The Journal
Shaving guides, written to be useful
Fifty guides — twenty-five for men, twenty-five for women — covering technique, blade life, irritation, ingrown hairs and what a razor refill should really cost.
For women · Value
Razor Refill Subscriptions: Do They Actually Save Money?
How to calculate cost per shave, why women's razors run through blades faster, and what a fair subscription should let you do.
June 26, 2026 · 5 min read
For men · Value
Razor Subscription vs Buying in Store: Which Is Better?
Price, freshness, flexibility and the locked-cabinet problem compared between razor subscriptions and drugstore purchases.
June 25, 2026 · 5 min
For women · Technique
First Time Shaving Your Legs: A Simple Guide
A calm first-time leg shaving walkthrough: what you need, the order to do it in, how to avoid nicks, and what to expect afterwards.
June 19, 2026 · 5 min
For men · Technique
Your First Shave: A Beginner's Guide
A calm, simple first-shave walkthrough: what you need, what order to do it in, how to avoid nicks, and how often to shave at the start.
June 18, 2026 · 6 min
For women · Value
Travel Shaving: What to Pack and How to Fly With a Razor
Packing a compact shaving kit for travel in the US: which razors fly carry-on, protecting the blade, and hotel-bathroom workarounds.
June 12, 2026 · 4 min
For men · Value
Travel Shaving Kit: What to Pack and What TSA Allows
How to pack a shaving kit for air travel in the US, which razors are carry-on friendly, and how to protect blades in a dopp kit.
June 11, 2026 · 5 min
For women · Hair removal
Razor vs Epilator vs Electric Shaver
Closeness, comfort, cost and convenience compared across manual razors, epilators and electric shavers.
June 5, 2026 · 5 min
For men · Products
Aftershave Balm vs Splash: Which One Does Your Skin Need?
Balms hydrate, splashes disinfect and sting. How to choose based on your skin type and what to apply when.
June 4, 2026 · 4 min
For women · Technique
How to Shave Your Arms (and Whether You Should)
Arm shaving done cleanly: growth direction, elbows, regrowth feel, and honest expectations about stubble on forearms.
May 29, 2026 · 4 min
For men · Products
Is Pre-Shave Oil Worth It?
Who actually benefits from pre-shave oil, how to use it correctly, and when it just clogs your razor head.
May 28, 2026 · 4 min
For women · Technique
Bikini Line Shaving: A Step-by-Step Guide
A careful, repeatable bikini line routine: trim, soften, lather, direction, pressure and aftercare, in order.
May 22, 2026 · 6 min
For men · Technique
How to Shave Your Chest, Back and Body Safely
Body shaving for men without itch or bumps: trim first, work in the growth direction, and know which areas need a second person or a different tool.
May 21, 2026 · 6 min
For women · Technique
Shaving Before the Beach or a Spray Tan: Timing Matters
How many hours before sun, sea, chlorine or a spray tan you should shave — and why shaving right before is a bad idea.
May 15, 2026 · 4 min
For men · Skin
Winter Shaving: How to Beat Dry, Flaky Skin
Cold air and indoor heating strip the skin barrier, making shaving sting. A winter-specific routine that keeps your face comfortable.
May 14, 2026 · 5 min
For women · Skin
Winter Leg Shaving: Beating Dry, Itchy Skin
Cold air and hot showers make legs flaky and shaving uncomfortable. A winter routine that keeps skin calm.
May 8, 2026 · 4 min
For men · Value
Cost Per Shave: The Math on Subscriptions vs the Drugstore
How to calculate your real cost per shave, why bulk refills change the number, and how subscription pricing compares to retail cartridges.
May 7, 2026 · 5 min
For women · Skin
Shaving and Dark Marks on Deeper Skin Tones
Why irritation can leave lasting dark marks on deeper skin tones and the gentler shaving approach that reduces the risk.
May 1, 2026 · 5 min
For men · Skin
Why Dry Shaving Hurts Your Skin (and What to Do Instead)
Dry shaving multiplies friction and micro-abrasion. Here's what happens to your skin and a 60-second alternative for rushed mornings.
April 30, 2026 · 4 min
For women · Skin
How to Treat Razor Burn Fast
What to do in the first hour after razor burn, what to avoid, and how to stop it happening next time.
April 24, 2026 · 4 min
For men · Skin
How to Treat Ingrown Hairs After Shaving
What an ingrown hair actually is, what safely helps, what makes it worse, and when it needs a doctor rather than a razor.
April 23, 2026 · 6 min
For women · Skin
How to Prevent Ingrown Hairs on Your Legs
Ingrown hairs on legs explained, with the technique and skincare changes that prevent them — and what not to do to an existing one.
April 17, 2026 · 5 min
For men · Skin
Shaving and the Gym: Why You Break Out After Training
Sweat, friction and bacteria on freshly shaved skin cause post-workout breakouts. How to time your shave around training.
April 16, 2026 · 5 min
For women · Skin
Why Leg Stubble Comes Back So Fast
Hair growth cycles, blunt-cut tips and blade sharpness explain same-day stubble. What actually extends a smooth shave.
April 10, 2026 · 5 min
For men · Technique
How to Line Up Your Beard at Home
Clean cheek lines, a correct neckline and symmetrical edges using a razor at home — including the mistake that ruins most first attempts.
April 9, 2026 · 6 min
For women · Technique
How to Shave Without Shaving Cream in an Emergency
Out of shave gel? These substitutes give enough glide to protect your skin — and the two things you should never shave with.
April 3, 2026 · 4 min
For men · Blade care
How to Clean and Store Your Razor So Blades Last Longer
Standing water, not shaving, is what kills razor blades. Rinse, shake, dry and store correctly to add shaves to every cartridge.
April 2, 2026 · 4 min
For women · Technique
Shaving During Pregnancy: Practical Tips
Reach, balance and sensitivity change during pregnancy. Practical adjustments for shaving safely and comfortably.
March 27, 2026 · 5 min
For men · Razor guides
Cartridge vs Safety Razor: An Honest Comparison
Learning curve, cost, closeness, travel and irritation compared between cartridge razors and double-edge safety razors.
March 26, 2026 · 6 min
For women · Blade care
Razor Hygiene: Why You Should Never Store It in the Shower
Humidity corrodes blades and bacteria loves damp cartridges. How to rinse, dry and store your razor between shaves.
March 20, 2026 · 4 min
For men · Razor guides
Five-Blade vs Three-Blade Razors: Does Blade Count Matter?
More blades spread pressure but clog faster. How to choose between three and five blades based on hair coarseness and skin sensitivity.
March 19, 2026 · 5 min
For women · Skin
Strawberry Legs: What They Are and What Actually Helps
Those dark dots after shaving explained, plus the shaving and skincare changes that reduce their appearance.
March 13, 2026 · 5 min
For men · Skin
How to Shave Sensitive Skin: A Gentler Routine for Men
A low-irritation shaving routine for sensitive skin: fewer passes, fragrance-light products, blade freshness and cool-water finishes.
March 12, 2026 · 6 min
For women · Technique
How to Shave Knees and Ankles Without Nicks
Bony curves are where nicks happen. Positioning, stroke length and pressure adjustments that keep knees and ankles smooth and intact.
March 6, 2026 · 4 min
For men · Technique
Shaving With or Against the Grain: What to Do and When
The trade-off between closeness and irritation, how to map your grain, and a two-pass plan that gets both.
March 5, 2026 · 5 min
For women · Skin
Shaving With Sensitive Skin: A Gentler Routine
A low-irritation shaving routine for sensitive skin: fewer passes, fragrance-free products, fresh blades and damp-skin moisturizing.
February 27, 2026 · 5 min
For men · Technique
Should You Shave Before or After a Shower?
Why shaving after a warm shower cuts irritation, plus what to do when you only have five minutes in the morning.
February 26, 2026 · 4 min
For women · Skin
Should You Exfoliate Before Shaving?
Why exfoliating before you shave improves closeness, how often is too often, and which method suits sensitive skin.
February 20, 2026 · 5 min
For men · Products
Shaving Cream vs Gel vs Soap: Which One Should You Use?
Cream, gel, soap and foam do the same two jobs differently. Here's which suits coarse hair, sensitive skin, travel and speed.
February 19, 2026 · 5 min
For women · Hair removal
Shaving vs Waxing: An Honest Comparison
Cost, pain, regrowth, ingrown hairs, convenience and skin sensitivity compared honestly between shaving and waxing.
February 13, 2026 · 6 min
For men · Technique
How to Shave Your Head Smooth Without Nicks
Head shaving technique for a clean scalp: clipper first, map the growth, work in sections, and protect the crown and back of the neck.
February 12, 2026 · 7 min
For women · Blade care
How Often Should You Replace Your Razor Blade?
Why shaving legs wears blades faster than shaving a face, the warning signs of a dull cartridge, and how to never run out.
February 6, 2026 · 5 min
For men · Razor guides
Best Razor Setup for Thick, Coarse Beards
Coarse beards clog razors and dull blades faster. Here's the prep, blade-change cadence and stroke plan that makes heavy stubble manageable.
February 5, 2026 · 6 min
For women · Technique
How to Shave Your Underarms Without Irritation
Underarm hair grows in several directions at once. Here's how to shave it cleanly and why deodorant timing matters afterwards.
January 30, 2026 · 5 min
For men · Skin
How to Stop Razor Bumps on Your Neck
Why the neck gets razor bumps more than anywhere else, and the technique changes that fix it: grain mapping, blade freshness, and a lighter pass.
January 29, 2026 · 6 min
For women · Skin
How to Prevent Razor Bumps on the Bikini Line
Why the bikini line bumps more than anywhere else and the specific changes that stop it: trimming, blade freshness, grain direction and clothing.
January 23, 2026 · 7 min
For men · Blade care
How Often Should You Change Your Razor Blade?
Blade life explained: how many shaves you actually get, the three warning signs of a dull blade, and how to build a replacement habit.
January 22, 2026 · 5 min
For women · Technique
How to Shave Your Legs for Genuinely Smooth Skin
A step-by-step leg shaving routine: soften, exfoliate, lather, direction of strokes, how to handle knees and ankles, and aftercare.
January 16, 2026 · 6 min
For men · Technique
How to Shave Your Face Without Irritation: A Step-by-Step Routine
A seven-step face shaving routine that reduces razor burn: prep, lather, stroke direction, pressure, rinsing, and aftercare.
January 15, 2026 · 6 min
For women · Razor guides
America's Best Razor for Women: How to Judge One Properly
What makes a women's razor genuinely good: blade sharpness, a pivoting head for curves, a grippy wet handle, and refills you replace on time.
January 9, 2026 · 7 min
For men · Razor guides
America's Best Razor for Men: What Actually Makes a Razor Great
What separates America's best razors from the rest: blade sharpness, pivot, lubrication strips, handle balance and fresh refills. A practical buying guide for men.
January 8, 2026 · 7 min