The tubs and tools used during a pedicure have often not been properly cleaned or sanitized. Because of this, it is not uncommon to contract a bacterial or fungal infection following a pedicure. Best not to increase the likelihood of an infection by having just shaved.

Before Going to the Beach

You’ll want to avoid shaving your legs right before you get into salt water as the salt will sting any tiny cuts or injuries you may have sustained from a razor. Aside from stinging, the salt can also cause itchiness and irritation, ruining what could have been a relaxing day in the water.

Before Getting into a Swimming Pool

Many of us have developed the automatic habit of shaving before going to the pool. However, viruses and bacteria spread easily in swimming pools or whenever there is contact with wet surfaces. One virus commonly associated with swimming is molluscum contagiosum, which can contaminate entire pools and hot tubs. Other causes of infection include contact with infected objects such as towels or kickboards and scratching or rubbing your skin while you are wet, which spreads the virus to the surface of your skin.

If You Have a Skin Infection

You should never engage in any type of self-hair removal methods while there is an active infection on your skin, such as a staph infection. When you shave with a razor, you exfoliate some of the protective skin layers, creating tiny nicks in the skin that you usually can’t see with the naked eye. These minuscule cuts create easy access for pathogens to get into the skin and spread to more areas.

Before Applying Deodorant

With freshly shaved skin comes a compromised barrier, allowing irritants to penetrate, which can cause a painful burning sensation.

Before Running or Playing Contact Sports

You should always shave 24 hours before a game, as freshly shaved skin is more prone to chaffing and thus susceptible to infection.

If You Have Warts

While warts are nothing to be ashamed of, you should avoid shaving over or around them until the area has been treated and healed. Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus, an infection that can easily spread to other areas of your skin with a razor blade.

If Your Razor Is Old or Dull

Razors quickly become dirty and dull and must be replaced on a regular basis. You should also never share razors with others. Dull razors can cause painful razor bumps and burn, while sharing a razor can spread skin infections to others.

If You Have Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs occur when the hair follicle is occluded, inflamed, and possibly infected. To avoid spreading infection or further irritating the ingrown hair, you should try and shave around the area until it has healed, which can take a substantial amount of time.

Before Exfoliating

Shaving and exfoliating…. major overkill for your skin. It’s best to choose one or the other. For individuals with sensitive skin, shaving followed by exfoliating will more than likely cause irritation. When you shave, you are removing both hair and dead skin, so exfoliating immediately afterward can be extremely abrasive.

If You are Cold

As someone who runs cold with chronically dry, painfully reactive, and unrelenting itchy skin, shaving in the cooler months plagued me for years. What ultimately helped me was a full round of laser hair removal on my legs. Total game changer!!