Shaving for women: 5 easy steps

Yes, I’m officially a “shaver” now. My Gillette Venus kit has been my handy companion across three countries already (India, Myanmar and Thailand) and of course it’s coming with me wherever I travel next.

Here’s why I’m loving shaving

Bang for the buck: So the total cost of the kit is Rs 849, and I’ve been using it for over two months now. Compare this to the cost of waxing, and it’s great value for my hard-earned money!

Gillette Venus shaving kit

Easy to carry: My shaving kit with extra cartridges came in my suitcase when I moved to Myanmar few weeks ago, and it easily fit into my small suitcase for a weekend trip to Thailand. In Yangon, I don’t need to explore salon and parlour options and whether they are affordable and hygienic.

Super convenient: I can shave anytime at home. It saves me so much time and hassle of making a trip to the salon (taxis aren’t exactly cheap in Yangon!). And if there are sudden plans or plans to wear a sleeveless top or short dress, I don’t need to bother if my arms or legs are ready for it.

5 steps to shaving

I have a mantra for shaving now: We Love Shaving Most Regularly OR WLSMR (stands for wash- lather- shave- moisturize- repeat).

Step 1: Wash

Preparation is crucial. Take a quick warm shower before you shave, or wash your arms, legs or underarms before you shave so you remove all oil, perspiration and product residue (lotions, fragrances etc) and it makes your hair softer to raze. Let your arms or legs stay moist.

Step 2: Lather

Apply shaving foam or gel on the to-be-shaved area and spread it all over. Choose a product that is suited for your skin type. There are several brands and types available, so go with one that you know works best for you. I don’t think it’s a good idea to use your husband or brother’s shaving foam though they work essentially the same way.

Gillette Venus shaving kit

Step 3: Shave

Pick up your razor, touch the cartridge’s pad to your skin and drag it along your arm or leg. You don’t need to press hard, because the hair comes off easily. It’s easy to lose your “shaving” track so I’ve been following my own thumb rule of shaving in straight vertical lines on my arms and legs. Knowing that you’ve completely razed a certain part of your arm or leg makes for a quicker shave.

Gillette Venus shaving razor

Step 4: Moisturise

Once you’re done with shaving, all you need to do is quickly rinse or wipe off the excess lather, then follow with your personalised post-shave routine. I usually follow up with little aloe vera gel (to calm my skin) and sun screen if it’s day time. You can add or subtract from this routine based on your skin type and skin care routine.

Step 5: Repeat

There’s no specific time period on when you need to shave again. Some women like to shave almost every day, but I don’t feel the need to shave more than once a week. Unless you have very dense or thick hair, you won’t really need to shave every day. But yes, keeping a little time for shaving aside couple times a week is a good idea.

Any questions on shaving? Leave a comment below.

You can buy the complete shaving kit on Flipkart, or buy the razor and cartridges separately.

This blog post is part of the #SubscribeToSmooth series in collaboration with Gillette India. Check out their Facebook app and follow Gillette Venus India on Twitter.

Note: Chic Promotion

Long hair in summer: Why and how you can do it

I’ve always been an advocate of short hair for women, especially in the summer, given the heat and humidity. For busy working women, managing long hair can be a stressful task in addition to their daily chores, long work hours and commute. But a couple years ago I started growing out my hair, and long hair has been a good experience!

After all, only with long hair was I able to experiment with wonderful hair styles, like braids (a hot beauty trend), chic buns and updos, besides waves and curls. I’m happy to say these cool styles got me a lot of flattering compliments. 😀

Long dark hair is gorgeous and very Indian- it instantly gives a woman an “exotic” appeal and looks stunning on Indian women. Take a look at my pictures in long and short hair and decide:

Short hair

Long hair

Medium hair

Of course, managing long hair wasn’t easy, especially when it looked dull. Long hair is supposed to look good, no? It’s supposed to be shiny and healthy, but it isn’t always so. Besides the shampoo, I had to spend a bunch of money on a good conditioner.

But then, summer’s not a very good time for hair. My hair looked quite dull, and the frizz made me look like a scruffy dog. So like almost every summer, I contemplated chopping off my hair to solve all these problems.

But when I discovered Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil, I realized that long hair isn’t much of a problem anymore!

DAbut Vatika hair oil review

Since I’ve begun using it, my hair feels and looks great. It’s got a lovely sheen, and it’s smooth and silky. I can’t remember the last time my hair felt like that. My hair now radiates “healthy”!

And because it looks so good, I don’t think I’m chopping off my hair. 🙂 Why don’t you try Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil and give your hair a much-needed boost this summer?

Dabur Vatika hair oil review

[Chic Promotion]