Welcome Gents! For those of us that don’t keep large beards, having to shave regularly as part of our grooming routine is a chore. It is time consuming and requires focus to get the job done properly. However, determining when to shave is not as straightforward as you think since it can impact the quality of your skin. Therefore, there are a few questions that need to be answered to know what is the best time for you, if you should shave before or after a shower, to help your skin. In this article we walk you through the main factors to determine when to shave and help you learn how to shave properly so that you can protect your facial skin.
Top 3 Factors To Determine When To Shave
Knowing when to shave whether it be before you shower or after boils down into three key factors. Understanding your situation according to these factors will help you make a decision on timing for a shave.
#1. Time Available
How much time do you have available to complete the shaving process? Answering this question is key to determining when to shave. During our morning routines, we need to get up early to complete many tasks such as grooming, jumping into the shower, getting dressed and then leaving for work.
If you’re trying to get some extra minutes of sleep you aren’t left with too much time. Given you have a time constraint in the morning, it would not make sense to shave after showering since you have limited time to go through the process.
Assuming you have more time, for example in the evening, you can afford to shave during that time and not have to worry about running out the door. All you would have to do is shower, shave, throw on your pajamas, and head to bed.
#2. Skin Type
Knowing what type of skin you have and understanding if it is sensitive or not is another key factor for determining what time to shave and how your skin reacts. Assuming you have combination or oily skin, you are fine shaving before you shower. This is because your skin is already softer from the higher sebum content and can withstand the impact from a razor.
If you have sensitive skin or dry skin, then we recommend shaving after a shower. The reason for this is that shaving causes irritation if your skin is not moist or dampened. Therefore, using the shower to heat and hydrate your skin first will work the best for those with a sensitive or dry skin type.
#3. Type of Razor
The final question you need to answer is, which type of razor are you using, bladed or electric? Starting with an electric razor, your hair should be more upright and less flat to effectively shave with this tool. When you shower your hair follicles become softened and flatter from the hot water. Therefore if you plan on using an electric shaver, we recommend shaving before you shower.
On the other hand, if you prefer using a multi blade cartridge razor or a straight razor blade, then we recommend shaving after you shower. Again, shaving pulls and tugs on your skin and can cause razor burn or bumps. Furthermore, if your beard has not been flattened, then you will experience more tugging and harshness due to hair being caught in the razor blades. Thus, by showering before you shave then your hair will be softened and flattened to prevent any skin irritation and will be primed for a smoother shave.
Steps For Shaving Before You Shower
If you have opted for dry shave before your shower with a razor blade then will want to follow the below steps closely. These steps will ensure that you have minimal irritation before you jump into the shower.
If you are using an electric razor then you can disregard the below steps and begin shaving the dry hair follicles immediately.
#1. Warm Water
First, you want to use warm water to soften the hair on your face and leave your skin more pliable. The reason you want to dampen your beard is so that the blade can more effectively shave down your facial hair and provide you with a close shave. Also, this will decrease how much your hair will be tugged on by the blade, prevent any razor bumps, and ingrown hair. Generally, starting your process out with warm water over your hair follicles will give you a more comfortable shave.
#2. Lather
Next, after your face has been dampened and facial hair softened, you can take out your favorite shaving cream and start rubbing it into your beard. You want to rub the shaving cream into a creamy lather until there is a thick coat and all of your hair follicles are covered completely.
#3. Shave With The Grain
Once you have a thick lather of shaving cream, you can begin shaving. Go ahead and remove all of the hair you want to shave off. However, note that you should shave in the direction that your hair is flowing. This means you should not shave against the grain. Going against the grain is the primary reason why your skin becomes irritated where you start getting razor burn or acne.
#4. Rinse
The last step of the process is to rinse. The reason that this is important, although very simple, is because you want to wipe away any debris and dead skin cells that could potentially become trapped in your pores. Without a quick rinse, your pores may become clogged and this can lead to breakouts.
Steps For Shaving After You Shower
Next, if you are comfortable with shaving after you shower and have extra time to spend on your shaving routine, then follow the below steps. Note that all of these steps are meant to be used for razor blades and not electric shavers.
#1. Lather
Given you have already showered, there is no need for dampening your face again and you can start the process with applying shaving cream and creating a thick lather. You can create the lather with your fingers or by using a shaving brush. The lather should thoroughly cover all of the hair follicles you want to shave.
#2. Shave With The Grain
Next you want to shave all of the hair you want to remove. The technique for shaving should be with the grain of your facial hairs. Not doing this can lead to acne due to the irritation caused by hairs being pulled out of pores when shaving against the grain.
#3. Cleanse
Since you have already showered, you will need to cleanse your face after shaving. There are two reasons why you should cleanse. The first reason is so that after-shave debris and dead skin cells are removed and don’t become trapped in your pores. The other reason is to prevent body odor and bad smell. Your razor over time can become dirty creating an unclean smell after your shave.
#4. Moisturize
The last step is to moisturize. Any time you cleanse your skin with face wash you should moisturize so that your skin is not dried out after the shave. This will ensure that your skin stays hydrated and can recover effectively from the irritation of the shave.
Should I Shave During My Shower?
Shower shaving does not get discussed as much but it should be. From a time efficiency standpoint, a wet shave would be most efficient. Since you are in the shower already, your facial will become softened and you can cleanse your face right after the shave. All you need to shave during your shower is a razor blade and a fogless mirror. The downside here is that you will not be able to use electric shavers due to you being exposed to alot of water. Another benefit of shaving in the shower is that it is also significantly less messy and you don’t need to clean up afterwards. Lastly, the additional moisture from being in the shower will prevent skin irritation on your face. Overall, you can opt for wet shaving during your shower if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Putting It All Together
Shaving is a key part of all guy’s grooming routine. As mentioned, there are advantages and disadvantages to shaving before or after your shower. Ultimately what works for your unique situation is what really matters for your shaving regimen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happens If I Shave My Beard Everyday?
Although there is limited scientific evidence that shaving everyday causes your hair to grow back faster. Most guys claim that there is a correlation between shaving more frequently and have how fast their facial hair grows back. Ultimately, all guys are genetically different and everyone’s hair has a unique reaction to shaving.
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