Let's talk about the challenges of shaving when you have an ostomy wafer. The main issue is that body hair under the wafer can affect how well it sticks, leading to leaks. Traditional shaving methods can irritate the skin, cause ingrown hairs, and even risk nicking the stoma. Plus, the lubricating strips on many razors can interfere with the wafer's ability to stick properly. Here's some advice and alternatives that might help:

1. Consider using a small, battery-powered nose or ear hair trimmer. It's a gentle option that avoids blades, reducing the risk of skin irritation. This method has been found to keep the skin around the stoma irritation-free and improve wafer adhesion.

2. Try Brava elastic barrier strips. These half-oval shaped strips can be placed around the flange or wafers, with one on the top and one on the bottom. They help form a snug seal, reducing itching and leakage. Many find them more effective than using 3 mm 3M Transpore surgical tape.

3. Women's disposable razors are generally milder than men's models. Some people have used them for over 20 years without experiencing skin problems when shaving peristomal hair.

4. A small, battery-powered ladies’ bikini-line razor is another gentle option. It provides satisfactory hair removal without causing skin irritation.