Should you shave in the morning or in the evening?

The act of daily shaving requires a certain level of dedication. While being clean-shaven is no longer necessary in most work environments, you might follow this daily routine if you have a patchy or slow-growing beard or if you simply prefer a cleaner look.

By now, you’re probably as familiar with the contours of your face as a racer is with every bend of the Mille Miglia itinerary. However, overlooking one of shaving’s essentials components - timing - could still spoil everything. Early in the morning? Before going to bed? Here’s our take on both options.

The morning shave

You’ve just woken up, had an invigorating shower, the sun is shining into your bathroom, birds are singing outside, and you feel ready to take on the day. As always, you find time to shave between your breakfast and leaving for the office. Have you been making a strategic error this entire time?

Pros

If you have particularly thick and fast-growing beard hair, a morning shave will avoid going to work with a 5 o’clock shadow, which will have grown on your face overnight.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, having a precisely timed morning routine is supremely important. Your morning shave will become a ritual during which you’ll have time to reflect and collect your thoughts before the day starts, free from any interruption. Granted this is an additional step in what are often busy mornings, but it’s a pleasant one. Like the last stage of the Tour de France, you know, the one where the racers drink champagne on their bikes.

Cons

Shaving always entails the risk of getting cut. In the morning, when you’re still sleepy, running a sharp object along your face can lead to accidents. A razor cut, even when you’re seasoned enough to quickly stop the flow of blood, is the best way to put a dent in your morning schedule. Not really how you want to start the day.

Keep in mind that shaving, depending on the length of your beard and how experienced you are, can take between 15 and 30 minutes. In other words, time you could spend on a short but intense workout, a proper breakfast, or maybe just sleeping.

The evening shave

After dinner, just as you’re about to have a relaxing shower, you might decide that it’s an opportune time to shave. Is it though?

Pros

You have more time in the evening. More time to spend on shaving, which in turn ensures a better, cleaner result. Being free from the constraints of a timed schedule will enable you to pay more attention to detail; and when it comes to shaving, details make the difference between an acceptable shave and an outstanding one.

An evening shave, much like an evening shower, is an excellent way to relax and spend some quality time with yourself. Just you and your mirror.

At night when you’re sleeping, your freshly shaved skin has time to rest and restore itself. This will reduce redness and allow more time for cuts to heal (if it’s been one of those shaves).

Cons

Two words: overnight growth. In particular if you have a thick and fast-growing beard. It would be a shame to see your evening labour completely go to waste.

Most people’s social life takes place after work. You’ll go for a meal or meet friends for drinks in the evening. This means that shaving is out of the question. Please don’t shave if you’ve been drinking; and please don’t make us explain why alcohol and sharp objects are a poor combination.

Conclusion

Morning shave or evening shave? It really depends on your hair type and growth. If you have thick and fast-growing beard hair, chances are overnight growth will leave you with two choices: shaving again in the morning or showing up to the office with a 5 o’clock shadow, which might be an issue if you’re expected to be clean-shaven. If you have slower-growing or thin beard hair, evening shaves are a perfectly good option.

Whichever choice you end up making, always shave after you shower. The hot water steam will open the skin pores and soften your beard hair, two necessary conditions for a good close shave. This will also reduce the risk of cutting yourself. In other words, pretty much all you need for a great morning/evening shave.