Should You Shave Before or After a Shower?

Most of us run the morning routine on autopilot, and the order of shower and shave is usually whatever we did as teenagers. It is worth a second thought, because it changes how the blade feels on your skin and how your face feels for the rest of the day. The short answer is to shave after a warm shower, or at the end of it. Here is why, when shaving before a shower still makes sense, and how to shave in the shower without making a mess of it. The right tools matter too, so we cover those along the way.

Key takeaways

• Shave after a warm shower. With a cartridge razor and shaving cream, shaving after (or at the end of) a warm shower gives the most comfortable shave.
• Warm water does the work. A few minutes of warm water softens the hair, so the blade cuts with less tugging and fewer passes.
• Shaving in the shower is fine too, if you can see what you are doing and keep your razor and cream within reach.
• Before a shower makes sense for dry electric shavers, or if you are short of time. With a blade, it is usually rougher.
• Sensitive skin gains the most from shaving after a shower, with a proper shaving cream and a sharp blade.

Shave before or after shower: the short answer

Shave after. Or, if you prefer, at the very end of the shower, once you have washed.

Dry facial hair is surprisingly tough. Soak it in warm water for a few minutes and it softens and swells, which makes the hair easier to cut.^[1] That means less pull on each hair, fewer passes over the same patch and less irritation afterwards, so a smooth shave takes less effort. The shower also washes away the excess oil and dead skin cells that would otherwise clog the blades.^[2]

Shaving before a shower is only really the better choice if you use a dry electric shaver, which prefers dry hair. For a blade and cream, shaving after a shower wins.

What changes when you shave before vs after a shower?

Before the shower, stubble is stiff. Hair that has not been near warm water resists the razor. You get more friction, more tugging and a higher risk of nicks, and you usually need more passes to get it smooth. More passes means more discomfort and a greater chance of razor burn.

After a few minutes of warm water, the hair is soft. It takes on moisture and becomes noticeably easier to cut. The razor glides with less pressure, and one or two passes is usually enough to achieve a close shave.

The skin is clean. Washing first clears away oil, sweat and loose dead skin cells, so the blades stay clearer and there is less for them to drag over. Gentle exfoliation helps for the same reason; our guide on whether to exfoliate before or after shaving covers when.

What about pores and steam? You will often read that steam “opens your pores” ready for a shave. Dermatologists put large pores down to how much oil your skin makes, how firm the skin around each pore is and the size of the hair follicle.^[3] Hot water is no help to them either. The American Academy of Dermatology says it can irritate the skin and make pores look larger.^[4] For a shave, the pores are beside the point. What warm water does is soften the hair, and that is the part that matters.

There is a sweet spot. You want warm, not scalding, and a normal shower length, not a long soak. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests five to ten minutes in warm water, and shaving at the end of it.^[5] Hot water can wash away the skin’s natural oils^[6], which leaves it tight and dry after shaving.

The benefits of shaving after a shower

These are the biggest advantages of putting the shave at the end of your shave routine rather than the start.

• Comfort. Softer hair needs less force to cut, so there is less redness and less sting, especially on the neck.
• Fewer strokes. Soft, hydrated hair lets a sharp cartridge cut cleanly in fewer strokes. Warm water first and as few strokes as possible are both on the NHS list for avoiding ingrown hairs.^[7]
• Cleaner blades. Washed skin means less oil and debris clogging the cartridge.
• Better hydration. Shaving damp, warm skin with a proper shaving cream leaves it feeling fresh and comfortable rather than tight.
• One simple routine. Wash your body and hair, cleanse your face, then shave at the end, either in the shower or straight after at the basin.

If you cannot shower first, a warm, damp flannel held on the skin softens the hair in much the same way.^[1] Our homemade barbershop hot towel guide shows how.

When shaving before a shower still makes sense

• You use a dry electric shaver. Many electric shavers are designed to work on dry hair, so shave before water touches your face. Our guide to electric shavers versus wet shaving explains the difference.
• You are short of time and want the mess gone. Shaving first means the shower rinses away stray hairs and cream.

If you do shave with a blade before your shower, still prepare the skin. Splash on plenty of warm water, or hold a warm flannel on your face for a minute or two, then use a proper shaving cream. Never drag a razor over dry skin. And expect it to feel a bit rougher than shaving afterwards.

How to shave in the shower

Shaving in the shower counts as an after-shower shave, since your face has already had plenty of warm water. Plenty of men prefer it. A few things make it work.

• Be able to see. A small anti-fog mirror on the wall helps, especially for the neck and around the mouth and nose. If you cannot see, shave at the basin straight after instead.
• Keep everything in reach. A shelf or rack for your razor and shaving cream saves bending and dropping things.
• Turn the heat down a touch. Warm water to soften the hair, then slightly cooler while you shave, so the skin does not dry out.
• Keep the cream on. Shower spray can rinse shaving cream off before you get to it. Face away from the water while you lather and shave, and reapply on any patch that needs a second pass.
• Rinse the blade often. Hold it under the showerhead for a second after every stroke or two.
• Stand steady. Wet floors and wet hands are a poor mix. A handle with some weight and grip helps.
• Save water. Turn the flow down, or off, while you shave.

Shaving after a shower with sensitive skin

If your skin reacts easily, shaving after a shower is almost always the better option whatever your skin type. A little extra care helps keep your skin healthy.

• Use warm, not hot, water. Hot water can wash away the skin’s natural oils^[6], and dry skin is quicker to sting.
• Wash gently. A mild, fragrance-free wash, no harsh scrubs on shave days.
• Use a cream made for sensitive skin. A thick, cushioning shaving cream without heavy fragrance protects the skin far better than soap or a thin shaving foam from a can.
• Go with the grain. Shave in the direction the hair grows, with light pressure, and keep to as few passes as you can. Here is why shaving against the grain causes trouble.
• Finish calmly. Rinse with cool water to calm the skin^[8], pat dry with a clean towel and use a simple, fragrance-free, alcohol-free moisturiser or balm.

From the Colonel’s shelf

What to take into the shower

A sharp blade, always Classic Five blades, a precision trimmer and a roller on the leading edge. Fresh refills come through your letterbox on the schedule you pick, so softened hair always meets a sharp edge. £10 to start, then 4 refills for £10 or 8 for £17.50 Start with the Classic For skin that reacts Sensitive Shaving Cream Made for sensitive skin and allergen-free, with a fresh fougère scent. A thick lather that holds up in a steamy bathroom. £8 for a 75ml tin See the cream Lifts the hairs The Shaving Brush Lifts softened hairs and builds a thicker lather than fingers can, so the blade cuts cleanly instead of tugging. Vegan synthetic bristles on a hand-finished wooden base. £20 See the brush

Every first Classic or VIP order comes with 30 days money back. Shave with it for a month, and if it is not for you, we refund it in full with nothing to send back.

Step by step: the after-shower shave

1. Shower in warm water for a few minutes. Wash your face to clear oil and dead skin.
2. Leave your face damp. Pat it lightly so it is still wet, not dripping.
3. Lather up. Work an almond-sized amount of shaving cream into the beard with your fingertips or a shaving brush, which lifts the hairs and builds a thicker lather.
4. Shave with the grain first. Short, light strokes. On the cheeks and jaw that is usually downwards; on the neck, check your hair growth direction before you start.
5. Rinse the razor often under hot running water so hair and cream do not build up between the blades.
6. Second pass only if you need it. Re-lather, then go across the grain gently.
7. Rinse with cool water, pat dry and moisturise. Once you have finished shaving, leave the razor somewhere it can dry, not in the wet shower tray.^[2]

A sharp blade matters as much as the timing. Soft hair cut with a blunt edge still drags. Our guide on how often to change your razor explains when it is time, and our guide on how to shave properly covers the full routine.

Questions people ask

Sources

1. American Academy of Dermatology, 6 razor bump prevention tips from dermatologists
2. American Academy of Dermatology, Hair removal: How to shave
3. Lee SJ and others, Dermatologic Surgery (2016), Facial Pores: Definition, Causes, and Treatment Options
4. American Academy of Dermatology, What can treat large facial pores?
5. American Academy of Dermatology, Dermatologists’ top tips for relieving dry skin
6. Harvard Health Publishing, 9 ways to banish dry skin
7. NHS, Ingrown hairs
8. DermNet, Shaving
9. Cleveland Clinic, 7 Dermatologist Approved Tips to Shrink Your Pores