Pros And Cons Of Shaving Your Face As A Woman!

Facial shaving or clinically known as dermaplaning is a technique that is used to exfoliate the skin and remove hair as well as dead skin cells from the upper layer of the skin. Facial shaving, which we do at home is great for removing the peach fuss and also gently exfoliating the skin.

The similarities between dermaplaning and facial shaving end there. Dermaplaning is more of a professional treatment done to increase cell rejuvenation and remove dead skin cells to bring out more youthful and glowing skin. We will look into the difference between facial shaving and dermaplaning and also check out the Pros and cons of shaving your face as a woman, in-depth later.

Is Face Shaving For Women Really Ok?

Looking back into history, face shaving is not a new concept, it’s been around for a long time and has been part of the beauty regimes of the world’s most beautiful women like Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe.  Body hair in women has been considered an embarrassing concept up until recently.

Women never discussed body hair issues openly even though it’s a very natural phenomenon. When the pandemic struck and salons were closed for quite a while, at-home removal techniques became popular and with that face shaving too gained its popularity. 

So, without wasting any more time, let’s check out the Pros and cons of shaving your face as a woman.

Do Dermatologists Recommend Face Shaving For Women?

The answer is yes! Depending on your skin type and the amount of facial hair you have, dermatologists are not against face shaving in women. On the contrary, face shaving is said to be a great way to get rid of unwanted hair from the face leading to smoother and glowing skin.

But doctors do recommend shaving the face only if one finds it necessary. A person should fully understand the pros and cons of shaving your face as a woman, before getting into face shaving. For instance, If a person has sensitive skin with no peach fuss issues running a blade on your skin might cause irritation and densities the skin even more.

Doctors recommend using a good razor designed for a woman’s face and also following the pre and post-face shaving skincare to get the best results and reduce any kind of damage to the skin.

Is Shaving Your Face Bad For A Woman?

When your face is shaved gently and with the right care, apart from just getting rid of the peach fuss has various skincare benefits and is one of the best easy to manually exfoliate your skin.

For those women who have unwanted facial hair, shaving can really help boost their confidence, unclog pores, get rid of dead skin cells, and also give brightness and smoothness to the skin. 

Who Should Skip Facial Shaving?

According to skin experts, although face shaving is safe and a good skin exfoliation method, one should only pick up the razor after checking and understanding your skin conditions. Women with psoriasis, acne vulgaris, fungal acne, and eczema should stay away as the razor can aggravate the condition.

Shaving can also cause discomfort and also increase the chance of causing an infection. Also, generally sensitive skin with redness and irritation reacts badly to shaving(1).

Hence face shaving is for those women whose skin can handle exfoliation.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Shaving Your Face As A Woman?

Pros of face shaving for women	Cons of face shaving for women
✔️Removes excesses of peach fuss	❌Women with thick facial hair might need to shave their faces more often to avoid the five o clock shadow
✔️Helps in removing oil build-up	❌Not meant for sensitive skin
✔️Effective in removing dead skin	❌Can aggravate acne and other skin conditions.
✔️Brightens skin	❌When not done the right way one will have to deal with ingrown hair and painful bumps
✔️Removes dirt from the skin	❌Can cause Razor allergy if the razor isn’t sterilized well prior to shaving
✔️Even skin tone	❌Razor burn
✔️Helps in absorbing skincare better into the skin	❌Razor cuts
✔️Helps in making makeup look flawless on the skin and makeup last longer	❌Over-shaving can damage the skin
✔️Boost self-confidence in women rather than being self-conscious	❌Can cause dryness and itching without proper after-shave care

Does Face Shaving Increase Hair Growth?

No! Shaving your hair will never increase the growth of your hair. This is an age-old myth that needs to be debunked. Shaving does not affect the thickness, color, and growth rate of the hair under any circumstances.

The thickness and growth rate of the hair are different from individual to individual and this is determined by the genes and hormones in the body of that person, shaving cannot change this. But we understand why people believe this old wife’s tale; the myth originated from the fact that shaving the hair, cuts the hair from the top of the skin rather than plucking it from the roots, as the hair grows this can give an illusion of thick hair.

The freshly cut hair is meant to be blunt and coarse initially, and if left untouched will grow back into your normal hair texture.

Do Celebrities Shave Their Face?

Though celebrities resort to more permanent hair removal solutions like laser due to their busy schedule, still there are celebrities who swear by shaving their face. Celebrities like Dove Cameron, Sara Sampaio, Gabrielle Union, and Jasmine Tookes love to shave their face for better makeup application and flawless looks.

Most celebrity makeup artists resort to face shaving as it’s a great way to give the face a glow before applying makeup.

Is It Okay To Shave Your Face Every Day? How Often Should I Shave My Face?

The answer is yes and no, the frequency of shaving would depend on how well your skin can take it. But personally, we wouldn’t recommend shaving the face every day but maybe thrice a week. Shaving the face is an exfoliating technique and in some cases shaving, every day can make the skin dry and sensitive over time. (2)

Tips to keep in mind before shaving your face:

Shaving must be done with care as women naturally have soft skin when compared to men

• While using a razor make sure it’s clean, it is always recommended to sterilize your razor before and after use. You can also rub the blade with rubbing alcohol after each use to protect it from any bacteria build-up.
• Make sure the razor is sharp and not blunt, a sharp razor will effectively remove hair as well as dead skin cells and also avoid unwanted cuts. A blunt razor can also cause issues like uneven shaving and ingrown hair.
• Use separate razors for the face and body, this will help in avoiding the transfer of bacteria and dirt.
• Check your skin before shaving, if you notice any form of skin allergy, bumps, acne, eczema, or psoriasis then refrain from shaving till your irritation settles down
• Wash your face with a gentle cleanser before shaving.
• It is also advisable to use a pre-shaving gel or aloe vera gel when shaving as it acts as a lubricant for a smoother shave.
• Be more gentle with your hands while shaving your face as the skin is more sensitive on the face when compared to the body. 
• Shaving in small strokes can help in reducing cuts and burns.
• Always moisturize your face with a good quality moisturizer after shaving, this will prevent, dryness, redness, and irritation.

Face shaving is perfectly ok if your skin is up for it. The pros and cons of shaving your face as a woman will depend on your skin type, texture, and skin condition. If you wish to shave your face but have doubts then do a patch test before shaving your entire face at once.  There are specially designed face shaving sets in the market, use them instead of a normal razor.

Finally follow a good pre and post-shave skincare routine. Who does love smooth fuss free glowing skin? We hope this article helps you understand and take a closer look at the benefits of facial shaving and the right ways to do it.