Do you see shaving as a man's burden or as a wonderful grooming ritual? Do you like to take your time or are you impatient? Does it have to be functional or can you enjoy a little extra luxury? The answers to these questions not only give you a picture of your own personality, but also of your preference in shaving. We'll come back to that in a moment.
The age-old question still plays out today, is dry or wet shaving better? There are strong supporters of both sides and we can almost call it a religion. Some people are still caught in the middle and do not know exactly what the pros and cons of dry and wet shaving are. Therefore, it is useful to take a deep look at the age-old question of "which is better, dry or wet shaving?" For now, we've talked enough, let's begin.
The benefits of dry shaving
Men and machines, often a golden combination. In fact, dry shaving is always done with a shaver; a modern machine that is fast and advanced. A great advantage of such a shaver(trimmer, clipper or bodygroom) is that it gives little chance of shaving irritations and cuts. A shaver is further away from your skin and therefore will irritate your skin less. It's also rather easy, you don't have to familiarize yourself with many techniques and therefore you don't have to be as careful as, say, with a razor-sharp open razor.
When you get started you simply grab your razor and start shaving. Thus, searching for the right shaving products such as a shaving soap, shaving cream or shaving gel is unnecessary. Dry shaving is fast, efficient, irritation-free and you don't have to think about different products. Dry shaving has many supporters for a reason.
The disadvantages of dry shaving
It sounded so ideal, dry shaving. Yet dry shaving also comes with disadvantages. You understand that we can't mention only the advantages, so we're going to tone down the ideal picture again.
Because a razor is so far away from your skin, you won't get irritation. Unfortunately, this is also why your beard hairs are not cut far enough. Therefore, if you have strong beard growth, you will see a beard shadow within just a few hours. Some people don't find this a problem, while others do. It just depends on what look you are going for.
Another disadvantage is that the beard hairs are not cut properly by a dry razor, but sort of "scraped off. This can take away a small layer of the horny layer of your skin. This can clog pores and, unfortunately, this in turn can cause pimples. You also need to clean the blades properly and replace them regularly.
The benefits of wet shaving
The thoroughness of a wet shave is unmatchable. In fact, you can choose a safety razor, shavette, straight razor or cartridge razor. Most modern blades adapt to the shapes in your skin without any problem. Using a razor will cut the hairs mega short. The result? A face as soft as a baby's bottom. That beard shadow definitely won't show up in the near future.
Wet shaving is known for the whole ritual. So you use a pre shave first and then a good shaving cream, shaving gel, shaving oil, etc. These products will soften your beard hairs making shaving a lot easier. Also, these products provide an extra layer of protection on your face so shaving wounds and irritations are not likely to occur. After shaving, you will of course use a nice aftershave that will cool and care for your skin.
Because wet shaving is so precise, you will find that you can maintain the contours of your beard extremely well. Your beard will be shaped exactly the way you want it, your contours will be mega smooth and everything you want to be smooth will be mega smooth.
The disadvantages of wet shaving
Let's get right to the point; wet shaving comes with some risks. In case you can't handle your razor properly, it's just a razor-sharp weapon. But let's face it, men like a little risk, don't they? Just be a little careful and you'll survive.
The next downside is that it's a bit more expensive than dry shaving. You have to get the right shaving products and change your razor blades regularly. Blunt razor blades won't cut your hairs properly anymore, they will rip them off. And you get it, shaving irritations incoming. And let's not forget that you should always handle your razor with good care. For example, you should always rinse it clean after shaving, otherwise you can get bacteria in your blade. The result? Shaving irritations. So wet shaving costs more money, time and energy.
Conclusion: is dry shaving or wet shaving better?
Dry shaving is fast, efficient and you only need one shaver. However, you do have another beard shadow within a few hours, you have to re-shave faster and you are more likely to get pimples.
Wet shaving, because of the whole pre-shave ritual, is a lot gentler and more caring for your skin, will cut your hairs a lot shorter and a beard shadow won't be seen for the foreseeable future. However, it does take, precisely because of that fine pre-shave ritual, more time, more skills and you need more grooming products.
Let's go back to the key question, "which is better, wet or dry shaving?" Look back at all the questions asked in the beginning. Then you will have the answer right away if you are a type of man who prefers dry shaving or wet shaving. Both have their preferences, so choose a way that suits you and your lifestyle. We'll leave our opinions to one side (no joke, we love wet shaving).
If you have any questions about this topic or want to get the right products? Just contact us and we will try to match you with the best products. You happy - we happy.
Shave away!
Your friends, The Alpha Men