How to Shave Your Legs

Co-authored by Alicia Ramos

Last Updated: December 13, 2024 Fact Checked

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There are as many reasons for leg shaving as there are ways and means to do it. Maybe you just like your legs to be smooth. Or maybe you're a competitive cyclist looking for every aerodynamic edge. No matter what the reason, the fact remains that it's an awkward, clumsy process fraught with danger and contortions. The best way to shave your legs will depend on you—how much hair do you have, how quickly it grows, and how you were taught (if taught at all). If you need to know, we're here to help. Read on for detailed steps on how to get smooth, silky legs.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Disposable Razor

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Make sure it's clean, sharp, rust-free and undamaged. If you have very light hair, you can use the same blade repeatedly. If you have coarse hair, you may only get a few shaves out of a blade. If you're not sure, once you feel the blade pulling or catching when you shave, it's time to change.^{[1]
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Research source}^{[2]
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Expert Source

Alicia Ramos
Skincare Professional

Expert Interview. 12 June 2019.}
^{[3]
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Research source} Or bath—whatever makes you more comfortable. Do your normal washing routine before you shave. You want to let your hair and skin get wet for about two to four minutes, but not so long in hot water that your follicles start to swell up, inhibiting a close shave. For extra baby soft legs exfoliate!

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If you're showering, have a seat on the edge of the tub. If you're in the bath, prop a foot up on the wall. You want your leg bent so that you can easily reach your ankles.
^{[4]
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Research source} Try to find something that has moisturizers in it. The emollients help smooth the skin, and keeping it scent-free means you lower the risk of skin irritation. Using water-soluble skin cream may be kinder to your skin than traditional shaving cream; it also frees you from having to buy gender-based shaving supplies.
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Start at your ankle. Begin at the bottom of your leg, and with long strokes upwards, shave the hair against the grain. Don't rush; this is not a race to the finish line. It's more important to make smooth, even strokes than a speedy chop. Rinse the razor frequently—clean hot water is best—to clean and unclog the blades, and to ensure that the blades are always wet.
- Work your way up the leg and don't forget your inner and outer thighs. Don't forget to rinse the razor frequently. For some people, these areas don't require shaving, for some they do. Only shave hair you think is unsightly.
Carefully repeat the process on your feet—apply the cream, shave smoothly, and rinse. Shave the tops of your toes and the top of your foot. The skin on your foot is much thinner than the skin on your legs. Use caution accordingly.
^{[5]
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Trustworthy Source

American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

Go to source} After you've finished with one leg, rinse it off, and repeat the entire process on the other leg.
Run the tips of your fingers over all the parts of your leg that require shaving. If you find any missed bits, shave those, then continue the inspection. When you're satisfied, all is well, rinse off, towel off, and enjoy your smooth legs.
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Moisturize.^{[6]
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Research source} Use an after-shave balm, oil, moisturizer, or medicinal embrocation to calm the skin, and reduce or eliminate the red bumps that sometimes occur with shaving.
- Try to exfoliate when you shave your legs, too!^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Alicia Ramos
  Skincare Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 12 June 2019.}
- For more tips on getting smooth legs after you shave, check out the "How do I get rid of strawberry legs fast? It's giving me the ick." forum page.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Electric Razor

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You want your hairs moisturized and stood upright, ready to be mowed down.^{[8]
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Dirty shavers will not cut as well, and could pull hairs, leaving red marks along with several "ouchies" and expletives. Always use a clean shaver.^{[9]
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Trustworthy Source

Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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3
Press the shaver gently against your leg.^{[10]
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Trustworthy Source

Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} Make sure all the heads touch your leg together. This will give you the closest shave with minimal wear.
- You don't need to apply much pressure while shaving—with just a gentle touch, let the shaver glide along your skin. If you use too much pressure, you'll flatten the hair, which results in an uneven, stubbly shave. It will also make the blades dull quicker.
- A gentle touch makes shaving easier and helps avoid possible skin irritation.
Holding it at an angle could result in skin irritation and stubble.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Wax On, Wax Off

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For waxing to work, there has to be enough hair on your legs for the wax to latch onto.^{[11]
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Trustworthy Source

American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

Go to source} Let your leg hair grow to at least 1/4 inch (1 cm) in length.
^{[12]
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Research source} A couple of days before you wax your legs, use a mildly abrasive body scrub to exfoliate them. Do this ahead of time to avoid possible skin irritation problems.
Just before you wax, sprinkle talc or baby powder on your legs. The powder will absorb any oil on your skin, and the wax sticks more easily to the hair.^{[13]
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Trustworthy Source

American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

Go to source}
Heat the wax as directed by the manufacturer. Be sure not to overheat the wax—the resulting wax burns can be very painful.
Have a seat on a surface that can be easily cleaned—waxing can be messy. Apply the wax carefully in a thin, uniform layer. Hold the applicator at a 90° angle, and apply the wax in the direction of hair growth. Don't forget the feet!
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Pull! Make the skin taut with one hand, and remove the strip with the other. Pull the strip in the opposite direction of the hair growth.^{[14]
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Research source} Pull quickly—the slower you pull, the longer the pain.
- Keep your hand as close to the skin as possible when you're pulling. It'll be less painful that way. Remove all the wax.
- Apply a damp cloth over your legs if needed, to soothe any irritation.
Soak a cotton pad with a bit of body oil, and apply it on your legs.^{[15]
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Trustworthy Source

Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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After waxing, use a topical or spray-on antiseptic (containing salicylic acid) to disinfect the area, stop ingrown hairs from forming, and sooth irritation.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Chemical Depilation

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1
Make sure your skin is clean and free of blemishes and injury.^{[16]
X
Trustworthy Source

American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

Go to source} The chemicals used will dissolve the keratin at the base of the hair shaft.
- Having clean skin will make this easier as oils on the skin and hair will prevent the depilatory from working effectively.
- Having unbroken skin will keep irritation at bay.
Apply a warm washcloth to your legs to soften the hair. Moisten the hair for about three to five minutes. Dry your legs when done.
Don't rub into the skin: the depilatory is designed to work without that.
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Follow the instructions. Leave the depilatory cream on for as long as the instructions tell you. Don't leave depilatory cream for longer than the time specified—it could irritate, or even burn your skin.^{[17]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- Keep a timer handy so that you don't go over the limit. If your legs feel like they're burning before it's time to remove the cream, rinse it off.
5
Clean up. After you've finished, remove the product generally by scraping the residue with the plastic tool (if one is provided) and rinsing off whatever is left.
- Use a damp washcloth in a downwards motion. This will clear away any straggling hair, and finish cleaning up your legs.
Try not to use harsh products or treatments after using a depilatory cream for a day or two.

Expert Q&A

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Question

When should you exfoliate your legs?

Alicia Ramos
Skincare Professional
Alicia Ramos is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Smoothe Denver in Denver, Colorado. She received her license at the School of Botanical & Medical Aesthetics, with training in lashes, dermaplaning, waxing, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels, and now provides skin care solutions to hundreds of clients.

Alicia Ramos

Skincare Professional

Expert Answer

Try exfoliating your legs once a week or once every other week. Exfoliation is a great way to smooth your legs, but you don't want to overdo it and irritate your skin.

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Question

How often do I need to shave my legs to keep them smooth?

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Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Staff Answer

The answer can vary depending on how fast your hair grows back but on average hair will start to grow back enough within 2 to 3 days for it to feel stubbly. Thus, if you want to keep your legs smooth, you might need to be shaving every few days, give or take some days depending on your own rate of hair regrowth.

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Question

Will shaving make my leg hair grow back thicker?

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Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

No, this is a myth. The reason people believe that shaved hair grows back thicker is because the regrowth feels coarser than the original long hair. The more the hair grows out, the more it'll feel like it did before shaving.

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Tips

The only difference between razors marketed for men and those marketed for women is in the design of the handle and the color.^{[18]
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Research source}

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Point your feet when you are shaving near your ankles.

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Helpful 35 Not Helpful 2
Conditioner is a great replacement for shaving cream or gel because it moisturizes while you shave, so no need for lotion after.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Patience pays off when trying new methods. Give your body time to adjust to things like waxing or chemical depilatories. Start with small test patches and wait a full day to check for problems before using the method all over.
Listen to your skin. If you start to feel a burning sensation, rinse your legs with water immediately. Redness, bumps, or itchiness can indicate irritation. Discontinue the use of any products that cause negative reactions.
Take care of your tools. Rinse razors frequently, replace dull blades, and fully dry them between uses. Dirty, overused blades can lead to cuts, nicks, and razor burn. Proper care makes shaving easier and safer.
Don't share razors or wax strips. Sharing increases your risk of infection. Razors harbor bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Invest in your own supplies, even if it means hiding them. Your health is worth it.
Exfoliate your legs the day before, not right before. Doing it too soon before shaving can lead to irritation. Gently scrubbing the day prior helps lift hairs and helps give you a closer shave.
Shave with the grain, not against. Going against the direction your hair grows pulls on follicles, which can cause irritation and ingrown hairs.

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Warnings

Be light on the knees, ankles, toes, hips and other "bony" parts of your body to avoid cutting the top layer of skin.

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Helpful 135 Not Helpful 7
If you get razor burn, do not put scented lotion on it; it will sting.

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Do not shave dry.

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Don't let other people use your razor.

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Go around bruises and cuts, and use a light touch to avoid nicks and razor burns.

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Helpful 112 Not Helpful 11
Use an in-shower lotion after you shave. It applies moisture and makes your legs look great.

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Helpful 80 Not Helpful 16
If you have sensitive skin, use a gentle soap instead of shaving gel to avoid irritation.

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Helpful 101 Not Helpful 26

Things You'll Need

Bathtub or sink
Clean razor
Shaving gel, conditioner, cream, soap or a razor with shave gel bars
- If you do not own any of the above (or want a cheaper option), you can use regular, drugstore conditioner instead
Lotion (to smooth your legs after you shave)