12 Ways To Get Smooth Legs - WikiHow
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This article was co-authored by Alicia Ramos and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Alicia Ramos is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Smoothe Denver in Denver, Colorado. She received her license at the School of Botanical & Medical Aesthetics, with training in lashes, dermaplaning, waxing, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels, and now provides skin care solutions to hundreds of clients. There are 19 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,299,309 times.
Dry, chalky skin and razor bumps are no fun, whether you’re gearing up for summer or winter weather. Don’t worry—smooth, soft legs are much closer than you think! We’ve put together plenty of tips, tricks, and ideas to help your legs feel smooth, silky, and luxurious again.
Things You Should Know
- Moisturize your legs once a day, ideally when you get out of the shower or bath.
- Exfoliate your legs 1-2 times a week, and shave them (or use a depilatory cream) when you feel stubble.
- Laser hair removal is a great option if you want to remove your leg hair permanently.
Steps
1Exfoliate your legs with a body scrub.
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A body scrub will remove dry, dead skin cells. Hop in the shower for a few minutes first, so you aren’t applying the scrub to dry skin.[1] Everyone’s skin is a little different, so rub a small amount of product on your skin to make sure you don’t have a reaction.[2] Feel free to focus on rougher, dryer sections of skin, like your knees and heels, or apply the scrub all over.[3] - Don’t worry—it’s perfectly safe to both dry brush and use a body scrub.
- Always exfoliate before you shave, so all your dead skin cells are cleared away.
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Dry brush your skin regularly.
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Dry brushing both exfoliates and stimulates your legs.[4] Grab a natural-bristle brush and guide in gentle, upward strokes around your knees, thighs, calves, and butt. Dry brushing both legs is quick and easy, and only takes about 3 minutes total.[5] Feel free to dry brush every day, but do it before you hop into the shower; this way, all your dead skin cells will get rinsed off.[6] - Some people claim that dry brushing reduces cellulite, but there isn’t any hard evidence to prove this.[7]
Use a hydrating body wash in the shower.
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Some body washes actually strip away oil. To keep your skin smooth and sleek, pick out a creamy, nourishing body wash formula instead. If you’re a fan of bar soap, opt for a glycerin-based product infused with Argan, almond, or coconut oil.[8] Advertisement
Shave your legs regularly.
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Shave your legs while taking a warm bath or shower.[9] Slather a shaving gel or cream all over your legs, so the razor glides really smoothly over your skin. Then, grab a sharp razor, shaving your legs in the direction of your leg hair growth.[10] Once you’re finished, rinse off your legs with cool water and apply moisturizer all over your skin.[11] - Keep your razor in a dry, clean spot when you’re not using it, and replace your blade every 5-7 shaves, if possible.
- If you aren’t a fan of shaving, you might prefer a depilatory (hair-removing) cream.[12]
Apply body lotion after showering.
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Moisture leaves your skin right after you step out of the shower.[13] With this in mind, spread a thick layer of moisturizing lotion all over your legs right away. Then, wait at least 10 minutes for the product to soak into your skin.[14] - For the best results, apply your lotion within 3 minutes of leaving the shower.
- If you’d like your skin to look more youthful, pick out a lotion with retinols.[15]
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Rub body oil over your legs.
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The body oil goes on top of your lotion. Before turning in for the night, spread a thin layer of body oil on top of the lotion. The oil helps “protect” the lotion, which keeps your legs moisturized throughout the night.[16]
Switch on a humidifier indoors.
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Humidifiers are an easy fix for dry skin. If the air in your home is really dry, your skin might be paying the price. Set up a humidifier somewhere in your home, which will improve the air’s moisture content overall.[17] - Experts recommend keeping your home’s humidity somewhere around 30-50%.[18]
- You can find humidifiers at big-name retailers, home goods stores, and online marketplaces.
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Wear moisturizing sunscreen when you're outside.
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Lots of sunlight can take a toll on your legs. To be safe, apply an even layer of moisturizing sunscreen all over your legs before heading outside.[19]
Drink lots of water.
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Dehydration can lead to dry, tight skin. To prevent this, try drinking 8 glasses of water each day. While you won’t see results overnight, drinking more water may help improve your skin in the long run.[20] Advertisement
Wax every few weeks if you don't like shaving.
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Waxing lasts longer than traditional shaving. Spread a layer of wax along a small portion of your legs. Then, press a cloth strip on top of the wax. After a couple of seconds, pull off the cloth strip to remove the wax.[21] - Waxing lasts longer than shaving, but it’s definitely more painful.[22]
- Experts don’t advise waxing if you take or use isotretinoin, antibiotics, or tretinoin.
Try laser hair removal for a long-term solution.
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Laser removal eliminates leg hair after a few sessions. During a treatment, a doctor will target your body hair with lasers. Over several sessions, these lasers will thin out and eventually destroy the hair completely.[23] - Laser hair removal is a good option for permanent hair removal, but it’ll take several sessions to see full results.
- Laser hair removal can be pretty pricey. A single session may cost almost $300.[24]
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Consider electrolysis for a permanent option.
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Electrolysis permanently removes body hair. During the procedure, electrical probes permanently damage your hair follicles, so no more body hair grows back.[25] - Many clinics charge electrolysis treatments by the hour, or in 15- or 30-minute chunks.[26]
Expert Q&A
Search Add New Question- Question How can I make my hair not grow back the day after I shave?
Melissa Jannes Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator Melissa Jannes is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Maebee's Beauty Studio in Philadelphia, a single practitioner space providing quality services with individualized attention. She received her esthetics degree at The Beauty School of Middletown in 2008 and is licensed in Pennsylvania.
Melissa Jannes Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator Expert Answer Unfortunately, the results of shaving don’t last very long. If you’d like a long-term solution, try removing your hair with body wax. If you don’t mind spending a little extra money, laser hair removal and electrolysis are other options. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 7 - Question Is it bad to use hair removal cream?
Melissa Jannes Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator Melissa Jannes is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Maebee's Beauty Studio in Philadelphia, a single practitioner space providing quality services with individualized attention. She received her esthetics degree at The Beauty School of Middletown in 2008 and is licensed in Pennsylvania.
Melissa Jannes Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator Expert Answer No! Depilatories (hair removal creams) are perfectly safe to use. However, if the cream ever stings or burns when you apply it to your skin, rinse it off right away. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 6 - Question My knees look really dry and they feel super rough. I apply cream everyday but that does nothing. What do I do?
Melissa Jannes Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator Melissa Jannes is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Maebee's Beauty Studio in Philadelphia, a single practitioner space providing quality services with individualized attention. She received her esthetics degree at The Beauty School of Middletown in 2008 and is licensed in Pennsylvania.
Melissa Jannes Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator Expert Answer Exfoliation may be a good solution. Try dry brushing your skin once a day with a natural-bristled brush, and using a body scrub once or twice a week. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
Reader Videos
Submit a Video Tip!Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!
Submit a Video Coming Soon!Tips
- If you get razor burn, apply baby powder or aloe vera to soothe your skin. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below. - You can also get a electric shaver if you don't want to use a regular razor. You don't need to apply any shaving cream! Just make sure to apply body butter afterwards so your legs are smooth.
- Try a Gillette shaver; they leave your legs as smooth as baby!
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References
- ↑ https://lamag.com/news/the-shower-sitch-to-brush-or-to-scrub
- ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/g9565176/smooth-legs-tips/
- ↑ https://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/a6599/how-to-use-body-scrub/
- ↑ https://lamag.com/news/the-shower-sitch-to-brush-or-to-scrub
- ↑ https://www.glamour.com/story/why-you-should-dry-brush-legs-butt
- ↑ https://lamag.com/news/the-shower-sitch-to-brush-or-to-scrub
- ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a30965298/dry-brushing-benefits-how-to/
- ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/g9565176/smooth-legs-tips/
- ↑ https://www.glamour.com/story/how-to-shave-correctly
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/how-to-shave
- ↑ https://share.upmc.com/2018/11/how-to-get-rid-of-razor-bumps/
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/remove-unwanted-hair
- ↑ https://www.self.com/story/the-best-time-to-moisturize
- ↑ https://www.elle.com.au/beauty/smooth-legs-winter-24181
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/04/25/how-to-combine-acids-and-retinols-in-a-skincare-routine/?sh=28b231a04fbb
- ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/g9565176/smooth-legs-tips/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-skin/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353891
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/humidifiers/art-20048021
- ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/g9565176/smooth-legs-tips/
- ↑ https://www.uwhealth.org/madison-plastic-surgery/the-benefits-of-drinking-water-for-your-skin/26334
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/how-to-wax
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/remove-unwanted-hair
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/remove-unwanted-hair
- ↑ https://www.glamour.com/story/guide-to-laser-hair-removal
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/remove-unwanted-hair
- ↑ https://health.costhelper.com/electrolysis.html
About This Article
To get smooth legs, start by using a loofah and exfoliating cream in the shower to remove dead skin cells. Next, grab a fresh razor, apply shaving cream, and shave up your legs, against the grain, to get the closest shave. Don't forget the areas around your ankles and knees! Then, rinse your legs with cool water, pat them dry, and follow up with a thick layer of lotion to keep your skin soft and hydrated! To explore other options like waxing and depilatory creams, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
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Sabrina Stokes
May 1, 2018
"The tip that helped me the most was learning to shave upward instead of a down shave motion, and also knowing that I can use a conditioner if I am out of shaving cream or if my choice is to use conditioner it's up to me these are the tips that helped me."..." more
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Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Sabrina Stokes
May 1, 2018
"The tip that helped me the most was learning to shave upward instead of a down shave motion, and also knowing that I can use a conditioner if I am out of shaving cream or if my choice is to use conditioner it's up to me these are the tips that helped me."..." moreFarra Khan
Feb 24, 2019
"Thank you so much. You help me with all the problems I can ever think of."Anonymous
Sep 9, 2016
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Apr 13, 2016
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Mar 30, 2016
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