How to Shave Your Balls Safely & Without Getting Razor Burn

Download Article

Best tips and products for shaving down there as a guy

Co-authored by Dan Hickey

Last Updated: November 21, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Shaving Your Balls
|
• Preventing Razor Burn
|
• Dealing with Irritation
|
• Tips

|Show more |Show less

Whether you want to feel smooth down under for your own pleasure or you want to look well-groomed for a partner, shaving your balls is an easy way to take your male grooming to the next level—if you know how to do it right. Taking a blade or trimmer to your most sensitive body part may seem intimidating, but with the right equipment and technique, your boys will survive without a scratch (or cut, or razor burn). In this aritcle, we'll teach you how to properly shave your balls, including what equipment you’ll need and how to prevent razor burn or bumps. Read on, manscaper—your balls will thank you.

How to Shave “Down There” for Men

1. Use an electric trimmer to cut your ball hair down to a short length.
2. Hop in a warm shower and wash your groin like normal.
3. Lather up with a mild shaving cream, oil, or conditioner.
4. Hold the skin taut with your non-razor hand to reduce folds and wrinkles.
5. Shave in short, gentle strokes with a safety razor in the direction of growth.
6. Rinse off and gently pat yourself dry.
7. Apply a moisturizing aftershave, balm, or lotion to prevent irritation.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

How to Shave Your Balls

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Trim your ball hair close to the skin with an electric trimmer. Situate yourself in front of your bathroom mirror with some good lighting and stand with your legs wider than your shoulders. (If you want to spare yourself some nasty cleanup later, lay something down on the floor to catch the loose hairs). Then, put a short guard on your electric trimmer and start buzzing your ball hair into a short and even layer.

   • Use your non-trimmer hand to gently pull your skin taut to get rid of folds and wrinkles that can get caught in the blades. Trim in small sections and take your time. Pull your boys to the left, right, up, down, and any direction you need to get a close trim all over.
   • This is also a great time to tackle your pubic hair and any hair around your shaft, too. Use your non-trimmer hand to hold your penis upward, then trim downward (toward your balls) in short strokes to tackle that under-the-shaft hair.
   • Some guys feel clean and groomed after this step and don’t feel the need to get 100% down to the skin. Short, neatly trimmed ball hair is totally hygienic as long as you wash down there regularly, so if this is you, you’re ready to shower, put on some moisturizer, and be done!
2. 
   2
   Take a warm shower or bath and wash your groin like normal. Hop in the shower and do your normal routine—wash your face, hair, and body (including your groin). The idea is to wash away loose hairs, sweat, or anything else that makes for an unhygienic shave. After a few minutes, the warm water will also soften your ball hair and make the skin on your scrotum loose and hanging. This makes for an easier, less-likely-to-cut-yourself shave.

   • Some veteran ball shavers swear by using cold water to firm up the skin before shaving. This might work, but the risk for nicks and cuts is definitely higher.
   Advertisement
3. 
   3
   Apply a thin layer of shaving cream, shaving oil, or conditioner. Choose something gentle with soothing ingredients (like a product with aloe, or an alcohol-free shaving cream or gel for sensitive skin). You could even use soap or conditioner from the shower—anything that keeps the razor gliding smoothly will work! If possible, use a product that’s clear so you can see what you’re doing down under.

   • If you’re using something opaque, like classic shaving cream, use thin layers so you can still see some of the skin underneath.
   • Reapply as needed while you’re shaving to keep things smooth and prevent irritation.
4. 
   4
   Pull the skin taut and smooth to get rid of wrinkles. Just like you did earlier, spread your legs wide (or put one foot up on the edge of the tub) to give yourself some room. With your non-razor hand, hold your scrotum skin taut and flat to get rid of wrinkles that could catch on a razor or trimmer.
5. 
   5
   Shave with a safety razor in short strokes away from the penis. Now it’s time to get down to the skin. Start by tackling the under-the-shaft hair (like before, hold your penis up against your abdomen with your non-razor hand and shave downward in short, gentle strokes). Then, move on to the boys. Pull the skin taut in all directions—left, right, up, down, diagonal—and lightly drag the razor across the skin to shave off all the hair.

   • When you think you’re done, feel around for any remaining patches of hair you missed. Apply more shaving cream and go back for stragglers if needed.
   • Rinse your blade off after every couple of strokes to keep the razor from clogging or tugging at hair.
   • Some guys prefer a 3- or 5-blade razor rather than a single-blade safety razor. This will work too, but your risk of clogging the blade or cutting yourself is higher.
6. 
   6
   Rinse off and gently pat yourself dry. Once you’re satisfied with your handiwork, rinse off your manly bits and gently pat yourself dry with a clean towel. Remember to pat, not rub yourself dry. You just took a blade to some of the most sensitive skin on your body, and an aggressive rub from a coarse towel could lead to irritation or redness—not what you want to feature after a fresh shave!
7. 
   7
   Apply a moisturizing aftershave oil, balm, or lotion. Once you’re dry, it’s time to protect against razor burn, dryness, and irritation. Slather on a gentle moisturizer (preferably one that’s fragrance-free and doesn’t contain stinging ingredients like alcohol or menthol) to add a layer of protection to your balls so you only feel that fresh-shaved feeling (and not any itching or discomfort).
Advertisement

Section 2 of 3:

Preventing Razor Bumps & Burns When Shaving Your Balls

Download Article

1. 
   Wash beforehand and shave with the grain to avoid irritation. Razor burn is irritation caused by shaving and looks like red, itchy, or tender patches on your skin (definitely not something you want down below!). Razor bumps, on the other hand, happen when freshly shaved hairs curl and start growing back into the skin, resulting in irritating red bumps (ingrown hairs). Follow these tips to avoid suffering this fate:

   • Shave in the direction of hair growth to avoid potential razor bumps, which are more likely to form when you shave against the grain.
   • Use short, gentle strokes and try not to shave the same area over and over again.
   • Rinse off your blade after every couple of strokes.
   • Moisturize your balls once they’re dry to counteract any irritation that occurred while you were shaving.
   • Store your razor blades in a dry place and replace them frequently to prevent bacterial growth.
   • Don’t wear tight underwear immediately after shaving down there.

Section 3 of 3:

Dealing With Irritation after Shaving Your Balls

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Razor burn Razor burn can last up to a few days, or may heal within a few hours. To speed up the healing process, avoid shaving again until everything is cleared up and use warm baths or soothing moisturizers like aloe for pain relief and to nourish and protect the skin. If it doesn’t clear up in a few days, ask your doctor about an antibiotic treatment.
2. 
   2
   Ingrown hairs (razor bumps), pimples, or blisters Like with razor burn, stop shaving until your skin is healed. Keep the area moisturized with lotion for sensitive skin or aloe and soak in a warm bath every now and then to open up your pores and potentially release the trapped hair. A cool compress or even cucumber slices can soothe irritation and itchiness.

   • See your doctor if the bumps don’t improve after a few days or start to look worse. You may need an antibiotic cream or topical steroid to clear up severe cases.
3. 
   3
   Itching Itching may be caused by dried out skin after shaving, so keep the area moisturized and do your best not to scratch (which could make the itching worse or potentially lead to infection). For super irritating itchiness, talk to your doctor or a pharmacist about over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or another topical medicine for relief.
4. 
   4
   Cuts Cuts on your scrotum bleed a lot because it’s a sensitive area, but thankfully this also means the cut will heal pretty quickly. To treat razor cuts, hold a clean cloth or gauze pad to the cut for about 10 minutes or until it stops bleeding. Rinse and wash the cut with water and mild soap, then apply an antibiotic ointment twice a day to prevent infection. The cut will probably heal in just 3 to 4 days.

   • If the cut doesn’t heal in a few days, keeps bleeding, or becomes painful or infected, see your doctor.
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Tips

• Do not use the same razor on your balls as you use on your face. This way, you’ll avoid spreading bacteria from your nether regions to your face skin, potentially leading to irritation, bumps, or infection.
  Thanks

  Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Advertisement