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| Mermaids, 1990 |
Remember watching your father shave his face? The gentle gravely sound of the blade as it glided over each hair, swishing of the water deluting each stroke. I remember feeling very envious of such a grand task to perform in the morning. After all, at the time, it didn’t take much for a little girl to get ready. And by the time sixth grade came along, I couldn't wait to shave my legs. Of course I’m much older now and times have changed. Most days, shaving is more of a chore than coveted ritual. But this summer I decided to change that! Usually I go for the convenience of your basic soap and water lather to get rid of wolf girl. But by adding a little more time and indulging in the addition of a shave cream to my routine, I’ve found that my skin is softer and my legs look fantastic.
Did you know?
Since most of us shave in shower, we ladies have a leg up on a lost art in men’s grooming, the traditional wetshave. Wetshaving is just what the term implies---keeping the surface to be shaved (in this case our legs) wet with plenty of hot water before, and during the entire shave. With a layer of hot water (not scalding) between your skin and the lather, the blade skims the surface instead of dragging on it. Which is the main cause of irritation, redness, shave bumps and razor burn. In fact, it’s best to always shave after a hot shower. Washing your body will cleanse the surface of any dirt/oil, exfoliate the skin and raise the hairs up to be shaved. Heat from the water before a shave will also soften the hairs for more effective cutting.
Add a quality shave gel to boot and you’re ready for smooth sailing. Some of the best, most expensive brands come from across the pond, like England’s Taylor of Old Bond Street. Or if you prefer the natural route, Trader Joe’s makes a vegan alternative, Honey Mango Moisturizing Shave Cream. It retails for about $5.00 bucks and smells absolutely divine!
Call me nostalgic but I like to go for an over-the-counter, time-honored tradition from my father’s routine, Edge Shave Gel for Men. I have yet to experience anything other than a perfect shave using this product. No nicks, cuts, razor burn or bumps! And I just love the clean, fresh, dude scent----Im just nutty that way. For just a couple bucks you can pick it up at Target, CVS or any other drug store.
* an extra tip : After a hot shower your pores are open, take advantage of this opportunity to moisturize! Immediately out of the shower, apply a generous coat of body oil to sooth dry knees and seal in the moisture! Remember, moisture keeps skin supple now for a (not-as-many) wrinkle free future!
