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Should You Wet a Razor Before Shaving?

In this article we answer the question "Should you wet your razor before shaving?" This is a common question for anyone new to wet shaving.

Quick Answer

You should wet your razor before shaving especially if it is a safety razor, a cutthroat, a disposable, or a cartridge razor. It is not necessary to wet an electric wet and dry shaver.

That is the simple and fast answer for those readers who don't have the time to read our full explanation. If you have a little longer then below we explain the importance of wetting the razor before shaving.

Wet shaving is of course a process where you wash the area to be shaved with hot water. For men this is usually the face, but the same applies to shaving any area of the body.

This process lifts the hairs and also softens them. You than apply a lubricant to the area to be shaved. This can be a soap, cream, gel or foam. This helps protect the skin from the blade, and also hydrates and nourishes the skin.

Finally you pick your chosen razor, and begin to shave.

Why Wet the Razor Before Shaving?

There are a few good reasons why wetting the razor before having a shave is just a great habit to develop. We have listed those below:

Helps make the razor glide over the skin
Removes any hairs caught there from the previous use
It is simply a good hygienic practise
Removes any tiny metal particles from a razor blade

We shall look at each one of these in a little more detail just below.

Razor Glide

This is the main reason that you should always wet the razor before shaving. If you think about a safety razor it is actually a very simple construction. The only part that comes into contact with your skin is the head of the razor.

That is an all metal construction consisting of the head of the razor and the blade. If that is dry it will tend to dig into or cut into the skin. However if it is wet, and comes into contact with the lather first, then that helps it glide easily over the skin, taking only the hairs with it and no skin.

The same rule applies to a straight razor that uses razor blades. For a straight razor with a fixed blade, it is of course important to keep that blade well honed, and wetting the blade before shaving will also make that very smooth on your face.

Most disposable razors and most cartridge razors use a mixture of metal blades and plastic spacers in their heads. It is even more important to keep that type of head wet before shaving. Ideally the metal blade should contact the hairs first, but depending on the angle of the razor, that plastic may also be in contact with the skin.

You want to make sure that plastic is wet. So after each pass of the razor, dip that into some hot water, and tap against the side of the sink to dislodge any lather and hairs, and re-wet the blade.

Old Hair Removal

When you use a disposable, a cartridge or a safety razor there are a couple of small areas between the blade and the head of the shaver. Hairs can get stuck in there quite easily.

It is worthwhile remembering though that a blade should be changed in a safety or cutthroat razor that uses razor blades every 5 shaves approximately. That in itself would prevent the risk of any old hairs clogging up the blades.

With disposable and cartridge razors, it is worthwhile cleaning the blades out by rinsing and tapping the razor to dislodge any old hairs.

Good Hygiene

Wetting and cleaning your razor is simply a good hygienic practise. You want to keep your razor as clean as possible to avoid getting any spots or rashes.

In addition to that, if you do happen to pick up the odd nick or cut, at least you know the blade that caused that is clean and will not affect the cut by contamination.

Rinsing the razor before and after use is the best practise and only takes a few seconds to do. It is worth doing this properly though as many guys simply do a couple of token taps against the side of the sink, and leave it at that.

We would recommend making sure the water is hot and then tapping it hard to make sure nothing is stuck in there. A quick look at the blades and between the blades is worth your time.

Metal Particles

Similar to the old hair problem, small pieces of metal do get stuck in the blade and head areas of any razor that uses a metal blade. These are very fine particles so hard to see with the naked eye.

Those particles are simply caused by friction, so it does no harm to pop the blade out when cleaning your razor and carefully rinsing all the parts under a hot tap, before reassembling the razor. At the end of the day this only takes a few seconds to have a clean razor.

Conclusion on Wetting the Razor Before Shaving

It just makes sense when you are having a "wet shave" to apply some water to the razor before using that blade to shave your face. It is all about protecting your skin with a good lather, and then removing that lather, along with the hair, for a nice clean shave.

Shaving

How to Wet Shave Without Cuts – 5 Tips

In this article we are going to offer you some advice on how to wet shave without cutting yourself, especially when using a blade such as you would find in a safety razor. This is an important article to read for any new beginner to wet shaving as it will save you a lot of pain!

The most important thing to remember is that where a blade is involved, there is always going to be the risk of nicks or cuts. A sharp metal blade is not forgiving and needs to be respected.

That is why skin preparation is the single most important thing to get right. Most wet shaving implements have a metal blade of some kind and those razors include:

Electric razors also have blades but those are usually covered by some type of foil so will not cut the skin. All the other razors may cut the skin, but only if the skin is not properly prepared.

How to Wet Shave Without Cutting Yourself

In this article we are going to explain how to wet shave without cutting yourself. Blades are by design sharp, and usually have quite a long edge. That long edge will get blunt over time and as such should be regularly changed.

Now when we say a long blade, it is about 1.5" long on average, so not really that big. It is however big when you are using it to cut hairs away from the face. Many areas of the face, such as the top lip, are small in comparison to a blade.

With a fixed straight razor, this blade needs to be honed and sharpened. So a sharp metal blade and soft skin are not the best combination, so you need to give your skin the best protection that you can.

Tip 1- What Skin Protection is the Best?

There are a number of ways to protect the skin when wet shaving. These are:

Shaving cream - we think this is the best method and is also the easiest to use. These are rich creams that soften the beard, raise up the hairs and allow the blade to glide over the skin.
Shaving soap - this is a more traditional method and a cheaper method than buying a cream. With a soap, you can use a shaving brush and whip the soap into a cream as described above.
Shaving gels - these are extremely popular as they are easy to pick up in chemists and many supermarkets. They do a good job of creating a decent lather.
Shaving foam - Finally there is our least favourite choice and that is the shaving foam. It is still better than using ordinary soap and will offer some protection to the skin.

So if you wash the area to be shaved with hot water first, and then apply one of the above to your skin, then you have gone a long way to preventing any cuts or nicks.

Using cheaper gels and foams does not really do anything to protect the skin. Foam particularly gives the impression of a thick layer, but a huge portion of that is just air bubbles.

Tip 2- Know Your Blade

To get a close shave you need a sharp blade so let's have a closer look at those. The bottom line is that if you shave with a blade that has been used too much, then the risk of cuts and nicks increases a lot.

Standard razor blades are used in all DE safety razors and in many cutthroat razors.

Most razor blades are good for about 5 shaves on average. After that they should be replaced. Now it does depend on how tough your bristles are and how tough your skin is.

Anyone with really tough skin or bristles may have to change the blade every 2-3 shaves.

Blunt blades tend to scrape the face and tug the hairs, and it is that which leads to cuts and nicks. The blade is just not sharp enough to take off the hairs.

People then tend to counteract that lack of sharpness by applying pressure, and that increased pressure means the blade dig into the skin, and cuts it up.

Disposable razors will almost always use a very cheap metal blade. These are not good quality to begin with, and after 1-2 shaves, they have pretty much been made blunt. You really should not use them much more than a couple of times.

Cartridge razors are usually a combination of blades fitted together in a cartridge. Most manufacturers say these last for about a month's worth of shaving. We have never found that to be the case.

We found that these work ok for about 2 weeks, and after that they start to cause scarping which will lead to nicks and cuts.

Tip 3- Blade Angle and Pressure

Getting the right angle for your blade is very important. With disposable and cartridge razors this is not that important, as the blades are usually intertwined with a material to prevent the actual blade digging into the skin.

With safety razors that use a razor blade the ideal angle is between 35-40 degrees, and it takes a little practise to get that right. Many beginners either hold the razor too vertical, or the opposite which is close to the horizontal.

Trying to figure out a 35 degree angle just takes a bit of time, and as long as you make short strokes, you can carefully tweak this angle until you get a close shave, but without cutting yourself. Once you get that, the process then becomes quite natural.

Beginner's Guide to Wet Shaving Video

The video below is a very good guide for an beginner to wet shaving, and on how to avoid cuts.

Tip 4- Stroke Length

How long should the actual stroke (pass) actually be? Most men make this far too long and will simply pull the razor down the cheek. Avoid doing that as the stroke should be slow and steady, and really not much longer than an inch.

Dip the razor into the water after that to remove any hairs and get a clean blade. Then continue on from where you left off. If you can simply remember lots of short strokes, and keeping your blade from getting clogged up with hairs, then you will have the perfect wet shave.

Tip 5- Number of Passes

In wet shaving when you apply the razor to the face and make a stroke, this is classed as a pass. With the right lather and a sharp blade, one pass is all you should ever need. This again does take a little experience, but once you master the technique, you will find it a very natural thing to do.

Shaving

How Often Should You Wet Shave?

Thanks for taking your time to visit our website, and read our article on how often do you or should you wet shave?

It is certainly an interesting question, and especially interesting for beginners to the wonderful world of wet shaving.

Quick Answer

Generally speaking wet shaving should be done daily. Wet shaving gives most people a very close shave, and as such will last for a longer time than dry shaving. Those with a very heavy hair growth may need to shave 2 times a day.

So that is the short and to the point answer for anyone who is in a hurry. If you would like to find out why, then we have explained this in a great deal more detail below.

Before we explain the decisions that you need to consider for wet shaving, and mainly it will come down to your skin type, but predominantly to the type of shaver that you use.

The Casual Wet Shaver

Let's have a quick discussion about what we call the casual wet shaver.

There are some men who will dry shave through the working week with an electric shaver. They will then treat themselves to a wet shave over the weekend, when they have a little more time.

Some other men will also dry shave for most of the year, and only wet shave when an occasion arises, such as a special night out, or when they go on holidays and have a little more time.

Wet shaving does take more time than dry shaving. For some busy people, dry shaving is simply faster and more convenient.

The Committed Wet Shaver

Some men have only ever wet shaved. Some have used an electric shaver for dry shaving and then switched to wet shaving. Some are just trying wet shaving for the very first time. some are of course seasoned wet shavers.

The remainder of this article deals with those men and women who have decided that wet shaving is better than dry shaving.

We would like to start by saying that wet shaving is the way to go. It is simply a better way of caring for your skin, and also one of the cheapest options for shaving generally speaking.

Men will of course primarily wet shave their face, whereas ladies will use a wet shave for their legs and under the arms.

These are of course general rules, and individual people will wet shave different areas of their body.

Which Type of Wet Shaving Razor Do You Use?

There are really 5 options when it comes to picking a wet shaving razor. These are:

A safety razor
A cutthroat (straight) razor
A disposable razor
A cartridge razor
A wet/dry electric shaver

Below we discus how long it takes to wet shave with the different types of razors.

How Often Should You Shave with a Safety Razor?

We would recommend the safety razor as our number one choice for wet shaving. Yes it does take a little practise, but once you master the technique, it is a fast option and gives you a very close shave.

For most people you will need to shave about once a day for normal hair growth, and even the heaviest of hair growths. If the hair is lighter, then probably once every 2 days will be enough.

A razor blade is enough for 5 good shaves and then it should be replaced. The majority of users will shave once a day in the morning. It takes about 5-6 minutes for an experienced user.

Some safety razor users are weekend shavers. They may dry shave during the week and then use a safety razor at the weekends.

How Often Should You Shave with a Straight (Cutthroat) Razor?

Most men move to a cutthroat as their preferred method of wet shaving, if they have first used a safety razor. Without any hesitation we can state that this gives you the closest shave possible.

This type of razor does require more technique and you do need to have great patience to master this properly.

Like the safety razor, a daily shave is normal, though you can likely get away with every other day. This very much depends on the speed of your hair growth.

For most people this will be required once a day or every other day for normal hair growth. If the hair is lighter, then probably once every 2-3 days will be enough.

If your straight razor uses a razor blade, that is enough for 5 good shaves and then it should be replaced. The majority of users will shave once a day in the morning. It takes about 8-10 minutes for an experienced user.

If you have a fixed blade, then of course that needs to be kept honed and sharpened.

How Often Should You Shave with a Disposable Razor?

Here at the Shaving Emporium we just don't like disposable razors. We don't like the plastic handle, we don't like the packaging and we think that many of the blades are low quality.

We also understand that for some men they can be handy and convenient. Many ladies also use these for shaving their legs and under their arms.

You will need to shave at least once a day with these if you want smooth skin. Even if the hair growth is light, daily shaving will still be required. For ladies you will need to use these once a week, depending on just how quickly the hair grows back.

We did some research on these, and we found that most men used them once a day, but if they were going out that evening, then they also used them again.

Disposable blades are not that good in terms of quality, so don't expect a close shave, and don't be afraid to use one for no more than 2-3 shaves before getting a new disposable out of the packet.

How Often Should You Shave with a Cartridge Razor?

Here at the Shaving Emporium we don't really like these either. That said they are better than a disposable.

The price of refill blades are in our opinion extortionate and that is the main reason we don't like them.

These do however sell well and we know that for some men they can also be handy and convenient. Some ladies also use these for shaving their legs.

Like the rest of the shavers we have mentioned, you will need to shave at least once a day. If the hair is lighter, then probably once every 2 days will be enough.

The manufacturers state that one refill blade lasts for about a month. We have found that if you are lucky, you will get about 2 weeks, before these blades start to blunt.

How Often Should You Shave with a Wet/Dry Electric Razor?

A lot of men are making the move to one of these wet and dry electric shavers.

With these most men will do a combination of both dry shaves and wet shaves. Dry shaving is handy and convenient.

When they have a little time, they may also lather up and use this type of shaver to have a wet shave.

Electric wet and dry shavers are best used daily to keep a smooth complexion.

Understanding Skin Type & Rate of Hair Growth

There are four main skin types which are normal, dry, oily and a combination of the three other skin types. The presence of more oil usually indicates more hair growth. If that is the case, then more regular shaving time is required.

Rate of Hair Growth

Even more important though is the rate of hair growth. We really have little to no control over that, and shaving doesn't really alter the hair growth rate.

This is a genetic condition. If our parents (sometimes grandparents) had a fast or slow rate of growth, then most likely we also mimic that. Some men and some women have very slow rates of growth, whereas some men and women also have fast growth rates.

Clearly with a fast rate, more regular shaving is required.

Conclusion on Length of Time to Wet Shave

These are the main forms of wet shaving. In most cases daily shaving is required and if the hair growth is light, then you may get away with a shave every couple of days.

Safety razors and cutthroats give the closest shave as long as you regularly change the blades. With these you can get anything between 1-2 days between shaves, depending on how fast the hair grows on your body.

For ladies, it depends on the rate of hair growth, and also on the thickness of the hair. Wet shaving is much better than dry shaving, but many ladies also use waxing, laser treatments, hair removal creams and other methods to control hair removal.

Shaving

Is it better to have a wet shave or a dry shave?

Thanks for taking your time to visit our website, and read our article about is it better to shave wet or dry? This remains one of the most popular questions that we get asked by men and women living in the United Kingdom.

Quick Answer

Wet shaving is always better than dry shaving simply because it is better for overall condition and health of your skin. That actually has more to do with hydration and moisture, than the actual shave itself.

So that is the short and to the point answer for anyone who is in a hurry. If you would like to find out why, then we have explained this in a great deal more detail below.

Before we explain the differences, it is worthwhile explaining what each type of shaving actually is. It may sound obvious, but people do interpret this in a few different ways.

Definition of Dry Shaving

Dry shaving is where a shaver or razor is in direct contact with the skin and no protection or lubrication is used. The most common form of dry shaving is an electric shaver or razor.

Other shaving options such as a safety razor, cutthroat, disposable or cartridge razor should never be used for dry shaving.

Definition of Wet Shaving

Wet shaving is where the area to be shaved is washed with hot water, and then will have a soap, cream, gel or foam applied to it, before a blade is then used for the shaving.

This is suitable for all shaving methods, including a safety razor, cutthroat, disposable, cartridge razor or a wet/dry electric shaver.

Now that we are clear about the two types of shaving options, why do we consider wet shaving to be better than dry shaving?

Benefits of Wet Shaving

We have listed below the key benefits of wet shaving:

Washing the face with hot water - this helps open the pores in the skin, and as a result also lifts the hairs up, making them easier to shave off and remove
Applying Soap, Cream, Gel or Foam to the skin - Ideally this should be either a high quality shaving cream or a high quality shaving soap. Gels and foams are still better than nothing. These do two main things for your skin, firstly the offer protection to the skin from the blade, and secondly the cream helps moisturise and hydrate the skin
Give you a closer shave - In most cases wet shaving allows you to get a much closer shave. The safety razor and cutthroat offer the closest shave, and the cartridge also does a very good job, Wet/dry electric shavers do a good job, and the disposable works though we would never recommend using those on a long term basis.

Disadvantages of Wet Shaving

We have listed below the key disadvantages of wet shaving:

Takes longer than dry shaving - wet shaving requires a longer time as the skin has to be prepared
Takes longer to learn and master - For many people getting used to shaving with a DE safety razor or a cutthroat can take a long time. The average person will pick this up in 1-2 weeks, but some people do take a little bit longer
Nicks and Cuts - There is a much higher risk of getting nicks and cuts when wet shaving as at the end of the day, a sharp blade is removing the hair from the skin. Once you master the technique, and your skin gets used to a blade, then this problem stops.
Skin Conditions like Acne - If the skin is pucked or has acne or pimple type problems, it is wise not to wet shave with a sharp blade. This will inevitably result in a lot of nicks and cuts.

Benefits of Dry Shaving

We have listed below the key benefits of dry shaving:

Very Fast - Grabbing your electric shaver and running it quickly over your face is about as fast as you can get. You can have the job done in just a few minutes.
Very convenient -As long as the electric shaver is charged, then it really doesn't get more convenient than that. It is also easy to pack and take with you and grab a shave anytime you need one
Give you a close enough shave - Electric shavers, even the most expensive ones, are never going to give you a very close shave. They do shave close enough though and that is enough for most people.

Disadvantages of Dry Shaving

We have listed below the key disadvantages of dry shaving:

Not ideal for the skin - dry shaving offers no protection for the skin and as such will dry the skin out unless some other form of action is taken
Hair and Skin not Prepared - Hot water helps raise the hairs and with dry shaving you just don't get that.
Shave more often - Most forms of wet shaving give you a closer shave, so with dry shaving you will need to shave more often
Sensitive Skin - If you have sensitive skin, then dry shaving can make that a great deal worse. This is especially true if the skin is dry to begin with.

Skin Types

Men and women do have different skin types. Usually these are in 4 classifications which are:

Normal Skin - this is well balanced skin with the right amount of sebum oil. It is also referred to as eudermic skin..
Dry Skin - this is skin that does not produce as much sebum oil as ordinary skin. That type of skin does not as a result produce any moisture and feels very dry
Oily Skin - this is skin that has too much sebum oil
Combination Skin - Many people have a combination of skin types on their face and body, in smaller to larger patches

The reason we mention this is because shaving, especially daily shaving is something that directly impacts on the skin. Generally speaking women look after their skin a great deal better than men.

Daily cleansing and daily moisturising, depending on the skin type, can do wonders for your skin health. Wet shaving offers a much better opportunity to protect, hydrate and moisturise the skin.

Shaving

What is the best age to start Shaving?

Thanks for taking your time to read our article on the proper age to start shaving. As changes start to happen quickly in those early teenage years, then at some point for all young men, shaving becomes more of a reality.

The precise time when a boy should start shaving though depends on a number of factors. The single most important of those is what is called "puberty." According to the Kid's Health website, puberty is the time when a body starts to change as you move from a kid to an adult.

Boys start to look more manly, their body grows quite rapidly and they do start to grow more hair. Puberty starts from age 9-15 in boys, and even earlier with girls at around 8-13 years of age.

Boys and girls both begin to grow hair under their arms and the pubic areas. Initially this hair will be quite thin and have a very light complexion. As they go later into puberty, this hair become longer, thicker, darker and curlier in nature.

Usually at the later ages of puberty, boys start to develop hair on their faces.

Is There An Exact Age To Start Shaving?

As you can see boys go through puberty at any age between 9 to 15 years of age. Most primary school children which is up to the age of 11 will not need to worry about shaving. It is however worth pointing out that there are a few exceptions to that rule, so don't worry if you see hair starting to appear at the younger ages.

More typically boys will start thinking about shaving anything between 13-15 years of age. Many of them can't wait to get started.

The real decision about shaving though simply comes down to either:

The amount of hair they have on their face
or if the hair they have on their face is annoying them

At this puberty age, boys are developing rapidly, and they are growing quickly. Their feet are getting bigger, their shoulders wider and their voice is starting to get deeper. It can be a confusing time for them.

More than anything else most of them want to fit in and be accepted socially. What may be just some light hair to us the parents, may seem like a crazy amount of hair to him, when he looks at his friends. As a parent it is important to bear this in mind.

When Should You Let Your Son Shave?

As we mentioned above, there is no exact age. If you believe they have enough hair on their face to shave, and are capable of holding a razor, then it is perfectly OK to let them start shaving.

What is far more important is to make sure they know how to shave properly. Many people get this wrong, and they end up cutting and nicking their face. Like many things in life, there is a right way and a wrong way of doing this.

There is an old myth going around that is told to many young lad starting out with shaving. They are often told that the sooner you start shaving, then the more the hair will grow. This is simply a myth and not true at all. Don't ignore their desire to shave and help them get started.

When Should You Let Your Daughter Shave?

This is always a difficult time for young ladies. Some grow more hair than others and hair can appear more vivid on some girls than on others. The reality is that different girls are ready for shaving their legs at different times.

As we mentioned earlier puberty can start as early as 8 or 9 years of age. Typically this is noticed through breast development and menstrual cycles.

Although body hair is always there, it is during puberty that the hair becomes more noticeable. It does start to get coarser and thicker. The real big issue here for girls is that it can start to make them feel uncomfortable around their peers and make them think about shaving.

The typical ages when leg shaving starts is usually between 12-14 years of age.

How to Shave for the First Time?

There are two choices which are a dry shave or a wet shave:

Wet shaving is best especially for younger skin - It will require a shaving gel, a safety razor and some guidance
Dry shaving is done using an electric shaver and is safer but not as good for the skin

Wet Shaving for Teenagers

Wet shaving is the best way possible to treat the skin. We believe here at the Emporium, that it is also the best way and gives a close clean shave. It is also by quite a distance the cheapest way of shaving.

You will need:

A DE safety razor - these cost around £20
Razor blades - these cost around 10-20 p per blade
Shaving soap, cream or gel - these cost around £5-8 a unit

Wash the face with hot water to properly soak the hair. Apply a soap, cream or gel which can be done by hand, or also by using a shaving brush. Then gently allow the weight of the DE safety razor to shave the face moving it in the direction of the hair growth.

If you want to find out all about the various shaving options for teenagers, then please click here.

Dry Shaving for Teenagers

Dry shaving is the other option. This is always done using an electric razor. All you need to get started with this is a good quality electric razor. These come in a whole range of sizes and styles.

There are two main types, rotary and foil. The foil electric shavers are a much better choice for anyone starting out dry shaving. They are also much better for any man with sensitive skin.

You can also buy what are called wet/dry electric shavers, which we think that you should consider. These allow you to apply a soap, cream or gel to the skin and then use the electric shaver. Any type of soap, cream or gel offers great protection to the skin, and also helps moisturise it.

Acne & Shaving

With puberty comes the strong risk of acne, especially in boys. That of course can make shaving very difficult. We have offered a few tips below to help get around that problem.

The face and neck should be thoroughly washed before any type of shaving. Ideally a facial scrub or some type of face wash will do the best job of this. Try to wash the face for about 2-3 minutes to really help soften the hair.

Then apply a shaving gel, a proper shaving soap or high quality shaving cream. Avoid at all costs those cheap tins of completely useless foam, which will only make acne worse.

When shaving we recommend a DE razor, and gentle strokes should be used. Do not press down on the razor and take your time.

After the shave apply some type of facial moisturiser.

Shaving

What is the Best Way to Shave?

Men have been shaving for years and years. Over those years shaving has progressed and now there are many different options available to men and women of all ages. In this article we are going to examine the best way to shave, and also what options are available.

Shaving in its simplest format is simply nothing more than the removal of hair from the body. Almost always this will include some type of sharp edged instrument and and that is almost always going to be a blade.

There are however many methods of shaving, and in this article we are going to cover off every single one of them in glorious detail.

This will therefore be a very long article, so just below we have included a shaving type table of contents, and you can click on that, if a particular shaving method is what you want to find out more about it.

Different Shaving Options for Men & Women

These shaving methods fall into three main shaving or hair removal categories:

Wet shaving
Dry shaving
Hair removal options

Most men face the ritual of the daily shave where they remove hair from their face. More and more men are also starting to remove hair from their bodies, and this shaving ritual is often referred to as "manscaping."

This may include the removal of hair from the chest, back, arms, legs and also the pubic hair.

Ladies have of course been doing all of that for years. Ladies in the main though do not have to worry about removing hair from their face, on such a regular basis. If they feel the need for that then there are facial hair removers.

For the rest of this article we will get into more detail on the best way to shave the various parts of the body, and examine each option in more detail.

Below we have listed the various types of shaving.

Wet Shaving Options

These include:

The disposable razor - still the most common option where the face is washed, a soap, cream, gel or shaving foam is applied to the face, and then a disposable razor such as a BIC or a Gillette razor is used to shave the face or other parts of the body
Cartridge (The Mach 3/Fusion style) razors - these are also popular and they usually contain a number of blades in a cartridge style blade unit. Again the face is washed and soaped and then this razor is used to shave off any hair
The Double Edged (DE) Safety Razor - this is a very traditional method of shaving, and is starting to once again become a very popular choice for many men. This is a razor with a handle and a head, into which is inserted a standard size razor blade. Like any wet shaving method, the face is soaped and then the blade is used to shave the face.
The Straight Razor - aka the "Cutthroat" - a very traditional method of shaving where a long blade is used to do the shaving. There are two variants of this which is wither a fixed blade of high quality, or a straight razor with a holder, where razor blades can be attached.
The electric razor or shaver - Some, but not all, electric shavers can be used for wet shaving. Like all of the wet shaving methods, the face is washed, soaped, and in this case the electric shaver is used to remove the hair.

Dry Shaving Options

Dry shaving simply means that no water is used on the face, and the face does not need to have soap, cream, gel or foam applied. The razor or shaver is simply placed on the face, or other parts of the body, and spinning blades then remove the hair.

The foil electric razor or shaver for men - This is the most common option that most men use for dry shaving. The shaver is plugged into the main's electricity socket, or is battery powered (cordless) and a set of blades are covered by a foil to protect the skin.
The rotary electric razor or shaver for men - this has a set of spinning blades set into the head of the shaver, and as these spin they cut the hairs off the face.
The electric shaver for women - Various versions of electric shaver have been designed with the woman in mind. These are usually better suited to the contours of a lady's face and are not as harsh as many of the men's electric shavers
The stubble trimmer - Some men prefer to leave a little stubble when they shave. Manufacturers recognised this fashion trend, and so they came out with stubble trimmers. These use blades also, but you have a choice of settings so as you can select the length of stubble that you want to remain on your face or other body parts
Beard Trimmers - Many men like to grow a beard or moustache, and for those men beard trimmers are a very popular choice. These use moving blades attached to a hand held trimmer and can also be set to different length sizes
Body Grooming sets - These are also very popular for men who like to remove body hair. Usually they come in a set and there may be different tools in the set for eyebrows, nose, ears, sideburns, back, chest, legs, pubic hair etc

Hair Removal

The shaving options shown below are a form of shaving but is more often referred to as hair removal. There are quite a few options available for this. Hair removal is used regularly by ladies, but now many men are also using these options as a method of longer lasting shaving, and permanent hair removal.

The methods include:

Hair Removal creams - these have been around for years and remain a popular choice for many women and men. This is where a cream is applied to the body area, allowed to sit for a period of time, and is then washed off. Sometimes it is scraped off using a spatula.
Waxing - Waxing became popular as when hair is removed this way, it takes it much longer to grow back. There are different forms of this such as waxing kits, beads and strips. This can be done in a salon and now there are many home options available.
IPL Laser Hair Removal Systems - IPL stands for "Intense Pulsed Light" and various hair removal systems have been designed using this principle of light therapy or laser treatment. This can be done by professionals at a clinic, and there are also machines that you can buy for the home
Hair Removal Threading Tools - These are manual versions of the epilators we have described immediately below. These threading tools are designed to be used on the lips, cheeks, neck and face for hair removal.
Epilators - These have been around for a very long time and still remain popular with some ladies. These are basically sets of close grip tweezers that are powered by some type of motor. Most of these act in the same way as a shaver for depilation.
Facial Hair Removers - These are becoming very popular for many ladies. They can also be used on the nose, armpits, eyebrows and bikini lines for long lasting hair removal

So there you have it folks, the full list of all things shaving for both women and men that are available in the United Kingdom, to keep us all hair free. Now we explain each one in more detail, and show you the pros and cons of each shaving method.

Various Types of Shaving with Cost Analysis

Below we go into a lot more detail on each type of shaving option. That way you can take the time to understand the best shaving option that may suit you the best. We have also provided average costs for each option.

The Disposable Razor for Shaving

Right up until the 1960's, the safety razor or straight razor was the weapon of choice. The Gillette company were the first to introduce the disposable razor that we are familiar with today.

This is just a small blade inside a plastic holder with a handle, that can be used to shave a few times and then disposed off when the blade goes blunt.

Many men use these simply for convenience, and women use them for leg shaving in the shower.

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Many men and women still use these today as they are easy to pick up at chemists and pharmacies. They are convenient and handy when travelling and they have remained comparatively cheap.

PROS

Cheap and cheerful and certainly a low cost purchase
Do a reasonable job
Handy when travelling
The different brands vary a lot in pricing
Easy to find

CONS

Not the closest shave in the world but decent enough
Hairs can get stuck between the blade and the plastic surround
Not great for the environment

These do vary a lot in price and the various manufacturers such as BIC, Gillette, Wilkinson Sword etc usually have offers on these all the time. You can grab a bag of these with about 20 razors for around £5.

Each razor is good for about 3-5 shaves and that depends on the thickness of the hair. After that it needs to be thrown away. 20 razors will last you a couple of months though, and set you back around £10. So the annual cost is about £60 a year.

To this cost you need to add the cost of your soap, cream, gel or foam. We worked it out that the average annual cost for most men or women will be around £80-100 a year.

They deliver an OK shave without being that close. They are not recommended for anyone with problem or sensitive skin types. The other big problem with these is that they get over used. Shaving with a blunt blade very quickly will cause a shaving rash.

Click Here to Read More About Disposable Razors

The Cartridge Shaver for Shaving

These were made initially by Gillette as an alternative to the DE safety razor. These were marketed as a convenient safe method of shaving. All you had to do was replace the cartridge, and no risk of getting cut with the safety blade.

Cartridge razors were developed in the 1960's and are now the most common form of shaving in developed countries.

They really took off in the 1970's and basically took over the shelves. There was a huge marketing push by all of the shaving companies.

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All of the big shaving companies sell these with names like the Mach 3, Gillette Fusion, Braun Clean and Renew, Gillette Contour, Dorco, Wilkinson Sword Hydro and even the Gillette Venus for the ladies.

PROS

Some buyers really do like using these
They are a safe method of shaving with few nicks and cuts
Use several blades for a much closer cut than a cheaper disposable razor

CONS

Not cheap to buy and the replacement cartridge prices are very expensive to buy

If you buy a shaver and around 12 cartridge refills that will cost you around £40-50 a year. This assumes that one cartridge will last you for a month.

Again it depends on the thickness of the hair, and how often it is used as to how long these really last. We believe that usage to be closer to 20 days, so the cost will be closer to £70-80 a year.

To this cost you need to add the cost of your soap, cream, gel or foam. We worked it out, that the average annual cost for most men or women, using a cartridge style razor will be around £80-110 a year.

Click Here to Read More about Cartridge Razors

The DE Safety Razor for Shaving

These go way back and are now considered to be the most traditional method of shaving.

This is simply a well balanced razor, and you add a razor blade to this, and then close down the combs to shave.

These have been around since 1847 when the Kampfe brothers came up with the idea of a razor to replace the straight razor.

Jagen David B30 Butterfly Double Edge Razor Safety Razor

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These are making quite a big come back as the prices of cartridges continue to rise. They are made by brands like Jagen David, Edwin Jagger, Earnest James, Weishi, Merkur and Muhle.

PROS

The most affordable type of wet shaving you can get
A very close shave - in fact one of the closes shaves you will get
Most users love the appearance of these and they do look great in a bathroom
A well balanced and safe method of wet shaving

CONS

Takes a few shaves to get used to these
Need to take care which model you buy as they need to suit your hand size
Can be time consuming

The initial investment for a double edged safety razor is anything between £15-100 depending on what model you want. The average price though is about £20.

After that you need to buy razor blades. A razor blade is good for about 5 shaves, so for a daily shave, you will need to buy around 80 blades a year, which will cost you about £10.

The cost for shaving with a DE safety razor will be £30 a year

To this cost you need to add the cost of your soap, cream, gel or foam. We worked it out that the average annual cost for most men or women using a DE safety razor style razor will be around £50-60 a year.

Click Here to Read More About Safety Razors

The Straight (Cut throat) Razor for Shaving

Straight razors started out using fixed open steel blades and became known as cut-throats.

These were used all the time before the launch of the safety razor.

Right up until the 20th century, these were the razor of choice for everyone. If you have seen any old Western movies, you know what we mean.

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These are still available today, and are in fact still used by many barbers up and down the UK. They are made by brands like Cambridge, Candure, Saaqaans, Earnest James, Barbarossa Brothers and Parker Wood.

There are two types; which are the fixed blade and the replaceable blade. The fixed blade is made of steel and gives a very close shave. It will over time need to be sharpened using a razor strop.

The disposable blade straight razor simply uses a razor blade, which gets replaced after every 3-4 shaves.

PROS

Some buyers really do love using these
Users tend to start off with a DE safety razor and then move on to the cut throat
Give a very close and highly precise shave
Probably the closest shave you will ever have

CONS

Need quite a bit of practise
Can leave cuts and nicks if not careful
Fixed blades do need to be sharpened

The initial investment for a cut throat razor is anything between £15-200 depending on what model you want. The average price though is about £20.

For a straight razor with disposable blades you need to buy razor blades. A razor blade is good for about 5 shaves, so for a daily shave, you will need to buy around 80 blades a year, which will cost you about £10.

The cost for shaving with a disposable straight razor will be £30 a year

To this cost you need to add the cost of your soap, cream, gel or foam. We worked it out that the average annual cost for most men or women using a disposable style straight razor will be around £50-60 a year.

For a fixed blade straight razor you will need to buy a strop to sharpen it. Those cost about £15.

The fixed blade straight razor costs on average £20 and the strop around £15 so the cost is £35. They will however last you a lifetime, so first year costs including the shaving soap, cream, gel or foam will be £50-60, and after that each year will be £15-20 a year.

Click Here to Read More About Cutthroat Razors

The Electric Razor or Shaver for Wet Shaving

These are classed as wet and dry shavers for men.

In other words they can be used for just a normal dry shave before work, or they can be used along with a soap, cream, gel or foam to have a wet shave.

Not all electric shavers can be used for both wet and dry shaving so just be careful when buying, if you want to use this type of razor for a wet shave.

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The first electric razor was invented in 1930 by an American manufacturer called Col Jacob Schick, and released to the market by the Remington brand in 1937. The wet and dry versions of these are however a fairly recent development.

Electric shavers are mainly used for dry shaving still. That is because they are handy, convenient and fast. They are available as cordless and that makes them good for holidays or for keeping in the car.

However the information just below is about using them as a wet shaving tool.

PROS

They are convenient, fast and do a very good shaving job
They are also mainly cordless so can be used anywhere
They don't take up much room in a case when travelling
They can be used in the shower and many guys like that

CONS

They can be expensive to buy
Usually need to be regularly charged up
Need some maintenance and regular cleaning

The initial investment for an electric shaver can be anything between £25-400 depending on what model you want and the brand name. The wet and dry models are made by brands like Philips, Braun, Remington and Panasonic

To this cost you need to add the cost of your soap, cream, gel or foam. We worked it out that the average annual cost for most men or women using an electric wet and dry shaver will be around £100-125 a year.

That is because the most popular electric shavers cost around £65-90. Typically these last for about 3-5 years, so after the first year the cost drops to about £15-20 a year. Then you will have to buy another one when this one reaches its end of life.

Click Here to Read More About Electric Shavers

The Foil Electric Razor for Men for Dry Shaving

Most foil electric shavers can be used for both dry and wet shaving. The reality is that for convenience most men will use this for dry shaving.

These are handy in the morning to quickly go over the face and get a good enough shave to get them through the day.

They can usually be used when plugged into the main's socket, and most of these can also be used as a cordless option which is very handy.

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As we mentioned earlier, the first electric razor was invented in 1930 and since then these have come on a very long way. They are now available with lots of features and options.

The average price for an electric foil shaver is around £60, but these do range from as little as £15, and then all the way up to £400. That is a huge price variance and it is all about the quality of the razor you want, or can afford to buy.

Foil electric shavers use cutting blades that oscillate and these sit under a protective foil. The foil not only protects the skin, but it also captures the hair with its holes, and that allows the razor to cut close to the skin and gives a close shave.

They are better than electric rotary shavers for anyone with sensitive skin. They are not a good choice for anyone with thick or heavy face hair.

PROS

Very good for a smooth close to the skin shave
Great for finer facial hair
A very good choice if you have to shave every day
A very good choice for precision shaving or where you want neat line around the sideburns

CONS

Not good for tougher skin or thick and coarse hair
Not good for cutting longer hair, or several day's growth
Not good if facial hair grows in different directions

The initial investment for a good quality electric foil shaver is going to be about £60 a year. After that the costs will really only be the charging costs which will cost no more than about £10 a year.

The Rotary Electric Razor for Men for Dry Shaving

Most rotary electric shavers can be used for both dry and wet shaving. The reality is that for convenience most men will use this for dry shaving.

Like the foil razors, these are handy in the morning to quickly go over the face and they really can be used ay anytime, without having to worry about applying soap or creams to the face.

These are corded, cordless or both, and that makes them very portable.

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The average price for an electric rotary shaver is around £50, but these do range from as little as £20, and then all the way up to £400. That is a huge price variance and it is all about the quality of the razor you want, or can afford to buy.

Rotary electric shavers typically have three circular heads. Inside those heads are small spinning cutters that cut the stubble which has been captured by the outer metal guard.

These are good at closely following the face contours. To use this type of razor you shave in a circular motion. As you do this the hairs fall into the grooves and are cut off by the tiny blades.

PROS

Very good for a coarser beards
Great for older and tougher skin types
Ideal if you shave every other day or every few days
A very good choice if your facial hair grows in a lot of different directions

CONS

Not good for every day shaving
Not good for finer hair
Not ideal if you prefer to shave in straight lines

The initial investment for a good quality electric rotary shaver is going to be about £50 a year. After that the costs will really only be the charging costs which will cost no more than about £10 a year.

Electric Shavers for Women Dry Shaving

There are electric shavers on the market, that are designed especially for ladies. These are mainly used for the removal of body hair and not facial hair.

They come with a range of options and add-ons that suit the legs, neck, armpits, bikini lines and the various contours of the female body.

Some ladies prefer these to creams or waxes because they are fast, convenient and quick to use. They are also great when traveling.

Philips SatinShave Prestige Wet & Dry Electric Lady Shaver

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The average price for an electric lady's shaver is around £15-30. Almost all of these have foil heads which are a lot gentler on the skin.

Women and men actually have the same hair growth rate. It is the male testosterone that makes the hair thicker in men. As such, ladies do not need an aggressive cutting blade.

PROS

These are completely pain free
They are quick and easy to use
They are affordable
There is no mess to clean up afterwards
They are very good for travel

CONS

A shave with these does not last as long as other methods
Some women do experience some skin irritation

The initial investment for a good quality women's electric shaver is going to be about £25. . After that the costs will really only be the charging costs which will cost no more than about £10 a year.

So this is a very affordable solution.

Click Here to Read More About Ladies Shavers

The Stubble Trimmer for Dry/Wet Shaving

These are referred to as stubble trimmers and also as beard trimmers. That can cause some confusion. The stubble trimmer is really an electric shaver, but it has various combs that can be attached to the main unit.

Those blades, also known as combs then can leave different lengths of hair on the face. It is this which gives the stubble look, that some men like to have.

Typical stubble lengths can be varied from around 0.4 to 10 mm, so quite a wide range of choices. Some of these can also be used for wet shaving

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The average price for a stubble trimmer is around £40-50. They are almost always sold as a cordless option.

PROS

These are good for ultra-precise stubble and short beards
Most are cordless so really can be used anywhere
Offer you a range of stubble length options
Can be used as a beard trimmer

CONS

Can take time to figure out the best stubble setting
They do take time to recharge
Not good if you want a close shave

The initial investment for a good quality stubble trimmer is going to be about £45. After that the costs will really only be the charging costs which will cost no more than about £10 a year.

Click Here to Read More About Stubble TrimmersBest Stubble Trimmer

The Beard Trimmer for Dry/Wet Shaving

As mentioned earlier beard trimmers and stubble trimmers can easily get mixed up, as manufacturers refer to these in this way.

A beard trimmer is all about keeping your beard trimmed, styled and in good shape.

They don't really give you the stubble look at all. You can on the lowest setting get close to that look, but it is not what these were designed for.

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The average price for a beard trimmer is around £25-35. They are almost always sold as a cordless option. There are beard trimmer kits which will cost more but they include accessories like combs, scissors and wax.

PROS

Perfect for looking after all lengths of beards and also mustaches
Easy to use and easy to maintain
Saves a lot of money instead of paying a barber

CONS

Can take time to figure out the various settings and options
They do take time to recharge
A lot of poor quality models on the market

The initial investment for a good quality beard trimmer is going to be about £30. After that the costs will really only be the charging costs which will cost no more than about £10 a year.

Click Here to Read More About Beard Trimmers

Body Grooming sets for Dry/Wet Shaving

Some manufacturers are now producing what are called body grooming kits. These are used for both men and women, but in the main they are aimed at the male market.

These kits include trimmers, clippers, ear and nose trimmers, detail trimmers and various attachments.

Kits may include some or all of the above parts. Some may also have a back groomer.

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The average price for a body grooming kit is around £20-35. They are almost always sold as a cordless option. Some of the very high end brands can cost around the £100 mark.

PROS

Perfect for anyone looking for a complete solution for the entire body
They are generally speaking affordable and you do get good enough value for the money

CONS

May be buying accessories that you won't really use
They get really mixed buyer reviews

The initial investment for a good quality grooming kit is going to be about £25. After that the costs will really only be the charging costs which will cost no more than about £10 a year.

Hair Removal Creams

For many years a lot of ladies have turned to a hair removal cream, as a pain free way to remove hair. Some men are now jumping on that bad wagon.

This type of cream has been used for the removal of hair on the legs, and also around the bikini line, and under the arms.

Men have started using this for the removal of hair on the chest, back and private areas.

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The average price for hair removal cream is is around £6-10. They are not hugely expensive and they are pain free. Some ladies and some men may suffer allergic reactions to these creams, and that of course will rule these out.

PROS

An affordable solution for hair removal
Pain free which is always a very good thing
Easy to apply and easy to remove
Good for leaving the skin feeling soft

CONS

Some people may get an allergic reactio or develop a rash with certain brands of cream
Takes time to apply, and usually has to be washed off

The initial investment for a good quality grooming kit is going to be about £25. After that the costs will really only be the charging costs which will cost no more than about £10 a year.

Click Here to Read More about Hair Removal Creams

Waxing Instead of Shaving

Waxing has become a main choice for many ladies and also for many guys in the UK. Initially waxing started with women wanting to find a longer lasting hair removal system for their legs.

That has moved on to all over body waxing including the face, under the arms and the bikini line. Some people also like a full body wax, as long as they can stand the pain.

Waxing works well but you need to have a high pain threshold

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There are a few different options for waxing and the double sided waxing strips remain a popular and affordable solution, though removing these is painful. These often get called by slightly different names such as wax strip rolls and hair removal paper.

There are also waxing kits that can be used at home, and these usually include a wax heater, soft creams, spatulas, strips and some form of soothing after care cream.

Waxing hair off is the most common method used by most salons, as it is relatively affordable, and if you can stand the pain, will leave you hair free for several weeks.

Waxing does mean that each hair is being pulled from the root, so it's obviously going to hurt more than simply shaving it off. The good news is the more times you get it done the less painful it becomes.

PROS

A relatively affordable solution for hair removal
A good wax will last around 3-4 weeks on average
Can be done at a salon or at home
A very popular option when going on holidays

CONS

It does hurt so be aware of that especially the first time
Can be embarrassing if getting it done in a salon

The average price for waxing strips is around £3 -10., depending on what volume you buy these in. The home waxing kits are around £40.

IPL Laser Hair Removal Systems

IPL stands for "Intense Pulsed Light" and various hair removal systems have been designed using this principle of light therapy.

This is a pretty new method in the United Kingdom, but it is gaining in popularity.

This can be done by professionals at a clinic, and there are also machines that you can buy for the home

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The brands Philips and Braun tend to dominate this market. Some people swear by this method. These have been clinically tested for permanent visible hair removal.

Most manufacturers claim that one of these can remove your unwanted hair safely, painlessly and effectively at home. They recommend a treatment course which can last 4-5 weeks, and on average users have found that they can get an 82% hair reduction.

PROS

Ideal for both female's and male's full body hair removal, including face, arms, underarms,back, chest, bikini line and legs
Completely pain free which is the reason most buyers opt for this method
Each treatment is fast

CONS

Can cause an allergic reaction on some with very sensitive skin

These vary in price a lot. At the lower end you can pick one up from around £65 but they do go all the way up to £400. The more expensive options come with a whole range of accessories, that are designed for specific areas of the body.

Hair Removal Threading Tools

You may be familiar with threading tools but not everyone is. These come as both manual and electric options. They are used primarily for facial hair removal, and especially around the eyebrows.

These do take a lot of getting used to and they will cause an element of pain. Some people love these and others hate them, so they do divide opinion.

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Some of these use a holder that looks like plastic scissors, and to these you attach the threads. Others use a wand that you bend into a u shape, and then twist and roll.

The electric versions are easier to use but more expensive.

PROS

Will remove hairs for anything between 3-6 weeks
This is a no mess option so no cleaning up afterwards
Leaves smooth skin
No maintenance required
Portable for travel

CONS

They are a tad painful to use
They do take a lot of getting used to

The manual options are cheap ranging from anything between £2-10. If you want the electric version they cost around £15-20.

Epilators

An epilator is used to remove hair by physically grabbing multiple hairs at the same time and pulling them out.

These do work but they do hurt, and they really can hurt a lot, at the start.

You can get a dry epilator which can be used without water, or a wet epilator if you want the convenience of removing hair while in the bath or shower.

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Some of these use a holder that looks like plastic scissors, and to these you attach the threads. Others use a wand that you bend into a u shape, and then twist and roll.

The electric versions are easier to use but more expensive.

PROS

Results may last longer than most other hair removal methods like shaving, depilatory creams, or tweezing
You can expect smooth skin for up to four weeks
A good option if you want to remove shorter hair
Epilation may result in less body hair over time

CONS

It can be uncomfortable or painful, especially at first
You do need to practise the technique to master it

These vary in price a lot. At the lower end you can pick one up from around £25 but they do go all the way up to £100. The more expensive options come with a whole range of accessories, that are designed for specific areas of the body.

Facial Hair Remover

For anyone who wants to focus on getting rid of facial hair, then the manufacturers have developed what they call a facial hair remover.

These look like a lipstick and are small, portable and usually can be charged via a USB port. They are like a mini version of the IPL machines we mentioned above.

Some use a mini foil instead of a laser so just be aware of that.

They can be used anywhere on the face but most ladies use these for their cheeks, lip area, around the chin and also just below the ears.

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Some of the better models come with an LED light. The bottom line is that these facial hair removers, remove facial hair gently and painlessly. They are suitable for daily use to keep up with the hair regrowth and leave it smooth.

They work well on peach puzz or fine hair that is often found on the face. Most of them are also waterproof so safe to use in the bathroom.

PROS

Painless, quick and no risk of any cuts or nicks
They don't leave any stubble
They don't cause rashes or give you skin irritation
Buyers like the fact that you can put it in a bag or your pocket and take it with you when traveling

CONS

Only suitable for light hair in the facial area
Some buyers with sensitive skin may have an allergic reaction, so test a small area on the face first

These cost between £13-20 depending on which make and model you need.

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