How to Use Shaving Oil

Is shaving oil a pre‑shave treatment or stand‑alone? Learn which oils glide best and how to use them with cartridges or safety razors for fewer bumps and a better shave.

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I’ve been experimenting with shaving oil since the 1990s when it first gained popularity.

Not that I was any wiser than anyone else back then. Sometimes it was called pre-shave oil, sometimes just shaving oil. Should it go under my regular lubricant, or would it suffice on its own?

As I remember, I’d bought a 50 ML dropper bottle for about $15 in the United States. It was viscous and fragrant, as I’d expect for that price. It expelled drag and left my face free of razor bumps and burn.

When I ran out, I was unable to find a replacement in my part of the world at the time. So I tried the culinary oil in my kitchen cupboard. Strangely, it worked better than commercial shaving oil.

Since then, trends have changed and some manufacturers market their product as a pre-shave oil that doubles as beard oil. Some state that coconut and baby oil work in a pinch, but aren’t as good as dedicated shaving oils. Of course they’re not—those two are renowned for clogging pores and are far too thick to be practical, which we’ll come to later.

To further confuse the issue, most barbers find it unnecessary. They don’t even use it for edging—a straight razor on dry skin gives more accurate results.

In reality, how and if an oil should be used for shaving depends on your routine, your skin type, and your razor.

Skip the Pre-Shave Cleanse

For years, men have been told to wash their face before shaving. It sounds hygienic and sensible. Like something a responsible adult would do. But it’s counterproductive in practice.

Stripping the skin of its natural oils leaves it open to the irritating effects of soap-based lubricants and more vulnerable to micro abrasions caused by the blade.

Apart from that, the shaving process itself cleanses and exfoliates.

Unless you’re a coal miner wanting a shave straight after work, you don’t need to cleanse before shaving. For most men, not washing beforehand improves the shave without the need for an extra shaving oil.

Your Skin Type

Throughout this blog, I recommend shaving oil for sensitive, dry, and acne-prone skin.

It provides a protective barrier between the shaving lubricant and the face, which prevents irritations.

For dry skin, it also creates a low-friction film to help the razor glide more easily.

Your Razor

The kind of shaving issues you experience and how you should use shaving oil depends largely on your razor.

Ingrown Hairs (Razor Bumps)

I started to use shaving oil because I suffered from razor bumps, especially in the neck area. But I was using multi-blade cartridges at the time.

Because these cut whiskers below the skin’s surface, they can easily cause ingrown hairs. To make matters worse, I’ve always shaved my neck upwardly against the grain.

The reason why shaving oil prevents ingrown hairs is mechanical rather than medical. Its ability to reduce friction for a smoother shave leaves the follicle less irritated and swollen, which reduces the likelihood of hairs becoming trapped beneath the surface.

Switching to a single-blade safety razor would be a better way of solving the problem. This cuts above skin level, which reduces the risk of ingrown hairs.

Can You Use Shaving Oil Alone?

I found that I could shave my head, body, and face with oil alone. Because oil is transparent, it allows you to see exactly what you’re doing—especially in awkward areas.

But this is only suitable with multi-blade cartridges. In case you’re wondering how it works, the first blade hooks and lifts the whiskers, which allows its subsequent blades to cut them at the root. This eliminates the need for stiff, soapy lubricants or a shaving brush.

Do the same with a safety razor and your face will be full of blood.

As a rule, if using a cartridge, shaving oil can serve as a stand-alone lubricant. If using a safety razor, it serves only as a pre-shave treatment; you’ll need a soap-based lubricant and a shaving brush for desirable results.

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Suitable Oils for Shaving

Looking closely at commercial products, I don’t think it matters whether you choose a beard or shaving oil. Both are for facial use, both are scented, and both are quite heavy.

The trouble is, the heavier the oil, the more whiskers cling to the blade.

My choices are lightweight non-comedogenic oils. These clog neither pores nor razors.

Sunflower is the gold standard. It’s extremely light, spreads easily, is more non-comedogenic than almost any other oil, and gives excellent glide.

Grapeseed has similar properties, but is even lighter than sunflower.

For men with dry skin, sweet almond oil has a richer feel without being sticky.

If you do decide to use a non-commercial product, there’s no need to add essential oils. On the other hand, a drop of tea tree offers antibacterial properties, and lavender provides a soothing, masculine fragrance.

I don’t recommend olive and castor oil, since these are too thick and sticky.

Jojoba oil is non-comedogenic and of about the same weight as sweet almond oil. But it’s a little too waxy to give the best glide.

How to Use Shaving Oil

There are three situations that decide how oil should be used for shaving.

Oil as a Stand-Alone Lubricant (Only for Cartridge Razors)

If using a branded product that comes at a price, you’ll probably stick to the recommended 2–3 drops for a full shave. I prefer to be more generous.

1. Dampen the skin with warm water, whether it’s your face, head, or another body part. Longer hairs should be trimmed with electric clippers before you begin.
2. Massage enough oil into the area for the skin to feel slick.
3. Shave with the grain (in the direction of growth).
4. Even with thinner oils like sunflower and grapeseed, you’ll have to rinse your razor more frequently than with regular shaving lubricant.
5. After you’ve finished, rinse your skin thoroughly.
6. Water alone won’t remove the oil completely, and it doesn’t have to. The thin film that remains can serve to lock moisture into the skin, even if you apply another moisturizer on top.

Oil as a Pre-Shave

Follow steps 1–5 above, but apply your regular shaving lubricant after step 2. If using a safety razor, it’s best to apply with a brush. Men with dry skin should choose shaving cream, which contains more moisturizing properties than a puck or stick.

Despite your regular lubricant, enough oil will remain on the surface of the skin if you want to keep moisture locked in.

Oil for Cleansing and Shaving

This is useful for evening shavers. But because the oil needs to be distributed around the eyes, make sure it contains no essential oils—in other words, avoid commercial shaving oils for this.

At the end of the day, you’ll want to remove pollution and chemical sunscreen. Oil dissolves these more effectively than foaming cleansers.

Instead of limiting it to the beard area, massage it over your entire face before shaving.

For thorough removal of shaving debris and dirt after you’ve finished, either rinse in the shower or with a washcloth. This leaves the face clean enough for your nighttime skincare.

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Shaving oil only becomes confusing when you treat it as a one‑size‑fits‑all product. Match the oil to your skin and match the method to your razor. With those basics in place, shaving oil delivers exactly what it promises: fewer bumps and a smoother, easier shave.

© 2026 J. Richardson