The Shaving Thread

[stray]

*sigh* see, you guys start talking about shaving your balls, and a woman will only start going to you for advice on her legs. that's all you'll get out of that.

[apocrypha]

Went to a Merkur double-bladed safety razor about a year ago.  Never looked back.  Just take your time and get acquainted with both it and your face.

I have this, Pseudofolliculitis Barbae, and it sucks.

I have been intending to try switching to a safety razor for years now. I get a *VERY* mild form of the same thing Jimbo and even at the tiny level mine is at I hate it a lot. Do you get get it full-blown? :(

Maybe I'll finally give it a try in the New Year :)

As for the nether regions, I prefer a trim rather than full-on shaving, and electric clippers are the way forward there. My gf uses an epilator that actually plucks the hairs for god's sake    Bless her, she keeps it all nice and neat down there but it's a painful experience for her I can tell you! Plus the noise of it scares the cats lots.

[stray]

shaving pussy scares pussy. interesting. /hand on chin

[TheWalrus]

I use a Braun electric. One of those self cleaners. Works awesome. Every time I've stopped using a Braun product, I've regretted it.

[Oban]

shaving Plucking pussy scares panics pussies. interesting. /hand on chin

[Jimbo]

Yes I get the full blown razor bumps, I'm even doing the shaving every other day.  For some reason it keeps getting worse, when I was 18 and started shaving every day, it wasn't bad, then about 25 the bumps came, then @ 35 I get these damn bumps on the underside of my jaw and neck like crazy!  My beard comes in so curly and patchy that it doesn't look good.  But on that note, I have had to take a shaving vacation of 4 weeks and try and let it rest and start shaving again, helps some, plus using the bump fighter razor or electric or trimmer helps, oh and shave every other day.  The crazy part is that when I have shaven my groin before I never got it down there.  Go figure!

[Yoru]

*sigh* see, you guys start talking about shaving your balls, and a woman will only start going to you for advice on her legs. that's all you'll get out of that.

There is no reason to shave your balls. This is why Man invented Nair and Veet.

Personally, I don't get much facial hair, but if I don't shave once every five days or so, I get this awful teenage-hobo look going on with half-centimeter wiry hairs growing like a chinstrap and in two little patches on my cheeks. Annoying as fuck. I've been using the Gillette twin-blade cartridges (Sensor Excels, I think?) which work decently well but still occasionally cause an ingrown hair or two.

Since I don't shave that often, I might explore going to a straight-edge safety razor as mentioned above. Taking a few extra minutes would be worth eliminating the possibility of ingrown hairs. Depends on the financial outlay, though. What's a starter kit usually cost?

[bhodi]

There are two types being mentioned here. A double-edged safety razor, one that I am thinking of trying, looks like this:



The blade goes in the top, flat, and the edge of the razor pokes out from either side (the edge the razor is resting on and the one opposite) hence double-edged. They seem to run about $25-50, and blades are disposable and are in packs of 10 or so that run about $2 or $3 per pack. The shaving technique is similar to disposable razors, and you get sharpness from replacing the blades at regular intervals. The bonus over a mach or other razors is that the blades are extremely cheap and universal, and the razor itself has some heft to it which helps consistent shaving.

A straight razor, mentioned above, looks like this:



As you can see, there is nothing "safe" about it. It costs about $150. It's sharpness comes from regular honing, so you need to get a honing kit that includes a strop and such for about $75.

Quick edit: You CAN shave with a straight razor by yourself, you use one hand to manipulate your skin (pulling it tight) and the other to hold the razor. The benefits of a straight razor are that it can get you a closer shave since you have a lot more control over the blade. The downsides are that you have a lot more control over the blade, so you'd better know what you're doing. It takes a fair bit of practice, apparently.

[Jimbo]

I don't think you can shave with a straight razor by yourself, that is why before the safety razor (1st pic), barbers would be the primary people guys would go to and get a shave.  You can do some of your skin, but getting the right angle and doing it safely would be a pain and dangerous.

[bhodi]

A quick note; In both cases, you need cream and a brush if you're going to do wet shaving, (starter kit $20 or so) plus alum and aftershave, if you want to do it right. Shaving with a straight razor uses a different technique, obviously. Acne/bump/razorburn control comes from using the right cream, preferred/correct shaving technique (3x with the grain 1x against for example), post-shave alum+cold water, and an aftershave/moisturizer finisher.

[NowhereMan]

I've been using a double edged safety razor with a wet shave for about a year now and it can give a closer shave than a mach 3. I also find it quite a nice bit of the morning routine, wakes me up more than using a mach 3 and some foam ever did.

[sidereal]

Blind doctor Albert A. Nast shaving himself with a straight razor.

[DeathInABottle]

I would wholeheartedly recommend a straight razor to just about anyone.  I asked for one for Christmas last year, and I've been using it since.  Initially, it took me about 45 minutes to shave; now, it's down to around 25, and I haven't had nearly as much practice as I might have, since I only shave twice a week.  After a lot of practice, the time you need gets even further reduced: this guy does three full passes in 12 minutes (and you never really need to do three).

That's on time.  Yes, it takes longer, but eventually you'll get to be just as fast as you would be with a Mach 3.  And frankly, I LOVE spending the time shaving.  It's nice to wake up and have a ritual to look forward to.  There's an almost existential reward to consciously appropriating a part of your life that used to be totally overcoded by fucking Gillette.

Cost: you can get a new, pre-sharpened Dovo razor from Classic Shaving for around $80.  I have a Dovo 5/8 with a plain plastic handle.  I don't care about the aesthetics, so I went for a cheap model, and I don't regret it.  The blade is fantastic, barely requiring any stropping.  I've had it for a year, and I have yet to hone it.

In addition to the blade, you'll need a strop.  That's the bare minimum.  It's conceivable to get pay $100 for these two things together, and never have to buy a blade again.

Realistically, though, you'll also need a badger brush, soap, and aftershave - all stuff I would recommend to anyone who wet shaves, though.  Additionally, you'll eventually have to buy a honing block, but these aren't horrendously expensive - and like I said, I have yet to bother with this, because my blade still passes the hanging hair test.

And man, there are so many other wonderful advantages to it.  Straight razor shaving really does give you more control, and lets you cut closer than you'll ever get with a cartridge or (shudder) an electric razor.  You can do one, two, or three passes, depending on time, inclination, and how sensitive your skin is.  Even you only do one, you'll notice that it exfoliates your skin in a way that cartridges don't.  If you're interested, Dr. Chris Moss has written a wonderful guide, complete with step by step illustrations, that guides you through everything from buying to stropping to shaving.

[Strazos]

I also really hate shaving my chin. I have a dimpled/cleft/whatever chin, so it has some complex shapes and I've never known wtf I am supposed to do with it. I've never really liked the shave I get with either electric or cartridge - just not enough flat area to properly apply the blade.

If you want that area bald, the part when it all starts to grow out that sucks. I don't bother going down to the skin anymore.

Great thread.  What do you guys find works best on legs and the bikini area?  Mine are kind of boney, so it's tough to get a good shave around the knees and other curves.

Yeah, it kinda sucks when it first grows back, so I try to wear tighter boxer briefs to minimize skin-on-skin contact. I usually use some crap Wahl to trim down, and to me, at that point why not just finish the job.

And Lant...I still say keep it in water. I like to think it's the same principle of when you are cutting stone - much easier if the cutting area is immersed in water. It worked for the Egyptians, so I thought it'd work fine on my skin.

I really just wish I was unable to grow facial hair. As is, my beard isn't anywhere near dense enough to be usable, and even after I let it grow for about a week, the hairs just stick straight up like spears on my face.

[Engels]

Ok, I have to ask. Why would any male, short of a porn star, have to shave his testicles? Or want to?

[stray]

Because they think it makes their dick look bigger. 


Or their girlfriend promised more blowjobs if there wasn't so much hair. But it's a trap, of course.


<insert trap image here>


a trap into what though, i'm not so sure.

[Selby]

I really just wish I was unable to grow facial hair.

Win the genetic lottery and you will!  I shave... once a month.  If that.  It's nice.  All of my hair is extremely fine and white with the occasional dark pokey one (I didn't start shaving "regularly" until I was 21 as I just used a pair of scissors to cut the 3 hairs I had).  I think I last changed my razor blade 3 years ago.

[Quinton]

Two-bladed Gillette Sensor works well for me. They are a bit pricey for little bits of metal in a plastic cartridge, but one seems to last a good 2-4 weeks for me, it's convenient, and pretty hard for me to slice myself up with.  I tend to shave every other day, since daily is a little excessive (my facial hair doesn't grow super quickly) but after two days without shaving, I start looking kinda scruffy.

Also: http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33930
"Fuck Everything, We're Doing Five Blades"   <3 the onion

[Reg]

Deathinabottle, not to be mean but you've been using your straight razor for a year and it still takes you 25 minutes to shave in the morning.  Based on that, I find it kind of unrealistic to expect that "eventually you'll get to be just as fast as you would be with a Mach 3."

[nurtsi]

Since were getting into hairy business, how many of you shave / trim other parts of their body like Legs, chest, maybe arms? Anyone have experience with the chemical solutions (Veet and what not)?

[Strazos]

Ok, I have to ask. Why would any male, short of a porn star, have to shave his testicles? Or want to?

Comfort, cleanliness...I guess.

Since were getting into hairy business, how many of you shave / trim other parts of their body like Legs, chest, maybe arms? Anyone have experience with the chemical solutions (Veet and what not)?

I hate the hair on my hands, so I trim that off every now and then. I've thought about doing my arms before, but I'm pretty hairy (not Albanian-hairy though) and it would be a ton of upkeep; I'd have to do from the bottom of my shoulder down.

I do the top of my chest, as it grows up to the bottom of my neck and I think it's unsightly when I am wearing anything sort of a skin-tight collar or a tie. It's fairly sparse on my upper chest so it's not too bad.

I tried to flowbee my legs once, to see if I could thin the stuff out...that was a study in futility, especially when because the skin on your legs is a lot more elastic than your scalp - had to be careful to hold the skin down and not let it get sucked up towards the cutting area, or it would have been the same as just shaving.


Yeah, I'm a tad OCD about hair. I can't even have my actual hair long anymore, because I can feel when a few stands up top start to float out of place and then I have to go soak the bit down in the bathroom. Having the hair laying on my ears drives me nuts too.

[Big Gulp]

This thread actually just inspired me to buy a safety razor and box of blades from Amazon.  My cheapness won't justify buying Mach 3 blades so over the years I've used disposable Bic razors, which frankly suck, but have the virtue of being cheap.  This looks like it's better and cheaper, so thanks to the thread starter because I've always thought of old school shaving as the straight razor and never would have thought about safety razors.

[Big Gulp]

I hate the hair on my hands, so I trim that off every now and then. I've thought about doing my arms before, but I'm pretty hairy (not Albanian-hairy though) and it would be a ton of upkeep; I'd have to do from the bottom of my shoulder down.

Sorry to double post, but I do this because otherwise my arm tattoos are covered by fur.  Just get a pair of hair clippers with a 1 guard and do your arms real quick.  Takes 5 minutes every other week or so.  Piece of cake.

[FatuousTwat]

Ok, I have to ask. Why would any male, short of a porn star, have to shave his testicles? Or want to?

Comfort, cleanliness...I guess.

This pretty much.

I don't really shave/trim hair anywhere else. I should probably shave the top of my feet, they are kind of hobbitish. But I guess I don't wear sandals, so fuck it.

[Nebu]

Great thread.  What do you guys find works best on legs and the bikini area?  Mine are kind of boney, so it's tough to get a good shave around the knees and other curves.

Laser hair removal.  High up front cost for 3-6 applications, but then you NEVER have to do it again.  If you're a guy, this is the way to go for back hair as well.

As for me: I can't get through my entire face before a brand new blade goes dull.  I've been shaving for almost 30 years and I still cut myself everytime because of this. Sensitive skin + coarse hair is a shitty combination.   

Electrics take me forever to get my face clean, so I only ever use them on my head.  Help!

[schild]

As for me: I can't get through my entire face before a brand new blade goes dull.  I've been shaving for almost 30 years and I still cut myself everytime ebcause of this. Sensitive skin + coarse hair is a shitty combination.

This. Hence my use of clippers and never being totally smooth. /shrug

I recently went home and my parents had a bic for me and I used it and my face looked like it had been attacked by dogs.

[Nebu]

This. Hence my use of clippers and never being totally smooth. /shrug

If you buy yourself a pretty high quality trimmer, they do a decent job and get closer than a clipper.  Not so great on the tight areas though (Adam's apple, mouth corners, upper lip).  I usually use a trimmer as well, but there are days when I have to give more formal presentations that I just go ahead and shave.  Using 2 blades to clean my face up pisses me off.

Next question:  Do these things work?

[schild]

Nothing on TV ever works. Unless it was made by Dyson.

[FatuousTwat]

Those pet nail grinders work well... But nothing else.

[Big Gulp]

Those pet nail grinders work well... But nothing else.

Do they?  One dog has no problem with me clipping his nails, but the other one is a goddamned nightmare.  He just doesn't like people messing with his feet.  Add in the noise that these things must make and I can't picture it being any easier than the nail clippers.

[Nebu]

Nothing on TV ever works. Unless it was made by Dyson.

I did find a patent for a razor blade sharpener in the patent literature, but it has a different design.  Is there some type of conspiracy in the razor blade market or is this just an impractical solution?

[FatuousTwat]

Those pet nail grinders work well... But nothing else.

Do they?  One dog has no problem with me clipping his nails, but the other one is a goddamned nightmare.  He just doesn't like people messing with his feet.  Add in the noise that these things must make and I can't picture it being any easier than the nail clippers.

My cat is very calm, and I still had to train him to stop him from flipping out. So, it might not work on most animals... Didn't even think about it.

[Nerf]

Those pet nail grinders work well... But nothing else.

Do they?  One dog has no problem with me clipping his nails, but the other one is a goddamned nightmare.  He just doesn't like people messing with his feet.  Add in the noise that these things must make and I can't picture it being any easier than the nail clippers.

Both of my dogs flipped the fuck out when I tried it on them, it does work, and it's not too loud, but don't think your dog is just going to sit there and take it with a smile.  If my dogs werent 5 and 20lbs we probably would have never gotten it done.  At least with nail clippers its a quick snip so you don't need them to hold still as long.

RE the razor blade sharpener thing, local news did a "deal or dud" piece on it a few months back, and their results showed it was actually duller after a pass through the sharpener.

[Nebu]

RE the razor blade sharpener thing, local news did a "deal or dud" piece on it a few months back, and their results showed it was actually duller after a pass through the sharpener.

Appreciate the tidbit. 

[SnakeCharmer]

Down the face and up the neck is the only way I can shave.  Otherwise I get ingrown hairs, especially on either side of my throat and under my jaw.  I've used the Sensor Excel razors for years.  I generally shave every day and do my best to take care of my skin.  I've always spent a fair amount of time outdoors and don't want the leather face look when I get older. 

Get a small mirror thing with a suction cup on the back and shave in the shower.  I've found it easier to let the steam and such make the stubble softer before shaving.  Less razor burn, virtually no clean up.  For skin care, I use a Nivea after shave lotion and an Aveda anti wrinkle cream around the eyes and forehead.  And I religously use sunblock/screen.  Keep it in my desk at work, in my car, golf bag, boat.  I got sunburned one too many times, a couple really bad ones (water bubbles, etc), and now I'm paranoid about skin cancer.

Take care of your mansuit, guys.