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How to Shave Your Legs: A Man’s Guide

It’s no longer just women who shave their legs. Growing numbers of guys are now choosing to take their manscaping routines one step further by removing their leg hair, too.

For some guys, it’s all about giving their leg hair a slight trim for a slightly neater look. Whereas others like to shave around the ankles if they’re wearing shoes that expose the bottom of their legs for a smarter finish.

But the benefits of leg shaving aren’t all aesthetic. In fact, plenty of swimmers and cyclists also like to remove their leg hair as a way of boosting their athletic performance.

Why Do Cyclists Shave Their Legs?

Removing your leg hair can streamline your body, which can be great for improving your performance when you’re competing or playing sports. That’s why so many cyclists and swimmers shave theirs.

male cyclist with shaved legs for a more streamlined performance

And, of course, removing your leg hair makes removing any plasters much easier after an injury, making any cycling-related mishaps slightly less painful to manage, helping you to get back to your best in no time at all.

How to Shave Your Legs

Here’s how to shave your legs in five easy steps:

1. Soften Your Leg Hair

Have a shower or bath to get your skin ready for the razor. Warm water will soften your leg hair, making it easier for your blade to cut through.

Exfoliate to remove any old skin cells, dirt and oil from your pores, and you’ll be able to get a smoother overall result, which could help to streamline your sporting performance even further.

2. Trim Longer Hairs

Don’t go straight in with a razor blade to shave your legs – trim longer hairs down first to stop them from getting tangled in your razor. The Gillette All Purpose Styler and Beard Trimmer is the ideal gadget for this – it’s actually 100% waterproof, so you can use it while you’re still in the shower if you prefer.

Dr Kristina Vanoosthuyze, senior manager of scientific communications at Gillette, recommends our Body Disposable Razors as a great alternative. Remember, you can recycle your razors – including disposable ones – via our partnership with TerraCycle.

If you just wanted to neaten up your leg hair slightly, you might want to leave your grooming session here – if that’s the case, move straight on to step 5.

3. Work Up a Lather

Next, you need to create a really good lather with your shaving gel or foam – work out which type of shaving cream you should go for here.

Our Fusion Men’s ProGlide Sensitive 2 in 1 Active Sport Shaving Gel is particularly good for manscaping, as it combines shaving with skincare for a smoother, more comfortable experience and a soft, refreshing finish.

4. Nail Your Technique

Stick with your Gillette All Purpose Styler and attach one of our Fusion5 ProGlide Razor Blades. You’ll get one included when you buy the Styler, but make sure you’re using a sharp one – and a different razor to the one you use on your face!

You can even get fresh razor blades delivered straight to your door when you sign up to a Gillette shaving subscription.

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5. Rinse and Recover

Whether you want totally smooth legs or you’re just going for a slight trim, you should always end your grooming session by rinsing any excess shaving cream off your skin using warm water.

Next, gently pat your skin dry with a towel, and use an aftershave product like our Gillette Aftershave Balm to soothe your skin and provide it with a little extra hydration.

If you’re happy with the results, you can also use your Gillette Styler to trim and shave your armpit, back, head and even pubic hair. Just make sure you use a fresh blade for each body part…