- 3 min read

Wet Shave or Electric Shave?

One of the most common questions I see online when it comes to the cut - both for head and beard - is the comparison between wet shaving and electric shaving.

In my opinion, this is really going to come down to one thing: personal preference. I can't say objectively which one is better but I can lay out the Pros and Cons of each and you can decide for yourself which one is best, and I would strongly recommend giving both of them a few gos before making a firm decision.

So let's take a look:

Wet Shave

The classic wet shave has tended to be the slightly favoured method over the years; owing to it being more traditional, it was around before electric shavers really came into play and it also allows for that extremely close shave that you just can't quite achieve with an electric. Wet shaving has been around forever and the technology that's gone into these blades and creams has been extensive, so unless you're using low grade razors and throw aways (which I wouldn't recommend) you know you're getting a good product.

So what are the benefits of the wet shave approach?

+ Close, clean shave that you can't quite match with an electric

+ Wide range of very good products available

+ Can be easier to ensure an all over smoothness

What about the downsides?

- Can get quite expensive buying quality razors and foams regularly

- For those with sensitive skin it can lead to bumps, razor burn and irritation

- If you're inexperienced it can lead to the odd cut

Electric Shave / Buzz

Using the electric shaver has always been my go to preference - not because I think one is better than the other, more just out of habit. Since I was a teenager and started growing a facial hair I pretty much went straight to the electric shaver and very rarely used a traditional razor. This habit just carried over into my head shaving routine and I've found it works for me. It's quick, easy and I find it doesn't irritate my skin (which used to happen with the wet shave, particularly around my neck area).

Benefits of an electric shave?

+ Quick, easy and not at all messy if you go with a close shave rather than a "trim" shave

+ Range of good products available on the market these days

+ Likely to be much cheaper in the long run than wet shaving

How about the downsides?

- Unlikely to achieve as close a cut as with a wet shave

- Low quality shavers can cause unevenness and hair ripping rather than cutting

- Bulkier, so if you're travelling a lot it might be an issue

- If your shaver breaks or the battery life dies, it can be expensive to keep replacing

Selecting the right tools for the job

This is an important step, you should be investing in some good products for regular head shaving because you want to do it properly. An uneven shave or overly cut or razor burned scalp is not going to give you the effect you're look for - that clean, sharp, confident bald man.

So here are some of the tools you'll need: