Best practice is to exfoliate before shaving, rather than after. That's because, as Gallo explains, “Exfoliating removes dirt and dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, which keeps your skin clean, unclogs your pores and helps you achieve a closer shave.
The Cleveland Clinic recommends exfoliating prior to shaving, as exfoliating first will help prevent the razor from becoming overloaded with dead skin cells, which reduces its effectiveness. Basically, exfoliating first is a serious pro-tip for a closer shave.
Should you exfoliate before or after shaving? The answer is yes, to both. One of the most important parts of your pre-shave prep is exfoliation, which helps to buff and prepare your skin.
Experts agree: It's best to exfoliate before shaving. "Gentle exfoliation can help [loosen] the free edge of hairs that may be trapped under the skin," says board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D. "This can give you a smoother shave and lower the likelihood of razor bumps or irritation."
Stay away from salt, sand, or coffee-grind exfoliants on the same day you shave; they can create tiny cuts in your skin, which is already bound to get nicked while you shave.
Exfoliation helps to remove any surface-level, dead skin and helps your razor glide over your skin more easily. It's better to exfoliate your skin before shaving rather than after. Otherwise, you might risk causing additional irritation.
According to dermatologists, you should exfoliate first, then wash your hair, and then wash your body. This will ensure that each shower product you use has time to work. If you have concerns about your skin, you should follow this order as closely as you can. This will help prevent acne, razor burn, or dry hair.
Use shaving cream instead of soap.
Instead, use a foam or gel formulated specifically for shaving – or even hair conditioner or body oil – to help the razor glide along more easily. And these products will keep your skin soft and supple well after you dry it off.
Here are dermatologists' tips to help you get a clean shave: Before you shave, wet your skin and hair to soften it. A great time to shave is right after a shower, as your skin will be warm and moist and free of excess oil and dead skin cells that can clog up your razor blade. Next, apply a shaving cream or gel.
In fact, exfoliation is one of the best simple treatments for razor bumps. Using a mild abrasive and cleaners helps open up the hair follicles and get rid of the infection, clearing out the follicles and manually stimulating them in a way such that they encourage new hair to break through.
When it comes to shaving technique, King says to "shave in the direction of the hair growth. Use short light strokes. Don't increase the pressure as you go. Rinse with cool water and pat dry."
Use a loofah, washcloth, or exfoliating sponge to gently exfoliate your skin before shaving. Exfoliating will remove any dead skin and allow you to shave the hair as near to the root as possible. Harsh exfoliants aren't necessary and can actually do more harm than good in your pubic area.
Use your scrubbing tool to gently move along your bikini line in a small circular motion to remove dead skin cells that may be clogging up the pores. Be sure to cover the entire surface of the area. Allow the exfoliate to sit on your skin for up to 3 minutes. Rinse the area well.
If you still have stubble on your face after shaving, this might be because your razor isn't sharp, you're not shaving across the grain or against the grain of your hair, or you don't take multiple “passes” with your razor. Regardless of the issue, it all comes down to how close of a shave you can get.
Rinsing and moisturizing.
If there are two things that you should never forget after getting rid of stubble, it's rinsing your face and moisturizing your skin. To close your pores after shaving, rinse your face with cold water. Use a soft towel as you pat your face dry.
The best part about shaving after your shower is the efficiency of the shave. When we shower, the steam causes the pores on our face to open up, giving us easy access to the hair follicles, thus resulting in a much closer shave. If you use a traditional safety razor, this is definitely the option for you.
You should exfoliate your face when it is freshly cleansed and free of product so that the gentle acids and hydrating ingredients can work their MAGIC on your skin as effectively as possible. So before exfoliating, use a double cleanser like Goddess Cleansing Ritual.
Though any time of day will work, exfoliating in the morning is ideal because the skin repairs itself at night,2 potentially leaving a layer of dead skin cells just begging to be sloughed off.
Know How To Shave Correctly
First, make sure you shave after washing your face. This will stop any bacteria lying on your face from getting into any freshly opened pores, which can cause irritation or acne.
Trimming during or after a shower might seem best, but wet hair is much harder to deal with. When it comes to trimming down the bulk of your pubic hair, you want everything to be dry. That makes it easier for your body trimmer to get the job done.
Shaving, whether it's your legs, armpits, or pubic area, is a personal choice. You certainly don't have to shave before sex if you don't want to. Shaving pubic hair (or not) is a cosmetic preference, and it does not mean you are "cleaner" if you shave. If you do prefer to shave, try not to do it right before sex.
Marc Glashofer, a dermatologist and fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, claims that the texture of pubic hair tends to be thicker and more coarse than hair on the rest of our body because of its origins as a buffer. “It prevents friction during intercourse that can cause skin abrasion and rashes,” he says.