A hair removal expert has revealed some of the shocking reasons why you should perhaps avoid shaving your legs.
Getting rid of unwanted hair with a razor has been pretty common for as long as we can remember and it’s a regular part of a lot of our beauty routines, but it may be time to reconsider.
Trish Coulton, the hair-removal guru who works with the Made in Chelsea cast, has warned that razors we use as tools to remove body hair may be doing a lot more than just that.
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She has warned about how shaving spreads dead skin across the legs and cuts can cause infections since razors carry a lot of bacteria.
“By shaving you are effectively ‘mowing’ your hair and slicing it to the skin level which means within 24 hours most of us will feel its regrowth as stubble,” Trisha said.
“This quick fix is also not great for those with sensitive or compromised skins as razors carry more bacteria than any personal tool.
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“You are, in effect, spreading dead, putrefied skin over your most intimate areas and if you have a cut or cut yourself shaving, this can cause inflammation and skin infections too."
Trisha says that a big misconception is that shaving is the ‘easiest way to remove hair’ but ‘this couldn’t be further from the truth’.
She explains: “It’s actually the highest maintenance method of body hair removal as depending on the season or the growth rate of your hair, you may need to do it almost daily.”
Other popular forms of hair removal include hair removal (depilatory) creams, which can be done at home, laser hair removal and waxing.
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Although many of us have been guilty of using a bar of soap when shaving, Trisha says this is a huge no-no.
“If you're going to shave, always use a foam,” she warns. “This will help to lubricate the blade and the skin and minimise the risk of shaving rashes.
“If you do find yourself with a nick or cut, blot off the blood with a clean dry tissue and let the area air to give it time to clot a little and stem the bleeding.
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The expert also warned that waxing shouldn't be done at home as it can cause bruising and blood blisters plus, home wax strips are not at a professional standard strength.
“With waxing, you won’t have that scratchy stubble that shaving gives either. Hair grows in different directions, so it is always best to have a professional take care of it."
Trisha also warned that hair removal creams are not all that either as they melt the hair down to skin level, but don't touch the root.
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She said: "The best form of at home hair removal is by far IPL, such as the Bondi Body Laser @ Home V2. After just a few weeks of zapping your body hair will permanently be reduced.
"It works by the laser light traveling down your hair to the root and effectively killing it.
"It is the best and most effective way of reducing your hair and once you have spent time reducing it, the maintenance for all over, your legs, underarms and bikini line is just 15- 20 mins a month. Just enough time to watch your favourite Netflix show."
Gregory Robinson