Beauty And The Blog

Anti-Aging & Skin Care Information

Anti-Aging & Skin Care: Shaving Face is Saving Face

August 9th, 2010 |

No woman wants a mustache. Or those weird chin hairs that magically appear one day with no warning. We all know about waxing, tweezing, bleaching and depilatories.

And now in addition to electrolysis we have lasers that are very effective for removing unwanted hair not only on the face but other areas of the body as well.

Now, what would you think if I told you that dermatologists and estheticians have been recommending shaving as a real alternative to the methods of hair removal for the face? I hadn’t heard about it. Maybe I have been too ingredient oriented and not paying enough attention to other skin related news…

Anyway, I was roaming around on the internet looking at new information on hair removal (quite a while ago, I have been meaning to write this post for ages) and this shaving thing kept popping up. Dates on most of the posts are 2005-2006. So it isn’t new news. Women are actually doing this on the advice of doctors and estheticians.

I bet there is panic on your face. It was my first reaction, too. No, I’m not shaving my face. What the hell are they talking about? How UN-feminine.

OK, stop. Right there. Are you interested in anti-aging? You want to minimize lines and wrinkles? Exfoliation is important to you, right (it better be)? You want smooth glowing and radiant skin. Without some weird hair sprouting front and center from your chin, or a fine layer of dark fuzz setting up residence on your upper lip. OK, maybe it is light peach fuzz, but you still don’t want it, do you?

Well, here is what caught my attention about this whole female-face-shaving-thing: Shaving your face is an anti-aging treatment that has been found to be very effective.

Here is what it can do for you. Exfoliate, which we know is the removal of the dead and unwanted layer of cells on the surface of our skin. Shaving also causes very minor irritation to the skin which in turn causes a tightening and plumping to take place over time (and that is what will minimize the fine lines and wrinkles). Now, who wouldn’t like that?

Another interesting point… Japanese women have been shaving their faces for generations. It is considered a very common beauty treatment.

Are you game? Scared? Worried that the hair will grow back thicker, darker, coarser? It won’t. Your hair follicle determines that, and you aren’t going anywhere near your hair follicle when you shave. That follicle is buried in the layers of your skin.

Now you are probably thinking, “But, when I shave my legs the hair feels like stubble when it grows in”. That is because you have created a flat or blunt top edge on the hair you have shaved. When a hair grows and hasn’t been shaved it is tapered so it feels softer to the touch. Plus, the hair on your face is just not the same. It’s finer, it won’t feel the same as your legs do when the hair grows back. You may have to shave your face daily, that depends on color of the hair and how much you have. I know some of you don’t shave your legs daily so that may not sound so good. (I do, I am obsessed with smooth skin).

So. Hair on your face. That you don’t want. Starting to think about it, aren’t you?

Ever heard of Dermaplaning? It’s the same thing as shaving. Only it is done in a spa or dermatologists office. And it does remove a bit more skin than plain shaving making it more effective. It’s a well known fact that it is good for the skin and a powerful tool against aging, the appearance of lines and wrinkles. In addition to helping to maintain plump, firm skin.

But you need to keep regular appointments and spend a considerable amount of bank for Dermaplaning.

So why not try shaving at home? It’s affordable. You can shut the bathroom door and who’s to know? If you keep your mouth shut no one will know. And since you are trying it at home you can do it daily, so no waiting for regrowth long enough to wax, no burning depilatory or bleach. And tweezing an area such as the upper lip is very painful and impractical. The hair on female faces isn’t the same as on a male, anyway. Our facial hair tends to be more of a fuzz. So you aren’t going to see the 5:00 shadow I know all of you are imagining right now.

Before I give you a couple links to check out on the subject of facial shaving I have one more little gem of information to pass along.

Do you wear foundation makeup? Want it to apply incredibly smoother than ever? Virtually melt into your skin? Shaving your face will let your foundation do that, and allow for a better application of translucent powder or powdered mineral makeup. What do think about that, huh?

Still thinking? One of those things that make you go, hmmmm? Right? Well, take a peek at these articles (below) I found. Then, please do come on back and leave me a comment. Tell me what you think. Is it “Ewwww, never!” or is it “This sounds interesting, I might try it”.

And if you would like to visit a forum on the subject, EssentiallDaySpa has one going on.

Plastic Surgeon Wants More Women to Shave Their Faces

By Dr. Edward Domanskis on PRWeb

Shaving – Why Women Should Shave Their Face

By Lauren Cross via Ezine @rticle

Japanese Beauty’s Best kept Secret

By Aphroditi on Beaut.ie: The Irish Beauty Blog

Dermaplaning

By Pam Zagula, LE, LPN from Sandel Center Facial Plastic Surgery

Photo by caperuccita

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Posted in Skin Care and Anti-Aging Information |

Tags: anti aging, Dermaplaning, Exfoliation, Female Facial Shaving, LinkedIn, Skin Care, Wrinkles

Cassiela3

Thank you!
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

Hi~ Any razor that you are comfortable with will be fine. I like Cetaphil cleanser for shaving rather tan a traditional shaving cream. Good luck!
Cassiela3

Facial hair is a daily problem for me. I have waxing and trimming the hair with small scissors for decades now. And I am very tired of it. I haven’t the cha-ching for laser hair removal so I think I will try the shaving. Any suggestons on blades or creams?
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

Hahaha! I read that somewhere too!
Natalia Rivas

Oh My God! It turns out Marilyn Monroe shaved her face too :)
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

No, it won’t look like a man’s 5 o’clock shadow. Unless you have a hormonal issue causing excessive growth of very dark hair. In which case you would need to see an MD to have that addressed.As far as the shaving, do it everyday. Hold you lip very taut and be feather light in your touch with the razor. Use Cetaphil or another very mild creamy cleanser to give some “slip” to the shaving. Good luck!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VT7HNPOISC6AXGLVPVBDDNNJZQ Kelly

I am going to try laser hair removal on my upper lip. I have mainly been plucking unwanted dark hairs in that area almost everyday. I am scared to shave my upper lip inbetween treatments and that it will have a 5 oclock shadow. If it grows out will it have the dark spots like the stubs men have? I dont get hair anywhere else on my face besides blonde hair below my lip which doesnt bother me. Very nervous but I want to have the laser treatment. I have dark hair so I get nervous how it will look. How often would I have to shave that area?
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

Also~ Try shaving with Cetiphil. It is very gentle and non-drying.
Lizzyleigh

hey I just read TESH’s comment. that is exactly how im feeling. more breakouts and very dry around the mouth. I will try your sugeestions for her as well thanks
Lizzyleigh

nope just natural no acid or any active ingredients. the thing that im finding is that the next day my face got super dry like eczema and now its breaking out. Im wondering if its because i used shaving cream? maybe i need to try shaving with something like spectro gel instead. do you have any tips on getting my skin back to being smooth?
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

Yay! Does your face cream have any glycolic or other exfoliating acids in it? That would definitely make it sting. Also retinol would do that. You might want to use a more gentle cream directly after shaving. Do the shaving in the AM and in the PM use your cream that has the more active ingredients in it. Emu oil is good, too. I haven’t tried it on my face but may people swear by it. Glad you like your results!
Lizzyleigh

hahaha thank you so much. I was so excited after I read all of your other comments that I ran upstairs and shaved my ENTIRE face. It felt amazing!!!! Its a little raw this morning and my face cream is a little irritating. I was thinking about switching to emu oil instead of face cream? what cream do you recommend? I had only blond peach fuzz on my cheeks and when my husband came home last night he was like “WOW YOUR GLOWING!@44a217c140342c2d211909e85c02bce0:disqus love this thank you so much for your blog!!!!! <3
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

First of all…. If you don’t look like an ewok before starting to shave, you won’t look like one after you start if you have to skip a day or 3 or more. You do take water with you when you camp, right? And you wash your face, right? Shave when you wash your face. Or, take some pre-moistened facial cleansing towelettes, use one and then shave. It’s shaving, not brain surgery ;-) Good luck!
Lizzyleigh

what happens if you go camping or something and dont have access to running water? this is my ONLY fear haha. I dont want to look like a ewok after a few days. answer this and im hooked :)
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

That is pretty much the story of how I got started with it as well. I wish I started sooner!
Anonymous

I am perimenopausal and over the past few years developed a lot of fine facial fuzz that I hated. Was reluctant to shave due to thinking hair would grow back more coarse. Finally decided to try it and am now hooked! Skin is so much smoother and makeup goes on like silk. This is the best kept skincare secret ever. No wonder Asian women always seem to have such pretty skin.
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

Thanks for your input. I have heard that you should not shave “against the grain” but you point out a good fact. Women’s hair is different. So I suppose it would be best for any woman shaving to experiment and see what works best for her.
Somedude

not sure if this has been mentioned or not yet, as i haven’t read all of the comments, but shaving “against the grain” will definitely help any women who have complained of feeling stubbly right after shaving. on a man this is much less comfortable as the hair is much coarser and puts up a hell of a fight against the blade, but since the hairs on a woman’s face are much finer and weaker, there will be virtually no resistance. the result will be baby smooth skin and absolutely no visible hair. hope this helps.
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

Good for you! Yup, around the eyes would be nice….
Cbclifton

I’ve been shaving for years. Had heard Japanese woman do this. You rarely see a wrinkled Japanese lady! My skin is firm around the cheeks and neck. Too bad you can’t shave around your eyes! – CBC
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

Yes, you can. But be very, very careful. Before any squeezing be sure to steam the area using a very warm wet face cloth. Keep your finger nails out of the equation, pads of fingers only. Also, check to see if any dermatologists or estheticians in your area offer a service using Exolift http://www.cosmexltd.com/index.html
Good luck! Let me know how you do.
nose-o-clock shadow?

quick question – can you shave your nose? (I was reading through comments and saw someone say shaving helped with blackheads.) Or is there another way I can get rid of them easily? I have lots of my nose and sometimes have to squeeze them out, or just put lots of make up on them (and I hate putting foundation on my nose). Thanks.
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

You wouldn’t have more oil filling your pores just because you shave… It doesn’t “open your pores”, it removes the dead layer of skin covering your pores. What are you using as your skin care products? Perhaps they are comedogenic, causing blockage of your pores that is trapping oil and dirt?
I do understand why you wouldn’t want to shave you upper lip if the hair is very dark. Mine is not, but shaving is a part of my daily routine so I never see it anyway. I also have my face dermaplaned once in a while which is a deeper exfoliation done with a scalpel, basically shaving but removing more skin.
dianaaya

I read many of the comments here and noticed some women they had a slight stuble feeling after shaving their face. I shave my face also but I make sure not to shave the “mustache area”, since I know this hair will grow thicker or be prickely once it grows out. I am not a hairy person but the hair above my lip area grows out black, so I rather pluck it then take a chance of shaving it. Also shaving obviously opens up your pores therefore you have to be careful to make sure you clean your face throughly after applying makeup. I noticed oil filling up my pores more easily. Although I love shaving my face and the smooth glowing look you get afterwards but make sure you know you have to keep up the cleaning of your pores to avoid getting pimples.
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

You are welcome! Let me know how it works for you. Is there any other skin care topic I can help with?
Phoebesparker

I just found this blog. THANK YOU! I am in perimenopause and have noticed lots of blonde hair on my face lately. I have been wondering about the beard thing. I’m gonna try shaving. Thanks again.
Bahar_cham

first i had doubt but now i am sure. My dermatologist suggest it but i refused. Then pimples returned. I won’t care about my friend opinion. I will do it.
guest

i’ll try and remember that lol ;-p
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

You’re good, a bit sideways is fine. Most facial hair grows in a downward pattern, if it doesn’t grow downward follow the direction of the growth. It will not grow in thicker. Shave daily and you will never feel the hair growing in. And don’t cut yourself, it’s against the rules ;-)
guest

it feels great but it didnt get rid of all the hairs. i have very fine hair on my face i shaved downwards but in a sideway kinda way if you get what i mean to get all the hairs is that ok??? will the hair grow thicker that way or do i just have to be careful not to cut myself lol. by the way thank you for the post its great it really help xx
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

Downwards, short gentle strokes. Very light pressure! Good luck, and let me know what you think after you try it!
guest

how should i shave upwards or downwards ????
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

Thank you for your comment, and the confirmation that this has been done by Japanese and other Asian women for a very long time.

I’m glad you enjoyed the post!
Amber

Thank you so very much for this blog! I really, really appreciate it!

I’m turning sixteen next month; and I (naturally) want to look my best. My boyfriend is Japanese, and I recently asked him (after seeing a Japanese commercial geared toward women shaving their faces!) if it really was true that Japanese women shaved their pretty little faces daily. He stated that yes, many do (although not all), and that it’s been practiced for quite some time.

He then explained to me their supposed “reasons”; exfoliating the skin, cutting down on acne and blackheads, anti-aging, removing “peach fuzz” for better makeup application… The list went on and on! I was somewhat frightened to try it out, though; I was fearful that the old wives tale about facial hair growing back thicker and darker when shaved was true! I’m so glad that it wasn’t; especially after finding out that my boyfriend’s mother, who is 39, has been shaving her face since she was 12 years old!
She has some of the most gorgeous skin I’ve ever seen!

So, after a bit of research; I’ve shaved my face! And let me tell you, it feels AMAZING. Makeup is gliding on more smoothly than ever, my skin looks fresh and reguvinated; smooth and lovely. No regrets! And when it does grow back, the hair is no different than the hair I had there before! Just light, thin “peach fuzz”; hardly noticeable (but I shave it off again, anyway!)

I really thank you for this! :) <3

xoxo- Amber
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

Hmmm, I have a rule at my house. If the bathroom door is closed, you can’t come in. Including the BF. None of his business what I am doing in there!

Glad you are happy with your results!
Hair Free

so i let the hair grow back a little to see what its like…. seems to be just the same as it was before….. love the shaving… its just hard to find time when my bf isnt looking ;)
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

I hope you do keep me, and any readers, posted. Would like to hear how things go for you. Thanks for commenting!
Hair Free

So I found this site yesterday and read what everyone had to say. I’m 25….
I have had an excessive amount of blond light hairs on my face – cheeks, chin and neck. (A few dark hairs, and I’m currently getting laser hair removal for this, seems to be working great, 2 treatments so far) But the blonde hairs are the ones really bothering me.
I was constantly carrying around a mirror and tweezers… checking in the mirror multiple times a day.
I became obsessed with it. No matter how much I plucked, I wasn’t getting the results that I desired.
I thought about waxing, but you have to wait for the hair to grow out and I’m not willing to do that.
I’ve been shaving my upper lip since forever, and the dark hairs do not show up as a 5 o’clock shadow. So I figured the rest of my face wouldn’t.
Last night I took a razor and shaved my entire face, even my forehead. I felt like buying a bottle of champagne and celebrating. My face is smooth, a slight, very slight prickle, but I think only I would be able to notice that. A slight prickle is better than a beard. Just hoping that the hairs do not become visible. Most people I have read about do not have that problem, but I guess every person varies. I guess I will find out. Will keep you posted about the results…..
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

Good luck with it! I love it, and all of the women I know who do it love it. Most of the women who have commented here and elsewhere who do it, love it. A few don’t, but my suspicion is that they are experiencing hormonal issues (causing excessive hair growth, such as hirutism or thyroid problems) that need to be addressed by a doctor and they don’t realize that or want to acknowledge that. So they blame a bad result on the shaving…..
Lunaya

I’m definitely going to try it – thank you for writing the article!
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

Good for you. Let them laugh! Enjoy having amazing skin!
Jo

Ive been shaving my face for about a year now and my skin has never looked better! My sisters make fun of me but im not the one with broken out skin! everyone always compliments me on how good my skin is and ask my secrets!
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

If a woman has the type of hair growth you suggest in your first paragraph she needs an MD, not an esthetician. And I would presume that a grown woman would know this. This kind of hair growth can be related to ethnicity or a skin condition/disease. Some of which are hereditary. Ever hear of “hirusitism”? How about issues with hormones? These cause excessive and coarse hair growth and should not be “womanhood’s dark secrets” but something an intelligent woman would consult her MD about.

Your third paragraph, what is that about? You don’t ‘know’ me and the comment was, well, unnecessary. High School, really….? Have you read other posts here? I do address skin issues for other ethnicities when appropriate. Skin is skin, and can be treated pretty much the same regardless of ethnicity. Some people are oily, some dry, some age faster. It’s a human skin issue, not an ethnicity issue (unless you are talking makeup and color and that is a whole different game).

I’m glad you do want me to keep writing but keep in mind that I can’t cover every single possibility, outcome, skin disease, disorder, or ethnicity in regards to any treatment, at home or in the spa. It is simply too broad a subject.

So tell me, what is your ethnicity? Do you have a direct question I can address? You tell me not to “forget” you, tell me who you are…..
Ellemueller_de

You talk as if NO women have hair like a teenaged boy, or like a man. Each of those women stumble across your article and others, hoping for help, only to find that their existence is virtually ignored and laughable.

What about women who shave and it DOES feel like a man’s stubble? This happens a lot, even in Caucasian populations and it is one of womanhood’s dark secrets.

To talk only about people like yourself is to essentially deny the needs of anyone but your kind of woman. Didn’t that get old, not being popular in high school?

I really loved this article, but it didn’t help me, my mother, my sister in law, nor any of my neighbours when I brought it up with them. Keep writing, but please don’t forget us too.
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

Thank you! I wonder when and if those specialized razors will be marketed in the US!
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

Thank you for your comment and the videos! Daily is good, you are stimulating new cell growth with the daily shaving. Occasional shaving does not have quite the same result as an anti aging treatment as daily.
I don’t think there is a traditional shaving cream on the market here for women. I wouldn’t suggest using a shave cream made for male skin, so the Pond’s Cold Cream is a good idea. Sometimes the ‘old school’ products are the best thing for the job!
madam butterfly

http://blog.japantimes.co.jp/japan-pulse/a-close-shave-for-japanese-women/

Just wanted to add this article. The video shows the woman I mentioned before shaving with the Pond’s.
madam butterfly

Thank you for this post! I am fascinated by this “secret” ritual. There are some great videos on youtube. One Japanese woman demonstrates a step by step useing Pond’s Cold Cream. The Japanese use a razor shaped like an l rather than L shaped. I shaved with a similiar razor I bought in a market in Little Tokyo. I used the Pond’s and it was way better than using traditional shaving cream. Just keep wiping off the blade with a paper towel every few strokes. Felt like more of a beauty treatment. I’ve only shaved my chin and “mustache” area so far. My kids say they feel some stubble when I kiss them, so I have to keep up with it daily. I prefer it to wax or chemical creams – too red and irritating.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCxgCtD87kI
There are other videos of Japanese women being shaved in a salon by a pro. The whole beauty treatment looks so relaxing!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6iFZLoR_qk Type in the search: “Japanese face shave” or something like that.
http://www.beauty-and-the-blog.com JeffrieAnn

Everyone has facial hair. Yours just may be so fine and light that it is nearly invisible to the naked eye. And as I have said before, shaving can not change your hair. It *may* feel different to the touch when it first grows back in, due to the blunt tip. But that is temporary and will change if you stop shaving. Hope that answer helps!
lorie

what if i have no facial hair? will it cause me to grow some by shaving?