Shaving Question

[mosdef]

I was at the barber shop yesterday and got a shave along with my haircut. The barber told me of the three people he had shaved that day I was the toughest, and they were older than me, probably by a lot - I am only 18. I was wondering what I could to soften up my folicles and skin. I also wonder what I could do to reduce nicks and cuts. I have begun shaving in the shower to loosen up my skin but I still come away with a few nicks around the jawbone, just above the "edge" of the face. I use a styptic pencil to deal with this but I'd rather come out without having to worry about this.

-mosdef

 

[toph99]

i have thick facial hair(though it is still slow to grow because i'm 15 and only been shaving for a few years) and i find that if you have good shaving cream it helps alot. and i mean the good cream, not that gel junk. i use Gillette cream, Wild Rain i think it is. try putting some moisturizer on your face 30 min or more before you shave. might help

 

[mosdef]

I actually use Wild Rain too.

-mosdef

 

[kami]

gel crap? i get less irritation with the gel than with anything else I have tried.

mosdef what razor do you use?

 

[mosdef]

I use the Mach 3. I didn't really look into it, just chose to use it.

-mosdef

 

[toph99]

i find the gel doesn't make the hair soft enough/makes it easier for me to cut myself for some reason. cream just workes better for me

 

[mosdef]

So what about the razor?

-mosdef

 

[toph99]

i use a Mach3, i find it rinses better than most, but besides that, nothin special

 

[kami]

you just might want to try some different brands. But I have no problems/never get nicks with a mach3.

 

[db]

I find that if I don't shave for a few days, it's harder to get my underware off quickly.....jusk kidding!

Seriously though,
1. Get the wiskers good and wet: water and gel/foam/whatever. Leave it on long enough, but not to the point where it starts drying.
2. Different blades REALLY make a difference in the nicks and cuts department. A cheap generic double blade shaves me just fine whereas an expensive triple blade cuts the sh!t out of my face. YMMV! Try different blades.
3. Stretch out/smooth out that skin (ie adam's apple).
4. Don't get in a hurry.

 

[mosdef]

What moisturizer should I use or is recommended?

-mosdef

 

[Sacotool]

<< What moisturizer should I use or is recommended? >>



Bunch of pansies! Real men don't use any type of shaving cream, just shave with a normal razor as soon as you get out of the shower and it won't hurt a bit.

 

[mosdef]

Haha thanks for the support sacotool. I guess you just wake up, pull the axe out from under the bed, and chop away?

-mosdef

 

[ultravox]

Although I've been sporting a beard since I was 18 I did like to shave using a Mug and shaving soap with a brush. I know it's ancient but it was a ritual that I did enjoy and it gave me a great shave. Go find an old diner coffee mug at a garage shave and by yourself a lather brush and give it a whirl.A good straight razor will give you the best shave but they are tricky to master and your face will suffer at first but it really gives a good shave......or you could grow a beard and not have to scrape your face with a piece of cold steel first thing every morning...

edit: another thing...don't go sawing away aggressively but one stroke with the grain and once against it.

 

[geno]

<< 4. Don't get in a hurry. >>


definitly!
Not only for the sake of knicks/cuts, but as far as skin iritation goes, it's always minimal when you go slow with the razor and take it in small patches. If you drag the razor from your ear to your chin without lifing it's gonna irritate your skin more.

 

[Sacotool]

Mosdef, I'm not bullsh1ting you, if you shave as soon as you get out of the shower you won't need the lather, try it I bet you'll agree

 

[klumpdafied]

Try a hot, wet towel on your face for 5 minutes. As hot as you can stand. That's what barbers used to do. Works pretty good too.

Combine that with mug soap and a straight razor and you might as well wear a ZootSuit

 

[mosdef]

Well I don't know if your suggestion will work with my problem skin/hair. Maybe it's my technique? I don't know...

-mosdef

 

[mosdef]

Yeah, a good shave by a barber is definately a luxury, but I noticed that he didn't do a very good job and I think he blames this on my skin. I noticed a few nicks on my chin and underneath, and I also noticed that it definately wasn't as close as I had hoped for - I thought barbers were supposed to be perfect! Btw this is one of those old style barber shops, with the friendly old men who like making small talk about nothing .

-mosdef

 

[geno]

<< the friendly old men who like making small talk about nothing >>


Some weather we're having today, eh?

 

[db]

Just as with ALL groups, some are better than others....(and some ain't good at all).
But I have to agree, it is a ritual to have a proper job done by a GOOD barber.
(Barbers ages ago were the surgeons--&quot;hey, how 'bout lancing that boil back o' my neck?&quot;

 

[mosdef]

I was exaggerating dl, but for the most part I have been really happy with barbers until yesterday (and he charged me $20 too, where my usual place is $11).

-mosdef

 

[db]

Ouch!

 

[Grimner]

For a really smooth shave, I use a Mach 3 at the end of a shower with hot water running on my face. Any soap, gel or cream has my mug looking like a blizzard an hour later.

For the daily toil, an electrical Braun - an at least 50 year old design and still much the same - is enough.

 

[glen]

The best way I know of is:
In the shower
With a Mach3
With gel