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Do You Shave or Exfoliate First for the Best Results?

There are a lot of questions when it comes to body care. For instance, do I really need a body scrub? Or, how do I create an effective body care routine? Today, we’re here to answer another major one: Are you supposed to exfoliate before or after shaving? And does it even matter? The answer is yes it does—exfoliating before shaving is the only way to go. Ahead, find out why exfoliation is so important, where the step factors into your body care routine, and more.

Why You Need to Exfoliate

Let’s back up a bit. Why do you need to exfoliate at all?

Benefits of exfoliating

Prevents ingrown hairs: Exfoliating can help prevent the occurrence of ingrown hairs after shaving or waxing.
Allows for a smoother shave: Ever notice your razor is clogged with dead, dry skin rather than hair? A good scrub helps your razor glide and avoid excess clogging.
Softens skin: Removing the buildup of dry, dead skin cells instantly reveals a softer layer underneath.
Unclogs pores: Exfoliating helps remove dirt, oil, and other impurities from inside the pores, minimizing their appearance and even reducing blackheads.
Gives skin a glow: That top layer of dead skin cells tends to have a duller appearance. Exfoliating gives skin a natural radiance.
Helps with product absorption: Removing dead skin cells allows skin care products and their active ingredients to penetrate more effectively. Who doesn’t want that?
Improves skin tone: In some cases, exfoliation can help even skin tone and reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

Why exfoliating before shaving matters

Exfoliation removes dry, dead cells from the skin’s surface, leaving you smooth enough for your razor to glide to easily. This makes the shaving process more efficient, and can help reduce razor bumps and ingrown hairs.

How long before shaving should you exfoliate?

You can exfoliate just before shaving. We recommend waiting until you’ve been in the shower a few minutes to let your skin soften and avoid irritation.

Sensitive skin considerations

If you have sensitive skin, there are a few other things to consider, in addition to the question of should you exfoliate before or after shaving.

Use a gentle formula: With body scrubs in particular, you’ll want to use one with small granules; large crystals could cause irritation.
Try a cotton washcloth: Simply scrubbing with a cotton washcloth and your body wash of choice could be enough exfoliation for your skin.
Cut down on frequency: Start by exfoliating your body just once a week, and increase from there as needed.
Consult your dermatologist: When in doubt, consult your derm for recommendations specific to your skin.

Do You Exfoliate Before or After Shaving?

Bottom line: You should exfoliate before shaving. Exfoliating is essential prep for your skin. It removes dead cells, excess oil, and product buildup, reducing the risk of inflammation and redness after shaving. (Not to mention, all that stuff can clog your razor and make it less effective, which nobody wants!)

Put simply, exfoliating before shaving helps you achieve a closer shave and the smoothest result while minimizing the risk of nicks, bumps, and razor burn. You should not exfoliate immediately after shaving. Shaving itself exfoliates the top layer of skin, which will be sensitive post-shave.

Exfoliation After Shaving: What to Know

Exfoliation after shaving could be painful and cause irritation (no thank you!).

“Many of the typical exfoliants could burn following shaving and your skin may appear red and angry—it's best to avoid that," Sarah Allen, MD, a board-certified Internal medicine physician and co-founder of The Skin Clique tells Southern Living.

Instead, nourish just-shaved skin with a body cream or lotion to keep it both soft and stave off irritation. Wait a couple of days to exfoliate again until your skin is less sensitive. This will make it easier for the hair to come through—meaning you'll be less likely to get ingrown hairs.

What Type of Exfoliant Should I Use?

Exfoliants are categorized as either physical or chemical. Physical exfoliants, like body scrubs, contain small granular components you can see, such as sugar, salt, or beads, to slough off dead skin cells. Our Bum Bum Body Scrub contains both sugar and crushed cupuaçu seeds to gently exfoliate as it rehydrates skin with coconut oil and visibly firms with caffeine rich guaraná.

Chemical exfoliants use—you guessed it—chemical ingredients to loosen dead skin cells. Products containing AHAs like lactic and glycolic acids, and BHAs like salicylic acid, fall into the latter category. Our Bom Dia Body Scrub contains both AHAs and BHA to help deliver smooth, radiant skin with improved clarity while targeting rough, bumpy patches.

How To Create A Shaving Routine

Now that we’ve covered whether you shave or exfoliate first, the next thing to tackle is how to exfoliate before shaving. Here’s our guide to getting the smoothest skin––no irritation invited.

Step 1: Cleanse your skin in warm water

The first thing to consider is your water temperature. Go for warm water rather than scorching hot. It will still feel comfortable on your skin, but won’t be over-drying. Then, use a gentle, moisturizing body wash to cleanse and prep skin for exfoliation. So far, so easy, right?

Step 2: Exfoliate

After you’ve cleansed from head to toe, the next step is to exfoliate using a gentle yet effective scrub like Bum Bum Body Scrub, which is formulated with sugar, crushed cupuaçu seeds, and coconut oil. Although the skin on your body is more resilient than the skin on your face, you don’t want to scrub too hard. Instead, use light, circular strokes to gently remove those dull, rough patches.

Step 3: Rinse well

Say goodbye to all that buildup. Make sure to remove the body scrub or body wash from your skin with a thorough rinse. You can also use a washcloth or loofah to help (just be sure to replace it regularly).

Step 4: Shave

Now, for the main event. Using a shave cream, shave gel, or highly moisturizing body wash like Brazilian Play Body Wash is key. Don’t use a plain bar of soap or—gasp!—nothing at all. That will further dry out skin and can cause irritation.

The razor you use is up to you. There are razors with a single blade or as many as five. You’ll always want to use a sharp blade and replace it often. It may sound counterintuitive, but a dull blade is far more likely to cause nicks and cuts.

After shaving, be sure you clean your razor well, removing soap and hair debris. Then position it in an upright position to allow it to drain well. Always store it in a dry place to reduce rust between showers.

Step 5: Moisturize

Immediately after you get out of the shower, it’s time to moisturize. This will seal in hydration and leave skin feeling super-soft for longer. After all that smoothing, buffing, and shaving, using a hydrating body cream like our best-selling Brazilian Bum Bum® Cream with fast-absorbing cupuaçu butter will feel like such a treat!

Step 6: Exfoliate again…after a couple days

Again, exfoliating immediately after shaving is a big no-no. The newly revealed layer of skin is too sensitive for exfoliation, and you could experience stinging or irritation. But after about two days, you can absolutely exfoliate again. In fact, doing so will help remove dead skin, making it easier for the hair to come through.

Exfoliating FAQs

By now you’re all set on the question of do you exfoliate or shave first. But here are some other answers to common questions that will help you get a perfect, smooth shave.

How long before shaving should you exfoliate?

You can exfoliate right before you shave, to have a smooth surface and help avoid clogging your razor.

Is it OK to exfoliate and shave on the same day?

Yes! Just be sure to exfoliate first, then shave. Shaving before exfoliating will cause irritation.

What happens if you don’t exfoliate before shaving?

Your shave may be a little less smooth, and your razor could get clogged with dead skin in addition to hair.

Can you exfoliate after shaving if you have razor bumps?
Yes, exfoliating helps prevent ingrown hairs and razor bumps. As for how to exfoliate after shaving, just be sure to give it at least a day or two depending on your skin’s sensitivity.

Does exfoliating help prevent ingrown hairs when shaving?
Similarly, exfoliating prior to shaving does help prevent ingrown hairs, as it removes the layer of dead skin cells that can trap hair underneath the skin. By exfoliating, you give the hair a clear path to grow, with fewer chances for bumps or redness.

What type of exfoliator is best before shaving, physical or chemical?
It depends on your skin and preferences, but in general, you’ll want to use a gentle exfoliator that works for your skin type. A sugar-based scrub, like our Bum Bum Body Scrub, is a physical body scrub that isn’t harsh on skin, making it a great pre-shaving option.

Is exfoliation before shaving good for sensitive skin?

In general, yes, it’s good to exfoliate before shaving when you have sensitive skin to help prevent ingrown hairs and razor bumps. Again, just be sure to use a gentle exfoliant that doesn’t feel harsh or disrupt your skin barrier. Also, consider exfoliating just once a week, then increasing to two times as needed.