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How to shave as a man?

23:50 / 08.05.08

I stumbled across a few shaving threads but none really fit the bill squarely or seem worthy of resurrection.

The short version:

How do you shave? as in what razor, foam, ritual etc and what do you recommend.

The longer version:

I've always avoided electrical shaving devices in favour of the wet shave, very occasionally the dry rasping emergency shave.
I've used a standard issue mach3, quattro and a selection of throwaway cartridge blades over the years and thought that a shiny new mach3 cartridge was the cream of the crop.

I took the plunge a few weeks ago and went old school. I bought a 1950's Gillette double edged safety razor for a few dollars at a shaving forum and decided to try and enjoy shaving with the same excessive gusto I apply to my tea drinking. Only a few weeks in but it seems to have worked. It's been good and cuts have been few.

I make sure my face is suitably warm and wet before starting to lather the shaving cream I picked in Tesco with the cheapo shaving brush I purchased aswell. I'm starting to figure out how the grain of my hairgrowth runs and how to work with my face to get a decent shave.

I'm over the first hurdle and now looking to try out different creams/soaps, get a decent shaving brush, stock up on blades and generally become a little geeky about shaving.

So, any advice on shaving? any reasons I should ditch this and buy an eight bladed, battery powered, vibrating, gel dispensing razor? any product recommendations? any cutthroat shavers around?

I made the mistake of outlawing milk in the tea thread so this time around feel free to talk about 20 for £1 throwaways and electric shavers and I'll quietly cultivate my patience.

My one piece of advice: We had no hot water for around 8 weeks a few months ago. I thought I'd be a smart cheapskate and buy a tesco smartprice electric shaver - do not do this.

The Bastard
(prev. TheSauce)

00:56 / 09.05.08

I wouldn't think cutthroat shavers would last very long.

In seriousness, I just use a pack of cheap disposables from CVS; I'm blessed(or cursed, depending on my mood) with very light, fine facial hair, so it's a breeze to cut it off. I might invest in a safety or straight razor just to try it out at some point in the future, but for now, this is fine. I hate electric razors, though, they've never done as good a job for me as good old-fashioned disposables do.

Korso Jerusalem

02:22 / 09.05.08

Thirding the electric hate. Even the hundred dollar miracle of science that my brother uses leaves me scratching myself.

I'm a Schick Quattro man myself. Warm water on the cheeks first, then some Gillette Fusion cream (overpriced, but it seems to irritate less). Afterwards I use Nivea soothing balm to avoid that leper look.

Stoatie's power level is >9000

02:29 / 09.05.08

I'm electric every time. Shaving is one of those things like shitting, pissing or eating. It's a thing that you have do to sometimes, and it should be dealt with as quickly and conveniently as possible, and with as little fuss as is practical, so as not to use up valuable drinking time.

Papers, anyone, anywhere?
(prev. Papers @ 21C !)

05:09 / 09.05.08

I used to use an electric razor, but fuck! It wasn't doing my skin any favours. I use disposable MACH 3 razors and this heavenly aloe-rich organic shaving lotion (not foam or gel) which a little more expensive but the bottles are quite decently sized, you don't need to use a lot a time, and it's very good for my face.

I seem to remember a time I used to shave every other day, but now I'm doing it every fourth or fifth.

#

09:54 / 09.05.08

One thing you might add to your repertoire, Proinsias, is almond oil.

A very thin coat, just before you put on the shaving cream.

That's always worked out pretty well for me.

But, as my time as slipped away from me, I've had to depend on the quick convenience of a vibrating mass of plastic and steel.

I've found that irritation issues are heavily mitigated by following the electric shave with a cotton ball soaked in witch hazel. Adds a nice sheen to the complexion too.

If I could manage to make time for it, I'd treat myself to a careful razoring every day. However, I'm not sure this is the kind of thing my somewhat large ego needs at this juncture...

Not in the Face

11:03 / 09.05.08

My parents bought my an electric shaver when I was 18 and it never really took, wet shaves are much better, indeed I think its one of the little pleasures of life and one of the few where I spend on luxury goods, probably because I've had bad experience with disposable razors.

I've been a sucker for the 4 bladed electric shaver but have wanted to move to a straight razor for ages. Proinsias could you provide a link to the forum you bought yours on?

I prefer shaving while in the shower as it seems to result in a smoother shave and have moved over to oils after receiving some Izzy Miachi stuff for Xmas. I also use Clarin's For Men skin difference which you put on at night and does make the bristles softer. Certainly I've had no cuts or problems since using it.

The Llama Cascade
(prev. All the strange,strange Llamas)

12:37 / 09.05.08

Shaving is one of those things like shitting, pissing or eating. It's a thing that you have do to sometimes, and it should be dealt with as quickly and conveniently as possible

Some people might argue that shitting, pissing and eating are all perfectly enjoyable activities. I'm particularly fond of eating.

12:52 / 09.05.08

Cheers for the input.

Not in the face: Badger & Blade was recommended to me as a reliable source of info. The buy/sell/trade section of the forum is where I picked up my razor. They are quite keen on newbies and there are occasionally free razors, p&p only, on the go. I didn't realise this and had to shell out a full twenty dollars inc p&p for a razor for myself and one for my dad.

Shaving is one of those things like shitting, pissing or eating. It's a thing that you have do to sometimes, and it should be dealt with as quickly and conveniently as possible

The enlightenment thread needs you Stoatie.

Korso Jerusalem

19:18 / 09.05.08

To all you old-fashioned shavers, does it really make a difference? I paid for a hot lather shave (with the straight edge blade) at a local barber shop a little while back, and it turned out just awful. I had to go home and clean it up with my store-bought blade.

I am a bat. I am a man.
(prev. Triplets)

19:26 / 09.05.08

Where do I shave, as a man?

In the bathroom.

Shrug: Butcher Boy
(prev. Green My Eyes)

19:55 / 09.05.08

I generally shave my head and face with the same accouterments i.e. an electrical shaver but don't give myself anything below a blade 1.
The last time I went to the barbers for a proper shave/haircut about 1yr ago I fell asleep midway then woke up giving the barber's hand a light kiss.
It was embarrassing for all.
I am glad that he was not homophobic.

20:33 / 09.05.08

I have a 60-year-old self-sharpening thing with a wedge-shaped blade the name of which completely escapes me here at work, but even after lots of whetting and stropping and backing and forthing (the "self" in "self-sharpening" being my arm, running the blade back and forth over the whetstone with a handy spring-loaded blade-holding mechanism) it's not quite as close as my Gillette Sensor. I don't hold with that Mach 3 nonsense.

One thing that makes a difference for me, though, is a shaving brush. Something about frothing up some decent soap and swirling it onto the stubble makes it go much easier and smoother than that canned stuff. Sensual, too.

Of course, now I have a manly beard with gray in it. Again. But when it goes, I know how I'll make it go.

West Baltimore Hausing Project

00:30 / 10.05.08

At present I do not care how I look or whether I hurt, so am using a Mach 3. At other times I use a Merkur safety razor. Preparation is all on this, though. For preference I use King of Shaves shave oil, then rub in Prince shaving cream from lush - they have this in the Americas now, also. A lather of soap with a badger brush to finish. I am boycotting Trumper due to their mercantile approach to ivory, so use Taylor's when I have time to get it. At present, though, am using generic Boots shaving soap.

Notes from Boris-town
(prev. Now: Nolte with added Flyboy!)

12:35 / 10.05.08

Haus, I resent you for implying that Mach 3 is a tool for feckless masochists.

I might be tempted to go the way of the safety razor myself.

Whisky Priestess

14:04 / 10.05.08

At present I do not care how I look or whether I hurt

Big huggle?

Alternatively, can I steal that line for later use in a poem/indie ballad?

14:55 / 10.05.08

I hate to shave, but can't stand a beard after a couple of months. So when I get to the point where I want to tear my face off (usually when I start getting too much food/drink stuck in it), I get out a pair of electric clippers— the kind one would use for haircuts— and hack it down to short stubble, starting it all over again. Crude, but effective. I don't think I've used a razor in five or six years, and that was for some special occasion.
I'll let it go longer in the winter, because goddamn if a beard doesn't work to keep your face warm, and I'll miss it the day after cutting it off, when I'm out all day in some brutally cold weather.
I've had the same clippers for fifteen years, I keep them oiled and clean them fairly well every time, but last month they were just not working well. I ended up taking them totally apart, and found that the entire case was jammed full of whiskers. I've got a red beard, but it's been getting more grey for the last few years. I could see the whiskers transitioning over the years within the case; at the base they were brighter and purer red, transitioning to the current blend nearer the blades.

I just stared at it, seeing the whiskers of my younger days.

Then I cleaned it out, because it was gross. I hate clumps of whiskers.

16:39 / 10.05.08

always distrusted the claims of electric things 'shave as close as a blade...' bollocks.

have mainly shaved with a twin razor, hot/warm water and usually no lather. shave down face, then against grain is my most satisfactory method. also, usually in shower. does anyone else hate the fact that twin blades get clumpy and hard to clear??

but i am in the constant quandry that i hate shaving and hate being too stubbly: d'oh! so end up shaving most days, usually at least every other day - and have inherited an electric from demanding lover, so use it occasionally but also usually end up dry shaving with a quattro (also acquired through good graces of d/l) the results to get a decent close effect.

best results with hot hot water on face before (wet face cloth is good) then a light lather or another flush of hot water, then shave, keeping face moist, slicing off most of hairs with the grain, then tidy up and get smoooooth against it, with more heat. then moisturise, rubbing it in up against the grain on the neck and under the chin.

the best advice is about apre shave - the moisturiser. don't go for fancy schmancy pricey 'men's moisturiser' shit or after shave lotions - all you need is sorbelene cream. can also be good for a pre-shave lather. cheap, effective, saves on everything and no unwanted scents.

i tend to get a light rash if i try to shave with a blade every day - even using tube of lather and hot water, so it isn't that - but luckily have a gig where it isn't essential to be smooth as baby's...

19:48 / 10.05.08

To all you old-fashioned shavers, does it really make a difference? I paid for a hot lather shave (with the straight edge blade) at a local barber shop a little while back, and it turned out just awful. I had to go home and clean it up with my store-bought blade.

It's the improvement side of it that gets me. After a few weeks my face is probably around the same as it was with the mach3 but I can see the shaves getting better each time and I gather that this pattern continues, albeit not quite as steeply as I'm experiencing atm. Shaving has been a chore for me and this is a little change that turns it into more of art than a chore, albeit an art I'm not very good at yet but it's not like I'm going to be short of practice.
A little more practice and I'll be able to look down on all the feckless masochists, yeah.

Haus: I had no idea lush stocked shaving stuff, that'll give me something to do the next time I'm dragged in, as opposed to internal moaning that the best organic ingredients on the high st are being used for body cream & bath bombs instead of food.

A proper badger hair brush is needed and since I've roped my dad into the safety razors I can see a nice brush being a birthday present request. They are a little more expensive than I was anticipating.

I recall reading something about the disposal of razor blades being of paramount importance, I've been sticking used ones in a glass jar - is there a proper procedure to follow or do I just secure the lid and dump the jar?

I quite like the idea of a decent beard but I can't quite manage it at this stage of my life. Talking it over with my dad he claims to have made it to 21 before really needing to shave and then past thirty before something akin to wire wool started taking over his face, at a sprightly 25 I might have a few years before the beard becomes a serious option.

19:49 / 11.05.08

I recall reading something about the disposal of razor blades being of paramount importance, I've been sticking used ones in a glass jar - is there a proper procedure to follow or do I just secure the lid and dump the jar?

If you put your used razors in a pyramid-shaped, miniature shed, they will regenerate. That is a fact.

17:22 / 12.05.08

On a mention by Haus a year or two ago I got a Merkur safety razor, and although I only shave once or twice a week, I very much more enjoy it now. No clogging of the blades, unless my beard is a bit long, in which case you can just loosen and rinse in a 3-second manoeuvre. No need to push and scrape hard - the weight of the handle does a lot of the work.

Palmolive soap (or whatever is in the shop - using Erasmic atm which has a nice smell). I very much like the fact that a tube of soap lasts me for a year or two, whereas I would have thrown out a compressed foam tin every few months in my teens.

And an old brush that I've had for many years, which I suppose is either badger hair or, more likely, boar hair.

On that subject, how ethical is the use of badger hair? I presume there aren't badger farms where badger-shearing goes on... I think boar are farmed.

18:43 / 12.05.08

Ah, this is the thing I have. A Rolls razor. You roll it back and forth to sharpen it.