Many teen girls can’t wait to shave. And, as it’s one of the easiest - and least painful - forms of hair removal, there’s no reason to stop them, if they are keen to be hair-free.
If they’re showing interest in shaving, have the conversation with them and be ready to support and encourage them. The aim: that they learn to do it safely and properly; avoiding any redness, dryness, irritation and nicks.
When Should Girls Start Shaving?
There are no strict rules for when girls should start to shave. Puberty, and the hair growth that goes with it, can start as early as 8 or as late as 15 or 16. The most important thing: whether your tween/teen removes their body hair is totally up to them. They don’t have to shave just because their friends are doing it or you think they should. Our only piece of advice on timing is to make sure they are old enough to handle a razor safely.
If your teen is keen to try, here are our best shaving tips and pro tricks to make it as smooth and easy as possible:
Give them a shaving lesson
Your daughter might be worried about starting to shave and afraid of using a razor and cutting herself. Do your best to reassure her and give her advice on how to hold the razor and the best direction to shave to reduce rashes and irritation (see our tip below). And tell her to take her time. The more she rushes, the more chance of nicks and cuts.
Get them the right razor
For shaving newbies, the best choice is a reusable razor with multiple blades and a flexible head. The blades mean it will give a close shave with less risk of nicks and cuts. The pivoting head means it glides easily over tricky spots like ankles and knees. Plus they usually come with a moisturising strip that lubricates the skin as you shave, reducing irritation. They are a little more expensive than disposable razors, but far more eco. And changing the blade is much easier - you simply pop off the old head and click on the new one.
Shave at the end of a shower or bath
Warm water opens the pores and softens the hair follicles, which will up your chances of a smoother shave. Gently exfoliating your skin before shaving will help, too. Use a clean flannel or gentle scrub to rub away dead skin cells and oil and reduce the chances of ingrown hairs or irritation.
Use a good shaving product
Never be tempted to shave with just water or regular soap - both can lead to dry and irritated skin. Instead, find an unscented lotion or balm formulated for sensitive skin and packed full of soothing and moisturising ingredients that will help the blade run over your skin during the shave and leave your skin happy post-shave. (Our NEW Gentle Shaving Balm is a revolutionary and 99% natural balm that shaves teen bodies without stripping the skin or upsetting its natural balance!).
Our revolutionary NEW Gentle Shaving Balm shaves teen bodies and faces without drying or irritating young skin
And shave in the right direction
Which is officially short, gentle strokes in the direction your hair grows. But on your calves, you might find you get a better shave if you shave carefully upwards, against the hair growth. And your armpits? That hair grows in every direction! So, be prepared to shave up, down, right and left…Remember to let the razor do the work and not to press too hard which can be a recipe for ingrown hairs and irritation.
Final steps
Rinsing with cool water will calm the skin and close the pores. Then gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel and apply a moisturiser to soothe and hydrate your freshly shaven skin. Look for one that’s formulated for sensitive skin, not too heavy and either lightly fragranced of fragrance free. (Check out our Brilliant Body Lotion, creamy textured and dreamy-smelling it soothes, balances and moisturises delicate young skin.)
How often do you need to shave?
It depends on how quickly your hair grows and how smooth you want to be. Teens who want to have super-soft skin should look at shaving every two to three days. Darker haired girls might have to shave more often (plus, armpits have the habit of growing back faster than legs!). And no, shaving daily does not make your hair grow faster or thicker!
Some razor etiquette…
- Rinse your razor every couple of strokes as you shave, to stop it clogging with hair and lotion/balm.
- Rinse it again when you’re finished, give it a shake and leave it somewhere dry till your next shave. Leaving it wet and unrinsed in the shower can lead to bacterial build up and general yuckiness.
- Change your blade regularly - maybe after 6-7 shaves. Dull blades have more chance of cutting your skin than a new, sharp blade.
- Never share your razor or borrow someone else’s - the same way you wouldn’t share your toothbrush. Razors can harbour bacteria and sharing could lead to infections.
Shaving problems
Getting bumps or redness after you shave? - This is called Razor Burn. It’s a sign that your skin is too dry when you shave or that you’re pressing too hard on your razor and causing friction. Hold off shaving for a week and soothe and hydrate the skin with a gentle moisturiser several times a day. When you go back to shaving, make sure you use plenty of shaving lotion or balm, exfoliate pre-shaving and go lighter with that razor!
Getting ingrown hairs? - Try putting a warm, damp flannel onto the area - the warmth will open up the follicle. Or exfoliate gently with a soft, body-brush, clean flannel or a salicylic acid product like our Gentle Exfolating Liquid. Then, to avoid them in future, make sure you shave in the direction of the hair growth, use a clean, sharp razor and rinse it after every stroke.
Got a tween/teen with sensitive skin or eczema? - Never shave on skin that’s inflamed or irritated, it will increase the irritation and chances of infection. Wait till the irritation has cleared and then use gentle, fragrance free shaving products and moisturise after shaving.
Find out more about our NEW Gentle Shaving Balm, a revolutionary and 99% natural balm that shaves teen bodies and faces without stripping the skin or upsetting its natural balance here.
