I second Toni's suggestion to Jon re: using a clipper instead of completely shaving. I use a Wahl hair clipper with the 3/8" (#3) attachment for my legs, the 1/4" (#2) for my arms and the 1/2" (#4) everywhere else.

I am light skinned with dark brown hair so it doesn't look like I've completely shaved - I have hair, just not a thick growth. It looks very natural and feels great - I doubt anyone else would even notice the difference, but I do and I like it!

Also, you don't have to do it everyday and you don't get the itchies like you do with shaving...

Patrick

Patrick

Your right about people not noticing. As you know I shave mine smooth, which is a step further. When I first started doing it I thought people would notice immediatly as I always wear shorts in my off time. Nobody even looked twice, and actually my family took 3 days before anybody even saw (my folks stay close to my house and we visit often). When I started looking around, I noticed how many guys here shave their legs and now I'm really comfortable with it.

For those who do shave I found a good tip for the itchy part. After shaving rub in a simple aqueous cream which you can get from any pharmacy. Don't worry about branding or anything, see if they have an "in house" cream like my pharmacy has. The pharmicist reccomended I try theirs, and now there is no itching at all and it is better for your skin. Its really cheap and over here you can get it in 1 liter tubs for about $1. I tried menthol and Camphor based creams, but they tended to make my legs feel greasy, and produced red irritated shaving bumps. Ask for a hypoallergenic aqueous cream. There is no greasy feel at all and the skin looks smoother and healthier.

Stuart

I used to use clippers to trim the leg hair and it did give ok results. A friend of mine who was a competetive bodybuilder recommended that I just try going clean shaven. Well, I tried it and liked it. It is a lot more comfortable and it really makes my muscles look bigger. It's just like they say, once you go smooth you'll never want to go back.

I use Jergens Naturally Smooth shave minimizing moisturizer. Whether it will inhibit hair growth I don't know, but it is a good moisturizer, not too greasy and makes the skin feel smoother.

RJC2001

Hi

I am beginning to get leg hair removal under final control now (at least by shaving). Summer is coming here now, so humidity has increased and I have found applying moisturising cream evey time I shave also causes red bumps. Maybe the skin becomes to soft and the hairs are ingrown. Anyway every 3rd day works now for the cream. I tried other shavers, but none is any faster than my Phillips 3 head floating rotary. These electric razors are really good at contours (like the face), but are very good round the knees which I find the most time consuming. I would suggest others try this type of razor, even if the brand is called something else where you stay. This is not an advert, but just a suggestion for something that might help save time.

Stuart

Thanks for the great tips, Stuart!

Hi Andrea

It's a pleasure.

Thanks

Stuart, since you are a rotary shaver fan, you may want to try the version that dispenses Nivea moistuizer as you shave. In the Norelco line it is called the Advantage. I'm note sure what Philips calls it. They may call it the Philishave. In climates with high humidity that may work better.

That's the one negative with electrics. The skin must be completely dry or you won't get a good shave at all. An exception would be a wet/dry electric like the Panasonic Linear or the Advantage. In a high humidity setting with no air conditioning, a blade will work much, much better. I always have the a/c on in warm weather so it is not usually a problem.

On bony or irregular areas, I find that a blade works best, it will bend and follow the contours of the
skin. The Braun does a respectable job on knees but the blade is better. The Braun is close enough to a good blade though that the convenience makes it preferable. Having to mess around with shaving lotions and gels is a minus of using a blade. I find the time element to be about the same between a blade and the Braun. If you only make one pass over an area the Braun would be quicker but you may miss some hairs. With a rotary, I would think several passes would be required to clear an area.

One thing the Braun and Norelco/ Philips have in commen is that the foils and rotary heads are much more durable than on other brands. That lowers the long term cost considerably.

RJC2001

Hi RJC

Once again thanks for your tips. I can't find any electric brand here that dispenses a shaving product while shaving. I did try a blade, but unfortunatnaly I ended up nicking and cutting myself quite a bit. I don't have the dexterity women have here, so I gave up blades and stuck to electric razors. The Phillips rotary is fast on the knees and face which I tend to do first. The "bony" areas which I assume are the shins, are quite quick with my razor as a result of the floating action of the heads. I have tried and accepted one of your suggestions to shave daily to avoid stubble. This has also made things faster. Please let me know if anything you find helps make things easier.

Stuart

You're welcome.

RJC2001

Just a quick comment: Norelco is a divison of Philips. As RJC2001 points out, the Norelco Advantage line has lotion-dispensing razors.

I'm not aware of any razors marketed under the Philips brand name with lotion dispensing.