7 Winter Shaving Struggles & How To Brave Them

Shaving is a legit high risk beauty activity, what with all the sharp razors, the possibility of razor burn and ingrown hairs, and the general annoyingness of immediate stubble. Shaving is never free of challenges, no matter what season, but winter shaving struggles are much more of an issue when the cooler temperatures settle in. As much as I'd like to pretend shaving in the winter doesn't require extra effort and care, it definitely does. However, I promise the effort will be worth it to get that silky-smooth-in-the-sheets feeling you crave!

Before I can even address the winter shaving struggles, I think a quick rundown on how to shave correctly would be a good idea. Even if you think you're a shaving master, a refresher never hurts! Claire Girdler, a research scientist at Gillette, told Allure, that waiting at least two to three minutes in the shower before shaving "will prevent dirt and dead skin from jamming up a razor or causing ingrowns."

As for technique itself, Girdler advised using a heavy hand on shaving cream or gel to make sure your skin is completely coated, and shaving in the direction of hair growth to "minimize irritation, nicks, and ingrowns." Lastly, if you're rocking a disposable razor, PopSugar shared tossing it after three uses is best to prevent super unfortunate infections.

Here are seven common shaving struggles you might experience this winter and how to ensure your legs stay silky smooth until spring.

1. Rough, Dry Skin

Pumpkin Oatmeal Glow, $18, Bambu Earth

Dry skin can prevent you from getting the closest shave. To prevent this, TheBeautyBean blog suggested reaching for a hydrating exfoliator to scrub away skin while moisturizing. My favorite is the pumpkin oatmeal glow scrub I received in my Pearlesque natural beauty subscription box.

2. Hyper-Sensitivity

Organic Mango Vanilla Cream Shave , $6, Jet

Winter can trigger a variety of dry skin issues, so if you already know you have sensitive skin, consider switching to an extra gentle and natural shaving cream or bar to soothe skin without any harsh chemicals.

3. Itchy Legs, Part 1

Another charming symptom of dryness is annoyingly itchy legs. Instead of blasting your legs with a super hot shower, consider a toasty warm (not scalding hot) bath. The warm soak will be much gentler on legs and prep them for a smooth shave, advises Refinery29.

4. Itchy Legs , Part 2

Ocean Kelp After-Shave Lotion , $45, Birch Box

If you can't resist the urge to blast the hot water, Gillette shaving experts suggest to make sure you do not skip a moisturizing lotion post-shave to help your legs get a little oil back and prevent razor burn!

5. Redness & Irritation On Legs

Replaceable Blade Razor , $11, Jet

Even if you don't shave often in the winter, swapping out your blade is necessary to prevent possible infections and rashes. For razors with changeable blades, Girdler told Allure to wait no longer than ten to twelve shaves before changing it out.

6. Redness & Irritation On Your Lady Parts

Naturally Dry Antiperspirant Stick , $3, Walgreens

Assuming you've started rocking more cute opaque tights lately, there's a chance you've also started getting more rashes on your freshly shaven lady parts. Ugh. But! Cosmopolitan advised rubbing a gentle deodorant down there to help control the sweating caused by wearing tights so you can dodge little bumps and ingrown hairs. Wahoo!

7. Stubble Struggle

Growth Inhibitor And Body Moisturizer , $10, Walgreens

Nothing sucks like stepping out of the shower, and getting goosebumps that create practically immediate stubble. To help prevent this, Refinery29 suggested staying in your warm bathroom while applying a hair growth inhibitor and moisturizer. Buh bye stubble.

Images: Isla Murray; Jeff Dougherty Jr/Flickr; Courtesy of Brands