Wet Shaving

Traditional shaving with water and a shaving lubricant (cream, gel, or foam). The AAD advises against dry shaving and recommends softening hair with warm water before shaving to reduce bumps and irritation.

Also known as: Traditional Shaving. Category: Shaving.

In men's style, "wet shaving" belongs to the Shaving family of terminology. For the full A–Z reference of men's fashion and grooming vocabulary, see the Men's Style Glossary.

Related terms

• With-the-Grain — Shaving in the direction hair naturally grows. Dermatologists recommend this technique to minimize razor bumps, irritation, and ingrown hair…
• Neckline (Beard) — The lower boundary where a beard meets the neck. Shaving this area can contribute to razor bumps; the AAD's bump-prevention techniques apply…
• Cheek Line — The upper boundary of a beard on the cheeks. Overly sharp carving can increase irritation in bump-prone skin — keeping a natural line reduce…
• Dry Shaving — Shaving without water or shaving cream. The AAD explicitly advises against it ('Never dry shave; always apply shaving cream') as it signific…
• Safety Razor — A single-blade razor with a protective guard. The AAD recommends single- or double-blade razors for men prone to razor bumps and ingrown hai…
• Cartridge Razor — A multi-blade razor system designed for speed and convenience. The AAD warns that multi-blade cartridges can shave 'too closely' and worsen …