beauty

No, we’ve actually all been shaving our legs wrong.

Nobody panic, but we may be shaving our legs… wrong. How do I know this? Well, I happened to stumble on a video which called me out for shaving ~incorrectly~.

I was always told to shave legs against the direction of hair growth, as this is meant to reduce razor burn and ingrown hairs. Swipe, take the razor off the leg, and repeat until all the hair is gone.

Right?

Wrong. At least, according to online creator Sonya Sed.

Watch: How to shave your legs, according to an influencer. Post continues after video.


Video via Instagram/@sonyased5.

In her video, the creator dropped a bombshell.

"A long time ago, I read a quote from the CEO who invented razors saying that you're not supposed to lift the razor off your leg, and it blew my mind. When you put the razor on your leg, you're supposed to bring it up, and then push it down."

This, according to Sonya, releases all the hair so the razor comes back clean.

"You're also less likely to cut your legs," she added.

"Your legs will come out much smoother, and the process is 1,000 times quicker. If you haven't tried this method with your razor, make sure you try it. It's a game changer. It's gonna change the way you shave your legs, trust me."

I have… certainly not been doing this. And nor, it turned out, has the rest of the Mamamia team.

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So, Senior Weekend Editor Alix Nicholson put it to this test.

"I tried it (despite being very dubious) — and I am sold," she said.

Well, damn. So is this really the 'correct' way to shave your legs? I did a little research, I asked a dermatologist — and here's what I found out.

Are you supposed to shave back and forth?

Okay, so, it's not… incorrect. But it's not the be all and end all.

"I don't think it's a bad idea. I don't see any harm," dermatologist Deshan Sebaratnam told me when I asked him about the technique.

"But I don't know how revolutionary it would be compared to the rinsing between strokes. I think whatever people find works for them is okay by me, in the absence of a scientifically backed, superior technique."

And the Heathline website seconded Sebartnam's statement, in their 'how to shave' section. "Shave down the leg in the direction the hair grows first, then go in the opposite direction if you wish."

If you wish.

Basically, if it works for you, go for gold! Shave back and forth to your heart's content! If not, then stick to your personal favourite method.

What's more important than whether you shave back and forth or not is exfoliating first and wetting your skin to open your pores and "soften your hair", said Sebaratnam.

Next, he said, apply a shaving cream in the direction the hair grows as "this can minimise the risk of folliculitis" — an infection of the hair follicles.

"I would rinse the razor between each stroke, and change razors after every seven uses," he added.

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Heathline also advises rinsing your legs with warm water to remove any traces of shaving cream and hair after you're done.

"Then follow with cool water to close your pores."

Pat dry and moisturise, and you're done — whichever direfction you shaved in.

Why are my legs still prickly after shaving?

Okay, so you've done everything above but you still have prickly legs?

This is because shaving cuts hair at the surface level rather than removing it from the root. As hair begins to regrow, it has a blunt tip, which can feel sharp or coarse against the skin.

It's not a huge deal, it can just be irritating — and it can be exacerbated by a dull razor or shaving against the grain. A good exfoliator and moisturiser combo can help soothe the skin and soften hair regrowth.

How often should you shave your legs?

Honestly, the frequency at which you shave depends on personal preference, hair growth rate, and lifestyle.

For smooth results, many shave every two to three days, but some may prefer daily shaving, especially if they have darker or faster-growing hair. If your hair grows slower, weekly shaving might suffice.

Just listen to your skin — if it becomes irritated or dry, consider spacing out your shaving routine, trying different methods, or incorporating alternatives like waxing or epilation for longer-lasting results.

And of course, if you don't want to shave/wax/remove your hair at all, that's cool too! Beauty is — as always — a 'you-do-you' kind of vibe.

Feature Image: Instagram/@sonyased5

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