Shave before or after a shower? My Personal Thoughts

Should you shave before or after you take a shower? This is an old argument that won’t go away. I’ve tried both ways more times than I can remember, just like a lot of guys and some women. I have strong feelings about this, so be aware of that. Instead of just telling you which one I like better, let’s talk about the pros and cons of each, why I chose one over the other, and how you can get the most out of your shaving process.

The First Thing I Did Was Shave Before I Got in the Shower

In my teens, I didn’t give shaving much thought when I first started. I would just get my razor, wet my face, and start shaving. I was always in a hurry, so I would shave before getting in the shower.

Better if You Shave Before You Shower:

Faster Process: It seemed faster to shave first and then use the shower to wash off any shaving cream or gel that was left over.
Dry Beard: The hair on my face was dry and stiff, which helped me see where I was cutting.
No Post-Shave Residue: Washing my face after shaving felt good and got rid of any shave product that was still on my face.

Not Cool to Shave Before the Shower:

Itchy Skin: Afterward, my skin always felt a little raw, and I often got razor burn or little red bumps.
Razor Drag: The razor would tug and pull on my face hair because it wasn’t softened. This was painful and made the cut rough and uneven.
Clogged Razor: My razor got clogged up a lot faster when my hair was dry.

After a while, I noticed that this way of shaving made my face feel itchy and a little red. So I thought it was time to try something else since it wasn’t exactly smooth or nice.

Making a Change: Shaving After the Shower

One day, just for fun, I decided to switch things up and shave after taking a shower. In all honesty, it changed everything.

Why Shaving After a Shower Is a Good Idea:

Hair Softer: The warm water and steam from the shower made my face hair much softer and easier to cut.
Open Pores: My skin felt calmer, and the razor seemed to run more smoothly, making it less likely that I would get cuts or nicks.
Closer Shave: I could get a much closer and better shave with fewer passes because the hair was warmer.
Less Irritation: I had a lot less razor burn and ingrown hairs.

Not So Good Things About Shaving After a Shower:

Time-Taking: My process took a little longer because I waited until after the shower.
Skin that Was Wet: Sometimes my skin felt a little too soft, which made it easier for me to cut myself if I wasn’t careful.
Mirrors that Fog Up: It’s hard to see what you’re doing if your mirror is foggy.

Why I Couldn’t Stop Shaving After the Shower

In the end, I found that shaving after a shower was more helpful than harmful. I realised that even though it took a little longer, the extra pleasure and less irritation were well worth the extra time. I didn’t have to think as much about those annoying red bumps on my skin because it felt and looked better.

I also found a way to fix the mirror fog problem: I use an anti-fog spray or leave a small hole in the shower door to let some steam escape. It also made a huge difference to buy a good razor and shave cream.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Shaving

Now, whether you shave before or after your shower, here are some tips to make the process easier and more fun:

Get Ready: To open up your pores, you should always use warm water, even if you shave before you shower.
Use Good Products: A blade that is sharp and good shaving cream or gel make a big difference.
Calm Your Face Down: If you want to calm your face down after shaving, use a soothing aftershave or moisturiser.
Clean Your Razor: To keep the blade from getting clogged and dragging, rinse it well between strokes.
Replace Your Blades Often: A dull blade will cause cuts and discomfort quickly.

In Real Life, I Still Shave Before I Get in the Shower

Even though I strongly believe in shaving after a shower, there are times when I still choose to shave before:

Sometimes I Just Don’t Have Time: For a long shower and shave when I’m running late.
If My Skin Is Too Soft: I’ll only do this very rarely if my skin feels too wet. I do this to avoid getting cuts.

The Shower Wins in the End

Even though everyone’s hair and face is different, I’ve always had better results when I shave after I shower. It’s smoother, doesn’t itch as much, and feels better all around. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should definitely do so, especially if you have razor burn or ingrown hairs.

What did I learn most from all the testing I did over the years? Change things up and see what works best for you. Your cleaning routine should make you feel good about yourself at the end of the day, whether you do it before or after the shower.

How About You?

Have you tried both ways? Which one do you like best, and why? Leave your thoughts below; I’d love to hear your shaving tips and stories.

Should You Shave Before or After You Shower? My Own Thoughts and Observations