Should I Shave My Beard & Why You May Want to Do It

There comes a time in every man’s life when they feel like they’ve outgrown the bearded life. At that time, you want to clean-shave.

However, it’s not an easy decision and for one reason or another, you might find yourself holding back.

It is no wonder you’ve landed on this particular page because you want to be sure that you are making the right decision. 

Worry, not! We’ve got you covered!

Should I Shave My Beard

To shave or not to shave. That’s the question that every man must answer at some point. 

Having a beard is fun because it is a confidence builder and it makes you feel all manly. However, at some point, you will need to shave.

It is harder, especially on anyone who has been growing a beard for quite a while. So here is the truth.

If you can grow a full and luscious beard, the chances are that your beautiful beard will grow back at some point after shaving. On the other hand, if you are the kind of man whose beard grows in patches or is usually very thin, there is not much you are losing out on when you shave. 

Benefits of Shaving a Beard

Picking an electric razor or a blade to shave off your beard is not going to be easy. This is especially if it has taken you months to grow the perfect beard.

There are, however, advantages of rocking a clean-shaven face that you never realize. And who knows, you might end up enjoying the shaving life even more. 

Removes Dead Skin Cells

When you have a full beard, it can be difficult to clean the skin underneath the beard. Ideally, the skin at that moment is not able to shed any dead cells.

When that happens, the dead skin cells stick to the skin surface, which causes the skin to become dull and dry. 

As more and more dead skin cells accumulate, your skin deteriorates, which leads to all manner of issues like itchiness, dandruff, and rashes. 

When you shave your beard, as you run the razor across the skin surface, it removes the hairs and dead cells, exfoliating the skin in the process. 

Opens Up Pores

Keep your beard looking great and fresh by avoiding beard mistakes that most men make. For example, facial hair tends to clog the pores, which means that sweat and sebum don’t find their way out. 

This ends up clogging the pores and it becomes even worse when you don’t take care of your beard because it means that dirt and dust end up sticking on the skin, clogging the pores even further. 

Easy to Maintain

Let’s face it; when you have a beard, there is a lot of maintenance that goes on, from regular trimming to using beard products like beard balm, oil, and wax. 

When you shave, you never have to worry about any of that except the shaving. 

Easier Moisture Penetration 

When you have a beard, your skin is prone to becoming dehydrated and dry because it’s difficult for the moisturizer to seep through the skin. 

Makes You Look Younger

Beards have a way of making you look more mature and older than you are. 

If that is not what you are going for, shaving sheds off years, making you look and feel younger. 

Pros and Cons of Shaving Beard

Pros

• Shaving means less maintenance since it only involves shaving the beard with either an electric shaver or razor: no beard products and no beard cleaning. 
• Shaving is universally accepted and you never have to worry about your face during an interview or a wedding, for instance. 
• Shaving makes you look younger than you actually are. While beards are masculine, they tend to make you look older than you are.

Cons

• While shaving involves less maintenance, you have to worry about spending money on blades every time, which can be expensive in the long run. 
• Beards are exciting, masculine and they look great. But, unfortunately, when you shave, there is usually nothing interesting or exciting about you. 
• While shaving can make you look younger, the same can be a disadvantage because shaving off your beard means having a babyface afterward. 
• When you decide to shave your beard, it means that you will be doing it every day unless you want to have stubble. This will, in the end, cause a lot of irritation on the skin due to the razor.  

Things to Consider When Feeling Tempted to Shave Your Beard

Think About It

Before you go on to shave your beard, really take some time to think about it. This is especially if you’ve been working on your mane for months.

The last thing you want is to shave off your beard only to regret the decision later on. 

Unless you are shaving for an occasion that requires you to be clean-shaven, take some time and think about your decision. 

Fix Your Errored Beard

People shave for different reasons. Sometimes you’ve just had enough of growing a beard or can’t stand the expenses associated with growing one. 

Sometimes though, your beard may not be growing as you want it. Instead, it may be growing thin or in patches and you feel like you have no other way out but to shave. 

Before you pick the best shaving cream warmer and start shaving it, try and see if you can fix it.

If your beard is growing in patches or not as fast as you would want it to, derma rollers can speed up hair growth.  

At the end of the day, don’t make any rash decisions. Sometimes, your answer could be as simple as making a few changes to your beard care routine. 

Change Something Else About Yourself

Sometimes growing a beard can change how people perceive you. Some people may see you as arrogant since beards are associated with masculinity. 

Rather than shaving it off, you could try to change sometime else about yourself that could get them to see you in a different light.

It could be your dressing or even the way you treat others. Sometimes, your beard could have nothing to do with how people treat you. 

Adjust the Length Instead of Shaving It 

If you’ve gone full lumberjack style, you may want to shave your beard to look more presentable.

You might want to trim the length to make it shorter rather than shaving everything off in such a case. A shaving brush lifts your facial hair, for instance, to make it easy to trim.

And while at it, if you are going for a more professional look, a stubble beard is very professional without shaving your entire beard. 

It Will Grow Back

Sometimes you have no choice but to shave everything off. Could be you are attending an important interview at a very conservative company.

Of course, you are reluctant to shave a beard that you have invested your time and money on.

Here is one thing though, your beard will grow back when that time comes, so take that as a consolation. 

Shaving Your Beard for Different Occasions

Like I mentioned earlier, if you can grow a great beard, you will still grow it back when you want to go back to the bearded life.  

With that in mind, there are different occasions when you have no choice but to shave off your beard no matter how great it looks. 

For a Job Interview

First impressions matter in almost all encounters but most importantly in interviews. 

While the world seems to be leaning towards the bearded man even in the workplace, sometimes an interview can require you to shave off your mane. 

In the past, what was considered professional was a clean-shaven face, and companies still hold on to that ideology.

So, to shave or not to shave for an interview at the end of the day will depend on the company and your personal preference. 

Of course, if you only have a few weeks of growth, you can shave it off. If you don’t want to, though, consider tidying it up to make it look professional. 

When You Go to a Court

Whether to shave or not to shave for a court appearance depends on what you are there for. If you are going in for a speeding ticket, ensure that your beard is well-kempt. 

If you are going to court for something bigger than a speeding ticket and you must look good, lose the beard. 

At that time, you have more important things to worry about than a simple beard. Your beard will still grow back when you are done with the court appearances. 

For a Date

If you have a date coming up, you want to look as good as possible. Remember what we said about first impressions?

Here is a thing about dates, though; some women lean towards a bearded man while others prefer a clean-shaven one. 

At the end of the day, it depends on your date, but that will only work if you’ve met before. 

If you are meeting for the first time and are passionate about your facial hair, don’t shave it off. Instead, you are better off cleaning up the edges and cleaning them to look good. 

If Your Beard Is Patchy

If your beard doesn’t grow full, you must have thought about fixing your patchy beard. There are so many men out there whose beard only grows in patches, so you are not alone. 

The question is, do you embrace the patches or do you try and fix them? As it is, you have two choices.

You can either shave it off or try products like minoxidil to deal with the patches. However, such products are not cheap, so you are better off shaving if you don’t have the budget. 

If You Attend a Funeral

Funerals are always tough and you want to pay your respects the best way possible. 

So, out of respect for the deceased, if you only have a few weeks of growth, I would prefer to go there with a clean-shaven face. 

It’s just a beard and it will grow back. So if you have been growing and maintaining your beard for quite some time, rather than shaving it, make sure that you maintain it well. 

Use beard products like beard oil and beard balm to keep the beard looking good but avoid products with strong scents. 

For a Prom

If you have a nice beard, and you are going for a prom, by all means, rock it! Then, years down the line, you will look back at those pictures and be proud of that mane.

Besides, studies have it that most women prefer bearded men to be a plus for you and your date. 

For a Passport Photo

Technically, no rule says that you have to shave your beard for a passport photo. 

The whole thing, however, comes down to your personal preferences. If you would rather be clean-shaven, by all means, go ahead and shave.

At the end of the day, even if the beard grows back or you shave after the photo, you don’t need to retake the picture. 

For Charity

Technically, it depends on the charity and the awareness you are trying to raise. No shave November for instance, sees men grow full beards to raise awareness about cancer. 

At the end of it all, unless the charity you are supporting is raising awareness for something that requires a shaven man, keep your beard.  

For Your Wedding

Whether to shave for your wedding will depend on you and what your partner wants. 

If you are passionate about beards and have been growing yours for months, nobody will be expecting you to shave. If, on the other hand, you are not a beard guy but have let yourself go in the months leading up to the wedding, of course, a clean-shaven face will be more ideal. 

If You Are Attending a Wedding

It’s one thing to be attending your own wedding and another to be going to a friend’s wedding. 

Either way, it all comes down to personal preference and how long you’ve been growing the beard. 

Nobody will be expecting you to shave your beard just because you are attending the wedding. So the least you can do is keep it well maintained. 

Tools for Shaving Your Beard 

Shaving Cream

When you want to have a professional-looking beard, shaving cream is a must-have in your beard kit.

Shaving cream is applied to areas like the neckline when you want a smooth and clean look. 

When it comes to shaving cream, you are better off spending more dollars on an all-natural product.

Razor

When it comes to the best razors for shaving your beard, always go for straight razors. This is because a straight razor gives you a close and smooth shave. 

However, straight razors are tricky to use, so you are better off shaving with a multiple-blade safety razor. 

When choosing a high-quality razor, avoid the ones with disposable blades and go for those that come with replaceable blades. 

Accessories 

Besides razors and shaving cream, there are other accessories that you can’t miss in your shaving kit. 

A trimmer and clippers plus towels are all things you need when shaving. However, if you want the full shaving experience, a shaving brush is also ideal. 

A high-quality shaving brush will help you create a thick and rich lather when you are shaving. 

Heating shaving bowls, a premium shaving gel, antiseptic face wash, and a moisturizing aftershave lotion are also good to have in your shaving kit. 

How to Shave Your Beard

Step 1 – Prep your face and beard

Before you begin shaving, jump in the shower and let the water run over your beard. Doing so will help soften the beard for easier shaving. 

You also need to clean the beard and face with a high-quality conditioner to soften the facial hair even further. 

Step 2 – Trim any excess hair

Using clippers, trim away any excess hair until you are satisfied with the result. While at it, don’t worry about trimming it perfectly at this point. 

Step 3 – Rinse, lather and repeat

Once you’ve trimmed your hair to a manageable length, wash off all the trimmed hair using warm water. 

At this point, you should also consider using a good pre-shave oil or lotion. After that, grab some shaving cream, add a little water to it, and create a good lather using a shaving brush. 

When you are done, apply the lather to your face in an upward circular motion to pull the hair out for an easy shave. 

Step 4 – Proceed to shave

There is a right and wrong way of shaving your beard. Always shave with the grain, especially when you are shaving along the upper lip and cheeks. 

While at it, use short and even downward strokes. After you are satisfied with the results, clean the hair off and apply some beard oil.

Do’s and Don’ts When Shaving A Beard

• Do ensure that you use warm water to clean your beard first before you begin shaving to open up the pores and soften the beard.
• Do use the right shaving tools like clippers and trimmers for a clean look. 
• Do apply some pre-shave oil or lotion to prevent any razor burns. 
• Do trim the beard first using clippers to an appropriate length.
• Do trim your beard in stages, especially if you’ve never done it before. This prevents over-trimming. 
• Don’t shave your beard when it’s dry. Doing so will cause razor burns because the hair is not soft enough. 

FAQ About Shaving a Beard

Should I shave my beard to make it grow?

Contrary to popular belief, shaving your beard will not cause it to grow faster or even thicker than before. 

Should I shave my beard to keep from getting the coronavirus?

No evidence points to the fact that growing a beard puts you at more risk of getting coronavirus. While beards make it difficult to wear a mask the proper way, you are not going to get coronavirus because you have a beard.  

Why should you never shave your beard?    

There is no reason whatsoever why you shouldn’t shave your beard. Unless you’ve been growing your beard for months, any beard can be shaved. 

How often should I shave my beard?

This will depend on how fast your beard grows and the styles you are going for. If you are going for stubble, trimming the beard every couple of days would be ideal. If you are going for the clean-shaven look, then you need to shave daily. 

Should teenage boys shave their beards?

Again, this will depend on how fast the beard is growing. For some teenage boys, shaving every few weeks at first works just fine, while others need to shave every couple of days. 

Conclusion

To shave or not to shave is something that you will have to think about at some point. If you are passionate about beards and can grow a full, luscious beard, unless the situation calls for it like an interview, there is no reason why you should shave your beard. On the other hand, if your beard doesn’t grow the right way, you are better off trying to correct it before you shave. At the end of the day, whether you choose to shave or not is a decision only you can make.