Should I Exfoliate Before Or After Shaving?
There seems to be a lot of confusion when it comes to exfoliating before or after shaving. Should you exfoliate before you shave to get a closer shave? Or should you exfoliate after you shave to prevent razor burn and ingrown hairs? Both are true, and in this blog, we show you exactly when you should, or shouldnt exfoliate.
Should I Exfoliate Before Or After Shaving?
Exfoliating before you shave is a great idea because it removes dead skin cells from skin that can become stuck inside your razor and reduce its effectiveness.
Having a lot of dead skin cells when you shave can also cause the blade to be dull, which could cause razor burn and potentially ingrown hairs. Exfoliating before shaving will remove those skin cells and give you a much closer and easier shave.
Do You Exfoliate Before Or After Shaving Pubic Area?
Exfoliating your pubic area before shaving is a great idea because it will remove the dead skin cells that can get stuck in the razor blade. Dead skin cells can become stuck inside the blade and make it dull, which could lead to razor burn because the skin in your pubic area is much more sensitive, so you want to avoid a dull blade in this area.
Is It Good To Exfoliate After Shaving?
Exfoliating a few days after shaving is a good idea because it will allow the hair to grow back cleanly. But we do not recommend exfoliating right after you shave, especially if you already exfoliated before you shaved.
Later in the article, we discuss taking care of your skin right after shaving.
Should You Exfoliate Before or After Waxing?
It's ok to exfoliate your skin a few days before waxing, but you do not want to exfoliate the day you are waxing. You want the skin barrier to be completely intact before waxing. This will minimize any burning or irritation.
You also don't want to exfoliate right after waxing either because your skin just experienced a mild form of trauma, and exfoliating right away can also irritate the skin.
When Should You Exfoliate?
You can Exfoliate any time of the day, but exfoliating in the morning is ideal because the skin repairs itself and heals at night, so your skin is most fresh and ready for exfoliation in the morning.
You don't want to exfoliate more than 2 - 3 times per week. We suggest planning your exfoliating routine around your shaving routine. It's ok to exfoliate in the morning each time before you shave.
Should you Exfoliate and shave on the same day?
Exfoliating right before you shave is the best time because it will remove the dead skin cells and leave a nice clean slate for shaving. It will also ensure you get the perfect shave and reduce razor burn.
What Type Of Exfoliation Is Best For Shaving?
There are three types of exfoliation. Dermatologists recommend physical exfoliants like a light exfoliating scrub or creme. These will remove the dead skin cells in a natural and nonabrasive way.
Chemical exfoliants containing ingredients like Hydroxy Acid, Citric acid, and lactic acid are not recommended before shaving because those ingredients can cause irritation on the skin.
Mechanical exfoliants are similar to physical exfoliants, but they feature larger granules. For example, sugar or salt scrub is an example of a mechanical exfoliant. These can also cause a lot of skin irritation because of the larger granules and are not recommended before shaving.
How To Care For Skin After Shaving?
Taking care of your skin after you shave is very important to keeping your skin healthy. So many people do not do anything after they shave and experience something like razor bumps. Shaving aftercare is just as important as shaving yourself if you want to look your best. We will go over the top ways to take care of your skin right after you shave.
Use an Aftershave Product
Aftershaves are a great product to use right after you shave. Aftershaves are designed to clear out the pores of any bacteria that could cause irritation, razor burn, and bumps.
Aftershaves come in three different types, splash, lotion, and balm. Our favorite option is the balm because they are generally alcohol-free and have more moisturizing effects than the other two options.
Moisturizing Cream
Moisturizing is another great option, especially if you don't want to use aftershave. A natural moisturizing cream will help the skin from becoming irritated and replenish the skin with moisture because some shaving creams can actually remove some of that moisture.
It's also ok to use an aftershave balm and moisturizer together to create the perfect aftershave routine that will leave your skin fresh and healthy.
The Best Shaving Alternative
If you are still experiencing irritation, razor burns, bumps, or ingrown hairs, no matter what you do, then it could be time to consider a shaving alternative.
The best shaving alternative is an electric razor. Electric razors have made a ton of progress in recent years, and you can even get a skin-close trim almost identical to shaving. The best part about electric trimmers is they don't cause skin irritation, so you don't have to worry about razor bumps or ingrown hairs.
The Brio beardscape is a fantastic option because it lasts longer than other trimmers and has high-precision trimming blades that won't pull any hairs. You can pair it with the Zero Blade which is a ceramic blade that will help get that skin close trim just like shaving, but without all the downsides.
Conclusion
That's it! We hope we answered the question of when you should exfoliate when you plan to shave. Remember not to exfoliate too much, and have an excellent aftershave skin care routine. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Happy grooming!
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