Have you ever stood in front of the bathroom mirror and wondered why you can’t just wax your face? After all, people have been waxing their bodies since the time of the Ancient Egyptians. As it turns out, there are some very good reasons men aren’t spending their mornings waxing their face.

Hair types

The answer to this question lies within our hair follicles. Humans have two basic types of hair – vellus hair and terminal hair.

Vellus hair is light, fine hair that grows on most of your body – you may have heard it referred to as ‘peach fuzz’. This hair grows out of a very shallow follicle, so it doesn’t hurt too much if you tweeze or wax it.

Terminal hair, meanwhile, is the opposite of vellus hair. It is dark, coarse and grows from a deep follicle, so it is painful to remove. This is the hair that makes up the main bulk of the hair on your head, armpits and most importantly – your face.

The problem with face waxing for men

Your beard is a densely populated area of thick, deeply-rooted terminal hair. As you might imagine, waxing this hair would be pretty painful, which is one of the main reasons men aren’t switching out their razors for waxing strips.

Repeatedly waxing terminal hairs can cause damage to the outer layer of the skin, known as the epidermis. Damage can include scarring or colour changes, both of which you’ll probably want to avoid on your face!

There’s no doubt that shaving remains the best way to keep your face looking smooth. If your shaving routine is becoming a drag though, steer clear of the wax and follow these tips for an enjoyable shave:

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1. Exfoliate

Exfoliation plays an important role in preventing shaving rash and ingrown hairs. A good face scrub will remove dirt and dead skin cells and lift ingrown hairs, ensuring a comfortable shave.

2. Shave after showering

Shaving immediately after your shower will soften your stubble, allowing your blades to glide through smoothly. If you’re in a rush, you can achieve a similar result by applying a warm flannel to your face.

3. Shave with the grain

To achieve your best shave, we always recommend shaving with the grain of your hair – to find your grain, just run your fingers across each part of your beard in all directions. The direction that gives the least resistance against your fingers is with the grain. Shaving against the grain will drag, pull and irritate your skin. 

4. Hydrate your skin

Frequent shaving can cause dry and flaky skin, so be sure to apply a good post-shave balm or moisturiser after shaving to re-hydrate your face. Avoid products containing alcohol, as these can dry and irritate your skin even more.