You’ve just shaved for the first time in what feels like months and you’re feeling pretty great about it. It’s the weekend, and you’re finally shedding your sweatpants and loungewear for a cute outfit that you’ve been saving for a fun night out. But as you dry your legs and are about to slather a body lotion on (which you rarely remember to do as you’re rushing out the door) you look down and see your legs are dotted with dark spots, like the outside of a strawberry. Your legs feel smooth, but every pore is suddenly visible, and you feel like all that extra work you put into shaving was wasted, and suddenly those sweatpants that you had sloughed off earlier start sounding a little more appealing. This annoying skin condition is colloquially known as strawberry legs.
 

How Do You Get Rid of Strawberry Legs?

Before we get into how, we need to know why. The medical term for strawberry legs is open comedones. This occurs when hair follicles become clogged. Ingrown hairs can cause this, but so can an excess of dead skin cells, sebum, and dirt. Aside from ingrown hairs, which can be painful, open comedones are harmless but can be frustrating when they appear as multiple dark spots on your skin, especially if you have a lighter skin tone. (Dealing with annoying ingrown hairs? Click here.
 
The most common cause of strawberry legs however, is due to a less-than-stellar shaving technique. Strawberry legs often occur when the razor you’re using is dull, thus unable to effectively eliminate the hair close enough to the follicle. The hair follicle then becomes exposed to the air and oxidizes, resulting in darkened pores.
 

Follow These Steps for Smooth, Poreless Legs:

1. Open up those pores
   If you’re shaving in the shower, save the task of shaving your legs until the very end. You want to make sure you’re in the shower for as long as possible before shaving to make sure the steam and warm water has opened your pores. If you’re pampering in the tub, that’s even better. Soak your legs for at least 3-4 minutes before shaving.

 

2. Exfoliate the right way
   Scrub away excess dead skin, sebum and dirt but do it gently! Use a fine-grained scrub and massage in a circular motion, starting from your ankles up. Rinse away completely before moving on to the next step. You definitely don’t want any scrub lingering on your skin before you move in with your razor. (To make your own DIY scrub, click here.)

 

3. Make sure your razor is sharp and clean
   If you’ve read any Shave Talks pieces before, you know to wash and dry your razor thoroughly after you’re done using it. But washing your razor before use, with hot rushing water, will ensure your razor is at its most clean. This will eliminate any potential debris that may be stuck within the platform and makes sure that your razor can glide easily along your skin without excess friction.
    
   And if you can’t remember the last time you replaced your blade cartridge or threw out your disposable, swap it out for a new one! By using fresh blades you’ll have less of a chance of excess irritation and drag.

 

4. Shaving cream, not soap
   Step away from the body wash! Soaps and body wash are actually too harsh to be shaving with and can dry out your skin even further. Use a shaving cream instead. The variety that comes in a tube is best, since canned shaving foam contains ingredients that can dry out skin as well. If you don’t have a good shaving cream on hand, try using your hair conditioner or coconut oil, even. When it comes to shaving cream, we’re aiming for gentle, nourishing lubrication, like the Dorco D Crème Shaving Cream. It provides a cushiony, mentholated shave for an effortless glide. The cooling sensation from the menthol and the natural ingredients like aloe vera and coconut oil will refresh and protect skin.
    
   And if you can’t remember the last time you replaced your blade cartridge or threw out your disposable, swap it out for a new one! By using fresh blades you’ll have less of a chance of excess irritation and drag.

 

5. Moisturize
   Rinse, dry, and smooth on a rich, hydrating moisturizer. Skip that thin, complimentary body lotion you still have from your last hotel stay and invest in a body butter or lotion that will treat your skin right. Find one with natural ingredients if you can, and apply it right after you’ve dried off. Your skin has the best chance of absorbing the product when you’re fresh from the shower.

 

And there you have it. The step-by-step protocol for smooth, poreless legs. It’s a tad lengthier than your normal shave routine, which for some of you will be a massive bummer since shaving in the first place was a stretch. But when you do have the time, you’ll know that you’ll be free of those annoying dark spots.
 
Say goodbye to strawberry legs for good and get yourself a shaving system that your skin deserves. Try the Shai Soft Touch for a smooth, long-lasting, 6-blade shave that effortlessly eliminates hair as close to the follicle as possible. The dual 3-blade platform also hinges and flexes in the middle to keep in close contact with every unique contour. Plus, Dorco shaving systems are priced up to 75% less than the cost of leading brands, so you’ll be winning twice.