So, the secret to a close shave is... to exfoliate? Well, not exactly but exfoliating is an amazing way to improve your shaving experience with added benefits for your skin! But do you exfoliate before or after shaving?
Top 5 Reasons to Exfoliate
- Unclogs pores
- Enhances absorption of skin care products
- Smooths skin tone and texture
- Promotes beautiful, radiant skin
- Improves blood flow
Do you exfoliate before or after shaving?
Thankfully the answer to this skin care question is pretty simple. You should exfoliate before shaving.
Exfoliating pre-shave removes excess dirt and dead skin cells to create a smooth surface for your razor.
Dead skin cells clog your pores causing ingrown hairs. Especially during shaving as your razor will collect and deposit them as you go.
This is why exfoliating before shaving is so beneficial.
Preparing your skin for hair removal
Jump in the shower and go about your normal washing routine. When ready to exfoliate, put a small amount of your chosen exfoliator on your fingers. Gently massage onto your skin in a circular motion.
Pay particular attention to areas that are more prone to dryness such as knees and ankles.
Rinse thoroughly after and apply your shaving cream right away. Give the cream a few minutes to really absorb into the hair follicles.
Can exfoliating help me get a closer shave?
Definitely! Exfoliating prior to shaving will lift and condition your hairs preventing them from lying flat against your skin.
This allows your razor to cut closer to the skins surface whilst also helping to soften hairs. This will make your shave more comfortable as well as helping you get a much closer shave.
You’ll notice you need less passes too… that means less friction and less irritation.
How long should I wait to shave after exfoliating?
Once your skin is clean and clear, you're ready to go. However, it is important to thoroughly rinse the exfoliator from your skin. Ideally with warm water.
Leaving the exfoliator on your skin for a minute or two extra will help further soften the hairs before shaving.
Once you've rinsed and applied your shave cream, you're good to go!
How often should I exfoliate?
Experts generally recommend exfoliating 2 - 3 times per week but if you've more oily skin and want to exfoliate more often, that's completely fine.
On the more sensitive areas of skin such as bikini line and under arms or if you've sensitive skin in general, drop that down to 1 to 2 times per week.
Is it OK to exfoliate the bikini area?
The skin around your bikini area is much more delicate and prone to ingrown hairs and razor bumps. We would definitely recommend exfoliating before shaving.
That being said, be gentle in this area. Only exfoliate around the top and sides and of course carefully and thoroughly rinse after.
Don't leave the exfoliator applied for any longer than 3 minutes on areas with more delicate skin.
Get more from your shave cream!
This is a great tip for all skin care products. Exfoliating before applying creams or lotions will allow your skin to better absorb the product
In terms of shaving, the better your skin can absorb your shave cream, the better your shave cream can hydrate, lubricate and protect your skin.
Dead skin cells sitting on the skins surface clog up pores and soak up much of the goodness of your creams and lotions. Removing dead skin cells from the skins surface prior to applying your shaving cream will allow your skin to get the maximum benefit.
So for a smoother finish and extra protection when shaving, exfoliate before shaving.
Will exfoliating help me avoid ingrown hairs?
Ingrown hairs are really common and shaving can definitely play a role in causing this problem. When shaving, your blade will move dead skin cells around and they can become lodged in the skins pores which can cause an ingrown hair.
With exfoliation clearing the skin of dirt and debris pre shave, this will help eliminate one possible cause of ingrowns.
If you suffer from ingrown hairs regularly, you should check out our single blade Plastic Free Razor. Dermatologists recommend using a razor with less blades if you suffer from razor burn or ingrown hairs.
With multi-blade razors, we tend to press down to get the desired close shave. This often leads to the blades cutting beneath the top layer of skin. When the hair tries to grow back, it causes an ingrown hair.
With a single blade razor, they cut directly at the skins surface to leave your skin feeling silky smooth post shave with no ingrown hairs.
Should I exfoliate after shaving?
We don’t recommend exfoliating after shaving. Actually, shaving itself is a form of exfoliation.
After shaving is a great opportunity to apply a really good quality moisturizer. Skin will be clear of dirt, excess skin cells, and excess oil, so moisturizer can soak into the skin to provide amazing results.
The Lane 44 Body Scrub Smoothie
One of the great things about our Body Scrub Smoothie is that it not only gently exfoliates but also moisturises and nourishes the skin. This helps to soften hairs but also hydrates your skin preparing it for shaving.
Put a small amount on your fingers and apply using a circular motion.
For more info click here.