Pros and Cons of Shaving with Coconut Oil

While coconut oil is used in so many different ways, such as moisturizing and makeup removing, most people probably wouldn’t think to replace their regular shaving cream with it. But as soon as I found out that shaving with coconut oil is a thing, I decided to give it a try. After having the experience of using coconut oil as a shaving cream for a few months now, I have found that I like it a lot more than regular shaving cream, but that there are still some things I do not like about it, and you may not either. So to see if shaving with coconut oil is right for you, I am going to share the pros and cons I have found from shaving with it.

 

PROS

✦ Easily Accessible

Coconut oil is becoming a staple in many people’s kitchens, so you may already have coconut oil on hand. If not, it is easily accessible as most grocery stores carry coconut oil. Any coconut oil is fine to use – fractionated, virgin, extra-virgin, etc.

 

✦ Natural, Non-Toxic Alternative

Coconut oil is a natural, non-toxic alternative to regular shaving cream. When you buy a jar or tub of coconut oil, coconut is the only ingredient. Standard shaving cream contains chemicals and other ingredients such as sulfates, emulsifiers, phthalates, fragrances, and more. Keep in mind our body absorbs what is put on it, so it’s best to leave the chemicals out of our skincare.

 

✦ Smoother Legs

Coconut oil’s clear coating allows you to see where you’re shaving, meaning no hairs are left behind and the results leave you with smoother legs, arms, face, or wherever you are shaving!

 

✦ Goodbye Razor Burn and Ingrown Hairs

Why this happens, I do not know. I have just noticed that since making the switch to shaving with coconut oil, I have not gotten razor burn or ingrown hairs since then, whereas I always had an issue with this using standard shaving cream.

 

✦ No More Knicks and Cuts

I’m not sure why this is, but I have never cut myself shaving with coconut oil, whereas with regular shaving cream, I would cut myself almost every time. Maybe the oil acts as a protective barrier? Or maybe the oil helps the razor glide better?

 

✦ No Need to Apply Lotion Afterwards

I do not need to apply lotion when I come out of the shower because my legs are already moisturized and smooth from the coconut oil.

 

✦ Saves Money

I can spend anywhere from $3-10 for regular shaving cream, depending on what brand I buy, or I can buy a jar of coconut oil for $8. I save money buying the coconut oil because the jar of coconut oil is bigger than a can or tube of shaving cream, plus I can use way less product than I would need to if I used standard shaving cream. And like I said earlier, my legs are moisturized from applying coconut oil, so it keeps me from having to buy moisturizer.

 

CONS

✦ Clogs Razor and Takes Longer to Shave

Coconut oil is thicker than shaving cream and it doesn’t rinse out easily like soap would. It just clogs the razor and I then have to unclog it after every few strokes which then makes the shaving routine longer. And shaving is not a favorite task of mine to begin with.

 

✦ Makes the Shower Floor Slippery

Coconut oil is, well…an oil. Some of the oil may drip down my legs while shaving or drip when applying. This makes the shower floor slippery. So be careful to not slip and fall!

 

✦ Have to Shave More Frequently

I’m not sure why, but since using coconut oil as shaving cream, my hair has been growing faster. Having long hair on my head is great, however, not so much on my legs. To keep up with the frequent hair growth I am having to shave more frequently.

 

Despite having so many pros, the cons may be enough to make someone not want to shave with coconut oil, however it is the most natural and cheapest alternative I have found to conventional shaving cream and wanted to share my experience for anyone who is interested in giving it a try. I hope this post was found helpful and be sure to leave down in the comments what your experience was with shaving with coconut oil!