Dry shaving or wet shaving can both deliver a comfortable shaving experience, but the method you select is down to personal preference. Shaving can play a key part of a woman’s beauty regime, ever since the first razor for women was invented in 1915, and with technology evolving every day, the choice between a manual razor or electric razor might seem tricky.
What’s the key difference between dry and wet shaving?
Dry shaving with an electric razor cuts the hair above the surface, whilst a razor that is used for wet shaving cuts the hair below the surface. Does that mean a wet shave provides a closer shave? We’ve explored the pros and cons of dry shaving against wet shaving so you can decide what method is best for you to achieve the closest, precise shave.
What is wet shaving?
There’s logic behind this term, it essentially means shaving but with water. This traditional method allows you to use a sharp razor blade and glide it across the skin to carefully remove the unwanted hairs. For a further enhanced shaving experience, a blade paired with a Cream or Gel to create a foam or lather in the designated shaving area helps to create a protective barrier between razor and blade for an irritation-free shave.
Pros of wet shaving:
- Closer shave – For a precise result, wet shaving allows the blade to cut the root, ensuring that this closer shave lasts longer compared to using an electric razor.
- Protective barrier – By lubricating the skin when shaving wet, you are avoiding razor rash by adding a protective barrier to help the razor glide effortlessly across the skin.
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Less waste – Trying to improve your carbon footprint? Electric razors are damaging to the environment with their plastic elements and lithium batteries. Plus, you’ll find that most manual razor blades can be recycled (including our own at FFS!)
Cons of wet shaving:
- Requires time – Having to get your skin wet and apply a shave cream can be time-consuming, and if you’re in a rush, this isn’t an ideal scenario.
- Mastering the technique – Every woman’s hair grows differently, that’s why you need to discover whether shaving with or against the grain is best for your hair removal.
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Maintenance costs – Blades are recommended to be swapped every 3 to 4 shaves, so this is an ongoing cost to maintain that close shave with each stroke.
What is dry shaving?
Dry shaving and electric shaving are the same thing; it is the act of removing unwanted body hair without water or any other lubricants usually added to create a protective barrier.
Most women opt to use a manual razor to shave their armpits, legs, or bikini line, but can an electric razor achieve the same result?
Pros of dry shaving:
- Quick and easy – If you’re in a rush, sometimes adding extra steps to remove unwanted hair might be time-consuming, electric shaving helps to save time. Switch it on and go!
- Less irritation – Dry shaving ensures you are removing hair above the surface, which for most women results in less irritation. Plus, you’re less likely to suffer with nicks and cuts as you can see the hair that you’re trying to remove easily.
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Durability – Despite their being an up-front cost initially, you can save money by investing money into a reasonable electric razor (without buying regular blade top ups).
Cons of dry shaving:
- A less close result – Electric razors rarely provide the close shave that a manual razor does. To avoid stubble, you may find yourself shaving more regularly compared to using a manual razor.
- Struggle with longer hairs – If you’ve let the hairs on your bikini area grow a little bit out of control, you’ll need to trim the hair before shaving as electric razors aren’t designed to tackle long hairs.
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Sensitive skin suffering – If you’re prone to suffering with sensitive skin, you may notice that a dry shave can cause razor burn due to friction between the skin and blade.
Which shaving method is best for my skin?
If you are looking to achieve an extra close shave, wet shaving wins our battle to remove unwanted hairs as you are directly cutting the root of the hair, allowing the shave to be long-lasting for an even smooth shave.
To further enhance your shaving experience, you may find that applying our translucent FFS Shave Cream helps you to see the unwanted hairs you are trying to remove, whilst helping to avoid razor rash by adding an extra protective barrier between blade and skin.
Is dry shaving or wet shaving better for me?
In conclusion, wet shaving and dry shaving can both create a close, yet comfortable shave, but a lot of it comes down to which method you prefer, overall cost, convenience and how your skin reacts to each.
In terms of cost, there is a higher upfront investment if you decide to purchase an electric razor (specially to invest in a good quality one). There are also additional costs to weigh up when using a manual razor, especially if you choose a reusable one, as you’ll have to commit to changing your blade every 3-4 to shaves to avoid transmitting skin diseases.
Convivence is something we all strive to improve in our daily routines. Having an electric razor is simple, you can just hold it and glide to remove the hairs you want. Despite this, manual razors are more effective at removing unwanted hairs, and even if you forget to purchase them on your weekly shops, an FFS blade subscription can allow you to receive top ups when you need them.
