Preparation is crucial to most everyday tasks, especially when it comes to shaving. Most men have their routine and stick to it. That includes their favorite brand of the electric shaver and any products they like to use to apply to their skin afterward.
Ensuring a close, comfortable shave does not just depend on the electric shaver you use but whether you shave before or after showering. Even those who are set in their morning routine may wonder if they have got the order right.
The frequency of shaving nicks or stubble rash may make them change that routine and the timing of their shower. Getting ready in the morning should be a quick process, and that includes the time spent in the bathroom.
You cannot leave until you have washed and prepared for the day ahead, which includes a shower and a shave.
So should you shave before or after your shower using an electric shaver? We’ve got the pros and cons and all the answers to that question that you need! Let’s dive in and take a look.
Why You Should Shave Before You Shower
Shaving before a shower simply makes logistical sense for a lot of men. Rid your face of that stubble, then take care of the stray hairs on your body in the shower.
As opposed to a manual razor, you do not need to do a lot of preparation if you decide to use an electric shaver before you shower. There is no absolute requirement for a hot towel or shaving product to be applied to your face.
Shaving before you shower is best suited to a dry shaver only as the hair follicles are less inclined to clog the shaver.
You could also use a pre-shave lotion that is designed for an electric shaver though this is optional. The lotion will provide a welcome layer of lubrication to eliminate any moisture and tone the skin.
Stiff and dry hair is usually no match for an electric shaver, but if you want a truly close shave, you need softer hair. There is also the issue of your skin pores, especially when you think of shaving as exfoliating.
Should the pores be blocked with dirt and oil, the shaver will likely damage the skin and even infect it. If you do not want to suffer from a nasty skin rash for your next shave, then preparing your face beforehand is essential.
For a lot of men, a good close shave means preparing properly. Softening the hair follicles and opening up the skin pores by applying hot water.
You could still use a hot towel and apply it for a minute which is the technique you would find in a barbershop, yet a shower would make sense.
If you do not have a face cloth or a towel, you can simply splash hot water onto your face. This may help but may not open up the skin pores and soften hair follicles effectively.
The main drawback of shaving before you shower is that you may still want to apply hot water. Shaving during or after your shower simply means applying that hot water but in a way that your face is expecting anyway.
Shaving before you shower should still mean removing any build-up of dirt on your face to prevent irritation and skin rashes, which will typically mean a hot towel or face cloth.
You should still dry your face to prevent any damage to an electric razor that is not completely waterproof. Just as a shower would, this will raise your facial hair and make it easier for the electric shaver to produce a close shave.
Why You Could Shave While You Shower
You should appreciate that water and electricity do not mix. There is one thing to check before deciding to shave in the shower, and that is whether your electric razor is suitable for both dry and wet operation.
If you can find a waterproof electric shaver, there are certainly benefits for shaving while you shower.
There is a certain convenience in multitasking, and the warm conditions certainly help you become comfortable. The heat and steam production will soften your skin and the facial hair, which is ideal preparation for a close shave.
If you do decide to shave in the shower, you should do this towards the end, after you have washed your body and hair.
This allows as much time as possible for the hairs on your face to soften, which means a close, smooth shave. Warm, running water also helps to remove stubble as well as any product you might have applied.
If you are not used to shaving in the shower, then it can be a bit unsettling. This is despite manufacturers trying their best to make the task as comfortable as possible with their water-sealing technologies.
However, wet shaving with a waterproof electric razor is designed to be safe. This is a fast, convenient method of shaving, which is also demonstrably safe after you have gotten over how unnerving it can be.
Why You Should Shave After You Shower
For some seasoned shavers, having the time to shave is time to indulge in a job well done. Shaving before and even during a shower can seem rushed, and that may be the case if you have to get out of the door.
If you want to enjoy your shower and a bit of time to collect your thoughts before the day ahead, it is best to just concentrate on that. There should be time to focus on your shave, so set that aside for after your shower.
As you leave the shower, the bathroom should remain warm and steamy. Your face should also still be moist from standing under the shower. These are ideal conditions for a shave, as your face will have already been exposed to heat and steam.
You can replicate the conditions with a hot towel, yet that tends to only last a few seconds rather than a few minutes.
A lot of electric shavers work best on dry hair, so you may want to avoid that moistening step or simply pat dry your face with a face cloth after leaving the shower.
Should you shave after (or during) your shower, you would be wise to invest in a fogless mirror. After all, you really should keep track of where you are putting your electric shaver and whether you are clearing it effectively of facial hair.
These fogless mirrors come with a water-repellent coating to prevent the build-up of water vapor.
Some mirrors are built with a hot water reservoir that heats up the mirror to prevent steam build-up, though these are likely to be more expensive and larger than a regular or fogless mirror.
Even if your shower is only three minutes long, your hair follicles will thank you for it. That is ample time to absorb a sufficient amount of warm water to open up the skin pores and soften the hairs on your face.
This will make cutting them easier when you run an electric shaver over them. Not only is your face softened by the heat and steam, but bacteria and sebum will have been washed away.
If you worry about infection and irritation, then rinsing your face will remove any sebum and bacteria, leaving you feeling clean.
If you consider shaving as a form of exfoliation, then cleaning those skin cells before sloughing them off is far easier and more sensible. Especially when you note that you are exposing new skin cells and more susceptible skin.
Final Thoughts
Ensuring a worthwhile, close shave has a lot to do with the right preparation. That means choosing a routine that works for you with results you are endlessly pleased with. A smooth face with no shaving nicks is exactly what you want every time you shave.
You also want to find the right electric shaver that you have used for years so you know it will work well. That is if you decide to use it before, during, or after your shower.
If there was a decision to make, then using an electric shaver after a shower would be the optimum choice. Simply head to the sink, apply the electric shaver, and you are done.
Not only have you already cleaned your skin in the warm water, but you are saving yourself time by not having to apply warm water to your skin from the tap separately. You are essentially taking advantage of your skin and facial hair already being soft.
If you wanted to get into a routine that would save you time, then shaving after your shower is the way to go.
My name is Doug, and I've been growing a beard on and off for many years now.
I've not had a perfect journey on the road to growing a beard. I've spent more time than I want to admit learning about growing a beard. I'm not one of those blessed with perfect beard-growing genes. So, I've encountered many frustrating and challenging obstacles along the way.
I hope some of my mistakes and victories along the way will help you on your journey to your perfect beard. Of course, reach out if I can help and share this content with your friends that are beginning or struggling on their journey as well.
Beards are becoming increasingly popular and fashionable. This is because they help men feel more confident and look better than ever before. Contents show 1…
