My legs are on fire and look like it

  Leg Shaving Party 
  Originally uploaded by elle_rigby.

Here's the deal: I have very dark hair, and it grows fast. If I had my way, I'd shave my legs every day. As it is, even doing it every other day still leaves me with legs that burn all day and have tiny red dots all over them.

Yes, I use warm water on my legs first.

Yes, I use shaving gel.

Yes, I moisturize like crazy.

Also, I have a ton of bruises all over my legs, which is annoying, considering all the money I just spent on pretty summer dresses. I'm using arnica on the bruises, but still, is there any way - apart from not being a born klutz - to avoid bruising? Maybe I'm missing a mineral or something? Somebody please, help me.

Comments

[Jackie Danicki]

I should also add that I'm not going to do the waxing thing: I tried it, and it drove me crazy having to wait so long for the hair to grow in - it'd be too short to wax, but too long to go bare - and also hurt more than having any other body part waxed.

[Ellen]

Vitamin C is great for strengthening your vascular system. You can take a supplement or eat some veggies/fruits.

[Sonia]

Avoid shaving gels and creams! They don't allow for a smooth shave. What's worse, they will dry out and irritate your skin! When shaving your legs, use a clean, sharp razor and mineral oil; you'll have softer skin and suffer fewer nicks and cuts.

[cameron]

sooo, i tried posting something before, and maybe it just takes a bit to show up. also, those little type-in-the-letters-and-numbers-tests, to ensure that your comment works and what have you, just trailed on and on.
but, i still LOVE your blog, keep it up guys!!

you muuuuuuuust try e solutions: razor relief from elizabeth arden.

it is a life saver, and i always use it. it is a roll on soothing gel you use before and after doing any hair removal-i'm talking from tweezing to laser treatments.

anywhoo, it helps in growns hair come up, and it can even be used on your face to get rid of acne and white heads- i plan to test this with next purchase:). it also reeeaaally helps burning and bumps:).

mwaa, and have a faboolous weekend
~cameron

[lulululu]

I tried shaving with oil and conditioners and they didn't work for me. I like Aveeno shaving cream. Lush Dream Cream immeditately after towel dry, and at night before bed. How often do you swap out your razors and/or blades? You might also want to try some different razors and see how they can differ.

[Anne]

I have the exact same problem and my sister too. If we shave our legs we get lots and lots of red spots and our legs burn for at least an hour. Horrible.
I think that we just have thick hair and very sensitive skin. A razor does make tiny sores on your skin. You could use a ladyshave, but they never get as close and you will have stubble. But if you shave every other day now, you could shave with a electric shaver every day.

My solution to my problem is to epilate instead. An epilator works great, doesn't burn my legs and my skin feels smooth and much better. My sister has some problems with ingrown hairs, but not more than when shaving and she doesn't scrub her legs.
I got a Braun Xelle epilator, it hurt a lot the first few times, but the pain is much less now. I epilate once a week and it works great for me.

[Lisa]

The bruising most likely is caused by low iron. Try eating more iron rich food or taking an iron supplement.

[Lucia]

I had the same problem
And I have to say the only solution is to stop shaving!!
Here are 2 things that worked for me and I use alternating depending on how much time I have:
Braun Silk Epil epilator, you can get really short hairs out, which is better than waxing, but do not let them grow to much or the pain will be unberarable. At the beggining it kind of hurts, but if you do it about once a week you never have tooo much hair or too long, and the pain is not bad at all.

Cream depilatories have come a long way, I've tried the new Sally Hansen Spray on shower depilatory and it works great, it may irritate your skin, but it is worth a try, for me it is a really good quick solution, spray before your shower and by the time you are out of it you are fuzz free

Last but not least, if you have dark hair and light skin, you are a prime candidate for laser, I've been thinking about it a lot

[Terri S.]

This probably warrants further investigation, but I was told that my frequent bruising was due to TOO MUCH iron. Sure enough, a blood test not long after confirmed that I was over-ironed (so to speak), and I switched to a multi-vitamin without extra iron. Bruising lessened considerably.

As for the shaving... I went a whole winter without shaving my legs and let the hair get long and soft (per a friend's suggestion) and my leg hair was so much thinner and lighter come the spring time. It has been a breeze to shave and the bumps are gone since then. (Several years and counting.)

Terri

[pauline]

I agree with the others and epilation is the way to go! I had the same pronlem and although epilating hurt a lot the first time, the hairs grew back finer each time I did it until now it barely hurts at all and I only have to epilate once a week. An added bonus is that even if I don't epilate, the hairs are so soft, they are barely noticeable! Good luck!

[pauline]

p.s. Don't epilate on the day you want to wear a skirt as you do get some redness for a while!

[Erin]

I had stopped using my favorite razor, the Schick Intuition, because my budget was low, and instead went with the cheapy razors and shave cream. I totally tore up my legs, with red spots all over the place and lots of burning too. I finally went to the store today to get my Intuition cartridges, and voila, I have smooth, wonderful legs again! I highly recommend Intuition because it doesn't dry out your legs, give you razor burn, and it is really really quick!

[margaret]

The thing about the hair is that is obscures the bruises. I think if you're bruise-prone (and I am, too) there's not much to be done about it. Vitamins, in my experience, do no good. Maybe pad your floors.

I must agree with those recommending an epilator. The Emjoi Optima--my hairbuster of choice--is now on sale at drugstore.com. Take an Advil or two first. Do it ever other day or so for a few days (random hairs need time to grow out) and then you shall be scarily hair-free for weeks at a time. Even though you will still be bruised.

[Jackie D]

Wow, I didn't expect this subject to attract so many comments. Thanks, all!

A few things:

1) Sounds like I really need to try an epilator!

2) I do use Intuition razors, Erin. In fact, I just bought a 12-pack of them (with a travel razor) in the Intuition+ (which has aloe vera included in the soapy bit) variety.

3) My friend who is an RN told me that, for bruising, it sounds like I should get my platelet count tested, as that is likely to be the problem.

4) My friend also reminded me that, really, few of us can get away with shaving in a hurry - which is what I did the other day. She has very fine, blonde leg hairs, and even she needs to soak in a hot tub and then shave. I, in my haste, just stood at the sink, rubbed my legs with a hot, wet washcloth, then started in on them with my Intuition. No wonder I gave myself razor burn, really!

5) Agree re Aveeno shaving cream, I got that for my guy and he likes it (and I like how it smells), have used it on my legs before and approved.

6) Thanks for all the product tips!

[Jen]

Gotta second the notion on the Vitamin-C supplements! It's really the only way to be less prone to bruise. Well, that and not bumping into things!

[nancy]

I had an early version of an epilator; it hurt like f*&k-all; took FOREVER, and I developed hundreds and hundreds of ingrown hair.
My advice is, you need to wax. It hurts less each time you do it. You can wax every three weeks, because, after you've waxed a few times, you'll have several hair cycles going; it will be long enough, and it comes in much finer, because of the cycles, and because, the hair weakens over time. Also, as you might remember, the regrowth is nothing at all like shaved hair growing in, because it doesn't grow in all at once, and because what does grow in has not been cut, ergo, no real prickles

[beth]

have you ever tried tendskin? my skin's pretty sensitive and very prone to razor burn and ingrown hairs. i started smoothing some tendskin onto my legs with a cotton ball after every shave and now a red bump is a rarity. it's available at sephora. i think there's asprin in it, which helps fight redness and irritation.

[Sharon]

Have you tried using Aveeno Shaving Gel? I expands when applied and might give your skin better protection when you shave.

[Erin]

I read an earlier post which commented on bruising due to too much iron (which I've never heard of but suppose is possible) when in most cases, a problem with bruising is a result of an iron deficiency or anemia. You might want to get a blood test just to be safe!

[Sharon]

Have you tried using creams that are rich in vitamin K and vitamin A on your legs? There are many products for the face an eye area that have vitamins to help with healing and thickening the skin ever so slightly. A body cream or lotion with vitamins might help your bruising issues.

[Lisa]

I too hard fair skin and lots of coarse dark hair (about three hairs to each follicle).

I did try laser treatment, which decreased the amount of hair on my legs, but was too expensive to finish. I had four treatments on the whole of my legs, but needed about four more and I had already spent £3000, so will have to save up for a while longer before I can continue with that.

Shaving for me was too sore and gave my skin a rash and the electric shavers although good gave me stubble pretty much the same day as I used it.

I have just bought a braun silk epil epilator which did hurt like crazy, but was well worth the result, although a week later and I developed loads of ingrown hairs and red bumps over my legs.

I have been looking online for advice and tips on how to deal with ingrown hairs and came across Hairchick.com which had some really great advice, from what causes ingrown hairs, how to stop them starting and how to deal with them when they do start. It gives products you can buy and also home remedies you can do yourself. Very helpful.

Good luck

[lisa]

I have dark hair that's on the thicker side and I used to get ichy bumps after shaving too. When you soap your legs in the shower, take a pumice stone and exfoliate all the skin on your legs before shaving with any old razor. It totally works! I never get bumps anymore.

[hollistergiirl]

if u were willing to spend a lil bit of money try laser its permanent and that way you could wear your summer dresses in the summer n ur legs would b smooth or u could try airbrushing them with this salley hansen product called airbrushed legs maybe it would camoflauge the hair a but (srry bout the spelling mistakes)