Electric razors have been game-changers. They save you time and agony and can be economical in the long run. They are effectively the answer to many shaving problems like razor burns, ingrown hair, skin irritation, and nicks and cuts. In essence, they consume less of your time and give you a nice shave without the unwanted slashes and swipes.
Electric razors are relatively new to mankind, but we trace evidence of wet shaving some centuries back into history. By the way, wet shaving is the act of removing hair with the use of shaving cream, gel, foam, or even simply water. Wet shaving has many benefits which include providing a close shave, a relatively safe shave, and is skin-friendly.
However, wet shaving has traditionally been done with a straight razor, a double edge razor, or even a safety razor. But, can you do wet shaving with an electric razor? This is a valid question on so many fronts.
First, electric shavers are tools that use some form of electric energy, and using any form of water around it can be dangerous. But, has modern technology found a way around it? Secondly, combining the benefits of electric shaving with those of wet shaving can potentially give you the best shave possible.
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But, there are a few provisos to that. Firstly, you can’t do wet shaving with just any electric razor. And secondly, it requires a different technique than wet shaving with a traditional razor. We will go through both of these and provide you the answers for them.
Selecting The Right Electric Razor To Use Shaving Cream With
Firstly, you need to make sure that the electric shaver you choose comes with the ability to do wet shaving. It is normally specifically mentioned with the electric shaver and you can check for that.
Nowadays, almost all the models from the three electric giants, Braun, Panasonic, and Philips Norelco, come with the wet shaving ability.
But, if I had to pick one specifically for wet shaving, it would be Panasonic electric shavers. They were the first to introduce this wet shaving ability and have further mastered this art over time.
However, it is probably needless to say that you do need to check other features too and for this, you can have a look at our comprehensive buyer’s guide for electric shavers.
The Right Technique To Do Wet Shaving With An Electric Razor
Now that we know it is possible to do electric wet shaving, let’s come to the actual act. There are a few things that you need to do differently with an electric razor than any traditional razor.
We will start with the preparation for the shave, move to the actual shave, and then what you need to do post-shave, here we go.
1. The Pre-Shave Routine For Electric Wet Shaving
I know there is a debate about whether you need to take a shower before or after the shave. Taking a shower before a shave not only makes the hair soft, it also moisturizes your skin and prevents razor burns and irritation. This is especially important if you have sensitive skin which is more prone to ingrown hairs.
We also recommend scrubbing your face with an exfoliating gel or cream. This will get rid of any dirt, excessive oil, and dead skin debris.
Using a warm towel or soaking your skin with warm water is also recommended. This is because it opens your skin pores up and makes the hair more pliable and easy to cut.
If you have dry to rough skin, it is also advisable to use pre-shave oil. They come with a lot of moisturizing natural oils and will make your skin well hydrated before the shave.
2. Choosing the Right Shaving Cream For Your Skin
A shaving cream basically has two functions. The first is to soften the hair and the second is to provide a barrier between the skin and the razor to prevent nicks and cuts.
Nowadays, determining your skin type is a big thing, and rightly so. It helps you pick the right products for you to get the best results. Thus, the same can be said for shaving creams.
If you have normal to dry skin, look for glycerin-based shaving creams. Plus, look for vitamin E, coconut oil, and aloe vera because of their hydrating and moisturizing properties. The glycerin will help as a nice lubricant and will help glide the razor smoothly. Plus, it is known to retain moisture and that will ensure that your skin remains moist for longer periods.
If you have sensitive skin, avoid anything shaving cream containing alcohol. Alcohol is known to cause irritation and it causes dryness of the skin.
Always look for traditional shaving creams and it is even better to look for natural ingredients than chemicals.
3. Applying The Shaving Cream
Get a dime-sized shaving cream blob and use a shaving brush or hand to apply it. Then, rub it into the skin against the grain and this will lift any flat-lying hair.
One important point which you need to keep in mind at this step is that you need to make only a thin layer of the lather. This is opposite to what we normally do with traditional razors. This is because a thick layer of lather will hinder your electric razor and can clog it pretty badly.
And to let ingredients of shaving cream work, let it sit for at least a couple of minutes before putting the razor to it.
4. Clean And Wet Your Electric Razor
Some of the high-end electric razors come with a cleaning station and that makes sure that you get a clean shaver before every new shave.
However, if you have a razor that does not come with a cleaning station, it is recommended to clean your razor after every shave before keeping it away. However, it is still best to give it a further clean before the new shave to remove any dirt or hair debris. You can do this by using some liquid soap and warm water.
5. The Actual Shave Part And What You Need To Do
First, you need to make sure that your razor is not low on battery. All the electric razors that come with the wet shaving ability are cordless meaning you can’t use them corded. And this is because of safety concerns. So, if you don’t want to endure low-powered shaver performance, make sure it is well charged for your act.
In the actual act of shaving, shave against the grain. You may have hair growth in different directions in different areas, so it is important to determine your direction and shave accordingly.
Don’t apply extra pressure, just gently glide the shaver and let it work. If you feel there are areas that would require extra passes, reapply shaving cream in the method described above. And repeat the process against.
For a closer shave, stretch your skin with your other hand and use your tongue to bring forward areas that need extra attention.
For rotary shavers, determine whether moving the razor clockwise or anticlockwise produces the best results and use it is accordingly.
6. The Post-Shave Routine
Although electric razors are gentler on the skin than other razors, it is still good to follow the same after-shave routine.
Firstly, you need to make sure that there are no leftovers from shaving cream. Wash them off and keep your face wet. Pour the aftershave on your palm and rub it on the palms. Then, thoroughly apply it to your face.
Most of the aftershaves balms and lotions are leave-on and they are generally good for the skin.
Aftershave balm vs lotion is a nice comparison and how they affect different skin types. It is important to look for natural ingredients such as witch hazel, aloe vera, rose oil distillate, and shea butter and avoid alcohol and other chemicals such as parabens or synthetic fragrances in aftershaves.
After electric wet shaving, make sure that you clean and lubricate your electric shaver for better performance next time and beyond.
How To Shave With An Electric Razor Without Irritation – A Simple Guide
Most men have a love-hate relationship with shaving. We love how it makes us look but the skin irritation it gives makes us feel miserable. While shaving with an electric razor reduces skin irritation and razor burn compared to traditional razors, it still is a common complaint.
Post-shave irritation can be due to a number of reasons and these include using dull blades, putting extra pressure while shaving, irritants in your shaving products, and wrong shaving techniques. By correcting these factors, we can hope to get an irritation-free shave. Here is what you need to do.
Always make sure that your blades are sharp and rust-free. Get new foils if your foils are worn out. In addition, we can’t overemphasize the importance of keeping your shavers clean and lubricated. And as said before, it is important to keep a note of the battery level on your shaver as a shaver low on power puts extra pressure on the skin.
If you have sensitive skin, the right pre-shave routine, and that too with the right products can be the ultimate solution for you. Make sure your products such as shaving creams are natural and contain no irritants such as alcohol. In addition to this, always clean and exfoliate your skin with the right products before shaving. It will remove dirt and other debris that can cause irritation.
In other pre-shaving rituals, you can work to trim the long hair beforehand. This will lessen the work of an electric shaver and they won’t exert extra pressure on your skin.
In the act of shaving with an electric shaver, shave your sensitive areas first. One of the reasons behind razor burn is hot blades. So, earlier in the shave you won’t have that hot blades and you would tick off the sensitive areas right away.
Secondly, shave against the grain. I know this is against the usual advice of shaving with the grain if you have irritation problems. But, shaving against the grain allows the electric razors to better and easily capture the hair. In addition, try to keep the razor passes to a minimum, don’t just unnecessarily make passes.
In the aftershave routine, wash your face with cold water as it will close the pores, and use a hydrating and moisturizing aftershave balm. Plus, as your shaved skin is still raw after the shave, avoid unnecessarily touching it.
This may all seem like too much, but they are some small considerations and actions that can keep the post-shave irritation at bay for you. One last point is to give your skin time to heal between shaving sessions. This is because don’t you think it would be unwise to put your skin to a new ordeal if it has irritation lingering from the prior shaving session.
Conclusion
Both using electric razors and shaving cream have their benefits and using them simultaneously can take your shaving experience to a whole new level.
Modern technology has made the use of shaving creams with electric shavers a possibility and it has lessened a lot of our shaving woes.
But, it is still important to pick the right shaver and shaving products and follow the right technique to get the best results.
We have gone through the details of what steps you need to follow in your switch to wet shaving with an electric razor. This piece actually entails all the pre-shave, in-shave, and post-shave routines and considerations to make wet electric shaving a real avenue for you and how it differs from traditional shaving.
I hope it was of help, but do post if you have any further queries and questions.
