Should You Shave Before or After the Shower: The Right Time Is the Shower Question
Few moments in life rival a boy coming a man quite like learning to shave. Whether it was a father-son moment, some helpful tips from an older brother, or razor in hand watching a how-to YouTube video, the first time that razor touched your skin, it signified you were now a man. While over the years shaving equipment and products have rapidly changed for the better, it’s a safe bet that the fundamentals of shaving will remain the same.
However, a question that seems to still plagues us is: When is the best time to shave, before or after the shower? Well, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in and figure out when the best time for you to shave is in relation to the shower!
Here’s a few things to keep in mind when finding the perfect time to shave for you:
- How much time do you have available to complete the shaving process?
- Which type of razor are you using: bladed or electric?
- How sensitive is your skin?
- How soft on average is your facial hair?
- Which products do you use when shaving: dry shave or shaving creams/oils?
All of these factors will help you decide which time is the right time for you. Also, we’ve all heard the myth that shaving will cause your hair to grow back faster and thicker. However, this is just that, a myth. According to a study from Scientific American, there is no evidence that shaving affects the thickness or coarseness of the follicle. So, feel free to shave as often as needed. Now that we’ve answered these questions, let’s dive in deeper.
Should You Shave Before Your Shower?
Arguably the biggest benefit to shaving before your shower is its fast! If you’re strapped for time, this is the option for you. No thrills or frills, just get in there and get the job done.
Also, if you use an electric razor, this is the option for you. Electric razors actually work far better when shaving dry hair, which tends to be a bit firmer, and easily stands up to the power of a rotating blade.
Lastly, shaving before your shower makes for an easy clean up. The stray hair clippings that would normally be all over your neck and chest are easily rinsed away during your shower, a process which would typically involve you rewashing your face and neck, had you showered already.
The downsides however of shaving before your shower is for those of us with sensitive skin. Dry shaving is one of the easiest ways to irritate your skin. Razor burn, reddening of the skin, and yes even nicks and cuts, are far more prevalent when shaving pre-shower. Also, shaving pre-shower typically doesn’t allow for the closest possible shave, as the steam from the shower tends to open your pores and have your facial hair “stick out” further.
Should You Shave After Your Shower?
The best part about shaving after your shower is the efficiency of the shave. When we shower, the steam causes the pores on our face to open up, giving us easy access to the hair follicles, thus resulting in a much closer shave. If you use a traditional safety razor, this is definitely the option for you.
Shaving after your shower is also much better for those of us with sensitive skin. By softening the hairs, and putting pre-shave oil on the face prior to shaving, it allows your razor to glide effortlessly and efficiently, resulting in far less irritation.
Conversely, shaving after your shower does take a bit more time, and will result in a bit more clean up than a pre-shower shave. However, if you are pressed for time but still want all the benefits of a post shower shave, invest in a fogless mirror and shave in the shower! Now that’s a win-win.
Also, if you use an electric shaver, this is not the option for you. As we previously said electric razors can be a rougher shave, and fresh out of the shower hydrated facial hair typically doesn’t stand up well to the power of the electric razor. And unless your electric shaver is waterproof, you do run the risk of damaging the device.
Tips for An Amazing Shaving Experience
Regardless of when you choose to shave, there are a few tips to follow to make sure the experience is not only efficient, but also is pleasant and pain free.
- Use a Pre-Shave Oil – A good pre shave oil can make a huge difference in your shave. It not only offers enhanced lubrication for your razor, but also adds a layer of protection between the razor and your face, significantly reducing irritation and the risk of cuts.
- Use a Traditional Shaving Cream – Traditional shaving creams are far superior to pressurized foams. They not only provide a better cushion for your blade, but also offer better lubrication.
- Use a Shaving Brush – It may seem a bit old fashioned, but shaving brushes will greatly enhance your shaving experience. The shaving brush is key to removing dirt and dead skin cells that may clog your razor, reducing the effectiveness of the blade. The swirling of the brush also activates the key ingredients in the shaving cream, resulting in a thicker lather.
- Use a Safety Razor – We highly recommend investing in a quality safety razor. Here’s why. Safety razors greatly reduce the amount of irritation caused when shaving, and it has to do with the number of passes of the blades across you face. A cartridge razor with let’s say four blades in theory sounds efficient, however truth be told, only the first one or two blades is even cutting hair.
The Perfect Shower Routine Recap
With all this talk about shaving before or after your shower, we thought it might not be a bad idea to have a little refresher on how to maximize your shower routine for a truly next level clean.
- Choose the Right Shampoo for You: Using the proper shampoo is key to hair health. Shampoos are designed with specific problems in mind. Choosing the right one ensures you’ll be dandruff free, with healthy and hydrated locks.
- Condition: We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again, condition more and shampoo less. Conditioner is important for restoring your hairs vitamins and nutrients. So yes gentlemen, we do need to condition.
- Keep the Temperature Low: Sure, a nice hot shower feels great, but can also do some serious damage to your skin and hair. Avoid dry hair and skin irritation, turn that shower a bit to the cold side.
- Wash Your Face: Just like with shaving, washing your face during the shower is a great way to maximize the cleanliness, as the pores of your skin tend to open from the steam of the shower. We recommend grabbing a dedicated face scrub and leaving it right in the shower.
- Use a Loofah with Your Body Wash: A shower loofah will not only maximize the potential of the body wash, creating that amazing suds effect, but will also exfoliate and clean your skin much better than your bare hands. Not to mention, it will help cut down on the amount of product needed, saving you cash!
- Don’t Forget Your Feet: No gents, the water running down will not clean feet. Get in there and get scrubbing. We recommend using a foot file in the shower to handle the less than desirable regions, like feet.
Follow these tips for a truly amazing shower and shave. Whether you decide that shaving before or after you shower is the right time for you, make sure to enjoy the process. There are few times a man feels more like a man than having a great shave. So, make sure it’s an enjoyable experience, not just a chore.
Make Sure To Check Out:
The Guide To Trimming Sideburns
How To Properly Trim Your Eyebrows
How To Trim Your Mustache With Precision
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