Shaving your legs can be a real hack. Not only do you have to do it often because of how fast leg hair grows back, but it can take some time and cause nicks and cuts which make it even more uncomfortable.
None of us were sent to a shaving class, so it can be difficult to figure out if you are doing it right or wrong, or if you are spending too much time shaving.
How long does it actually take to shave your legs? Shaving takes between 5-7 minutes for women and up to 15 minutes for men. It takes longer for men to shave their legs because they are likely to have more hair, which requires more frequent rinsing of the razor in between shave strokes.
How Long Does It Take To Shave: Women vs Men
The answer will definitely differ between people, and will also depend on how much hair is on your legs!
How Long Does It Take Women To Shave Their Legs?
Women tend to shave their legs more often than men, especially in the summer months where summer dresses and denim shorts are perfect to wear. Because of this, there isn’t as much hair to shave off each time you do need to shave. A rough estimate of how long it takes to shave properly for women is around 5-7 minutes.
This gives enough time to ensure the legs are smooth and free from hair, but also enough time to prevent rushing which could result in nicks and cuts.
How Long Does It Take For Men To Shave Their Legs?
Unlike women, most men do not put much time and effort into shaving leg hairs, unless it is for an athletic activity such as swimming or cycling. Men also tend to have more leg hair, with the hair being thicker as well.
This can result in more time spent shaving, as the hair is denser and the razor will need to be rinsed more often. For men, it can take up to 15 minutes to properly shave the legs free from hair.
Tips To Shave Your Legs Faster
Shaving quickly should not just be about running the razor over your skin quicker. This can result in razor burn, cuts, and irritation that makes the whole process really unenjoyable. When trying to shave faster, you still have to make sure you have enough shaving cream, and that you rinse your razor enough times as well.
You really should not try to cut your shaving time down too much, but here are some tips on how to make the process a little more quickly.
- Use a razor with built-in razor cream – Using a razor with a built-in razor cream will save you some time from having to apply shaving cream to your legs separately. You just need to water up your legs and you will be ready to shave.
- Use a shower stool – Shaving in the shower is a real skill, with there being no proper place to prop up your feet while shaving, causing you to perform a wild balancing act. Using a shower stool gives you a place to either sit or prop your leg up for easy access to all areas of your legs.
- Use a new razor – Dull, old razors can leave behind stubble and stray hairs which could cost you some time by having to run your razor over those areas a few times. A new razor will effectively remove all the hair in one pass, giving a clean, close shave with the best results.
- Use your time effectively – If you usually apply conditioner or a face mask in the bath or shower, apply these before shaving, and leave them to work their magic while you shave your legs. This might not save time shaving, but it does save overall bath or shower time by multitasking.
- Use small amounts of shaving cream – You should always use shaving cream when shaving, but you do not need to apply thick layers to your skin. Too much shaving cream can slow down the shaving process and will clog the blades and result in you having to rinse out the blades more often.
- Exfoliate – Try and get into the habit of exfoliating 24 hours before shaving. Exfoliating beforehand gives you a smoother and closer shave. Exfoliating the day before will make your shaving process seem much quicker, as you won’t have to do the prep right before shaving.
Common Shaving Mistakes
Shaving might seem like a simple task, but many people perform common shaving mistakes every time they take a razor to their skin. Avoiding these mistakes will lessen those irritating bumps, missed patches of hair and nicks and cuts.
Here are some of the most common mistakes made when shaving:
Shaving in the morning – Shaving at night actually results in smoother legs. Your legs slightly swell at night, which causes the hair to retreat back into their follicles. This can result in smoother legs, especially if you apply a hydrating moisturizing lotion to your legs before going to bed.
Shaving as soon as you get into the shower – You should wait for a good few minutes in the shower before shaving. Leaving your legs to soak in the shower softens the hair and opens the follicles up, which allows for a closer shave, and for smoother skin that will not be irritated or cut.
Using single-blade and disposable razors – It might be really tempting to use disposable razors as they are pretty cheap, but it is much better to spend some money on a four or five-blade razor. These give you the smoothest, closest-shave results and help you easily navigate the tougher areas like the knees and ankles. Single blade razors tend to drag against the skin, which can cause cuts and razor burn. This is my favorite razor for thick hair.
Using a soap bar to shave – You should always choose to use a shaving cream or gel to shave. This will protect your skin and ensure that the razor glides smoothly over the skin, helping prevent nicks and razor burn. Shaving creams and gels also contain ingredients such as aloe which help to soothe and nourish the skin both during and after shaving.
Using the same razor over and over – You should replace your razor blade at the first sign of dullness. Older, dull blades are ineffective and are more likely to trap bacteria and cause bumps and inflammation. You should replace your razor blades around every two weeks for maximum results and safety.
Shaving against your hair – It might seem like you should shave against the growth of your hair – up your leg – for a smoother, closest shave, but this is not recommended. This increases the risk of irritation, cuts, and nicks. You should run your razor down your leg first, and then you could reapply shaving cream or gel and run your razor up your leg to cover any missed patches.
Not treating razor burn – Razor burn can result in ingrown hairs, and if not treated, this can cause an infection and long-term scars. To help treat ingrown hairs and razor burn, you should exfoliate your skin twice a week to remove the skin that is trapping the hairs. You should also apply a warm compress to the area to relax the hair, and apply a soothing body lotion to soften your skin and hair, leaving it less prone to infections.
Related Questions
How often should you shave your legs?
Most women find that they need to shave their legs every three days, in order to keep a smooth, hair-free appearance. However, shaving this often can cause irritation, ingrown hairs, razor burns, and cuts. You will need to see how your skin reacts to shaving so often.
Is it okay to shave your legs every day?
It should be fine to shave your legs every day, as long as you do not experience irritation or ingrown hairs. Ideally, you should give your skin a few days to heal between shaving sessions, but shaving more often will not result in hair growing back faster than normal.
Should you shave your thighs?
Thigh hair is generally thinner than hair found in other areas of your legs. Whether you shave your thighs is completely up to you, and there is no evidence to suggest that shaving your thighs causes the hair to grow back thicker or quicker.
The thigh area tends to be more sensitive, so pay it more attention when it comes time for shaving, and apply a gentle moisturizer after shaving.
Is shaving bad for the skin?
Shaving should not cause any damage to the skin if done properly and if the skin is cared for after shaving with a gentle moisturizer. Using a new blade and shaving cream goes a long way to save the skin from cuts, razor burn, and irritation.
How Long Does It Take To Shave Legs?
It might seem really tempting to speed up your leg shaving as much as possible, but you need to remember that by not shaving your legs properly, or by rushing the process, you could land up with unpleasant razor burn, cuts or ingrown hairs that might end up ruining the appearance of your legs anyways.
Practice safe shaving and you will be left with silky smooth, hair-free legs!
