Shaving on the go: Grooming tips for travel, camping, and beyond

Reading time: 6 mins

The portable shaver, OneBlade, sits on top of a towel, next to a travel bag.

You probably already know how to shave properly, and that’s a great start. But shaving isn’t always as simple as strolling straight into your fully equipped bathroom. Sometimes, we have to shave while we’re on the go, whether we’re travelling for business or just taking a holiday.

Maybe you’re looking for the right travel shaver, or maybe you’re after some tips for shaving while camping. We’re here to help. Here are some of our top grooming hacks for shaving on the go.

Choosing your portable shaver

First things first: time to consider whether you’re a manual or electric shaver. It makes sense to pick a travel shaver that’s similar to your favourite shaver at home, so you can use it with confidence.

If you’re used to an electric razor at home, you don’t have to give up that comfort. Just pack a mini portable electric shaver and you’re all set. The Philips OneBlade Pro 360 only needs an hour of charge for 120 minutes of use, so it’s quick and easy to recharge whenever you find the opportunity. And you’ll always know where you stand, with the LCD screen displaying exactly how much charge you have left.

Shaving tips for travelling

You’ve got your travel shaver, so what shaving hacks do you need to know before setting out?

If you’re going on a long trip, pack replacement blades.
If it’s a short trip and you’re pretty sure you won’t need a replacement, at least double-check that your current blade is in good condition. You don’t want to realise it’s time to replace your shaver head halfway to your hotel.
If you’re planning to get on a plane and you’d like to carry your shaver or blades in your carry-on luggage, check with your airline whether that’s allowed. Electric shavers are often allowed in carry-on luggage, whereas it’s more likely you’ll have to check in any bags containing manual safety razors.
Something else to bear in mind for air travel: check your airline’s baggage regulations for liquids and gels before packing any large containers of shaving gel or cream. Decanting gels and other liquids into smaller containers can help you get through check-in comfortably, and, as a bonus, it’ll save space in your luggage.
You can also save space by packing products that cover multiple functions. For example, you don’t have to pack a separate razor, trimmer and body groomer if you have an all-in-one shaver like the Philips OneBlade Pro.

Shaving while camping or outdoors

Here are a handful of shaving hacks for those times you find yourself shaving while camping, caravanning or otherwise deprived of the luxuries of your bathroom:

Take the time to warm up some water. If you’re already in the habit of shaving with cold water, you’ll be fine. If you're a warm water shaver, though, heating water for your shave can make a real difference and make the shave that much more comfortable. Take a few minutes over your stove, your campfire, or the electric kettle in your fancy mains-connected tent.
Bring a good-sized pot or basin. Having a rinse will be a lot quicker if you have a basin large enough to dunk your face in. You can pat yourself clean with a small bowl of water, but it’s a lot more tedious and takes precious time away from the activities you’ve got planned.
Prepare a container to rinse off your travel shaver. At home, the sink is all you need to wash both your face and your razor. When you’re shaving without running water, it’s less appealing to keep dunking your razor in the water you’re using for your face. That’s easily solved: just keep a smaller container of water nearby to rinse the shaver.
Shave while you shower. If there’s a camp shower to hand, one simple way to rinse after shaving is to combine your shave and your shower. If your shaver is electric, make sure it’s waterproof. Run the shower just enough to prepare your face, lather yourself up, shave, and then wash under the shower. Done: you’re washed, shaved and ready to enjoy the day.
Pack a travel mirror. When you’re gathering the essentials, it’s easy for the mirror to slip your mind – after all, most mirrors aren’t very portable – but you’ll miss it if you don’t bring one along. Get a portable travel mirror for your camping trips. If you’ve forgotten this step and you’ve already set off, take a look at the next section.

There's nothing quite like a satisfying shave or shape-up, whether you're in the bathroom or the great outdoors. But don't forget, if you're using an electric shaver that's capable of a quality and close dry shave, you won't need to shave while you shower or wet your face at all. With the OneBlade Pro 360, for example, simply select your desired length (from 0.4mm to 10mm) and trim, edge and shave away!

See more below ↓

How to shave in the shower without a mirror

If you’re on a business trip with a packed schedule, one way to save time by shaving in the shower. If you’re used to shaving in front of the sink each morning, though, you might be wondering how to shave in the shower without a mirror. Here are our shaving tips for when you find yourself mirrorless.

First of all, if you’re shaving in the shower with a mini portable electric shaver, you’ll want to check that your shaver is waterproof. If your Philips electric shaver has a bath or shower symbol on the back, you can bring it into the shower with you.

Shaving without a mirror is easier than you might think, especially if you’re going for a clean shave. You can just trust your muscle memory and touch your skin as you go to make sure you’ve picked up all the hairs. The mirror is a useful tool, but all you need is your hand and a portable shaver.

If you need to see your face while you shave, and the shower door isn’t reflective enough for you, there's a more high-tech solution: if you have a waterproof phone to hand, you could use the front-facing camera as a makeshift mirror. And if you're happy with the shave, you have your camera right there to snap some pictures of it!

Does shaving on the go matter?

It’s worth knowing these travel grooming hacks; staying well-groomed shouldn’t be confined to the home! And when we look our best, we can feel our best. Whether you’re camping with some mates or travelling for business meetings, if you know you’re looking your best, it can help you feel more comfortable and confident.

Still, if shaving while camping doesn’t sound appealing to you, there is absolutely nothing wrong with embracing your wild side and going full Viking! If you’re home from your holiday, but the Viking look still sounds tempting, take a look at our guide to how to grow a Viking beard.