smooth, pain-free shave.
3. Moisten Legs If Possible
Of course, a luxurious bubble bath is always the ideal place to shave your legs, but let’s be honest, that’s not always possible. It’s important to use something to moisten your skin before dry shaving legs.
We totally get that you might not have access to a clean washcloth, but if you do, then that’s a great alternative to hopping in the tub to shave your legs. Before shaving, soak your washcloth with warm to hot water and gently press on your legs to moisten.
Warm water helps open the pores on your legs and soften hair so that your razor can easily cut through hair to give you a close shave.
Don’t have access to a washcloth or warm water? No problem! We have a great substitute—water-based baby wipes. If you’re a parent, then you’ve most definitely seen these wipes before and if not, now you’re in on our little secret! Baby wipes that are water-based are made with 99% water, which is why they’re a fabulous alternative to using a washcloth.
Not only are wipes convenient (great for on-the-go shaving), but they’re disposable too, making them the perfect sidekick for shaving without water.
4. Protect Skin With a Barrier
No one wants to deal with painful razor burn (at least we don’t!), so it’s important to apply a barrier before dry shaving legs. If you don’t apply a moisturizing shave cream, oil, or lotion prior to shaving, you run the risk of too much friction between your razor and your skin, which can cause tiny cuts and nicks.
Before dry shaving legs, moisten skin with either your washcloth or baby wipe, then apply a generous pump of Whish all-natural Rice Milk + Rose Shave Cream and spread over the area you’d like to shave. This creamy formula is absolutely incredible for a few reasons. It reduces the appearance of darkened veins and broken capillaries (yay for shorts and dress weather!), it deeply moisturizes, and soothes and nourishes skin. If you’ve ever Whished for a formula that gives you an insanely close shave, while improving the overall look of your skin, this product is it!
If slight skin imperfections on your legs aren’t a cause for concern, then try our Coconut Shave Cream. Unlike drugstore shaving creams that dry and irritate skin, this formula was created to moisturize and nourish skin, so you never have to worry about dry legs post shave again! Take a little trip to paradise with this coconut-scented propellant-free shaving whip. Just add a dollop to skin and shave away. With all-natural and organic ingredients, this shaving cream gives you the best shave, every shave.
But what if you don’t have any shaving cream on-hand? Can you shave your legs with lotion? Yes, you definitely can. It’s most important that skin has a layer of protection between it and your razor, so shaving cream, lotion, or a body oil all work to provide that.
5. Shave WITH the Grain
Yes, it’s true most people shave against the grain; however, in the case of dry shaving legs, do the opposite to avoid razor burn and ingrown hairs. Sure, shaving against the grain is generally more effective, but it’s not necessarily the best choice if you’re in a hurry and doing a quick dry shave. Shaving can already strip the skin of its natural oils since it’s essentially a form of exfoliating, so it’s important to add that protective barrier, shave with the grain, and replenish moisture (more on that later). Use short strokes (don’t drag your razor down your entire leg in one swipe), and clean your razor either by wiping it or rinsing in water after each stroke for an optimum shave. Cleaning your razor removes shaving cream buildup and lubricates the moisture strip on your razor to help it glide across your legs.
6. Rinse Legs
So you’ve successfully dry shaved! Now it’s time to rinse your legs of any residual shaving cream, lotion, or body oil. You can do this by using a clean, wet washcloth or a baby wipe. Go gentle on your skin, you don’t need to wipe too hard to remove excess product. Let legs air dry a bit and voila! You’re officially a dry shaving expert.
7. Avoid Alcohol-Based Post-Shave Products
If you’re like most people, you’ve probably used drug store ingrown hair treatments that dry, burn, and irritate skin. But there’s a better solution for ingrown hairs and it’s with our Ingrown Hair Serum. This is the go-to product for anyone who shaves. Simply apply a small amount into your palm and massage into skin after dry shaving your legs.
Our powerfully effective serum works overtime to clean out pores, prevent future ingrown hairs, moisturize the most delicate skin, soothe after shaving, and restore skin to look and feel amazing post-hair removal. It’s no wonder our Flawless Post Wax & Shave Ingrown Hair Serum is one of our all-time best sellers!
8. Don’t Forget to Moisturize After Dry Shaving Legs
Replenish moisture lost through shaving by moisturizing legs right away. If you love a product that addresses more than one skin issue, then you will absolutely love our Rice Milk + Rose Body Serum with Hair Inhibitor. This all-natural gel serum acts as a fast drying all over body moisturizer and inhibits and slows hair growth over time. A product that hydrates and reduces hair? Yes, please! Apply a generous amount to legs and massage into skin for lasting effects. Now that you know how to shave your legs without water, there’s no need to stress if you’re in a bind and can’t shave in the bath or shower. Dry shaving legs is safe and possible with just a few essentials—including Whish all-natural skin care products. Go on, embrace the warmer weather and show off those gorgeous legs! Shop our entire collection of gentle, all-natural and organic skin care products as seen on broadcast television and in publications such as People, Marie Claire, and US Weekly.
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