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Shaving 101

Watch Gabby, our goddess in training, bust myths and gather facts for first time shavers.

Full Transcript for Video

1. Meet Gabby

GABBY V.O.: ...and that's when it occurred to me. If I'm so smooth, why aren't my legs? Shouldn't I be as hair-free as I am carefree?

GABBY: It's the truth. When all of your friends start shaving, a girl can't help but wonder if she should start shaving, too. But when? And how? You probably have a lot of questions. I know I did. My name's Gabby, by the way. Let me tell you my story. My first time shaving was...well, let's just say it wasn't pretty. That's why I'm blogging about it—I think girls should know what I know. You know? But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me start from the beginning.

2. When to Start

GABBY: I never thought of myself as a hairy person. I mean, like everyone, I have good hair days and bad hair days. But I didn't really think about the hair that wasn't on my head. Until my friend Kristen's slumber party. Then it all changed.

GABBY V.O.: There we were, having a spa party, when I noticed it. My legs were hairy. Not just a little hairy, but like…animal hairy. When did that happen? Why weren't my friends' legs hairy?

GABBY V.O.: It was all I could see. It was all I could think about. I couldn't think about how great my toenails would look in Pink Taffy nail polish. I couldn't listen to Kristen talk about how she texted Tom in study hall. All I could see was…that…hair.

GABBY: Note to self: bring pajama pants, not shorts, to slumber parties. Seriously, though? You'll know when it’s time for you to shave. It's…well, it's whenever you get uncomfortable about not shaving. It's not like you have to be this age or that age—it's what feels right to you. For me, it was that night at Kristen's party. For you? It'll probably be a day much less dramatic. Oh! I think I took a picture of my legs that night. I’m posting that right now. Hair today…gone tomorrow.

3. Asking Your Mom

GABBY V.O.: You might say it was the mother of all dilemmas. I knew I had to tame the hairy mess my legs had become, but did I need to tell my mom about it?

GABBY: You know, moms have this way of knowing what’s going on even when you don’t tell them. At least my mom does. It’s like a sixth sense or something. Anyway, I should have remembered that when I started shaving. Instead, I decided to go it solo. Bad idea. Worst part? My older sister Sophia caught me.

GABBY V.O.: What was I thinking? All I had to do was talk to my mom about shaving, and she would have told me how to do it—she probably would have even gotten me my own razor. But what do I do? I go rogue. I sneak into the bathroom, swipe my mom’s razor and try it myself. Not a smooth move on my part.

GABBY V.O.: I was just about to do the unthinkable, when Sophia walked in.

SOPHIA: Um…what are you doing? Are you shaving?

GABBY: I was until you got in. Look, I just don’t want to make a big deal about it, okay?

GABBY V.O.: That’s when she noticed.

SOPHIA: Wait—you’re not using shave gel? Oh my gosh—or water?

GABBY: Well it’s not like I’ve done this before.

SOPHIA: Okay, whoa! Why didn’t you talk to mom? And is that her razor?

GABBY: Yes, well, I…it’s just weird to bring up shaving with mom.

SOPHIA: Hey—I know it might seem weird, but we all have a first time shaving. And the last thing Mom would want is for you to hurt yourself trying it on your own. Or ruining her razor, for that matter. And if you didn’t want to talk to Mom, you know you could talk to me. I would have shown you exactly how to do it.

GABBY: I hated to admit it, but my sister was right. After my run-in with Sophia, I decided to talk with my mom. It was hard at first, but I was so happy I did. We went shopping that day for a brand new razor, and she taught me the right way to shave. I guess the thing to remember is that your mom had to learn to shave once, too. And if there’s anything moms love doing, it’s giving advice.

4. Safety Tips

GABBY: Hi again. I’m taking a break from blogging to pass along some super-important shaving basics. Right, Sophia?

SOPHIA: Absolutely—safety first!

GABBY: That’s right—safety first. You’ll notice I have my brand new razor here.

SOPHIA: That’s nice—I like the pink color.

GABBY: I know, right? Liking the color of your razor is great, but it’s not why we’re here. Your first couple of times shaving, you’re bound to make mistakes.

SOPHIA: It happens to everyone.

GABBY: Well, it happened to me, that’s for sure. So let’s review some tips. Basic razor safety fact number one? The blades are sharp.

SOPHIA: They are sharp. But that’s a good thing. You don’t want a dull blade.

GABBY: You also don’t want to cut yourself. So when you start shaving and you see the little hairs on the razor, don’t do what I did.

SOPHIA: Yeah. Don’t wipe the blade off with your finger.

GABBY: Seriously. I had those cuts on my thumb for a week. Don’t do that. To clean your blade, just run it under water.

SOPHIA: Next tip—pressure. When you’re shaving, don’t press the blade too hard on your skin.

GABBY: Honestly, you barely have to press the blade down at all. Get a razor with a pivoting head, and just guide it with your hand. Let the razor do the work.

SOPHIA: If fact, if you find yourself having to press down, it may be time for a new blade.

GABBY: Another thing—about direction. For my legs, it works best to shave upward, against the hair. That way I get more hairs each time and get a smoother shave.

SOPHIA: But for underarms, you might want to experiment, because that hair grows in all different directions. Shaving up, down and even across might work best. Use plenty of shave gel and take it slow.

GABBY: And last but not least—use water! It is so important for a close and comfortable shave.

SOPHIA: She’s speaking from experience. Water and shave gel actually helps the razor glide over your skin. Going dry is definitely a shaving don’t.

GABBY: Yeah, believe me. It’s not faster to shave without water—just painful.

SOPHIA: So that’s it—nicely done!

GABBY: Thank you. And thank all of you for tuning in to this shaving safety reminder!

5. Shaving Alternatives

GABBY V.O.: When it comes to removing hair, pick the method that’s right for you. You choose how you get smooth!

GABBY: Whether you want to remove leg hair or underarm hair, how you choose to do it is up to you. Mix and match or stick to one method—whatever suits your style. My friends and me? We’ve tried it all.

GABBY V.O.: We tried waxing on Kristen.

KRISTEN: Ooooww!

GABBY V.O.: The upside? Legs that stay smooth for three or four weeks. The downside? Well, you are yanking your hair out. It’s kind of messy. And you need to start with actual stubble for waxing to work best.

GABBY V.O.: Sara tried out the hair removal cream.

GABBY V.O.: Be prepared: it can sting a little. And the smell takes, um…a little getting used to. But Sara’s legs were good to go for a week.

GABBY: Myself? I went with a razor and shave gel. Sure, I have to shave every day or so, but it’s safe, fast and no “ouch” factor. It’s like a super-quick beauty treatment you can do yourself. Whichever method you choose, make sure it’s one you’re comfortable with, not pressured into. And hey—it’s okay to experiment. It’s a fun way to learn what works for you.

6. Choosing A Razor

GABBY: If you’re anything like us, you might know it’s time to start shaving, but wonder just what you need to get going. Before you rush off to the store, Sara and I thought we’d take you through what your options are. Ready?

SARA: All set. So, what kind of razor should you get?

GABBY and I like Venus razors because there are lots of choices, really fun colors, and they were actually made for a girl’s body.

GABBY: Let’s start with my mom’s razor. It’s pretty nice. It has five blades so your legs get extra-smooth.

SARA: Wow—five blades sounds like a lot. If you have more blades, does that make it dangerous?

GABBY: Oh, no—the five blades actually hug your body for silky smooth skin. Even better, the blade is replaceable so you don’t have to get a new razor—just change out the old blade with a new one.

SARA: Nice! I might have to try that kind.

GABBY: So, this is one of my sister’s razors. She’s always going from swim practice to her friends’ house, so she has this two-in-one razor.

SARA: Oooh, I’ve never seen that kind before. What’s two-in-one mean?

GABBY: It’s got shave gel bars built right into the razor. So all you have to do is get it wet, and you’ve got instant gel. I think I might get one of these for vacation.

GABBY: This is one of my sister’s razors. It’s got an indicator strip that tells you when it’s time to change the blade. It’s about the only time she likes to be told what to do.

SARA: Cool! I like the wide handle.

GABBY: Yeah—it’s ergonomic—which basically means that it’s easy to hold and use, even in the shower.

SARA: And this is mine. It’s a disposable razor. I like it because I don’t have to worry about replacing the blade. When it gets dull, I can just toss it and get another one.

GABBY: I have that kind, too. I love that it’s so convenient—I can keep one in my gym bag.

SARA: Me too! It makes shaving even more fun.

GABBY: Well, what this all means, is that there are lots of options out there. Now that you know some of the features available, it should make picking out a razor easier.

SARA: Have fun shopping!

7. Skin Care

GABBY V.O.: It was a simple fact. If I was going to be on the cheerleading squad, my legs needed to be something to cheer about.

GABBY: Shaving isn’t just about getting rid of hair. It’s about feeling your best. And if you’re playing sports, going on vacation, or even just looking to wear what’s hot, having skin that looks good will make you feel good.

GABBY V.O.: If you want soft skin, start by treating it right before each shave. Make sure to use plenty of water and your favorite shave gel—one that smells great. That way, your razor works better and you’ll help prevent getting the little red bumps on your skin.

GABBY V.O.: After you shave, reward your skin by slathering on a super-moisturizing lotion. I like to use a nice, thick one with a pretty scent.

GABBY: No matter what part of your body you’re shaving, keeping skin hydrated before and after shaving keeps it looking great. You’ll feel more confident whether you’re in gym class or sitting by the pool.

8. How Often To Shave

GABBY: Okay—I found it. It says here that once you shave, your hair does not grow back thicker.

SARA: Are you sure? I definitely think my hair looks thicker after I shaved it.

KRISTEN: Yeah—my sister said that it grows back thicker and faster once you start shaving.

GABBY: No, guys—think about it. When you shave your leg hair, you’re just making the end blunt. So it’s actually a total myth that it grows back thicker—or faster.

SARA: So if my hair’s not growing back faster, how often should I be shaving?

GABBY: I think it depends. I like shaving every day, but my sister shaves every other day. I guess it’s whatever feels right.

SARA: That makes total sense. But if it’s summer time, you might need to shave around your bikini line more often than you do in the winter.

KRISTEN: That is such a good point—you might not pay any attention to your bikini line in winter, but it’s definitely key for swim practice or going to the beach.

SARA: So I guess it really does depend.

GABBY: Here—this article says that it’s up to each girl to decide how often she shaves.

KRISTEN: You should totally blog about that. I bet a lot of girls have that question.

GABBY: Good idea. What do you think for a title…Shave the Day?

SARA: Perfect!