Michelle's Shaving Tips

All to often, I have been asked, Michelle what was that little shaving tip you mentioned? Well, rather than keep repeating myself, I have endevoured to explain it here. Those that have tried it, have all found that it works very well.
So, if you are a devout skeptic, don't bother reading on. This little little tip works on your face or your legs. The legs, however have a few extra steps.

What you need first

  1. A good Exfoliant.(An exfoliant is a fruit acid based cream, that may be gritty and abrasive or smooth. I don't recommend the gritty variety for your face, so the smooth type is best. Exfoliant serves to burn away or breakdown old dead skin tissue. By removing it, you get new healthier looking skin, and it exposes more of the hair folicle. There are a number of brands available, I prefer either Nicel or Clinique Exfoliating should not be done more than two or three times a week)

  2. A good Moisterizer (exfoliating your skin tends to really dry it out, so that moisure has to be replaced. It also make a good base, before you apply foundation. My moisturizer of choice for my face isOil of Olay primarily because it isn't greasy, something that is counter productive if you use a foundation such as Revlon Color Stay.)

  3. New double edged Razor( I actually use two different razors, one for the face and one for legs. Both should have a new blade installed.)(If you can affortd the price of the new Gillette Mach 3, I highly recommend it. The blades are rather pricey, but well worth the cost. Not only a closer shave but they last longer.)

  4. Gel Shaving Cream(My choice here is a product called SKINTIMATE for women with moisterizers for sensitive skin. It's made by Johnsons, you know the Baby Oil people. I use it on my legs always, but use on my face as well if I am going to be putting on makeup. A good gel is important, and I will explain as we go on)

  5. Loofah Sponge (What ever shape or size makes you happy and can afford)

Okay Lets Get Started

This technique assumes that you are going to have either a good hot shower or bath, before you go en femme Or so we would hope!

  1. Apply the Exfoliant Okay, first you are going to apply a generous coating to your face. Coat your entire face with a genourous layer, making sure to keep it away from your eyes, but cover those little crows feet in the outside of your eye. Put in on your forehead and chin as well. Rub it in a little, but it won't disappear altogether. Now apply to your legs, up to your thighs, watch the privates though. After a few minutes, you should start to feel a tingling if not mild stinginig sensation. That is normal, after all, I did say it was a fruity acid. Now you know why I said watch the eyes and privates, It will sting like hell if the exfoliant get on them. The exfoliant should sit on your face and legs for 15 to 20 minutes.If you have more than a days beard growth, shave first.

  2. Okay hit that hot Shower Rinse your face first, make sure you keep your eyes closed tight, it may not be as strong but it will still sting if it gets in your eyes. Next, rinse your legs off, now take that loofah and give your legs and thighs a light scrub in a circular motion, and rinse again.

  3. Apply the shaving Gel Okay I hope you brought that gel into the shower with you. Apply a generous coating to your legs and thighs. Now shave with the lay of your hair, not against it. Shaving against it is what causes those little red dots called ingrown hairs.BE CAREFUL!! The reason you need a good gel for sensitive skin, is the fact that your skin is now quite sensitive, as you have removed a layer of dead skin tissue. Getting a nick won't be hard at this point. Now after shaving, take that loofah and give your legs a good scrub using circular motions. This will again help to bring out those ingrown hairs if you have been shaving for awhile. Those little red dots won't go away this time, but over a few weeks you should notice them disappear. Okay, now a good scub all over, Oil of Olay body scrub does a great job.

  4. Okay lets get on with the face Towel dry, but leave your face a little wet. Take a face cloth, and run it under hot water or as hot as you can stand it, wring out at put it on your face for about 15 seconds. Now apply the gel to your face and shave as you normally would and rinse, run your hand over your face and see if you missed anywhere, you will really be able to feel it because your face is quite sensitive. Apply gel again, and reshave those rough areas.

  5. Moisterize Okay, before you get too far put a generous amount of moisterizer on your face and rub it in well. Do the same with your legs.My moisterizer of choice for legs is Vaseline Intensive Care Extra Strength Formula with Alpha Hydroxy and Complex Vitamin E lipids. Moisterize your legs at least daily after showering. This product not only moisterizes, it is very slowly working away at dead tissue. If I happen to be going out enfemme, I use a product by Gillette (for women) called Satin Care, it is not only a good moisterizer, but it smells very nice.

  6. DONE! Now go on to my notes.

Notes:

How will I notice any diffence? Well, with the face here is what I have found, during the week, I shave before I go to work at 7:30 am, by 6:00pm. I already have a shadow beginning to show. The best test I have seen so far is that I have used this techinque at 7:00 am and be removing my makeup at 2:00 am in the morning and a shadow has just barely begun to appear. That's right 19 hours before there is even a trace of a shadow.

What about the legs?I have been using this technique on my legs for about 5 years now. I noticed that after awhile, my legs actually began to shine in the sun light. You will notice a whole different sensation when you put on stockings (in my case) or pantyhose after this technique. Shiny legs are a real bonus in the summer when it is too hot to wear stockings or pantyhose, and you are out in shorts and a halter top and sneakers and ankle sox.(For those of us who are lucky enough to keep a bare leg year round)
I have also found that I can get away with shaving my legs once a week instead of every couple of days.

As I said earlier, those that have tried it have found it really does work. I hope will will get the same results. Even those who get a beard shadow after 4 hours have found that this technique has extended the shadow by an additional 3-4 hours.

I also recommend that you moisterize your face daily, after shaving instead of after shave as it drys and cracks your face. It also lends itself to the development of those fine lines. Twice daily is preferred. Two other products of choice are L'Oreal Plenitude Eye Defense or Oil of Olay Revitalizing Eye Gel. Used twice daily around the eyes does reduce the appearance of fine lines around your eyes. Both products are pricey, but well worth the effort.

Compliments Michelle Renée Updated:07/07/99