How to Shave with Baby Oil

Co-authored by Juan Sabino and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: March 7, 2022 References

Maybe you used up the last of your shaving cream, or you’re just looking for a fresh, new way to change up your shaving routine. Could baby oil be the answer that you’re looking for? Don’t stress—we’re here to tackle all of your frequently asked questions and concerns. In just a few minutes, you can decide if baby oil is a good match for both your shaving and post-shaving needs.

Question 1 of 8:

Can I apply baby oil when shaving?

Yes, you can use baby oil as a substitute for shaving cream.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} Mineral oil, the main ingredient in baby oil, doesn't get absorbed through the skin, making it totally okay for your shaving needs.^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} In fact, baby oil can be a great moisturizer, especially if you have dry skin.^{[3]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Feel free to use baby oil during your morning face shave!^{[4]
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  Trustworthy Source
  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source} Just be sure to shave with your hair growth instead of against it—this way, you won't end up with any pesky razor bumps.^{[5]
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  Trustworthy Source
  American Academy of Dermatology
  Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
  Go to source}
- Baby oil can also work well for underarm shaving. Start by shaving in an upward direction, which trims away the bulk of the hair. Then, shave in a downward direction to clear away the root.^{[6]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}

Question 2 of 8:

How do you shave your legs with baby oil?

1
Plan to shave when you’re about finished with your bath or shower.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Expert Interview. 17 January 2020.} Ideally, give your legs at least 10 minutes to soak, which helps to soften up your skin.^{[8]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} Plus, a bath or shower gives you the chance to scrub away any dead skin cells from your legs, which can get stuck in your razor.^{[9]
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Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
Go to source}
2
Rub baby oil over your skin. Shaving cream, baby oil, and any other shaving substitutes all have 1 job: to keep your skin nice and lubricated.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Expert Interview. 17 January 2020.} The baby oil helps your razor stay really close to your skin, which leaves your legs with a silky-smooth finish.^{[11]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Apply enough baby oil to completely cover your legs.
3
Glide your razor along the grain of your leg hair. Shaving against your hair growth can lead to uncomfortable razor burn and/or razor bumps.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Juan Sabino
Professional Barber
Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.} To be on the safe side, replace your razor blade or disposable razor once every 5-7 shaving sessions.^{[13]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
Go to source}

Question 3 of 8:

Can you apply baby oil after shaving?

Yes, especially if you have dry skin. Experts recommend moisturizing your skin after hopping out of the bath or shower, before your skin completely dries.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Expert Interview. 17 January 2020.} Blot away any extra water, and rub the baby oil all over your feet, hands, and legs, which helps lock the moisture inside.^{[15]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- You don’t need to apply baby oil on your face unless your skin is really dry.
- You can also use jojoba oil with a few drops of essential oils. Obviously, be careful with what you put in your skin, as you can have an allergic reaction to some oils.^{[16]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Juan Sabino
  Professional Barber
  Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.}

Question 4 of 8:

Can I use baby oil to shave down there?

1
Yes, you can. Standard shaving cream is definitely the most popular, widely-accepted shaving solution, but experts agree that body oils (such as baby oil) are an acceptable replacement. Even hair conditioners can work in a pinch!^{[17]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Some people aren’t a fan of using baby oil down there since the product irritates their skin.^{[18]
  X
  Research source} To be safe, patch-test a tiny section of skin to make sure you don’t have any bad reactions.
2
Shave carefully and cautiously to prevent any discomfort. Start by trimming your pubic hair down with a sharp pair of scissors, so it’s easier to get a closer, more comfortable shave. Take a few minutes to soak in the tub or shower, which helps soften the skin. Dry your skin gently and delicately rub some baby oil over the skin that you plan to shave. Tug your skin so it’s completely taut, and use your opposite hand to shave in upward strokes. Once you’re finished, rinse off the freshly-shaved skin with warm water.^{[19]
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- Shave in downward strokes if you tend to get razor bumps and/or ingrown hairs.
- Some people like to wait a few minutes after drying off, so their skin has a chance to breathe.

Question 5 of 8:

Can you put baby oil on your private area after shaving?

Yes, you definitely can. In fact, coating your skin with baby oil may prevent pimples from popping up after the fact. Plus, baby oil makes your skin feel silky-smooth, even down there.^{[20]
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Research source}

Question 6 of 8:

Does baby oil clog pores?

No, it doesn’t, despite popular belief. Mineral oil is pretty controversial in the beauty and skincare community—some believe that it contributes to acne breakouts because of past animal testing. Still, modern research rooted in human testing suggests that mineral oil will not block up your pores.^{[21]
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Question 7 of 8:

Does baby oil help prevent razor bumps?

Possibly, but using proper shaving techniques is your best bet. Try to shave with the grain of your hair, removing as much hair as you can with each stroke of the razor. Once you’re finished shaving, rinse off your skin with some cool water.^{[22]
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- If you use an electric razor, double-check that it isn’t programmed to the closest setting. This could reduce your risk of developing razor bumps.

Question 8 of 8:

What other oils can you shave with?

1
Coconut oil is a possibility. This oil has both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and is very hydrating for your skin. The next time you hop in the shower, slather some coconut oil over your skin before reaching for the razor.^{[23]
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Research source}
- Don’t use coconut oil as a shaving cream substitute if you struggle with acne.
2
Olive oil can be a good option.^{[24]
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Expert Source

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Expert Interview. 17 January 2020.} This oil keeps your skin nice and lubricated, and even prevents unpleasant razor bumps and razor burn from popping up after the fact. Before your next shaving session, stop by your kitchen to pick up this worthwhile shaving cream replacement.^{[25]
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Research source}

Expert Q&A

Question

Can I use olive oil as a pre-shave oil?

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Marlon Rivas is a Barber and Owner of MGX Professional Men's Grooming, a barbershop based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is also the founder of Busystyle.com, a service that provides online scheduling services to businesses in the barbering and beauty industry. Marlon has over 15 years of experience in managing and providing barber services.

Marlon Rivas

Facial Hair Specialist

Expert Answer

You can use olive oil as a pre-shave. You apply it onto your skin and then let it sit in for a while and then you apply your regular shaving cream. Applying olive oil gives your skin extra protection and allows a little more glide with the razor.
Question

Can I use soap to shave my pubic area?

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Marlon Rivas is a Barber and Owner of MGX Professional Men's Grooming, a barbershop based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is also the founder of Busystyle.com, a service that provides online scheduling services to businesses in the barbering and beauty industry. Marlon has over 15 years of experience in managing and providing barber services.

Marlon Rivas

Facial Hair Specialist

Expert Answer

If you don't have shaving cream, you can use soap because some products are traditionally used for shaving that are shaving soaps. You can use any bar of soap in your shower, lather it up onto your pubic area, and then shave.