If you shave with an electric razor, you have probably wondered whether you should be using a shaving gel. The short answer is no — not a lathering one. The gels, foams and creams on the shelf are built to be mixed with water and shaved off with a blade. What genuinely helps an electric shave is a pre-electric shave lotion: a thin, quick-drying liquid you put on dry skin before you switch the shaver on.
This page is for the reader who wants a closer, more comfortable electric shave and a straight answer about what goes on the face first. It explains what that product does, which format suits which routine, and names six exact products, each with the reader it fits and the drawback to accept. If you have not settled on electric shaving at all yet, start with our comparison of electric shavers and traditional razors instead.
Do you need gel or cream with an electric shaver?
No. An electric shaver is designed to cut hair on dry skin without lather, which is why a shaving gel made for a blade does not belong in an electric routine: it is formulated to foam and cushion a blade, not to let a foil or rotary head glide over the skin. We go through that question in full on whether you use shave gel with an electric shaver.
A product can still change how an electric shave feels, though. A pre-electric lotion does two things a bare face does not: it reduces friction between the head and your skin, and it helps the hairs stand up so the cutter catches more of them. And if your shaver is a wet-and-dry model, you have a second option: a light, non-foaming gel you can use where water is allowed.
What a pre-electric lotion actually does
Pre-electric lotions are thin and they dry quickly. You spread a little over dry skin, give it a few seconds to settle, and shave as normal. They are usually no-rinse: the point is a slick surface, not a lather. Lab Series, for example, describes its pre-electric solution as a “protective glide between electric razor and skin” that “helps lift beard and facial hair”. That is the whole idea of the category — and also its limit. None of these products changes how your hair grows, and none of them promises an irritation-free shave.
Lotion, gel or cream: which format suits you
- Pre-electric lotion. Light and quick-drying, used on dry skin. The default choice for a dry electric shave, and the right format for most people.
- Non-foaming gel. Sits on the skin without lathering. The pick if you shave in the shower with a wet-and-dry shaver, or simply prefer a gel to a lotion.
- Lotion cream. A thicker version that can stay on as an after-shave balm, so one product covers before and after.
A lotion helps any electric head, foil or rotary. If you are still choosing the shaver itself rather than the product, our guide to foil shavers covers the head types and who each one suits.
Six pre-electric lotions and gels worth considering
Each of these is a genuine pre-electric or electric-compatible product. They are listed by the reader they fit rather than by price, because the right format matters more than the number on the label. If you are still deciding on the shaver itself, see our picks for electric razors for men first.
A classic, low-cost pre-electric lotion
Williams has been the drugstore pre-electric lotion for a long time: a thin liquid with a green tea complex that you splash on and let dry. It is the easiest way to find out whether a pre-electric product suits you, because it behaves the way the category should: quick, a little tingly, and gone by the time you pick up the shaver. The trade-off is that it is a strong, fast-drying lotion. On dry or reactive skin it can feel sharp, and if you go back over the same patch twice it is less forgiving than a cream.
An oil-free drugstore lotion
Afta’s pre-electric lotion goes on oil-free and without the greasy film some drugstore products leave behind, which is what you want if your skin is oily or you shave in the morning before work. It pairs skin conditioners with a plain, functional formula, and it is sold almost everywhere. What you give up is refinement: it is a no-frills lotion, and it does not stay slick on the face for as long as the concentrated options below.
A gentler, plant-based lotion
Speick’s pre-electric lotion leans on lavender oil and a blend of essential oils, and it is sold as natural, vegan skin care. If your skin reacts easily, or you dislike the sharp, quick-drying feel of the drugstore lotions, this is the one we would reach for first. The limits are price and scent: it costs more than the two above, and the essential-oil fragrance is noticeable, so skip it if you want an unscented routine.
A premium, cooling solution
Lab Series sells its pre-electric solution as a no-rinse liquid that cools and refreshes the skin as you shave, and it is the most skincare-forward product here. If you already use a toner or a moisturizer and want the same feel before you shave, this is the pick: it goes on like a light toner and leaves no residue. You pay for that. It is several times the price of the drugstore lotions, and for a plain, easy-going face the cheaper options do the same job.
A non-foaming gel for sensitive skin
Freebird’s shave gel is non-foaming, so it sits on the skin without lathering, and it is sold as a sensitive-skin formula with aloe. That makes it the pick for a wet-and-dry shaver used in the shower, where a lathering gel is the wrong product. It is also the smallest bottle here, so it is a lower-commitment way to try a gel format before buying a larger one. On a purely dry shave it is less slick than a dedicated lotion.
A pre- and after-shave cream in one
Freelette’s lotion cream is meant to go on before the shave and stay on as an after-shave balm, which makes it the pick for a minimal routine: one tube, no separate moisturizer. A cream sits on the skin longer than a lotion, so it is the most comfortable option here if your face feels tight after shaving. The catch is the texture. It is thicker, so a foil head can feel like it is skating on top of it if you apply too much; use less than you think you need.
How to use a pre-electric product
The technique is simple, and the most common mistake is using too much:
- Start clean and dry. Shave after washing your face and patting it dry, unless you are using a waterproof wet-and-dry model in the shower.
- Use a small amount. A few drops of lotion, or a pea-sized dot of gel, spread thinly over the area you are about to shave.
- Give it a few seconds to settle. Pre-electric lotions are usually no-rinse; let the surface go tacky-dry rather than wet.
- Shave with light, short strokes. Let the head glide and do not press, which is the quickest way to irritate your skin.
- Clean the head afterwards. Rinse or brush it out, and finish with a balm if your face feels dry.
If you are new to electric shaving altogether, the basics of angle, direction and pressure are in our guide to using an electric shaver.
What to skip
Two things are not worth buying for a dry electric shave. The first is a lathering gel or foam: it is made for a blade, and if your shaver is dry-only it is not designed for it, so check the manual and only use a foam or gel on a waterproof, wet-and-dry model. The second is a “works for both” product that claims to suit a blade and an electric shaver; in practice you end up with a wet-shave gel. If you do shave with a blade, ignore this page and use our roundup of shaving gels for men, which is written for exactly that.
The short version
Most shaving gels are for blades. For an electric shave, use a thin pre-electric lotion on dry skin, a light non-foaming gel if your shaver is wet-and-dry, or a lotion cream if you want one product for before and after. Apply a little, let it settle, and let the head do the work. It will make the shave feel closer and more comfortable, but it will not change how your hair grows; and if your skin is reacting badly, stop and see a dermatologist.
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