Electric razors seem pretty cool, right? They look so much fancier than your boring old disposable ones! But can you actually use one to shave the delicate skin around your vag? It turns out you can. Here’s how to do it:
1. Pick the Right Trimmer
Your best bet: one that can be used wet or dry, says Jordana Mattioli, a medical esthetician at Complete SkinMD in New York City. While dry razors are the easiest and fastest to use, she says, wet shavers are less likely to cause irritation, a must for sensitive skin. One that works both ways gives you options. Try the Panasonic Women’s Shaver with Pop-Up Trimmer ($23, amazon.com), which has a special attachment for the bikini area. And if you’re in a pinch, you can use your dude’s trimmer, says Mattioli, but know that guys’ razors have stronger blades since they’re made to penetrate through thicker hairs.
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2. Prep Your Skin
Dry shavers work best on dry (duh), clean, and un-moisturized skin, while wet ones require shave gel for a little slip. (Pick one that’s water-based and steer clear of shaving oils, which can muck up the device, says Mattioli.) The good news is that electric razors are typically less irritating to the skin than manual blades, so you don’t have to worry about redness poking out of your swimsuit while you mount that massive swan float. Hair should be under two inches before you have at it. If you haven’t defuzzed in a really long time, trim it down first to avoid clogging up your new toy.
RELATED: 7 Shaving Mistakes That Could Be Wrecking Your Skin
3. Get to Work
That buzzing noise can be intimidating, but this isn’t rocket science. Just pull the skin taut and shave in the direction that your hair grows for a first pass. (Your next pass should go in the other direction.) Rinse the blade often if you’re shaving hair that hasn’t been tended to in a while (no judgment) and remember not to press down too hard. “Pressing down will flatten the hairs, making them harder to remove, so just press lightly and let the shaver do the work,” says Mattioli. The only caveat: "You just won’t feel as smooth as you would doing a manual shave if you have thicker hair,” says Mattioli.
Gif courtesy of giphy.com
