Need advice from the ladies as well as gents: best practice for leg shaving?

[dgilman]

My swooning continues unabated: my girlfriend is intrigued enough with DE razors that she has asked me to show her how to use one by having me shave one of her legs. (She will then try to replicate the procedure on the other leg.) I've never shaved anyone else at all, let alone anyone's legs. What is the best way to go about it when you're shaving someone else's legs? Direction, number of passes, etc. — please fill me in so I don't totally screw this up and injure her can give her an A-grade shave, and teach her how to do it for herself.

As to the gear in question, I've ordered a fresh stick of Arko for her, and I'm going to give her my Omega 49 brush, so I'll be mixing up good lather with a huge brush big enough to be practical for leg shaving. The razor will be a Lord Smart, and the inaugural blade will be either a Lord Super Stainless or a Derby, depending on her choice.

 

[7 O Menthol]

I taught my wife earlier this week and she's already a full convert.
We started with one pass against the grain plus a little touching up. Setup included a Lady Gillette / derby blade / KMF used brushless.
It seems legs need far less effort to achieve a DFS.

 

[polardude1983]

I shaved my wife's legs before. Used Merkur 34c HD + Best Badger Brush + Proraso cream

Just did a once against the grain pass and that was it.

I eventually got her a Lord L6 razor and KMF brushless cream and she now does just one pass and done.

 

[dpmtherrien]

If you're going to do the shaving, just be sure to use no pressure at all. You'll both be amazed at how close and smooth the shave will be. Use the standard 30 degree angle. By doing whats I've mentioned you be amazed at how easy it is to shave someone with a DE.

 

[.Damon.]

I've got the wife an Omega boar shower brush and KMF cream. She still uses the Gillette "Venus" system. Let me check the price on carts..
Yeah, 8 for $20 = 2.50 a pop. Might have to get her to use a DE soon.

 

[bnalley]

From personal observation I can state with a fair amount of confidence that a womans legs while soft and smoothe are no where near as sensitive as a mans face and neck. As evidence I will point out the terribly overused and ugly looking cartridges in most of their bathtubs along with the canned goo they tend to use, all with no evidence of irritation!

That being said, about a year ago my wife came to me and asked for a razor to use because her last 3 blade cartridge had become to funky and dull(even by a womans standards). I obliged her with a flare tip SS and a wilkinson sword blade, a mug of MWF and a C&E Pure badger brush. I showed her how to make and apply lather, and hold/use the razor. After demonstrating on one ....leg, I left her to her own devices. when she was through I came to retrieve my gear and was denied! She would'nt give the razor back untill I got on the bay and procured for her a Lady Gillette Blue Star. I had to concede the brush & mug of MWF to her. She was an instant convert and has never so much as nicked herself, go figure.
Beware the pitfalls of introducing your lady to the DE! you might not get your stuff back!

 

[dgilman]

That being said, about a year ago my wife came to me and asked for a razor to use because her last 3 blade cartridge had become to funky and dull(even by a womans standards). I obliged her with a flare tip SS and a wilkinson sword blade, a mug of MWF and a C&E Pure badger brush. I showed her how to make and apply lather, and hold/use the razor. After demonstrating on one ....leg, I left her to her own devices. when she was through I came to retrieve my gear and was denied! She would'nt give the razor back untill I got on the bay and procured for her a Lady Gillette Blue Star. I had to concede the brush, mug of MWF to her.
Beware the pitfalls of introducing your lady to the DE!

I am utterly unconcerned about this pitfall. (At least there's one I can scratch off!) All gear for this shave will be my gift to her, and I won't miss any of it. (I bought myself a stick of Arko along with hers, with Razor Blades & More's two-fer special!) Brush, soap, razors (I have two variants of the Lord Smart for her), blades, and a mug for the soap will be hers to enjoy.

Anything else she desires must be acquired through her own personal AD.

 

[Ro504]

Interesting thread! I've been trying to drop hints to the misses to try out one of my DE razors after hearing her complain about the multiblade carts she uses. For some reason she's terrified to go the DE route.

 

[Dr Roadrash]

Sounds like a plan, but Arko? Might need something a little different smelling for a lady.
Aaron

 

[dgilman]

Sounds like a plan, but Arko? Might need something a little different smelling for a lady.
Aaron

You'd think that, I know. But she has already sniffed my Arko stick, and declared it her favorite soap scent by far: Col. Conk almond barely got a second glance from her; she liked Palmolive, but found it less interesting than Arko. This is how I discovered that plain ol' soap scent is one of her favorite smells in the world. I warned her about brand-new Arko, and how many of us air out a stick by removing the foil for a few days. She swore that she would not do so, but would use it straight out of the package. Happily, she doesn't have a roommate, so if she's good to go, then so am I!

 

[awsmith4]

Great choice on the Omega 49, it is definitely large enough. My wife likes me to make lather for her and spread it on (which is rather sexy) but she still shaves with a cart. She is in love with Cella and Razorock Classic (loves the almond) but she also loves Pre de Provence. I have a Gillette Ball Tech (her Grandfather's) and I loaded it with a Crystal so she could try with a fairly mild shaver but she says she is scared. I actually think it would be easy to shave her legs as I could easily see the blade angle but she won't let me...yet. She is sold on the merits of a traditional shave which helps with all my purchases.

 

[FrankBama]

I hope it isn't indecent of me to share this, but depending on your wife's shaving habits she may find this article helpful:
https://thatthingilike.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/highway-to-the-bikini-zone/

 

[mharris127]

Actually with the reports of how moisturizing Mitchell's Wool Fat is it may be the perfect shaving soap to entice your gal to use a puck and brush. Most women I know use moisturizer after shaving their legs anyway, with the Fat that step may be unnecessary. I wish I could speak from personal experience but I am a man and I haven't used the Fat as of yet.

 

[gus1942]

My wife leg lathers with Arko stick and Duke 2 in best.