Do you consider shaving to be a chore? If so, shaving has probably become a mind-numbing chore. If that sounds familiar, you probably wake up in the morning, drag yourself to the bathroom, take a hot shower, and shave before you even think about cooking breakfast. If you’re late for work, you probably skip breakfast.
There’s nothing wrong with mindlessly shaving if it gets the job done. After all, even a mindless routine is beneficial; any shaving routine can help you keep your job by ensuring you don’t violate your employer’s dress code by showing up with a 5-o-clock shadow. However, when shaving is just a routine, you’re missing out on some of the therapeutic health benefits of shaving.
If shaving has become nothing more than something to get out of the way, it’s time for a new approach. Here are several reasons to think of shaving as part of your wellness routine rather than a daily chore to tackle before heading off to work.
Table of Contents
- When you shave for wellness rather than out of habit, you’ll feel better
- Shaving is a multi-dimensional experience
- Shaving should already be part of a good hygiene routine
- Do you prefer maintaining a full or partial beard?
- Can’t see yourself taking extra time to shave? Here are some tips to make it work:
- Don’t rush; make time for your daily shave
When you shave for wellness rather than out of habit, you’ll feel better
Have you ever noticed that when you aren’t rushed, shaving is a pleasant experience? If you’ve ever treated yourself to a professional shave by a barber, you know you can’t beat that feeling. You’re relaxed and taken care of. There’s nowhere else you need to be and nothing else you need to do when you’re sitting in that chair.
When your shaves aren’t rushed, not only is the act of shaving pleasant, but you feel physically better in the end. When you’re rushed to get to work on time, your shaves won’t feel as good. If you’re extremely rushed you might not even remember shaving. Did you use hot water? Did you have to feel your face to remember if you even shaved at all?
Shaving in a rush is an awful experience. On the other hand, when your full attention is on shaving, you’ll be able to experience shaving as a therapeutic experience.
Shaving is a multi-dimensional experience
Shaving involves more than just feeling the razor scrape the hair off your skin. For example, if you perform a classic wet shave, you’ll feel a hot towel wrapped around your neck, the thickening of your shave soap as you prepare your lather, and the coolness when applying the lather to your face. You’ll also experience the smell and texture of your pre-shave oil and aftershave when you’re finished. All of these experiences are therapeutic when you’re fully present.
In contrast, when you’re shaving as fast as you can because you’re late for work, your attention is divided and you aren’t going to experience the therapeutic effects of a hot towel and you won’t appreciate the feeling of freedom that comes from shaving off stubble and scraggly hair. You’ll just be glad it’s over with so you can go about your day.
Shaving should already be part of a good hygiene routine
When talking about making shaving part of your wellness routine, technically, it should already be part of your personal hygiene routine.
Maintaining good hygiene is important for your health and your social life. For many people, shaving has become a mandatory part of their routine. Some employers require men to shave their face daily to maintain a certain appearance while others shave because they simply prefer a smooth face. It doesn’t matter why you shave. If you’re going to shave, do it as part of your personal wellness and hygiene routine so make sure you enjoy your shaves.
Do you prefer maintaining a full or partial beard?
There’s nothing wrong with growing a beard, but having hair on your face increases the amount of time you need to spend washing up. Beards of any size get dirty quickly, and need to be washed on a regular basis. One study found that beards can harbor more germs than dogs that roll around in mud, dirt, and dead animals.
Unwashed beards are unsanitary and cause dry and oily skin underneath. If you shave any part of your face, make sure to wash your beard during your shaving routine.
Can’t see yourself taking extra time to shave? Here are some tips to make it work:
1. Just do it
Procrastination eats up more time than you think. Don’t think about shaving – just do it. Wake up 30 minutes earlier than usual and start your day with a classic wet shaving routine. After a few days your new routine will feel so good you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner.
2. Shave in the shower
Short on time? Shave in the shower. Provided you take hot showers, your pores will already be open and it will take you less time to shave. You won’t need to prepare your face with a hot towel. All you need is a fogless mirror, a good safety razor, and a puck of your favorite shaving soap.
3. Try it once
Once you experience shaving without pressure, you’ll never rush your shaves again. On your next day off, set aside 30-45 minutes for a thorough wet shaving routine. Start with a hot shower and then begin prepping for your shave.
4. Get good at making lather
Making thick, creamy lather is fun when you know how to make it well. By improving the quality of your lather, you’ll always strive to shave with the best lather possible. Since good lather can’t be rushed, you won’t be tempted to rush your shaves. At that point, to shave in a hurry, you’ll need to go back to canned shaving cream, which won’t be an option.
5. Stop using disposable and cartridge razors
Once you try classic wet shaving tools like a straight razor or a safety razor, you’ll never go back to plastic razors. There’s no comparison between the quality of shaves – plastic razors are dull out of the box and don’t get as clean and close as a single, sharp blade.
Don’t rush; make time for your daily shave
Whether you shave or not, your personal hygiene routine shouldn’t be rushed, but patience is especially important when you’re dealing with a sharp blade.