It’s gotten a bad rap for years, but is dry shaving the beauty boogeyman we’ve made it out to be? Can you dry shave your legs?
We’ve all been there: we’re sitting at our desk at work daydreaming about a hot date later that day when we realize–oh no, I forgot to shave my legs this morning! Don’t panic. You don’t need to cancel your plans; you just need to get a little creative.
Whenever you’re in a pinch and need to shave your legs ASAP, follow these simple tips to learn how to dry shave legs the right way, avoid blotchy, irritated skin and get legs as smooth as a baby’s bum.
What Is Dry Shaving?
Dry shaving is exactly what it sounds like: shaving without water, shaving cream, and all the other necessities we usually use in the shower. Plenty of us have successfully shaved our legs without water in the past, and you probably didn’t have major repercussions. Or, maybe you’ve tried it before and still have the squeaky sound of friction from a razor on dry skin haunting your dreams. Either way, dry shaving legs and other body parts should only be done in a pinch and using these easy tips to avoid pain, redness, and scrapes.
How To Dry Shave Legs (Without the Ouch)
- Use a new razor when dry shaving
Most of us already know the key to a good shave free of razor bumps and nicks is a brand-spanking new razor. Using a dull razor means you have to apply more pressure to get the same result, which can cause tiny cuts on the skin.
- Create a barrier
Sometimes, we need a quick shave ASAP and may not have any water or shaving cream handy to aid in a clean shave. You need to create a moisture barrier to avoid too much friction between your legs and the razor blade. There are a few ways to do this on the fly:
- Splash water on your legs before dry shaving to give your legs a fighting chance against irritation. If you’re trying to do a quick dry shave on your legs incognito-style, pour a little water from your water bottle or the bathroom sink on your legs before getting your shave on. A little tip, though it may be tempting to slather up some hand soap on your legs, but resist! The perfumes and chemicals in most hand soaps will cause some angry skin after your shave.
- Use an unscented hand lotion to give your legs a little moisture barrier and help the razor blade glide more efficiently. Most of us have a lotion stuffed somewhere in our desk or purse. It’s perfect for a last-minute dry shaving sesh.
- Consider stashing a body oil or serum at your desk or in your bag in case of a shaving emergency. A high-quality serum can give your legs deeply penetrating softness and also keep it protected from razor bumps.
- Dry Shave WITH the grain
Shaving against the grain is a more effective way to get a good, close shave, but the opposite is true when it comes to dry shaving. Dry shaving with the grain (the direction the hair grows) will help avoid razor burn and ingrown hairs. Also, use short strokes instead of long strokes that go down the entire leg, and wipe or rinse off your razor after each stroke.
- Pamper your legs
Dry shaving your legs isn’t exactly the best for your gams, so it’s important to treat your legs to some pampering post-shave. Keeping your legs moisturized will help keep your skin healthy, so be sure to slather up after you shave. It’s best to avoid any fancy fragranced lotions as they can irritate your freshly-shaven legs. Instead, choose a non-comedogenic lotion that’s oil-free and unscented moisturizer like Cetaphil.
- Don’t forget to rinse
Rinsing any residual lotion, oil, etc. off your legs after dry shaving is an important step so try not to skip it, if possible. If you don’t have any running water available, use a baby wipe or dab some water from your water bottle on a washcloth or paper towel and glide it over your legs. Let your legs air dry, and ta-da! You’ve mastered dry shaving your legs.
The Cons of Dry Shaving Your Legs
Sure, dry shaving can be convenient when you’re short on time and water but is it worth it? Here are a few drawbacks to dry shaving to help you decide if you should give it a go.
- You can end up with Sahara skin
Part of the benefit of a good shaving routine is that it helps provide extra moisture into your leg’s skin. Using a good shaving cream with vitamins can do more than help give you a close shave; it also helps nourish your skin. Dry shaving can cause you to miss out on key moisture your skin may not get otherwise. If you do decide to try dry shaving your legs, don’t forget to love on your legs with a super hydrating lotion afterward.
- Dead skin cells will get in the way
Exfoliating your skin is very important to ensure you encourage new skin cell growth and rid your dermis of any unwanted gunk. So make sure you know how to exfoliate your skin the right way! Skipping the exfoliating step in your shaving routine leaves all that dirt and buildup on your skin, and you’ll end up shaving the debris and not the unwanted hair. The result? Legs with a film covering them and stubble – even after you just shaved.
- Two words: razor burn
Ah, the dreaded razor burn. It’s been an enemy of yours since your first shave and you’ve been fighting it ever since. Dry shaving can be razor burn’s BFF because it can cause unnecessary friction on your skin, causing those painful, red bumps. Hard pass. You can fight off annoying razor burn by using witch hazel.
The bottom line
Now that you know what to do if you’re ever in a shaving pickle, remember it can be tempting to dry shave your legs or underarms, but there could be some serious skin woes as a result. Follow the tips above to avoid common dry shaving issues and whenever possible, stick with a wet shaving routine.
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