The Psychology of Shaving

Why does it feel good to shave?

It’s not generally a question we ask ourselves each time we shave in front of the mirror during the morning. Heck, we’re more likely to enjoy the goodness of the experience rather than think about the reasons why.

But among those suffering from depression, this question particularly feels relevant. That’s because shaving can be a vital recovery tool for getting the depressed individual to start caring for himself.

What is the psychology of shaving? Here's what you need to know.

• Health Indicator
• Neurobiological Reasons
• Benefits of Shaving
• Shaving is Hygienic
• Random Shaving Acts of Kindness
• Using a Shavette

Health Indicator

Mental health professionals often consider self-care an indicator of wellness. In this context, self-care means being able to take care of one’s own daily needs. One particular aspect of this is daily grooming, and among men, that includes shaving.

But when one is depressed, self-care becomes difficult. It’s too tiring and draining to go through all the motions of washing and shaving yourself. That’s why depressed men often neglect their beards, leaving them unkempt along with the rest of their hair. They’re too drained to take care of themselves, and taking time to consider and commit to how often they should shave would be the least of their worries.

Among the homeless¹ here in America, where there is a high prevalence of mental health issues², being unshaven is a common sight. With all the problems they’re facing, the least of which is not having a home to go to, shaving is a luxury they can’t bring themselves to do.

Neurobiological Reasons

The reason for this is because depression usually affects the frontal lobes³. This part of our brain is responsible for problem-solving and reasoning skills. Because it’s impaired in depressed individuals, they have difficulty functioning and performing basic routine tasks like grooming and shaving one's self.

That’s why depressed people usually fall out of their routine. Among other things, their planning and prioritizing skills become impaired. That’s why being unable to do their hygiene is a red flag for depressive disorders.

Poor mental health means you spend less time on your appearance. This can be a vicious cycle, where because you feel ugly about yourself, your mental health declines. Keeping yourself clean and fresh can be the boost you need.

Benefits of Shaving

Shaving can significantly boost self-esteem and mental health by promoting self-care and a positive self-image.
Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com on Pexels

This is where the benefits of shaving someone can come in.

A shave might not seem like a significant life-changing event, but it can make a big difference in how someone sees themselves. For a homeless man, a cut and a shave can do wonders for his feelings because once he starts feeling good about himself, he will have more to look forward to.

Shaving makes you feel much better about yourself. You can smile, knowing you’re trying to look your best. This confidence can impact your mental health immensely.

This is because shaving sets the mind in motion to get better. It helps that we associate it with our childhood memories of our dads shaving in the mornings. It reinforces the brain with positive energy for work⁴.

Our brain also associates a better appearance with success. How we perceive ourselves also influences our moods. We feel good when we look good. Cleaning ourselves up can spark a level of self-care and self-investment, which is often lacking among the depressed homeless.

Shaving is Hygienic

It’s also a hygienic way of eliminating parasites living on unwashed, unruly beards. It’s also a way of removing the dead skin cells on your face so that the skin can breathe.

Remember the article that said beards have more bacteria than a dog’s fur? Well, shaving can get rid of that, too. A lot of pimples and acne are caused by bacteria build-up. Becoming clean-shaven is one strategy to keep your skin smooth and pimple-free.

Random Shaving Acts of Kindness

If you google the internet, there are many examples of how the simple act of shaving can do wonders for the depressed or the homeless.

You’ve got the story of a police officer helping a man get shaved⁵, which had a happy ending: the homeless man was able to get a job at a local McDonald's. Or the Aussie barber who gives homeless people a free haircut and shave⁶, making them feel good.

It’s just a tiny thing, but it can do a lot for these people struggling with depression.

So, if you’re looking to give a free shave, we recommend picking up a Naked Armor Shavette.

A shavette razor looks like a straight razor in that it could have a folding blade (like a Western-style straight razor) or a fixed blade (like the oriental Kamisori straight razor). The only difference is that it uses a disposable blade.

This can be handy since you won’t have to strop the blade. Just swap in a new blade when the current one gets dull. Now, if you’ve never tried out a shavette before, it’s the same as using a straight razor.

Using a Shavette

First, always prep the face by warming it up with a hot, moist towel and applying shaving lather to your facial hair.

Hold the shavette lightly and position it at a 30-degree angle from the skin. Any degree higher than that, the odds of you nicking your client become higher.

Start with a sideburn; begin from the top and use small light strokes to go down. Stretch the skin using your free hand to make the shaving area more flat. This will make shaving easier.

Shave by following the cheek down to the jawline, then moving towards the mouth. Use tiny strokes and be patient. Once you are done on one side, move on to the other.

Depending on your preference, you can shave in two to three passes. On the first pass, shave lightly. Apply lather and then shave again. Most skilled straight razor users will often shave against the grain of their facial hair on the second or third pass. For general grooming, however, we recommend shaving along the grain.

Always use an aftershave when you’re done shaving. It not only closes the pores, but it also kills the remaining skin bacteria that can cause acne breakouts.

So there you go. Shaving is easy with a shavette. Make someone’s day by giving him a free shave.

If you want to check out our other razors, visit our site.

More Shaving Articles to Read

Is It Better to Shave in the Shower?
The Best Shaving Jokes to Chase Your Blues Away
How to Get a Close Shave with a Straight Razor

References

1. 250,000 mental Ill are Homeless. 140,000 seriously mentally ill are Homeless. (n.d). Mental Illness Policy Org. https://mentalillnesspolicy.org/consequences/homeless-mentally-ill.html
2. Fazel, S., Khosla, V., Doll, H., & Geddes, J. (2008, Dec 2). The prevalence of mental disorders among the homeless in Western countries: Systematic review and meta-regression analysis. PLoS Medicine, 5(12), e225. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0050225
3. Perina, K. (2017, February 6). Why Self-Care is Hard for Depressed Individuals. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/two-takes-on-depression/201702/why-self-care-is-hard-for-depressed-individuals
4. Myers, Q. (n.d). Why a Shower and a Shave Really Does Help You Feel Better. MEL. https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/grooming-makes-us-feel-better-mental-health-depression-link
5. Wallenfelsz, G. (2018, July 25). Florida police officer shaves homeless man's beard. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-44957685
6. Braithwaite, A. (2017, May 24). Meet the Sydney barber who gives free haircuts to the homeless. SBS. https://www.sbs.com.au/voices/article/meet-the-sydney-barber-who-gives-free-haircuts-to-the-homeless/glkyhidge