Should I Wash My Face Before Or After Shaving

Should I wash my face before or after shaving? It’s the kind of question that hits you in the middle of a steamy bathroom mirror stare-down right between a foamy beard and the nagging suspicion you’re doing skincare all wrong.

Let’s be honest: most of us learned to shave from our dads, a YouTube video, or sheer guesswork. No one sat us down and said, “Son, here’s how not to look like you wrestled a cactus.” So, it’s no wonder you’re here now, asking the perfectly reasonable question: should I wash my face before or after shaving?

Should I Wash My Face Before or After Shaving?

You should absolutely wash your face before shaving.

Why? Because cleansing your face before shaving is like vacuuming before you mop; it removes surface grime, sweat, oil, and bacteria. If you skip it, you’re basically grinding all that gunk straight into your freshly opened pores with a blade. Not a great plan.

Washing your face before shaving also helps to:

• Soften facial hair, making it easier to cut cleanly.
• Open up pores, reducing the risk of ingrown hairs.
• Hydrate the skin, preventing razor drag and irritation.

Washing after shaving? That’s a different story. We’ll get into that in a moment.

What Happens If You Shave Without Washing Your Face First?

Imagine you roll out of bed, grab your razor, and attack your face like it owes you money. No warm water. No cleanser. Just good old-fashioned friction.

That friction is doing more than cutting hair. It’s:

• Dragging bacteria and dirt into open pores
• Causing micro-tears on dry, unprepped skin
• Leading to painful razor burn and ingrown hairs

Skipping a pre-shave cleanse is the number one reason why men experience irritation after shaving. It’s like painting over mold without cleaning the wall. Looks fine for a second, then chaos.

Should I Shave Before or After Shower?

If you’re a shower-before-shaving person, congrats, you’re doing your face a favor. The warm water and steam during a shower:

• Loosen up your skin
• Open pores
• Soften facial hair dramatically

Shaving after a warm shower is the gold standard. If you prefer to shave first, then shower, you’re basically skipping nature’s free steam room.

So ideally:

1. Shower
2. Wash face (in the shower or just after)
3. Shave

How to Properly Wash Your Face Before Shaving

Here’s how to do it like a pro:

1. Use lukewarm water. Not hot water that strips your skin. Not cold water that tightens pores.
2. Apply a gentle, non-stripping cleanser.
   • Look for aloe vera, chamomile, or glycerin-based cleansers.
   • Avoid bar soap or harsh acne scrubs. They mess up your skin’s pH.
3. Massage the cleanser in circular motions for 30-60 seconds.
4. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry. No rubbing. No yanking.

This routine preps your skin and hair perfectly for a smoother, safer shave.

Can You Wash Your Face After You Shave?

Yes, but be gentle.

Washing your face after shaving isn’t necessarily bad, but it depends on how and what you use:

• Do not use the same cleanser again. Your skin barrier is compromised post-shave.
• Do rinse your face with cool water. This calms inflammation and tightens pores.
• Avoid exfoliants, scrubs, or high-pH soaps.

Instead, right after shaving, focus on soothing and rehydrating. That leads us to the next important question…

What to Put on Face After Shaving

Immediately after shaving, your skin is vulnerable. You’ve just exfoliated with a blade, after all. So, here’s what to put on:

1. Cool Water Rinse — Closes pores and reduces inflammation.
2. Alcohol-Free Aftershave — Look for ingredients like witch hazel, allantoin, or tea tree oil. Wondering what an aftershave does? It calms redness, kills bacteria, and prevents breakouts.
3. Lightweight Moisturizer — Rebuilds the barrier. Go for one with hyaluronic acid or ceramides.

Want to go above and beyond? Add a shave oil to your pre-shave routine. Wondering what shave oils do? It adds a protective layer, reduces razor friction, and makes your blade glide like butter.

Is Aftershave Necessary?

Short answer? Yes, but not the alcohol-heavy kind that smells like your grandfather’s bar cart.

Aftershave is necessary to:

• Disinfect freshly shaved skin
• Reduce bumps and irritation
• Close pores and prevent bacteria from settling in

If your skin feels tight or stings post-shave, it might be time to upgrade to the best guys aftershave that soothes instead of punishes.

The Problem With Skipping Face Washing Before Shaving

Still wondering, should I wash my face before or after shaving? Let’s reiterate what happens when you don’t cleanse first:

• Blades wear faster from oil and dead skin
• Hair gets tugged, not cut cleanly
• Razor bumps become a weekly affair
• Your skin feels raw and your mirror avoids eye contact

Cleansing first is the cost of admission for a decent shave. No shortcuts.

Should You Exfoliate Before or After Shaving?

If you want bonus points, exfoliate before shaving. Just not right before — give it at least 12-24 hours.

Exfoliating too close to shaving can over-strip your skin. A gentle chemical exfoliant (like lactic acid) 1-2 times a week clears dead skin and prevents ingrown hairs.

So, to be clear:

• Face wash? Yes, right before.
• Exfoliation? Yes, but not daily, and not right before the blade.

What If You’re in a Rush?

Sometimes you oversleep. Sometimes you’re shaving in a public restroom because your Airbnb has no water. We don’t judge.

If you’re in a rush:

• Use a micellar water or pre-moistened facial wipe.
• Splash with warm water and apply shave oil if possible.

Not ideal, but better than attacking your face dry.

What Type of Cleanser Is Best Before Shaving?

Don’t overthink it. Look for:

• Fragrance-free
• Non-foaming or low-foam
• pH-balanced
• Hydrating ingredients like aloe, allantoin, or panthenol

Avoid:

• Harsh acne treatments (benzoyl peroxide)
• Soap bars
• Menthol-based products

Should I Wash My Face Before or After Shower?

Best Practice: Wash your face after showering

Here’s why:

1. The Steam Opens Your Pores

When you shower, especially with warm water, the steam naturally softens your skin and opens your pores. This makes your facial cleanser more effective after the shower, because:

• It can penetrate deeper
• It lifts out dirt and oil better
• It helps dislodge any buildup or dead skin

2. You Avoid Rinsing Your Cleanser Away Prematurely

If you wash your face before the shower, chances are you’ll rinse it again in the shower washing away all the good stuff you just applied, like serums or moisturizers. That’s wasted effort and product.

3. Your Face Is Fully Prepped for Skincare

Washing your face after the shower means you’re cleansing on hydrated, warmed skin, which:

• Minimizes tugging
• Reduces irritation
• Makes it easier to apply post-shower skincare (like moisturizers, sunscreen, etc.)

When Might You Wash Your Face Before Showering?

• If you’re wearing heavy makeup, washing it off before stepping into a hot shower can prevent it from melting and spreading around your face.
• If your shower water is too hot, it could dry out your skin. In that case, cleansing beforehand with lukewarm water might help reduce exposure.

The Bottom Line on Should I Wash My Face Before or After Shaving

So, one last time for the guys in the back: should I wash my face before or after shaving? Always before. Your razor, your skin, and your reflection will thank you.

Think of it like prepping a canvas before painting. Clean skin = clean shave.

And after shaving? Rinse, soothe, moisturize. Don’t overdo it.

So, whether you’re chasing that baby-smooth finish or trying to stop looking like a plucked porcupine, remember: face first, then the blade.

And no, using body wash on your face doesn’t count.