What is wet shaving anyway?
In our society, men’s hygiene and grooming have always been something of a taboo topic which has ensured that not only men are insufficiently well instructed in the basics but are actively discouraged from thinking about their hygiene and grooming, lest they appear ‘gay’. This has led to a state of affairs where men do not understand basic grooming terms, such as wet shaving.
We are not here to talk in-depth about this sad state of affairs, but we can take a small, tiny step towards fixing it by clarifying what is understood under wet shaving. If you’re interested in my views about the world and society, look at my other site, MeThinker.
Strange enough, this has led to a situation where people understand wet shaving as shaving in the shower. But this is wrong in principle, even if shaving in the shower is a form of wet shaving, simply because water is used to soften the beard.
So, what is wet shaving?
Wet shaving is every shaving in which anything which can be called a razor or a shaver is used, together with water and shaving cream, soap or gel.
Naturally, the traditional wet-shaving evangelists will protest at this point, not wanting to be mixed with us, electric wet-shaving people or even with cartridge razor people. So, to please the purists, we do need to differentiate between two types of wet shaving:
- Non-Traditional (or Modern) Wet Shaving
- Traditional Wet Shaving
Traditional Wet Shaving
Traditional wet shaving replicates how people used to shave in the old times, which means that a pre-shave and a post-shave routine is done, and regarding the tools. the classic tools such as a straight razor or a safety razor, shaving cream or soap and a shaving brush, with the whole lathering process where a thick lather is first prepared in a shaving bowl by applying circular motions to a shaving soap or a shaving cream in the bowl while applying water.
After that, you would use your brush to apply the lather to your face, while making sure it is not too wet and not too dry.
After that, you would use the razor to cut the hair until you are done shaving, which is in itself a demanding task. Many people like to do this two or three times to ensure the closest possible shave.
Traditional wet shave enthusiasts will say that shaving in this way is the most comfortable shave, but this was not the case for me. I do not understand how shaving with a razor which has a blade that touches (even if it only glides across) the skin can be considered more comfortable than shaving with a device where the blades never touch the skin.
Don’t get me wrong, traditional wet shaving is the best way to get the closest possible shave. There’s just no better way. Many people understand wet shaving as a self-care hobby – you take the time to perform the art and focus on yourself. It’s me-time.
But for me, the convenience and comfort of doing a wet shave with an electric shaver are just too good to pass up.
Modern Wet Shaving
Modern wet shaving is when a cartridge razor, a single-use disposable razor or an electric shaver is used together with a shaving soap or a gel.
Naturally, the first two options are normally a no-go for me. Why?
Well, I hope we don’t have to discuss disposable razors, as they usually have horrible shaving performance, are expensive and are terrible for the environment. They are only to be used as an absolute last resort. That is an order.
Regarding modern cartridge razors, there’s not much to say as it’s pretty likely that is what most people in some art and form use, as they offer a pretty decent combination of speed and comfort. Naturally, it should be clear that they are not the most cost-effective option and are probably not so good for the environment.
However, for me, they don’t come close to the comfort that an electric shaver provides, even when used dry and when you wet-shave with an electric shaver, in my view elevates the entire experience. And if done properly it is almost like you’re having a massage.
Wet Shaving with an electric razor
We already covered the why: wet shaving with an electric razor is a comfortable experience – almost all the closeness of a traditional wet shave, but almost no irritation or razor burn. Provided you do it well. So what follows is my experience with wet shaving with an electric razor in the hopes it will be at least a bit helpful to you.
Requirements
Of course, not every electric shaver can be used for wet shaving. There are some models which are absolutely dry-use only, meaning they can be used while connected to power.
But said completely openly and honestly – if you got a dry-only electric shaver, you’re missing out. While it is a bit inconvenient to not be able to shave while connected to power – because of safety reasons – and having to keep the shaver charged, the benefits of being able to use the shaver for wet shaving.
So, what you need is:
- An electric shaver that is capable of both wet & dry operation – luckily, there is an abundance of options from all top manufacturers, as Braun, Panasonic and Philips all have top-tier models that are capable of wet shaving
- A relatively high-quality shaving soap, creme or a gel
- An open mind and the willingness to sacrifice a bit of speed to gain more comfort and a closer shave
Preparation
There is minimal or no preparation needed. You need to wash your face in warm water and you’re ready to start. However, you might want to try to organise your. routine so that you’re in the correct mindset for wet shaving. That means making the time for it and maybe even trying to shower and wash your hair before shaving because the hot water will help to additionally soften your beard and make it easier to cut.
How-To
We start by washing the face with warm water. Even if you love to use cold water for the feel and the rush, it is recommended before shaving to wash your face with warm water as this will help you relax, it will soften the beard and open the pores – it will do everything important for a smooth and comfortable shave.
After that, we need to use our favourite shaving cream to prepare a thin, watery layer of lather. Note that we do not want the thick lather as it is traditionally prepared in wet shaving with a safety razor or with a straight razor.
I am sure this sounds counterintuitive, but my experience has always been that a thick lather works against us. What we want is a soft beard and the conditions under which we can have a smooth shave – a razor which can glide across the face, all while keeping our face hydrated and the shaver not being blocked by the excessive lather.
To do this, I usually use a pea-sized ball of shaving gel – which I mix with water to cover the palm with a watery thin lather.
We don’t need the shaving brush or the bowl but if you prefer to use them for old times’ sake, you of course can. I have used the shaving brush and shaving soap together with an electric shaver myself which can be very rewarding, especially if a nice shaving soap is used. However, the challenge here is not to make the lather too thick, as thick lather can clog the shaver and reduce its effectiveness.
To read about my experience with some different wet-shaving products, keep reading.
After we prepare the lather, we need to put it on our face. We try to do this against the grain, which will simultaneously lift the beard and make it easier to cut. Take your time and enjoy the gentle massage while spreading the lather across your beard. Optionally you can leave it on for a minute or so to give it time to soften the beard.
Then you can shave, at best against the grain if you’re using a foil shaver or you can try to use small, circular motions when using a rotary shaver.
While shaving against the grain might seem counterintuitive as well, as in traditional wet shaving it can lead to razor burn, remember that the electric shavers are gentler by nature and shaving against the grain will ensure a closer shave. You can use the free hand to stretch the skin a bit and make the hair stand to make the shave even closer.
While you may feel that a foil shaver is more natural to use when wet shaving – and it will be for most people, as they have the most experience with cartridge razors, you can do wet shaving with a rotary shaver as well. To read about my wet shaving experience with a rotary shaver, check out my Philips S9000 Prestige review.
While shaving you will want to wash the shaver under running water every so often, as even this thin watery lather we prepared has the potential to clog the shaver or confuse the sensor which is responsible for automatically adjusting the blade speed which can lead to a sub-optimal experience and the necessity to do more passes to get the job done.
One additional thing that can make a difference, even if the manufacturers say it won’t, is the battery charge level as the lower level will probably reduce the available power.
It’s important to try to think about wet shaving not as a chore but as an experience. As already said, the dry shaving will get the job done a bit quicker but the comfort and closeness are for me always better with a nice wet shave.
Post-Shave
After shaving, only two things are important: your face and your shaver, so you need to take good care of them both. For your face, that means gently washing it in warm water and then applying some sort of an after-shave product.
I prefer not to use heavy alcohol-based products, as even if they may be better at hygiene and disinfection – and even this is questionable – they tend to just irritate the skin. If you have sensitive skin like me, you are probably much better off using a balm with no alcohol, like for example Nivea Sensitive Post Shave Balm. You can find some more recommended products if you keep reading.
Regarding the shaver, make sure to wash it immediately after taking care of your face. Even if you have a cleaning station you want to rinse the shaver under running water first – and also make sure to take off the blade cassette if you’re using a foil shaver or open up the shaving head if you’re using a rotary shaver to make sure the water gets to blades as well. We do not want any leftover foam or lather getting into the cleaning station and potentially clogging it.
If you have a cleaning station, it should be enough to do as described above, put the shaver back together, put it into the cleaning station and you’re done. If you don’t have a cleaning station, make sure to wash your shaver more thoroughly. I like to put a bit of liquid soap on the shaver, turn it on a bit and then wash everything once again in warm water and then leave it to dry. I particularly like Panasonic shavers in this regard as they usually have a special cleaning mode which you can turn on by pressing the power button a bit longer which will activate it. It will run for a short time and then it will turn off automatically. In any case, hygiene is extremely important, so you do not want to save time here.
Summary
So, in short, the following is important when doing a wet shave with an electric razor:
- UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES try to do wet shaving with a dry-only shaver. Make sure your shaver is designated as Wet/Dry.
- Make sure you have the time to do a wet shave. It is an enjoyable experience and it will ensure closeness and comfort, but to do it properly and enjoy yourself make sure you take your time and have fun with it.
- Use only a thin layer of lather which you should apply against the grain to lift the hairs.
- Shave against the grain / use small circular motions if you’re using a rotary shaver.
- Keep your battery level up.
- Post-shave: take care of your face
- Post-shave: rake care of your shaver
Recommended Wet/Dry Shavers
Generally speaking, my experience has always been that when it comes strictly to wet shaving, one manufacturer stands above the others. and that is Panasonic. The reason is that Panasonic usually makes shavers that shave the closest but are not as gentle and forgiving as those from Braun, for example. This makes them more natural to use for wet shaving, as in wet shaving the comfort is additionally provided by the shaving gel. Because wet shaving is more comfortable by default we might as well go for the maximum closeness possible.
The shavers from Panasonic are also the easiest to clean, which is certainly a plus when it comes to wet shaving.
1. Panasonic Series 900+ (Arc 6) – ES-LS9A-K803
The Panasonic Series 900+, also known as Arc 6, is, in my opinion, the absolute best shaver you can get if you’re interested in wet shaving. It will deal with any kind of beard you might have, for up to 7 days’ worth of growth, albeit for longer and tougher beards you will need more passes. But it shines in 1-3 days’ worth of growth scenarios.
It has, as the name says, 6 blades – two are used to handle the long, flat-lying hairs. Two perform the lifting and cutting and two take care of the fine, delicate hairs is my understanding.
Long story short, this shaver is the absolute best, no comparison, when it comes to closeness. Panasonic speaks about the 30º ultra-sharp Japanese blades but whatever it is that makes this level of closeness possible, it certainly gets the job done. It is truly incredible how close the shave is. Granted, I am no master of traditional wet shaving, but for me, the closeness the S900+ provides is comparable to the safety razor, while being more comfortable with virtually no chance you’ll cut yourself.
The Panasonic S900+ is my choice for the best electric shaver when it comes to wet shaving. Its only downsides are that it could be more efficient when dealing with longer (3+ days worth) growth, coarse beards and the price. The price is the real pain point. At a regular price of about 450€ for a model with a charging station, it’s very expensive. I got mine in an Easter Week Amazon deal for about 330€, which is still a handsome sum of money.
Of course, you can get it for less if you opt for a model without the cleaning and charging station which is nice to have but not needed, as Panasonic shavers are easy to clean manually, as described above.
But, electric shaving must not be considered super expensive, and it is certainly possible to shave comfortaböy and effectively without needing to spend that much money. So, let’s take a look at some alternatives.
2. Panasonic Arc 5 (ES-LV9Q)
While there have been other Japan-exclusive models before the Arc 6, this is the previous generation of the top-of-the-line Panasonic electric shavers, from the European perspective.
Arc 5 would be my second choice, even before getting top models from other manufacturers such as Philips or Braun.
The Arc 5 can be found these days for a regular price of approximately 230€ which is certainly lower than the newest model. So, for almost half the price you would get similar, almost identical closeness. The extra blade on the newer model is an additional blade that takes care of the flat, long hairs, so if you shave often or maybe even every day, you will probably not notice any difference in efficiency either – or better said, you will not profit THAT much from getting a newer model.
There’s even an argument that Arc 5 looks and feels better in the hand than Arc 6 due to having a metal body.
What you do lose when compared to Arc 6 is comfort, as Arc 5 is significantly less comfortable and forgiving than the new Series 900+. But as we’re talking about wet shaving, this doesn’t matter so much as the comfort is provided by the lather. And if we’re sticking to the beards with 3 days or less worth of growth, comfort with the Arc 5 is certainly more than adequate, it’s just not on the level of the newest model.
The only potential problem with buying a previous generation of well, anything, is that it gets progressively harder to find the replacement parts, so be aware of that.
3. Philips S9000 Prestige
Philips S9000 Prestige is a rotary shaver, which means that for most users it probably won’t reach the closeness of the Panasonic foil shavers. For some users, it probably will not reach even the closeness of Braun Series 9 Pro. But I am not one of them, as personally, I was able to get a closer wet shave with the Philips, probably since Philips was more efficient in catching and cutting hairs that grow in different directions.
One of the great benefits of rotary razors, including the Prestige is the flexibility of the shaving head. Not only does the entire head flex and adjust but all the blades flex inward as well. And when you combine this comfort with the power and efficiency that the Prestige provides, wet shaving with this shaver is indeed an amazing experience.
However, rotary razors might not be for people who are unwilling to at least experiment a bit with the way they shave, as using top-down movements with rotary shavers will probably lead to having to do multiple passes. You instead want to do small, circular motions.
4. Braun Series 9 Pro
I don’t often bother with wet shaving when using the Braun Series 9 Pro because it takes extra time to set up. The shaver is already comfortable, so wet shaving seems a bit unnecessary. However, if you take the time to do it properly, you can make it even more enjoyable.
The wet shaving depending on your mood can increase or reduce the closeness as opposed to dry-shaving, as in my opinion, the lather does tend to disturb Braun more than it does the others and makes it a bit less efficient. That being said, it improves the comfort even more so that the wet shaving with Braun is as close to massage as shaving can get. So if you find yourself enjoying the process and taking your time with it, wet shaving with Braun can potentially make the shave even closer as compared to dry shaving.
However, I do find that the dry shave is Braun’s strongest point.
Since both Philips and Braun cannot match Panasonic in closeness and Philips is in my eyes more efficient than Braun, especially on the neck, third place in my view goes to the Prestige, while Braun gets the fourth place, as the extra comfort that Braun provides is negated by the fact we’re only talking about wet-shaving here and the fact that Braun is a bit more difficult to clean due to the complexness of the shaving cassette.
However, any of the mentioned shavers are more than adequate to get the job done and even improve it when compared with the cartridge or a safety razor.
My favourite shaving gels, cremes and soaps
1. Nivea Ultra Glide Shaving Gel for sensitive skin
The traditional wet-shaving community would probably wonder how something as mainstream as Nivea Ultra Glide Shaving Gel can be my Number 1, but in my book, this checks all the right boxes.
It works wonders when it comes to softening the beard, it makes the shaver glide effortlessly, it doesn’t harden too quickly and it has a soothing and caring effect on your skin, apparently thanks to “Chamomile and Hamamelis”.
As I experienced the least amount of razor burn when using this product, I would go as far as to say that it protects from razor burn and makes the shave extremely comfortable.
It is also reasonably priced, which makes it easily possible for you to simply buy it to try it. A clear number 1 for me.
2. Nivea Protect & Care Shaving Creme
The advantage of Nivea Protect and Care Shaving Cream is that it comes in a tube which makes it easier to get out just the right amount. The creme is soft and it provides an excellent shaving and soothing performance, even if the name says that its primary function is to protect the face from cuts, which is usually a non-issue with electric shaving.
It contains Aloe Vera and ´Vitamin B5 which should take care of your skin – which I wouldn’t know, but I can tell you that it does feel good.
3. Speick Men Active Shaving Cream
Speick Men Active Shaving Cream is an exceptional shaving cream which softens the beard and makes for an enjoyable shaving experience, I would go as far as to say that when it comes to softening the beard and relaxing the skin.
The reason that it’s “just” on the third place? Well, Nivea in my opinion does more to take care of the skin and prevent the razor burn. Nivea also seems not as drippy, as when you rinse the shaver after a few strokes, you should rinse it. And after you do this, the shaver is naturally wet which makes the lather a bit more drippy after that. But that is honestly just a nitpick.
One thing which does make Speick stand out is that they claim their creme is entirely free of synthetic add-ons and is vegan, which to me all says that it is a potentially healthier product for your skin. But again, what do I know? These are simply my instincts and opinions.
4. Castle Forbes Lavender Shaving Cream
Now, Castle Forbes Lavender Shaving Cream truly is an exceptional product. It uses Lavender Essential Oil which makes it wonderfully fragrant and very soothing for the skin. It is gentle and it does a great job of softening the beard.
When it comes to preventing the razor burn, it is excellent as well. It is however slightly behind the Nivea when it comes to making the razor glide smoothly across the face.
From what I see, it is the most animal-friendly product of all mentioned, as it is completely free of any animal products whatsoever and it is also not tested on animals.
It comes in a PET jar which means that a shaving brush should be used to spread it on your face – and that is my biggest and the only problem with this product. As we already said earlier, for wet shaving with an electric razor we do not need a thick and rich lather as the “traditional wet shaving with the safety razor” folks do. That makes this shaving cream a bit difficult to use for electric shaving as it is not easy to get just there tiny amount of the product on the shaving brush.
That, when combined with the price makes this a not so cost-effective option as others as you will undoubtedly end up wasting a bit on every shave. But if you can, I would suggest maybe getting one and then saving it for those occasions when you wish to take extra care of yourself because it’s just that good.
Post-Shave
Let’s also take a few minutes to talk about my favourite post-shave products. I have sensitive skin, so these are all rated from that point of view.
1. Nivea Men Sensitive Cool Post Shave Balm
Nivea Sensitive Cool Post Shave Balm is simply the number one post-shave product for me. It contains no alcohol which means there’s no traditional aftershave sting. There’s just calmness, a cooling effect and relief.
Nivea says it’s due to “Chamomile and Seaweed Extract” – as always I have no idea what do these ingredients do, but the balm certainly gets the job done.
The balm is not greasy and it absorbs well. In many ways applying it is the high point and the reward of the wet-shave.
2. Speick Active After Shave Lotion
Speick Men Active After Shave Lotion is a refreshing and invigorating lotion. It provides soothing and comfort after the shave. It also smells nice, even with no addition of synthetic fragrances.
The lotion does contain alcohol, which makes it not as gentle as the Nivea but it is more refreshing instead. it is also much closer to the traditional wet shaving products with almost all refreshing and energising effects all while not being as brutal and as unforgiving as the traditional after-shave products.
Conclusion
There is not much to say in the conclusion that we didn’t mention before. Wet shaving with an appropriate electric razor has the potential to increase the closeness, comfort and enjoyment of your shaving and if you have an open mind to try it, you will be pleasantly surprised, of that much I am sure.
NOTE: Once again, please THINK and remember that water and electricity do not mix, so make sure only to use appropriate electric shavers which are explicitly marked as wet/dry use, and in no circumstances attempt to use them while connected to power.
As we all know, shaving is a deeply personal experience and these are simply MY EXPERIENCES and MY OPINIONS. I did my best to try to explain my experiences with wet shaving using an electric shaver, so I cannot guarantee that you will have the same experience.
Feel free to drop me a comment if you wish to share your experience as you might help someone – and that is what life is all about – trying to make at least some positive effect on other people and the world.
Domagoj
