How often should you shave your face?

Choose your schedule by regrowth and irritation

Hair can grow above the skin within several hours or a few days after shaving, which is why maintaining a smooth face often means daily shaving. If you are happy with visible stubble, you can leave longer gaps. Shaving removes hair at skin level, not permanently, so the razor has secured repeat business. Shaving does not make hair grow back thicker: the cut tip is blunt, making regrowth look thicker and feel stiffer.1

What if shaving gives you bumps?

Razor bumps are inflammation caused by hairs growing back into the skin, rather than primarily an infection. Coarse or curly hair is more prone to this problem. Cutting hair too short can let it retract into the follicle, the pocket from which hair grows, and enter the surrounding skin. Try shaving every second day, leaving about 1 mm of stubble, and using a single blade or an electric shaver. Avoid stretching your skin tight or repeatedly shaving the same patch.234

Stopping shaving is the most reliable way to settle razor bumps, although inflammation can take four to six weeks to clear. If bumps keep returning, a dermatologist can assess them and discuss treatment; similar looking bumps can also involve infection. Do not scratch, pick or squeeze ingrown hairs. See a doctor if an area becomes very painful, hot or swollen, or if you have an ingrown hair with a high temperature, shivering or feel very unwell.234

How to shave with less irritation

1. 1Wet your skin and hair with warm water. Shave just after a shower, when the hair is softened; the clock matters less than preparing your skin.
2. 2Apply shaving cream or gel rather than soap. Let it sit for two to three minutes to soften the hair. For very dry or sensitive skin, choose a shaving cream labelled for sensitive skin.
3. 3Shave in the direction your hair grows, using short, light strokes. Aim for one pass over each area instead of chasing a closer finish with repeated passes.
4. 4Rinse the razor after every stroke. Replace blades or disposable razors after five to seven shaves, and sooner if the blade becomes blunt or damaged.
5. 5Rinse with cool water or hold a cool, wet cloth against your skin, then apply moisturizer. Store the razor somewhere dry, not in the shower or on a wet sink.

If you have acne, shaving can irritate it. Use a sharp blade, shave lightly and never try to shave spots off. Try an electric or disposable razor to find which is less irritating for you.5

How often do men shave?

Daily shaving is common among men who want to stay clean shaven, but common is not the same as necessary. A clean shaven look is a grooming preference, not a compulsory attendance policy for your razor.1

How often should you shave your beard?

If you are keeping a beard, trim to maintain your chosen shape rather than shaving the whole beard on a fixed schedule. Apply shaving oil, cream or gel before trimming with an electric razor; scissors are another option for longer hair. A beard still needs washing and moisturizing, even if the razor has been relieved of its duties. Wash the beard and skin beneath it daily with a gentle cleanser, then moisturize immediately afterward.6

Between shaves, most people can wash their face morning and night. For dry or sensitive skin, use water alone in the morning and cleanser at night rather than adding extra washes that remove natural oils.7