Shaving coNUNdrum: Part Deux

Yikes!

Dear Readers,

Welcome to Part II of the great Shaving coNUNdrum, which like your hair just keeps growing.  "Busy," from yesterday's post, emailed us late last night with the following:

Yes, I am very very blind, and I like to see what I'm doing. And how do you get the hair out of the razor? Maybe I have the wrong kind of razor? If I go that fast I get cuts all over my legs, so I go slowly so it doesn't nick me, especially at the back of my ankles. Maybe I just have super sensitive skin. So, yeah, I have never figured out how to do it in 10 minutes or less.

To which we replied:

What kind of razor are you using?

To which she replied:

Some non-brand-name triple blade thing from Walmart. It's infinitely better than my mom's Bic razors, though. Should I buy a fancy one?

The first thing we wonder is: how long are you keeping each disposable razor?  The cheapos are really only "supposed" to be used two or maaaaybe three times, but most women make them last for about a month.  When you keep using a dull blade, you're not getting a close shave, which means you feel the need to shave more often, which means you're irritating your skin more than you need to be.  You may actually be sensitizing your skin with all the extra shaving.

So we definitely think that investing in a fancy razor is a good idea.
But which one?

Here's our research: I (Lisa) know which brand I like best—whatever I can sneak from Sam.  His razors are always better.  But objectively speaking, which one is best?  Consumer Reports had an answer they were willing to sell us for $19.95.  We went to another reliable source.  

From Consumer Search and Which? Magazine  (According to their website, they have a reputation for objectivity that rivals ConsumerReports.org, and tests that are just as in-depth.   We are willing to believe them.) Which razor is best?  In their words: 

For this report, five manual razors designed specifically for women, including four disposables, are tested by 24 women who shaved with them at least twice a week for three months. Testers rate the razors for durability, closeness and comfort of shave as well as cost, safety, ease of control, sharpness and comfort of grip. The clear winner is the Gillette Venus Divine. 

The women testers were also asked to try men's razors and 67 percent rate men's razors better than or equal to women's, although the report does not break down the specific results.

Other reports showed that the Gillette Mach3 Turbo was the same in functionality to Gillette's Venus Divine, though the replacement blades could be cheaper (*est $8).  

Several different independent tests verified that Venus Divine was the best women's razor.  Experts agreed that more than three blades was a waste, AND that generally men's razors were sharper than women's.  (I knew it!)

Busy, if you have extremely sensitive legs, and are afraid to try the Mach3 or the Venus Divine, try Schick Intuition.  You can get a coupon here:  http://schickintuition.com/ . It's the most comfortable shave I (Lisa) have had.  It's built for the sensitive girl. The moisturizing pads protect the skin and the thick handle make maneuvering sure and stable.  The downside is that the pads begin dissolving after a few shaves, and the replacements are expensive.  BUT if you want ease of use without nicks (especially at the ankles and armpits—sorry Jim and Sam), this is the way to go.

But my (Maddie's) guess is that your legs aren't actually super-sensitive.  I'm willing to bet that any fancy razor will do you just fine.  We both agree that your skin should be warm and damp, and that you should apply some sort of lubricant to your legs (like conditioner) before appling the razor.  Rinse blades under running water to clear.  Be sure to put on lotion after you're done, dry skin=stressed skin, and stressed skin=sensitivity.

Another thing you  can do to baby yourself, is to exfoliant before you shave.  Your razor will be able to get to your hair more easily, instead of getting clogged with dead skin.  The added perk is that this makes your legs even MORE smooth and shiny.  It will add a couple minutes to your routine, but it's worth it.

Busy, we wish you well.  On the left, we leave you with one final thought:). 

All in Goodwill,

Maddie and Lisa