The Shaving Thread

[Ernest Jones]

This stuff, with a good quality brush. I use whatever quality razors that are on sale.

As for ingrowns, I used to get them pretty bad but I don't anymore. Put a piping hot face cloth over your neck before you shave, it opens up your pores and makes the shave smoother and cleaner. Another thing that works well is to take a hot shower and either shave while in the shower or immediately afterwards while your pores are still open.

Electric razors blow.

[tristanhilton85]

Right now I use the Hydro5 razor and Dove Men+ Care shaving cream. Like EJ, said, it's best to shave when the pores are opened up, so I shave in the shower. I have to be clean shaven for work so I do so every day (except for my two days off).

I used to use the Fusion razor and liked that one as much if not more but I found a good deal on the Hydros and that's why I switched. I'll go back and forth between the two depending on what is cheapest when I need to restock.

[Ernest Jones]

Right now I use the Hydro5 razor and Dove Men+ Care shaving cream. Like EJ, said, it's best to shave when the pores are opened up, so I shave in the shower. I have to be clean shaven for work so I do so every day (except for my two days off).

I used to use the Fusion razor and liked that one as much if not more but I found a good deal on the Hydros and that's why I switched. I'll go back and forth between the two depending on what is cheapest when I need to restock.

I also use the Dove Men+ when I can't get the RSC stuff, it's pretty good too.

One thing I'll add regarding @colin007 's ingrowth question is that I used to shave my neck "against the grain" which led to a lot of irritation and ingrown hairs. Now I ALWAYS shave with the grain, it doesn't give as close of a shave but I never get ingrowths anymore and after a couple of hours the "closeness" factor is pretty negligible. YMMV.

[Web Junky]

I do not use cream anymore. It turns the skin to mush. I use a cheap double edge disposable. They literally last me for months. They had single blades back in the day when I started shaving . . . Schick Injector Cartridges, or something like that, but the twins came into vogue soon thereafter.

Do your face a favor and try a creamless shave coming out of a hot shower!

[colin007]

Yeah, I shave in the shower also, and I don't shave against the grain on my neck. I still get the ingrown hairs...

[colin007]

I've got a Merkur HD safety razor that I've had for I don't know how long.  I use it for shaving my head as well so it gets a lot of use over the course of a week.  I like Feather blades as they're wicked sharp.  I use a badger brush and whatever shaving cream the body shop has for men (changes yearly and it lasts for ages so I don't really pay attention). I also did a brief trial with a straight razor.  Gave an amazing shave but I didn't have the guts to use it on the back of my own head.  They also take quite a bit of extra up-keep which wasn't really worthwhile (at least for me).  Fun experience though!

Thank you! This is what I was looking for. How difficult would you say it is to learn how to use the double edge razor? How much is the risk of cutting yourself?

[bradsul]

Thank you! This is what I was looking for.

How difficult would you say it is to learn how to use the double edge razor? How much is the risk of cutting yourself?

It's not difficult at all. The number one rule, well number two actually.  Number one would be: the blade NEVER travels sideways!  The number two rule is: no pressure!  The weight of the safety razor itself provides all the pressure necessary, don't press the blade against your skin.  If you do this you will never suffer razor burn unless you are using a dull blade.  Just get your face nice and hot and hydrated (right out of the shower is my personal preference), apply some nice shaving soap or cream and away you go!

I think the biggest change from a multi-blade cartridge is you won't want to do those big long strokes with the blade.  I like little short overlapping ones.  Tends to mean you only go over a certain area once.  If you hit google or youtube there are hours and hours of videos on wet-shaving.

Regarding ingrown hair: it isn't something I've had to deal with much but it does happen. I honestly don't think the type of razor has much to do with it.  I got them occassionally before I used the safety razor and I get them occassionally now.  One thing I have noticed is they usually occur in the same general location.  Try doing that particular area in a different direction for a while.

[colin007]

So you have to take shorter strokes, does this mean that you have to rinse the blade each time you take a short stroke? How about going around the edge of the jaw line and chin?

[bradsul]

So you have to take shorter strokes, does this mean that you have to rinse the blade each time you take a short stroke? How about going around the edge of the jaw line and chin?

I rinse the head off when its too covered in shave cream.  It takes a lot to clog up the head with hair (assuming you shave regularly anyway), I rarely find a need to rinse the for that.

And as long as you follow the no extra pressure rule there are no issues with the jaw line and chin.  The blade isn't as exposed as you might be thinking.  Take a look at some pictures of safety razors on google and you'll see what I mean.

[tristanhilton85]

I also use the Dove Men+ when I can't get the RSC stuff, it's pretty good too.

One thing I'll add regarding @colin007's ingrowth question is that I used to shave my neck "against the grain" which led to a lot of irritation and ingrown hairs. Now I ALWAYS shave with the grain, it doesn't give as close of a shave but I never get ingrowths anymore and after a couple of hours the "closeness" factor is pretty negligible. YMMV.

I have to shave against the grain otherwise it doesn't get close enough. I'll get an ingrown hair every once in a while, but not really that often. Hot water helps as does applying the cream and letting it soak into the skin for a couple minutes before shaving.

[jamo]

I have to shave against the grain otherwise it doesn't get close enough. I'll get an ingrown hair every once in a while, but not really that often. Hot water helps as does applying the cream and letting it soak into the skin for a couple minutes before shaving.

It also helps to take two passes. First with the grain, then re-lather and go against the grain.

[Ernest Jones]

Anyone using shaving oil instead of foam/gel?

[MissouriHack]

Anyone using shaving oil instead of foam/gel?

Yes I have a straight razor and I will mix in oil with the soap at times. Other times i will shave with only the oil. It just depends on how much time I have. The wife loves it for date night.

[colin007]

The wife loves it for date night.

I'll have to remember that the next time I take her out... JK!

[MissouriHack]

I'll have to remember that the next time I take her out... JK!

lol, nice

[jimmyc]

I've tried every razor available when I started to shave and ended up with a rash. That was 50 years ago.

I have been shaving with Norelco's for the last 40 years, (every day) and never had any skin problems.

I tried Brawn and Remington and all the others and found them useless. I always go back to the Norelco.

My shaves are as close as a blade if I use a pre-shave lotion.

[RPMPIRE]

I've tried the electric razor earlier this year and it didn't cut close enough like a regular razor did and I didn't like having to clean it either. Right now, I'm using a Gillette Fusion Proglide and just got the Dove Men+ Care shave gel yesterday to try it out. I used the Aveeno shave gel before, but thought I'd switch it up. I only shave once a week so each Gillette razor lasts me a while

[Zeph]

The Gilette 5 blade and those similar are a joke. After I got my first DE razor, I've never looked back. Still use an electric most of the time, but if I want the best shave, DE is the way to go. It's even cheaper than the expensive Gilette stuff, easier to use, and gives a better result.