Shaving, a daily ritual for men, often revolves around the indispensable shaving cream. It provides lubrication, moisture, and softens facial hair. But, can you shave without it? Absolutely! Natural alternatives like aloe vera gel, peanut butter, or even body lotion, soap, and essential oils can step in. Discover a world of shaving possibilities beyond the traditional cream.
Shaving cream is a useful thing to shave correctly, but in fact, it is not a mandatory requirement. Shaving without shaving cream is not impossible at all if you use natural elements like aloe vera gel, peanut butter, raw honey, etc. or other elements like body lotion, soap, shampoo, essential oils, etc.
Situations When You Don’t Want to Use Shaving Cream
There are some particular scenarios when you don’t like to apply shaving cream while shaving and therefore start searching for alternatives.
First of all, in a situation when you have to shave off your facial hair quickly, but you find that your shaving cream has run out suddenly, you need to find other alternatives.
If you don’t like the smell of your shaving cream, you look for other alternatives.
Besides, if you have a sensitive skin that shaving cream doesn’t suit, you will need to find other items to apply on your skin for shaving. A person without a thick beard who has to lubricate the shaving area where he doesn’t need to use shaving cream tends to look for other alternatives.
Another reason behind your not intending to use shaving cream can be your attempt to save money when you have a stipulated income.
Also Read: Is shaving a beard important for an interview?
Best Substitutes for Shaving Cream
While no substitute can match the quality of shaving cream, a variety of alternatives can get the job done. Dive into the world of shaving without shaving cream to discover viable options for a well-groomed appearance. Explore the alternatives listed below to achieve a satisfying shave.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a good option as an alternative to shaving cream. This natural element has great skin-soothing and moisturizing properties. Aloe vera works exceptionally well for those having sensitive skin.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is greasy and oily, and thus it can lubricate your skin easily. Your skin receives healthy fats and oils in peanut butter very well. However, if you have allergies, it is better not to use it for shaving.
Honey
Honey is one of the best natural moisturizers, although you might have a sticky and annoying feeling after applying it to your skin. Still, it can be an option when you are looking for a natural alternative to shaving cream.
Bathroom Soap
Using bathroom soap will give you almost the same feeling as shaving cream. Thus it is one of the best options to shave with. By making a lot of foam, a bar foam helps lubricate the razor and moisturize your skin. However, if you shave with soap instead of shaving cream, you will tend to get cuts and nicks if you are a bit incautious and unmindful.
Hair Conditioner
Hair conditioner softens and smoothes your hair very effectively. It also prevents razor burn by giving the right amount of lubrication to the razor. Just take the right amount of conditioner in your hand and lather it into the skin. For better results, you can also apply shampoo on your facial hair before applying the conditioner. It is a cheap alternative to shaving cream as well.
Essential Oils
Any kind of essential oil such as baby oil, natural oils (jojoba oil, olive oil, avocado oil) is good enough to lubricate the sharp razor and hydrate your hair. Moreover, they contain useful vitamins and other nutrients to nourish your skin. Thus, you can also use them for shaving purposes.
Also read: Is it Okay to Shave Every Day?
What to Do Before Shaving Without Shaving Cream?
Prepare your Skin
Before applying any of the alternatives, the first thing you should do is to know your skin type. If yours is sensitive skin, you cannot use all kinds of other options mentioned above. Moreover, your skin will be likely to be affected negatively if you have ultra-sensitive skin. Therefore take some time to prepare your skin before shaving with those alternatives.
Clean Your Face
After preparing your skin, wet the shaving area with water or dab water. Moistening your face, neck, and especially beard will make them softer, and thus, you will be able to shave more effortlessly and comfortably. You may also need to exfoliate your skin gently with a scrub in case of shaving with oil. By doing so, you can get a closer shave with minimum passes.
Also Read: Foil Shaver Buying Guide
Consider Shaving in the Shower with Hot Water
If you take a shower for 15 minutes with warm water before shaving, the warm water will help loosen up the hair follicles. Thus, you won’t have to apply much force on your skin with a razor. Thus the razor will hurt less.
Prepare Your Razor
A razor is an essential tool for shaving, and therefore, the razor blade should be sharp enough. With a blunt razor blade, you will have to shave with a lot of passes. The blade in the razor should be fresh and rust-free.
In addition to this, safety in using razor should also be taken into consideration when you are shaving with elements alternative to shaving cream.
Step-By-Step Guide on Shaving without Shaving Cream
If you have long facial hair, you should trim your facial hair with a good trimmer. It is necessary because long facial hair tends to clog up the razor during shaving.
After that, it is time to lather the shaving product into your skin. If you use soap-like products like shampoo, soap bar, or conditioner, take them in good amount to form a thick layer of foam. The thicker foam will cause lesser nicks and cuts.
Finally, you are all set to shave now. You should be careful enough while shaving and try to shave as slowly and steadily as possible. After shaving, give your face a thorough wash. Keep your skin moist, smooth, and itch-free.
Final Words:
While shaving without shaving cream may not result in perfection, alternative substitutes can work surprisingly well with the right approach. Accept the possibilities, but for best results, stick to proper shaving procedures. Discover the art of shaving without shaving cream and achieve a groomed look that defies convention.