From time to time I do some looking, research if you will, on better ways to keep my skin and self healthy and (hopefully) happy.
One thing I learned just today is the art of shaving and how to make it better for your skin and your happiness.
What you will need:
1 shaving brush (badger hair is best)
1 sharp multi-blade razor
1 tub of shaving cream
1 block of alum
and 1 bottle of extra-virgin olive oil.
Wait! Olive Oil???
Mmmm indeed. Let me explain. I detest olives in general and I can't eat them without wanting to lose my lunch. But I love cooking with olive oil and using it because it's healthy and good for you and well, mixed up in other things, the taste of olives is almost non-existent. Therefore olive oil is good. But, it's better than that: it is loaded with Vitamin E and anti-oxidants. So, guess what? It's great for your skin too!
Olive oil can also help in a pinch if you need to shave and can't get all the amenities, like you spent the night at your girlfriend's and your man calls up and says 'hey you want to go see this incredible flick' ... you're going to say 'ah, but honey I'm all hairy...'? Mmmhmmm... didn't think so!
Pros recommend washing with nice warm water to loosen the skin and I do to... it is very beneficial in opening the skin's pores, then apply some pre-shave oil onto your skin before lathering and shaving. However, in a pinch you can just use olive oil instead. It's great for your skin, soothes and moisturizes it and also helps prevent a lot of razor burn!
One thing I learned just today is the art of shaving and how to make it better for your skin and your happiness.
What you will need:
1 shaving brush (badger hair is best)
1 sharp multi-blade razor
1 tub of shaving cream
1 block of alum
and 1 bottle of extra-virgin olive oil.
Wait! Olive Oil???
Mmmm indeed. Let me explain. I detest olives in general and I can't eat them without wanting to lose my lunch. But I love cooking with olive oil and using it because it's healthy and good for you and well, mixed up in other things, the taste of olives is almost non-existent. Therefore olive oil is good. But, it's better than that: it is loaded with Vitamin E and anti-oxidants. So, guess what? It's great for your skin too!
Olive oil can also help in a pinch if you need to shave and can't get all the amenities, like you spent the night at your girlfriend's and your man calls up and says 'hey you want to go see this incredible flick' ... you're going to say 'ah, but honey I'm all hairy...'? Mmmhmmm... didn't think so!
Pros recommend washing with nice warm water to loosen the skin and I do to... it is very beneficial in opening the skin's pores, then apply some pre-shave oil onto your skin before lathering and shaving. However, in a pinch you can just use olive oil instead. It's great for your skin, soothes and moisturizes it and also helps prevent a lot of razor burn!
First rule is get extra-virgin olive oil! Don't get the lite stuff or any other kind, they are chemically treated. Myself, for cooking I have nothing else other than extra-virgin and once I learned and tried the 'oil shaving' I was definitely sold!
Second rule is a little goes a LONG way!! Seriously--watch how much you use. First of all, extra-virgin oil isn't cheap so you want to be sparing unless you're made of money. Even if you are, your skin can't absorb a whole lot so less is better - I recommend about a 1/4 of a teaspoon per leg or for both your armpits. Err on the side of less - if you use more, just rub it on sensitive areas of your skin or anywhere that's dried out. Your skin will thank you for it!
Second rule is a little goes a LONG way!! Seriously--watch how much you use. First of all, extra-virgin oil isn't cheap so you want to be sparing unless you're made of money. Even if you are, your skin can't absorb a whole lot so less is better - I recommend about a 1/4 of a teaspoon per leg or for both your armpits. Err on the side of less - if you use more, just rub it on sensitive areas of your skin or anywhere that's dried out. Your skin will thank you for it!
In a pinch you can shave with just the oil. Let it permeate your skin, then begin to shave. Use light pressure and shave with the grain or sideways to it. You will create a protective 'shield' for your skin that will help lessen abrasion and irritation when you use the oil. Plus, who doesn't want the extra benefits of a quite a lot of Vitamin E on your skin?? You can also purchase oils with lavendar, etc. that may be more to your liking, but in general the best thing is to pre-treat your skin before shaving!
But if you're in any way like me, you'll want to experience the full effects of a terrific shave!! In which case you'll want to get the brush, shaving soap and alum ready.
After a light glaze of olive oil lightly wet the brush tips in warm water and dip into the shaving cream. Use small circular motions. You may be asking right now... a brush? Are you serious?
Indeed! It's a great way to do two things at once: raise and stiffen the hairs that you want to remove and also to exfoliate the skin to, removing dead skin cells that will flake off later. Ewwwwww.... :)
Use a SHARP razor, a multi-blade one is best. Something like a Mach3 or a Venus (Schick, Gillette, any of the 'big' names will be fine) will work great (as an aside, I often buy a new handle as opposed to the replacement blades since they are less expensive!) and will treat your skin better than using a cheap plastic razor or something you found in your dad's old chest of drawers. Invest in a nice, new, sharp razor and your skin will thank you! You don't really need the strip on the blades to 'moisturize' since you will be doing that by applying 'pre-shave oil' and your regular routines to keep your skin happy, smooth and vibrant before and after your shower/bath.
Start at your ankles and with light pressure draw the razor with the grain as much as possible. This will help reduce the amount of irritation you experience and also reduce the amount of ingrown hairs or 'bumps'. Ingrown hairs are a pain, unsightly and they can be avoided with just a couple of simple steps to avoid them!
A couple of hints, bend your knees slightly as you shave the back of them. Be gentle. My knees are always a troublesome spot so just take your time, don't press down and apply a lot of pressure on the head of the razor. Take your time and you will have such smooth skin, glowing and radiant. You'll want to put on that mini and show off your body.
Nothing beats smooth legs for a woman, but also important are the armpits. You should apply the same techniques as your legs and you will find your underarms are as smooth as your legs in no time. No irritation, no mess, no uncomfortable feelings... just naturally silky smooth skin sans hair!
Should you get any nicks or cuts, the alum block is great, just wet it and apply it to the cuts and the blood will stop almost instantly. It's been a standby for generations and that tradition will continue for as long as we have hair to worry about, that is for sure. It's a natural product as well so it's not like you are putting something unnatural on your beautiful and naturally sensitive skin!
You should also invest in a stand for your brush (about $20 or so) to hold the brush aloft (it will point down to allow water to drip away by action of gravity) and will also hold your razor on the other side. A nice shaving soap (I am still trying out a few but those made with eucalyptus seems really nice and at around $10 aren't too expensive) is also key. The oil will go a long way though and you'll wonder why you didn't know about ir earlier!! No charge for enlightenment! :)
Shaving your legs need not be so much of a chore as you feel it could be... and a natural alternative is always sweet! I am always trying to 'evaluate' new products that will help us girls live a better life, while comforting our skin to the royal treatment... royalty I am sure is frowning at this since I exposed it! :-)
You can get all these things at a lot of retailers or online (well... since you're here reading this *duh* of course you are a member of the 'online community') in retailers worldwide. They are happy to take your money! :) Seriously though it's a great thing to experiment and try out new products (and ideas) and even better to share them with my fellow girls (guys can also benefit from these tips too!).
If it's been a while or you are just starting your TG journey, you will also find a set of clippers will work wonders for thinning off the mass of hair you may (or may not) have accumulated. It's definitely a more hygienic thing to have smooth, hair free skin, but if you've lapsed no worries - you can still get back to the smooth and sexy, silky feeling!
Be happy sisters and be safe!!
But if you're in any way like me, you'll want to experience the full effects of a terrific shave!! In which case you'll want to get the brush, shaving soap and alum ready.
After a light glaze of olive oil lightly wet the brush tips in warm water and dip into the shaving cream. Use small circular motions. You may be asking right now... a brush? Are you serious?
Indeed! It's a great way to do two things at once: raise and stiffen the hairs that you want to remove and also to exfoliate the skin to, removing dead skin cells that will flake off later. Ewwwwww.... :)
Use a SHARP razor, a multi-blade one is best. Something like a Mach3 or a Venus (Schick, Gillette, any of the 'big' names will be fine) will work great (as an aside, I often buy a new handle as opposed to the replacement blades since they are less expensive!) and will treat your skin better than using a cheap plastic razor or something you found in your dad's old chest of drawers. Invest in a nice, new, sharp razor and your skin will thank you! You don't really need the strip on the blades to 'moisturize' since you will be doing that by applying 'pre-shave oil' and your regular routines to keep your skin happy, smooth and vibrant before and after your shower/bath.
Start at your ankles and with light pressure draw the razor with the grain as much as possible. This will help reduce the amount of irritation you experience and also reduce the amount of ingrown hairs or 'bumps'. Ingrown hairs are a pain, unsightly and they can be avoided with just a couple of simple steps to avoid them!
A couple of hints, bend your knees slightly as you shave the back of them. Be gentle. My knees are always a troublesome spot so just take your time, don't press down and apply a lot of pressure on the head of the razor. Take your time and you will have such smooth skin, glowing and radiant. You'll want to put on that mini and show off your body.
Nothing beats smooth legs for a woman, but also important are the armpits. You should apply the same techniques as your legs and you will find your underarms are as smooth as your legs in no time. No irritation, no mess, no uncomfortable feelings... just naturally silky smooth skin sans hair!
Should you get any nicks or cuts, the alum block is great, just wet it and apply it to the cuts and the blood will stop almost instantly. It's been a standby for generations and that tradition will continue for as long as we have hair to worry about, that is for sure. It's a natural product as well so it's not like you are putting something unnatural on your beautiful and naturally sensitive skin!
You should also invest in a stand for your brush (about $20 or so) to hold the brush aloft (it will point down to allow water to drip away by action of gravity) and will also hold your razor on the other side. A nice shaving soap (I am still trying out a few but those made with eucalyptus seems really nice and at around $10 aren't too expensive) is also key. The oil will go a long way though and you'll wonder why you didn't know about ir earlier!! No charge for enlightenment! :)
Shaving your legs need not be so much of a chore as you feel it could be... and a natural alternative is always sweet! I am always trying to 'evaluate' new products that will help us girls live a better life, while comforting our skin to the royal treatment... royalty I am sure is frowning at this since I exposed it! :-)
You can get all these things at a lot of retailers or online (well... since you're here reading this *duh* of course you are a member of the 'online community') in retailers worldwide. They are happy to take your money! :) Seriously though it's a great thing to experiment and try out new products (and ideas) and even better to share them with my fellow girls (guys can also benefit from these tips too!).
If it's been a while or you are just starting your TG journey, you will also find a set of clippers will work wonders for thinning off the mass of hair you may (or may not) have accumulated. It's definitely a more hygienic thing to have smooth, hair free skin, but if you've lapsed no worries - you can still get back to the smooth and sexy, silky feeling!
Be happy sisters and be safe!!
