Firstly, some amazing things about coconut oil. The most basic and commonly misunderstood aspect of coconut oil is that it is often a solid block. That’s because it solidifies when it is under 76°F/24°C. Run the container under some hot, or even warm water for a minute or two and if will soften and eventually liquefy. Most oils actually do this at varying temperatures, but coconut oil is one that commonly hardens around room temperature. In the shower, it’s quite easy to warm up the oil so it can be scooped out and applied to the legs…or wherever else you may be shaving.
Another wonderful thing about using coconut oil in the shower is that it’s an oil! Since oil and water don’t mix, it will stay on your legs even with the water beating directly onto your skin! No weird positioning required to keep shaving cream out of the water and between your legs and the razor. And, as if that’s not beneficial enough, it moisturizes your skin too! Seriously, you can shave your legs, finish showering, towel off and your legs still don’t need moisturizer! They’ll be baby smooth – and stay that way for quite some time! It’s a great time saver.
Water beading up over a patch of Coconut Oil
Some things to keep in mind when using coconut oil in the shower: Because it is an oil, it is slippery. This is good and bad. It helps a razor glide over the skin like no other, but if you’re not careful and end up with some oil on the floor, it can get slippery. I rarely find this an issue, but be cautious. Another downside of sorts is that the oil can kind of clog your razor. Not to the point that it’s ineffective, but you will get a buildup on the razor blades. Simply rinse the razor regularly and it’s fine. Again, I feel like there’s a benefit to this as well…well, not the actual buildup, but the oil passing through the blades. It seems to me like it helps to keep hair and gunk from collecting in between the blades, as well as helping to prevent the blades from dulling as quickly, though I have no proof to back this up. All in all, I can’t really find a downright flaw in using coconut oil for shaving.
So on to the actual shave experience! I keep a tub of coconut oil right in the shower (I like the Nature’s Way Coconut Oil mainly because it’s in a plastic container, which is much safer in the shower and it doesn’t have a metal lid prone to rusting). When it’s time to shave, I just scoop out a bit of semi-solid or liquid oil and rub it over my legs like I would any other shaving cream. Then, it’s shave as usual. Simple as that! I don’t find my legs getting goosebumps at any point, there’s no burning or irritation when I pass over any areas and my legs, and they feel so soft and smooth when I’m done! Plus it smells like delicious, fresh coconuts. It’s absolutely fantastic! I can run a razor over the same area multiple times without a problem, and as the hair grows back in (which to take longer than before), my legs don’t get irritated with itchy red bumps. I also have no issues when I get goosebumps post shave either, which was usually rather painful with standard shave creams. I seriously cannot tell you how life-changing this has been! That sounds so dramatic, but it really was so uncomfortable to shave my legs – and live with the regrowth afterwards – that I often found myself feeling disgustingly hairy for months between shaves…which also made the problem worse. Now it’s smooth sailing and my legs are thanking me for it! J If you haven’t tried it already, I highly, highly recommend getting some coconut oil and replacing your current shaving cream! Your legs…or whatever else you’re shaving…will thank you for it! J
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