I have a slight issue with our culture's expectation of hairless legs. Namely, I just don't make a lot of time in my schedule to take care of such things. I'd rather play Scrabble with my friends online, or clean my kitchen, or do laundry, etc. Even scrubbing the toilet takes all of 3 minutes, as compared to the 20-or-so minutes it takes to shave, or the 2-3 hours it takes me to wax. And it's so pointless, since it inevitably grows back again. How many hours over my lifetime am I wasting in this ridiculous custom? Yes, it does feel nice when they're clean and smooth, and yes, my husband appreciates the effort as well, but for crying out loud, is there an easier way to do this?
Too Busy to Take Care of Self
Dear Busy,While we understand your frustration, we at Connecting Now have to admit that smooth legs are a societal standard with which we are okay. Call us shallow, but this picture of actress Mo'Nique (whom we absolutely ADORE and hate to say anything bad about) is, perhaps a little grizzly.
<-------- On the other hand, if Mo'Nique can go the way of the hippie or the European, and let nature run rampant on the Red Carpet, then we suppose you can too. It is a free country.
YET, we wonder what exactly you're doing to make shaving take 20-30 minutes. Are you the sort who makes shaving a Separate Event from showering? If so, that could be causing the dilemma. We imagine The Rigmarole of your shaving process goes something like this:
1. You are running around your house, doing important things. 2. During this time of running, your calves happen to brush together and you notice bloodshed due to raging stubble. 3. You roll your eyes and curse the world for its unfair expectations of female beauty. 4. You finish whatever important thing you were doing, go get a cup of coffee, and check your Facebook for about thirty minutes in an effort to procrastinate. 5. You finally make yourself head to the bathroom. 6. You hike up your sweatpants; lather up with shaving cream. 7. You get shaving cream everywhere. 8. You poise yourself delicately on the edge of the tub. 9. You begin shaving. 10. Your butt starts to hurt from sitting on the side of the tub. You readjust. 11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 as many times as necessary until your legs are baby-smooth. 12. You rinse your legs; clean up your bathroom. From steps 1-12, I'm going to estimate that this whole process would easily take over an hour.
And you're right, that's ridiculous.
Let's compare the above process to one that we at Connecting Now advocate, and one that has been in collective practice for almost 40 years with no complaints and many compliments:
1. Wake up in the morning. Realize you stink.
2. Get in the shower.
3. Wash whatever needs washing.
4. Take a squirt of hair conditioner, smooth it over your leg.
5. Prop leg up on edge of tub.
6. Shave it.
7. Do the other leg.
8. Get out of the shower. Live your life.
Notice, that the key steps, (6 and 7) go quickly. We assume showering to be a part of your life that you do not resent. Adding shaving to this process takes about five extra minutes. Ten if you're trying to do a REALLY good job.
If you would rather wax, it shouldn't be taking 2-3 hours either. When my (Maddie's) clients at work need leg waxes, it takes 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how much hair they have.
I'll tell you all about a little secret called 'speed' waxing another day. But that will have to wait until my leg hair grows back and I can make a video of it, because it's a pretty wordy process.
In the meantime, we at Connecting Now are still reeling a little from the idea that there are apparently people out there who take that long to shave. So we'd like to conduct a poll among our readership to see how they get it done.
Ladies?
How long do YOU take to shave?
Any special techniques?
And Men, what are your feelings on the matter of shaved legs?
As always, the lines are open as we await your pretty thoughts.
XOXO,
Maddie and Lisa
My guess is that the coNUNdrum lady is blind as a bat (bats aren't really blind, are they?). I used to shave in the shower, when I wore contacts, but now that I'm in glasses, it's a bit of an issue. Can't barely see those hairs down there, so I generally shave out of the shower. Gotta admit that I'm not a perfectionist by any means, but I do better when I can actually SEE my legs. I use a woman's electric razor (on dry skin) and it probably takes five minutes or so.
ReplyDeleteI don't like shaving. At ALL. But I do it on occasion (won't admit to how often, cuz I'd prolly be ostracized).
You'd never be ostracized, Jo. Great input. Maybe Maddie and I just have stronger hair follicles than most, but in our cases, we would not actually have to SEE the hair to get rid of it. In fact, we could shave in complete darkness using the Braille method.
ReplyDeleteI don't need to see to shave, either. In fact, seeing wouldn't help at all - the hair is blond. I go by feel. And when I do shave, it takes maybe 5 minutes max. Winter is the time to let my leg hair grow tho. I actually shaved a couple of weeks ago - and it may have taken 8 or 9 minutes because of the length.
ReplyDeleteSome days though, you don't have even the 5 minutes to shave in the shower. If you're short (like me) it's a pain in the neck with all that water hitting you in the face and rinsing your legs before you're finished. (Don't even suggest doing the responsible thing and turn the water off - I'd freeze to death!) I try to shave when I'm in the shower, but if I let it go for too long and it gets out of hand, I have to do the 20 minute sitting on the side of the tub thing. I wish I could use an electric razor like Jo, but they haven't perfected the bushwacker model I'd need for the Amazon rain forest that grows on my legs. (sigh!)
ReplyDeleteOh, just rub it in Cat.... :P
ReplyDeleteWe have new respect for the various shaving adversities you're bringing to the surface: blondness, rain forests, etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to answer for both my husband and I because we've had this conversation many times. My shower is roughly the size of a coffin and separated from the bathtub. This gives me two options. I can either spend a few extra minutes on the side of the bathtub or I can create a new olympic sport out of shaving in MY shower. If I opt for the coffin I shave off a few extra minutes but not much else. If I choose the tub, I have to make sure I have at least 30 minutes to smoothify and clean up the mess. Shaving is a chore for me but thankfully, I have a husband who really doesn't care either way. He claims that he doesn't notice my hairy man legs because his legs are hairy. It's a good feeling to know that during the winter months I have no pressure to de-manify. Once it gets warmer and I stop wearing pants I make sure I take the extra time on the side of the tub.
ReplyDeleteJust one more advantage of the aging process--almost completely smooth legs...not that they're all that great to look at by then though!
ReplyDeleteLisa, I love the idea of using conditioner to shave my legs. Thanks for that! It's funny the tricks I've learned from women friends who dare to share:)
ReplyDeleteOr you could do what I did--become a mystery shopper and go to the tanning salon. Lie inside ultraviolet-lit coffin for 20 minutes. Climb out and realize you have burnt your entire body three skin layers deep. Realize you have also burnt out the roots of most of your hair follicles. Rejoice in the fact shaving will never be quite the hair affair it once was.
ReplyDeleteSherry, you've got us laughing.
ReplyDeleteVerna, we'd like pictures of your fine gams--as Sam would say.
Laury, you're welcome:)
Sally, ARE YOU KIDDING US?????? My skin hurt just reading that! But, hey--way to take an optimistic outlook on the whole thing.
Verna, you're making me look forward to my golden years! :) (Which are not that far away...exactly WHEN does this defoliation begin?)
ReplyDeleteThis is the kind of topic that raises a dead man to life.
ReplyDeleteSHAVE THE LEGS, LADIES! Period. End of Discussion. That is all.
(Have a great hairless New Year)
Ugh. Shaving. Ugh again. Never fun no matter which way I look at it. Waxing seems unnecessarily painful and I'm with our 'Hairy' friend in thinking it all seems so pointless... although the same COULD be said for scrubbing that toilet ;) I'm an in-the-shower girl although I've never used conditioner (on my legs) - great idea! Ten to fifteen minutes tops unless it's that time of year when the rising temperatures of spring are forcing my guerrilla legs to retire. P.S. Please don't even ASK my husband about this one...
ReplyDeleteMake it easy - have your husband shave them for you :)
ReplyDeleteAs a somewhat shy husband, I am not sure I ought to be reading this. How do I overcome of this fear of knowing too intimately the inner workings of the feminine side of life?
ReplyDeleteWOW... for a minute there I thought I was on a different blog.
ReplyDeleteI am a 'shave the legs year round' kind of girl. Everyday. and I have ugly legs, too. I don't do it for looks, cuz Lord knows nothing will help me in THAT department. Varicose veins, cankles...Okay I'll quit grossing you all out. I do it because it feels better. Who wants to feel the itchy nubbiness rubbing on the inside of your jeans all day? Now THAT's gross.
I follow the Mik Chik's method except I use shaving cream, but the conditioner is a new tip. I don't need to see to shave. When the white stuff I've smeared all over my legs is gone, I rub my hand over it and touch up any rough spots.
For the one who showers in a coffin, it can be done. I had to do it for years and I'm not a small woman.
I asked my husband how long he thinks it takes me to shave and he said (quickly) "3 minutes tops". I confess I only shave from the knee down because I really don't have hair on the upper part.
I told Hubby that you were seeking the male input. He was hesitant, but I persisted. His response: "I prefer shaved, but don't ask me to shave mine." So there ya have it...I suppose I do it for him. If he has to look at my ugly legs, the least I can do is shave them smooth for him. But in reality, I do it for me. It makes me feel womanly. ;)
TMI?
☆ Mari
Jim--I think my Sam's in your boat about not wanting to know too much. But if you've had daughters, it's probably too late anyway.
ReplyDeleteRandom Ramblings--great idea.
Mari--thanks for persevering with dh.
Timmy--woo-hoo, you're back from the dead!!!!!
Everyone--"Busy" emailed last night. She appreciates everyone's input. It seems, though, that commenter #1, Jo, hit the nail on the head. Busy is blind. We're doing some follow up action with her now, will report back soon.
To those of you that have issues with shaving in your bathtub or shower, I once had a roommate who would turn up the heater, spread a thick bath towel on the floor, and sit down there to shave. In a sweatshirt and shorts.
ReplyDeleteShe had a cup of water and would put a bit of water in her hand to rinse with, and lotioned well after. I think she may have used a cream before also? And it didn't take her very long at all (although she seemed quite practiced and it may have taken some time to develop this technique).
She was getting married soon and having nice legs was a priority for her.
Wow, Janelle--that was quite the roommate!
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed that Joanne is still here given that she used to shave in the shower with an electric razor.
ReplyDeleteShave or not, I don't care.The only time it matters at all is when my wife hasn't shaved for a few days and is a tad prickly when we snuggle up. But that passes in a day or two, and is never a big deal. I'd be fine with her not shaving but she's not. Of course, if you ever wear hose, not shaving can be painful...
I hate shaving,myself (my face, my legs and pits[1] are unshorn). Since I drive a convertible and the top is down nearly year round except when it's wet out, I usually quit shaving for the winter (learned that riding motorcycles year round). Alas, I don't especially like my beard, so once winter is past, I go back to shaving... usually every other day.
[1] I notice y'all are discussing shaving legs, but not pits. For the record, that doesn't natter wither way to me, either. Then again, as Sally can tell you, me an normal, we not down.
I just have to wonder why someone started the practice of shaving legs anyway. In a lot of other countries it isn't done even today.
ReplyDeleteI say down with shaving legs altogether and let's learn to love the natural look!
What happened to my post???? It should be between Mari's and Lisa's. I saw it there. It posted and showed up and now it's gone. :-\
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't have anyone (namely, a husband) to impress, and I usually have my legs covered, so I can go weeks without shaving. Granted, when my situation changes, so will my habits, but until then I guess I'll just pretend I'm European.
ReplyDeleteHowever. When I do shave, I usually do it separately because my leg hairs are blonde and I'm half-blind in the shower. The conditioner is a good tip, but I want to know what you do about the itchiness when the hair starts to grow back?
I with Laruen and Jo. And I will NOT admit to the frequency of shaving. I actually don't shave, though. I use the lotions. I have difficulty getting down to my ankles period, and always nick myself. And I have a bad habit of picking at my skin, so nicks can turn into... more than a nick. With the lotions (I use Veet sensitive skin)I don't have to bend down as much, because I don't have to be as careful, and I don't have to worry about nicking myself. I've noticed with the veet, as long as I do it in the shower after my legs are already wet and warm, I don't have any sensitivity problems.
ReplyDeleteOh, and if I were to try to prop up my leg while I was in the shower... I would slip and give myself a nasty concussion. Slipping, concussions, and razors do NOT mix.