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Shaving
Zek
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Lately I've been frustrated by my inability to get a decent shave. I have pretty light skin and dark-ish hair that grows quickly, so I get serious stubble real fast if I don't shave thoroughly every day. The issue is that if I go with the grain it doesn't do the job at all, but my skin is pretty sensitive so it gets irritated as hell if I go against. I have an especially hard time with my upper lip. Electric is a no-go, so I've been using a Mach 3(replacing the blade once a week).
My current method is to shave in the shower. I use shaving gel(King of Shaves), and use a handheld mirror to shave. The best compromise I've been able to reach is to shave sideways - once outwards, once inwards. The shave is almost as good as against the grain but the irritation is only marginally less. I'm sort of stumped here.
Anybody have some pointers for a close shave without irritation? I've looked up tips from various places but nothing really seems to work. Maybe I'm just destined to have facial hair.
My current method is to shave in the shower. I use shaving gel(King of Shaves), and use a handheld mirror to shave. The best compromise I've been able to reach is to shave sideways - once outwards, once inwards. The shave is almost as good as against the grain but the irritation is only marginally less. I'm sort of stumped here.
Anybody have some pointers for a close shave without irritation? I've looked up tips from various places but nothing really seems to work. Maybe I'm just destined to have facial hair.
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Shogun Streams Vidya
One thing I've always wondered about is, how come some guys have like no visible facial hair whatsoever? I can understand if it didn't grow very fast but you'd think that it wouldn't shave any shorter, and mine is still visible immediately after shaving.
Maybe try experimenting with a few different types of razor? I normally use a Schick disposable on my face because I've gotten the best results with it (the grey and aqua kind) - yes, better than more expensive ones, although I haven't specifically tried the Mach III. Last week the nearest drug store stopped carrying them, so I tried a very similar Gillette model. I ended up with the worst razorburn and bunch of nicks I've had in years. I tracked down a store that carried the other kind, and everything is fine now.
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I've got pretty much the same problem as you. I Can't get a clean shave no matter how hard I try and I always get irritation. So I just rock the five o'clock shadow all the time. Girls love it.
I'm in more or less the same situation, I have really thick facial hair and it's the most annoying thing to deal with. What I do now is I use a Gilette Fusion Power razer (that's the one with the little black in the back, and the Power vibrates). This razer really works better than any others I've used, after upgrading from a Mach 3 to a Mach 3 Pro to this.
But yeah .. shaving every day still hurts. If I have to shave one day after another in a row, I use shaving cream for Extra Sensitive Skin, but when I can I let it grow out for one day and just shave every other day (and then use Moisturizing or whatever other kind of shaving cream).
Also: If you skip a day, generally, I find that going against the grain hurts less. When I've skipped a day or two, I shave down, and then up (against the grain), and then to the side and that seems to be the closest shave I ever get.
Sorry I can't be of more help!
Warning: Long article but worth it.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6886845/
I need to find one of these barbers I think I may be missing an integral part of a man's experience that has been phased out over the years.
Shogun Streams Vidya
The best advice is probably to just keep trying different shaving gels, until you find one that treats your skin well. If you have extremely sensitive skin, maybe ask your doctor? I bet they can help you out more.
that's why we call it the struggle, you're supposed to sweat
before i shower i wet my face well with warm water and then apply the gel. i let it sit on my face for a minute to let it soften the hair. i then go with the grain for the first pass then against for the second. the vibration of the blade helps with the thicker hair without pulling. a couple of years now and i have very little irritation and a face like a baby's ass.
the zirh stuff may be harder to find and it may seem expensive but it doesnt take much and ends up lasting a while.
sorry for the lack of capitalization. i am on a pocket pc and feeling lazy.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/KIEHLS-Ultimate-Shaveless-Brush-Cream_W0QQitemZ280085849722QQihZ018QQcategoryZ31763QQcmdZViewItem
I also find shaving immediately after a bath works wonders, bit impractical every morning though (especially as I prefer showers).
This article has changed my life, now I am dead-set on finding either a DE or cutthroat razor. I normally wear a mustache and goatee, I have used Mach 3s and Mach 3 Turbos up until I lost my job, I used disposables for a while, and now I just don't shave (the new job I start in a couple of weeks doesn't require it).
I may just grow a mighty beard, and then after a few paychecks check out some of the older razors and creams mentioned in the article.
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Foam on a can is way better than gel on a can, IMO.
have a nice thick mediterranian beard. Back in the day I'd shave about once every 3 days to avoid bleeding all over and I'd never get a good shave. Of course once I joined the military it was every day, and boy was it messy. I've had good luck with a Mach 3 and Art of Shaving products. I use their oil, shaving soap and aftershave. they sell trial packs that some with a badger hair brush for $40(a really good deal thier brushes are usually like $200). I've recently tried stuff by Billy Jealousy as well and find that it's pretty darned good as well. The key is let the lather work its way into your beard and soften it (say for like a minute). Then shave. I usually do one pass with the grain then one against trying not to cover the same area multiple times. This minimizes the amount of skin I lose. Just rinse your razor between strokes. It'll take about a month for your skin to get used to it and for you to get really close shaves.
The difference between the good shaving creams and the stuff you buy at the local supermarket is how it treats your skin. Most aerosols dry your skin out and moisture is your friend. The whole point of the lather is to allow water to seep into the hairs and soften them. Just my suggestions, it may not work for you but I've gotten compliments from past girlfriends on how smooth a shave I can get.
-Terry Pratchett
I'm surprised you linked the article and not the author's excellent blog as well.
For those not in the shaving know:
www.shaveblog.com
Not too much going on the last few months as the dude has covered just about all there is to write about wet shaving, from razors to brushes to balms, so it's best to start from the beginning. Some products are no longer available, but the big ones like Trumper, Nancy Boy, Taylor's, and Truefitt & Hill, are just as popular as ever.
This is true. Also, get a safety razor. I use a Merkur HD.
It's hard to get down at first (because let's face it, most of us never learned how to shave. We learned to press a multi-bladed thing against our face, never having to deal with changing angles or learning about pressure).
Once you learn how to use it, though, you end up with much less irritation, because you do 1 pass of the razor with each lather, and 3-4 passes on your face with each shave. Compare that to the Mach 3 -- each time you scrape that across your face, you're doing 3 passes (3 razors), and you've probably done 9 by the time you're done.
Lastly, the Nancy Boy shaving cream mentioned above is the shit. It's tested on boyfriends, not animals, so you know it's good
Makeup, I imagine.
I've been wet shaving for almost a year now and I absolutely love it. I got a low end badger brush and some soap first and kept shaving with a Mach 3, but after a bit I got this beastly beast. A straight needs more upkeep than a safety razor (you've gotta strop it and keep it oiled), but you feel awesome using it. Plus, if I'm ever attacked by ninjas while shaving, I'll be able to defend myself.
Someone mentioned creams, I've tried a few but my favorite is the Kiss My Face Moisture shave stuff. Lathers up very thick and keeps my skin moist.
Anyhow, the point is, I switched to electric and after awhile not only could I get the same close shave I always got, but hey, no irritation. My only advice is try a few of the gels/methods/everything else suggested, in all likelyhood something will work for ya.
This thread has spurred me into trying a brush and a new razor, though. I'm thinking of the Mach 3 Turbo Power Suffix Name Extension simply because I'm used to the way the razor works and they're easy to buy cartridges for, but can anyone recommend something better or steer me clear if I'm about to make a bad decision?
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I think a safety razor is a good choice, but only if you're willing to shave every day or every other day. If you let the stubble get too long, it becomes more difficult. If you're going to get a brush, just do some research -- nice ones can run in the hundreds, and you really don't need to spend that much to get a quality brush. I think mine cost $50, and it should be good for 10 years or so.
And with the brush, look into a nice cream. They run $10-30 each, but you have to keep in mind that they last much longer than a regular can of cream, and they work well with the brush method (plus they smell nice).
I hate shaving, but I've found that using a slower, more studied method actually helps me enjoy it more -- it's kind of like pampering yourself to slather some good-smelling cream on your face with a nice brush. It takes twice as long as a mach 3 style shave, but I don't hate it as much, if that makes sense. Brush + nice cream + nice razor = more of a luxury for me.
In the interest of full disclosure, though, I'm also partially won over by the old-timey nature of the process.
@gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
All the above mentioned advice involving a 'wet' shave is fantastic and I would recommend it myself
I use a merkur HD and a Straight Razor when I have somewhere important to be, and I find that a lot of people, when shaving have a few misconceptions and general things that they miss or do incorrectly while shaving, and they are as follows;
Not closing your pores after your shave. This can be done by tossing some cooler water on your face or with a decent moisturizer. If you suffer for irritation then get something with aloe or a general irritation appeaser.
Shaving 'with the grain' but not really shaving 'with the grain.' Shaving with the grain does not mean shaving in just down strokes. For instance, my beard grain is down and then towards the chin, so my strokes have an angled arc to them.
Not going both ways. First, go with the grain, reapply lather and then go against the grain. If your skin is sensitive, then go across the grain.
Making your skin tight in the region in which the razor is going to pass. This can be done by pulling the skin. It brings the hairs in that region to a standing position and further opens the pores. The tricky regions, like the upper lip and chin can be stretched without the use of your hands; just make funny faces.
Take your time! Enjoy your warm bathroom and the ambient steam and moisture and the manly ritual which is shaving!
Don't press your razor. A lot of irritation is directly due to pressure too much pressure on the razor. A good blade should be able to give you a close shave with barely any weight. Pressing the razor heightens your risk of cutting yourself and allows the hairs to lie in odd ways due to the dimple made by the razor pressing.
But, of these, the most important is to close your pores, most of the bumps develop because the skin is not given a chance to coat itself with your standard oils and has a hard time in the temperature variations you will encounter in your day to day.
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I'm going to take issue with this. If you pull the skin tight, certainly you'll get a closer shave, but when the skin relaxes, hairs get can get pulled back under the surface and create the potential for ingrown hairs. With DE and straight razors, you should only pull the skin to create a flat surface, not to get the hairs to stand up.
@gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
I think most people have funky growth patterns. The hair on my face all grows down, as does the hair on the underside of my chin and the top part of my neck. The hair at the bottom of my neck grows up and toward my ears (like, diagonal). Just shave with the grain.
Ryan M Long Photography
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You can all die in a fire.
Oh, uhh, help/advice: I like gillette fusion. Get the electric one, but buy the non-electric refills because they're the exact same damn thing, but in a different color, and five bucks cheaper.
Don't even bother with the Fusion. If you have to use a cartridge razor, use a Mach 3 or Sensor Excel 2. More blades does in no way equal better.