For decades, women were warned against shaving their faces. We’re sure you’ve heard it before—the whole “the hair will grow back bolder, coarser, and thicker than before” thing. But here’s the thing: that’s a total myth.
Since debunking this common skincare misconception, women everywhere quickly saw how much shaving their faces can boost their glow. It’s got tons of beauty benefits, and honestly, hardly any downsides.
We’re guessing you’re already sold on this modern skincare practice. But before you start slicing and dicing with your razor, let’s talk about how often you should shave your face.
How Often Should You Shave Your Face as a Woman?
In this post, we’ll give you all the details you need to shave your face for the best results. We’ll talk about why it’s worth adding to your routine, how often to do it, and how to do it correctly.
Let’s get to the good stuff:
Should You Shave Your Face as a Woman?
Yes! There are so many benefits of shaving your face as a woman. And, no, there are no side effects that cause hair to grow back thicker, darker, and coarser.
The results are so good that dermatologists everywhere advocate for face shaving! It’s also called dermaplaning, if you’ve been wondering what that term means.
Here are some of the biggest gains from face shaving, aka dermaplaning:
Gets Rid of Unwanted Facial Hair and Peach Fuzz
This one’s obvious, but face shaving is great for ditching unwanted facial hair and peach fuzz.
Unlike other hair removal options, there are no harsh chemicals, painful procedures, or time-consuming appointments like with threading or waxing. And it’s quick, unlike endless plucking and tweezing.
Gently Exfoliates the Skin
Shaving doesn’t just remove hair. It also gently buffs away dead skin cells, giving you a super gentle form of physical exfoliation.
This helps prevent clogged pores, speeds up cell turnover, and boosts blood flow, leaving your skin clear, healthy, and glowing. Want to know more? Check out our post: “What Does Exfoliation Remove and Deplete?”
Brightens and Evens Skin Tone
Speaking of clear and healthy skin, the accelerated cell turnover from exfoliation can make your skin look seriously amazing.
As old skin cells shed, new, fresher skin cells take their place. This helps fade scars, hyperpigmentation, and other blemishes while enhancing that youthful glow, for even, radiant skin.
Creates a Smooth Canvas for Makeup
Hair adds texture. Even if you don’t have a ton of facial hair, vellus hair (aka peach fuzz) can create variation in your skin’s surface.
And unfortunately, this added texture can make makeup look patchy and dull. Plus, if you like sharp contour lines, that’s hard to achieve with peach fuzz blurring the edges.
A clean-shaven face is the perfect canvas for makeup.
Makes Skincare Products More Effective
Shaving itself is an effective way to take care of your skin. However, shaving can actually make your other skincare products work better, too.
Dead skin cells and peach fuzz are roadblocks for skincare ingredients, preventing them from sinking deep into the skin. Removing the dead skin and hair makes your skin more permeable. That means all your ingredients, from vitamin C to retinol, absorb deeper into the skin for better results.
How Frequently Should You Shave Your Face as a Woman?
Most women can get away with shaving every 1-2 weeks. This keeps skin smooth and hair under control without the irritation or hassle of daily shaving.
However, it’s not a one-size-fits-all type of thing. Depending on how fast or slow your hair grows, you may need to increase or decrease how often you shave.
And your skin type matters, too. If you have sensitive skin and shaving causes irritation, it’s usually best to wait longer between shaves. Oily skin, on the other hand, can often handle more frequent shaving and really benefit from the extra exfoliation.
Even the weather can change hair growth rates! The point is, it can vary from person to person. Start with shaving every two weeks and increase from there until you find your perfect shaving routine.
The one thing we recommend avoiding? Shaving every other day—this is when you risk breakouts and irritation. But don’t worry, we’ll share the perfect routine below.
When Should You Shave Your Face as a Woman?
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When hair growth is noticeable
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Before events or makeup application
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When dead skin makes the skin look dull
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When skin is hydrated and healthy
When Should You Avoid Shaving Your Face as a Woman?
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If your skin is irritated or inflamed
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During active breakouts or acne flare-ups
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When sunburned or freshly tanned
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If you have cuts, scrapes, or open wounds
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When your skin feels sensitive or raw
How to Shave Your Face as a Woman
Step One: Prep your skin with a gentle cleanser.
Before you start shaving, clean your face with a gentle cleanser like Elemis Cleansing Balm or CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser.
This will help prevent irritation and reduce the risk of breakouts. It even softens the hair up, making it easier to cut. When you’re done cleansing, pat your face dry with a towel.
Step Two: Apply the TSC Shave Cream.
Next, apply the first-ever shaving cream for women: our very own TSC Shave Cream. On the surface, shave cream just helps you track where you need to shave next, but this one does so much more.
It’s formulated with shea butter, aloe, and olive oil to deeply moisturize the skin while you shave. This not only gives you silky smooth skin when you’re all done, but also makes the razor glide like a dream.
With a smoother, closer shave and nourishing ingredients, the TSC Shave Cream helps prevent razor burns, ingrown hairs, nicks and cuts, and irritation.
And yes, you want a cream, not a gel. Here’s more on shaving gel vs cream, if you’re curious.
Step Three: Shave with a dermaplaning razor.
When it’s time to shave, don’t grab your partner’s cartridge razor that he uses for beard shaving. You need something that targets peach fuzz and offers all those exfoliating benefits. Use a dermaplaning tool to get the close shave you’re looking for. These razors may look intimidating at first, but they’re actually super easy to use.
Gently pull your skin taut and hold the razor at a 45-degree angle. Use short, downward strokes, letting the shave cream be your guide.
Step Four: Take breaks to clean the blades.
As you shave, take breaks after each section to clean the blades. This helps ensure a smoother shave with zero irritation.
Dead skin cells, hair, and shaving cream can build up on the razor and cause nicks or cuts. Simply rinse the blade thoroughly with water to clear all debris before continuing.
Step Five: Rinse your face.
Once you’re done shaving, rinse your face with warm water to wash away any leftover hair or shaving cream. Then, take a moment to feel and enjoy your newly silky, smooth skin.
Step Six: Apply TSC De-Puffing Face Oil with our Ice Roller.
Even if your skin feels soft and healthy, shaving can still cause a bit of irritation from removing hair and dead skin cells.
To calm and refresh your skin, use the TSC Ice Roller. And for extra benefits, apply our De-Puffing Face Oil with the roller.
As the ice roller cools and sculpts your face, the oil replenishes hydration in your moisture barrier. Not only will this process leave your skin smooth, but it will also feel truly nourished.
Step Seven: Hydrate with a rich moisturizer.
Give your skin one more hydrating boost with a rich moisturizer. You should always prioritize extra hydration after exfoliating and/or shaving.
We love Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench, Bubble Power Wave Moisturizer, or Inkey List Bio-Active Ceramide Moisturizer for deep hydration after a good shave.
Shave 1-2 times a week for baby-soft and radiant skin.
Adding shaving to your routine is one of the best ways to boost your skincare and beauty goals. Everything from skin renewal to makeup application is better with consistent dermaplaning.
Once it becomes a habit, you’ll notice the difference both in how your skin looks and feels every time you glance in the mirror.
For more need-to-know beauty tips and the best skincare products, check out The Skinny Confidential Shop. Start browsing and see what your skin may be missing.
