Shaving after workouts - timing and technique advice needed

I hit the gym every morning at 5 AM before work and I'm struggling with the timing of shaving around my workout routine. Currently I'm shaving before I go to the gym, but by the time I get to the office after my workout and shower I've got visible stubble again, especially since I sweat pretty heavily during cardio and weights.

I tried shaving after my workout in the gym locker room, but the combination of being hot and sweaty plus the crappy lighting and mirrors makes it a terrible experience. Plus my skin feels more sensitive right after exercising, so I end up with more irritation than usual.

I'm using a Braun Series 5 and it normally gives me a decent shave, but the post-workout timing is throwing everything off. My skin is flushed and the pores seem more open, which makes the electric feel harsher than it usually does.

Has anyone else figured out a good routine for this? Should I wait longer after working out before shaving? Switch to wet shaving post-workout instead of electric? Or just accept that I need to shave twice on gym days?

I know this seems like a minor problem but looking professional at work is important in my job, and showing up with stubble isn't really an option. Any advice from other guys who work out in the morning would be appreciated.

Tyler

Well, Tyler, I have my own routine at the gym, and it works for me, but perhaps not for everyone. At 78, I'm just happy to do some aerobics and strength exercises with weights. First off, on my gym days I use corded shavers only. I could use one of my rechargeable models but there are 2 issues with that at the gym. First, our Las Vegas heat means if I go anywhere after the gym, the battery in the shaver would suffer while sitting in the gym bag in a hot car.. Second, most rechargeable shavers today are cordless only, not cord/cordless, so you can't complete the job at the gym if the shaver dies. So for me, a corded is a no-brainer.

Now, regarding the issue of actually shaving. I only shave after my workout. If I shave before, it is a bit too early and whiskers seem to grow the couple of hours later while at the gym exercising and showering. I take a long, hot shower, but ALWAYS rinse my face and neck with cool water. I'm told it helps close the pores and cool the skin. Afterwards, I go into the locker room (which is A/C) and spend 10 minutes drying/dressing etc. The last thing I do is retrieve my shaver/cord/powder stick/aftershave and go to the sink and shave. By then, my face is cool and dry, and with the powder stick, I get any residual moisture that might still be on my face AND it helps prevent razor burn. If I take one of my corded foil shavers, there is less razor burn, but for me the powder stick minimizes razor burn with my rotaries.

Now, if your locker room/bathroom area is not air-conditioned sufficiently, it could be more challenging to have a smooth shaving experience. Since you hit the gym quite early, there is, I think, too much time for your whiskers to grow. So much so, that by lunchtime if you shave pre-workout, you'll definitely have stubble by the time you get to work. I would really try to shave after the gym workout only.

A second option: When you've finished showering/dressing and in your car (presuming it is A/C), you could skip shaving at the gym, and do a quick shave with something like the Braun M90 or M60, Remington TF70, or Panasonic travel shavers in your car. They operate on AA batteries so you never have to deal with plugging in or charging as long as you have good batteries in it. By then, Tyler, your face would be cool and dry, and the beard would be sufficiently visible that a quick shave might hold you over for the rest of your workday. If your beard is grown out a lot by the time you leave the gym, a travel shaver, however, could make it challenging, in which case a quick shave in the morning before gym might be a good idea before using the travel shaver. Ideally, though, I'm sure you'd prefer avoiding shaving twice a day. I guess for me, if I wanted to shave in my car, I'd just plug one my corded shavers into the 12V adapter as I have a 120V converter to plug in the 12V outlet, but for most people, I suspect they'd rather use a travel shaver. Using just the travel shaver could eliminate the locker room issues.

I will say on a couple of occasions at my gym here in Vegas, the A/C went out, and attempting to shave was futile. Nothing is worse than a damp or moist face when using an electric shaver...and powder stick may not be enough. But to sum up, I'd say try to shave after your workout, cool your face with water in the shower, don't immediately shave, but let your face and body cool down, then shave WITH some powder stick. Others may have better suggestions, but this works for me. Good luck!

Thanks for the detailed advice - that's really helpful perspective from someone who's been dealing with this longer than I have. The powder stick tip is something I hadn't considered and makes total sense for dealing with any residual moisture.


Your point about the timing is spot on. I think you're right that shaving before the gym leaves too much time for regrowth, especially with my early workout schedule. I'm going to try the post-workout approach and see how it goes.


The corded shaver idea is smart too - I never thought about battery drain from sitting in a hot car, but that's definitely a real issue here in the summer. My gym's locker room is pretty well air conditioned so that shouldn't be a problem.


I might pick up one of those travel shavers you mentioned as a backup option. Even if the main shave is post-workout, having something in the car for touch-ups could be useful on days when the gym routine gets thrown off.


Really appreciate you taking the time to lay out your whole routine - gives me a good roadmap to work from.


Tyler

Hope some of that works for you. There's no perfect answer for anything like this, but at least it gives you some options. Take care.

Thank you, Shaverman. Appreciate it. I'll keep you posted.

Tyler