Wet Shaving or Dry Shaving

Wet Shaving or Dry Shaving: What’s the Difference?

How is wet shaving different from dry shaving, and what’s best for you? Wet shaving is shaving with a razor and a shave prep such as a cream, foam, or gel. Dry shaving is shaving with an electric razor with no foam or water.

What is Wet Shaving?

Hair is cut with a razor blade

With wet shaving, your hair is cut with a razor blade. Start by lathering your face and neck with a shave prep of your choice, which will help your razor do its job easier and better. Need help finding the right shaving products for your skin type? Check out our guide.

Here’s a deeper look at the process.

How Wet Shaving Works

When shaving with a razor, the blade lifts up the hair

When shaving with a razor, the blade lifts up the hair from the follicle before it cuts.

Razors with multiple blades

Razors these days usually have multiple blades (the Gillette Fusion5 has five). Each blade cuts the hair even deeper before letting it fall back.

Get a seriously smooth shave that’s close but comfortable

You can get a seriously smooth shave that’s close but comfortable.

What is Dry Shaving?

Dry shaving and electric shaving are the same thing. For a dry shave, you usually don’t wet your face first (even though this makes your hair easier to cut). An electric shaver can be a great option if you want a shave that’s quick and easy.
With electric shaving, the hair is cut between two blades

With electric shaving, the hair is cut between two blades, in a scissor-like motion. Here’s a closer look.

How Dry Shaving Works

An electric shaver presses down on your skin

An electric shaver presses down on your skin, moving it around.

Electric shaver makes the hair more exposed as it shaves.

This movement against your electric shaver makes the hair more exposed as it shaves.

a clean shave

After the hair's cut, what’s left is pulled back under your skin’s surface, making your skin feel nice and smooth.

Which is Best for Me?

Wet shaving and dry shaving are both great options, but if you have sensitive or dry skin, or if you want a super close and clean shave, wet might be the way to go.

If a dry shave works best for you, check out Gillette Aftershave Balm or Gillette Aftershave Moisturizer to keep your skin feeling great.

Learn more about the perfect post-shave routine.

The Best of Both Worlds

If you can’t decide between wet or dry shaving, try the Gillette All Purpose Styler and Beard Trimmer.

Start by trimming your facial hair with the 2mm, 4mm or 6mm comb. Then, get some shaving gel or foam on your face and neck. Your trimmer comes with the ProGlide razor blade so you can switch to shaving right away. Use the built-in precision trimmer to finish the look.

It can take your skin a month to adjust to a new shaving method, so give yourself some time to adapt if you’re switching between wet and dry shaving. Good luck!

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