Must One Wash His Hands After Shaving?

Before exploring the question of whether one is required to wash his hands after shaving – just as one must after taking a haircut – it must be emphasized that shaving with a razor is strictly forbidden. If one shaves his entire face with a razor, he is likely in violation of five separate Torah prohibitions, for removing hair with a razor on the five different areas of the face. Shaving with an electric shaver is generally accepted as permissible, though some Poskim felt that shavers with a "lift-and-cut" mechanism should not be used. According to this opinion, people with such shavers to bring them to a technician to disable this mechanism. However, Hacham Baruch Ben-Haim maintained that "lift-and-cut" shavers are permissible, asserting that if the blades do not cut the skin of one's hand when they are pressed against it, then it may be used for shaving. Hacham Ovadia Yosef maintained that one may shave with an electric shaver, but he should not press it tightly against the face. Everyone should consult with their Rabbi for practical guidance in this regard. The Yalkut Yosef rules that one is not required to wash his hands after shaving, because even if his hands came in contact with his face, the face and beard are generally not dirty. As we have seen, one who touches his scalp in an area of the head that is normally exposed does not need to wash his hands, because exposed areas of the head generally do not accumulate perspiration. This would apply also to the face, and so hand-washing is not required. Rav Yisrael Bitan questions this ruling, however, noting that washing after hair removal seems entirely unrelated to the hands' touching dirt and grime. Even if one has his hair cut by a barber, without ever touching his hair, he must wash his hands due to the impurity that results from a haircut. Indeed, the Ribebot Efrayim (Rav Efrayim Greenblat, 1932-2014) writes that since washing after hair-removal is required due to impurity, it is required even after shaving. Others, however, including Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Jerusalem, 1910-1995) and Hacham Bension Abba Shaul (Jerusalem, 1924-1998), ruled leniently, that one does not need to wash his hands after shaving. Therefore, those who wish to be lenient certainly have a basis on which to rely, but one who wishes to satisfy all opinions should wash his hands after shaving. If one shaves in a restroom, then in any event he must wash his hands, because one must wash his hands after leaving the restroom even if he did not perform his bodily functions. Summary: The Poskim debate the question of whether one must wash his hands after shaving, and those who wish may be lenient. However, if one shaves in a restroom, then in any event he must wash his hands, because one must wash his hands after leaving the restroom even if he did not perform his bodily functions.