Mavens agree: It’s best possible to exfoliate ahead of shaving. “Delicate exfoliation can lend a hand [loosen] the loose fringe of hairs that can be trapped underneath the outside,” says board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D. “It will come up with a smoother shave and decrease the possibility of razor bumps or inflammation.” 

Razor bumps and ingrowns occur when that loose fringe of hair turns into trapped inside the pores and skin, so it curls downward and grows again into the outside as an alternative—leading to sore, infected, pimple-like spots. The ones with coarser hair are much more likely to get ingrowns, however “it’s also much more likely to occur if there’s pores and skin protecting the place the hair is rising,” says board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D. Exfoliation gets rid of that high layer of over the top lifeless pores and skin cells—with out that protecting, you building up the probabilities that your freshly shaved hairs will develop freely.

And on a sensible stage: Your razor may have an more straightforward time casting off hair with out a movie of lifeless pores and skin cells blocking off the world. 

Each King and Zeichner agree that pre-shave exfoliation is at all times a good suggestion, regardless of which a part of the frame you’re shaving. Simply know that extra delicate spaces, just like the armpits, bikini line, or face, may require gentler exfoliation strategies (which we’ll get into later).