[hoops330]

What is your routine/technique? Manual or electric? Against the grain or with the grain? Shaving brush to apply shaving cream? What kind of equipment are you working with?

I personally prefer the Gilette Mach 5 although the blades are very expensive. I shave against the grain and I feel I get a better shave. As to the argument about whether it is better to shave against or with, I don't think it really matters as long as you aren't constantly switching because this will cause ingrown hairs. I use a brush to apply shaving cream and I feel that this too helps get a closer shave and lifts the super fine hair which grows on my neck. It is important to shave with warm/hot water because it softens up the beard and a hot razor blades cut better. After shaving, I apply cold water to close the pores because this also helps to prevent ingrown hairs. I then apply an after shave which is Nivea Double Action Balm which is alcohol free. I don't grow facial hair thick enough to pull off any beards or mustaches so I go clean shaven.

[Parlay44]

I'm a clean shaven type of guy. I only shave twice a week. My beard hair isn't that thick. I don't start looking scruffy til day 3 or 4.

I shave right after I shower. Towel still wrapped around my waist. That's when your beard hair is softest and easiest to cut.

I use regular shaving cream and Schick double blade disposable razors( the green ones). Shave down with the grain first pass and up against the grain second pass.

I don't like the electric razors. Makes my face feel weird. I had one long ago. I guess it's good to keep in your car or something.

After I shave I splash cold water on my face a few times. It tightens up the skin and closes the pores. Then I use the styptic pencil for any cuts or scrapes.

I've used the Gilette Mach 5 before too. I found it good if you have some decent scruff going. For day to day shaving its too much and irritates my skin. I stopped using it. My skin is baby soft, very sensitive and a little on the oily side.

[Stitch]

Old-school. Brush, English-style paste shaving cream, double-edged razor (Merkur slant bar) for most days. If I've had the luxury of letting my beard grow out, it's straight-ish time with a Dovo shavette (one of these days I'll invest in a proper straight, but I can't be bothered to strop every damn day). Generally one pass with the grain, but if I'm out to impress, a second pass against. Afterward, a swipe with an alum bar and then a couple drops of jojoba oil across the skin.

Multiblade razors are too expensive and don't do a good job, in my opinion. The time it took to master the skill of a double-edge razor was well worth it imho, even if I just measured it in cost of blades (I spent about ten bucks for a mass of Derbys, and they've lasted me over two years, even exchanging the blade every week or so).

[Chad Daring]

Was just gonna start a shaving thread.

I use a multiblade manual razor, and like any guy that uses those the cost of keeping those around was killing me. I did some digging and found something that said if you store your razors in rubbing alcohol if keeps "crystals" (dont know what that means its just what I read) from building up on the blade. Its supposedly these "crystals" that make the blade dull.

Been doing it for about a week now, and it seems to be working out. Razor is just as sharp as it was when I first opened it, and I shave every 2 days, at least.

This does dissolve the little strip on the top of the razor that tells you how much longer its "good" for

[Stitch]

Tellin' you, man, this is all the razor you'll need.


(actually, the classic may be a better starting point).

Expensive? Meh; mach 3 cartridges are almost $3 apiece; they're a racket. I can buy 200 Derby DE blades from Amazon at $18.66 for less than $0.10 apiece. I have a fresh blade every shave and still come out ahead, besides having a li'l panache

[mofo]

Good thread

[Basil Ransom]

(10-08-2011 10:34 PM)Stitch Wrote:  

Old-school. Brush, English-style paste shaving cream, double-edged razor (Merkur slant bar) for most days. If I've had the luxury of letting my beard grow out, it's straight-ish time with a Dovo shavette (one of these days I'll invest in a proper straight, but I can't be bothered to strop every damn day). Generally one pass with the grain, but if I'm out to impress, a second pass against. Afterward, a swipe with an alum bar and then a couple drops of jojoba oil across the skin.

Multiblade razors are too expensive and don't do a good job, in my opinion. The time it took to master the skill of a double-edge razor was well worth it imho, even if I just measured it in cost of blades (I spent about ten bucks for a mass of Derbys, and they've lasted me over two years, even exchanging the blade every week or so).

How does the difficulty of the safety razor compare with say, a Mach 3 Manual? I've known about safety razors for a while, but always shied away from them because I read they were more difficult to use, and I'm not a meticulous shaver.

I have the brush and cream, but don't always use it. I currently use a Mach 3 manual.

[young_money]

The Mach 3 Turbo is the best blade I've used. I shave every 2 or 3 days while in the shower using conditioner instead of shaving cream. I haven't shaved in front of a mirror in 5 years, and I never get any kind of irritation. I use my hands to feel out the direction of the grain and always shave against it. I don't recommend starting out completely blind because there's a bit of a learning curve working above the mouth. Best to grab a no-fog shower mirror starting out, especially for anyone that keeps some facial hair.

[Pete]

(10-09-2011 11:22 AM)Stitch Wrote:  

Tellin' you, man, this is all the razor you'll need.


(actually, the classic may be a better starting point).

Expensive? Meh; mach 3 cartridges are almost $3 apiece; they're a racket. I can buy 200 Derby DE blades from Amazon at $18.66 for less than $0.10 apiece. I have a fresh blade every shave and still come out ahead, besides having a li'l panache

that looks very tempting

[DLuzhin]

They have cryogenically frozen blades at this site that cost about as much, but last 3-4 times longer.

http://www.greatrazors.com/

[Stitch]

Basil--

It's a skill, all right; takes a while to learn but not too bad; at first I kept using the wrong angle (almost 90 degrees, like I was scraping my face rather than cutting hair). One thing that surprised me was how different blades feel and perform, so if you give it a go, it's worth trying a few different blades (I like Derbys, but for example Feather makes a ridiculously sharp blade; some like them but I thought they were a little harsh). I never cut myself really badly (even learning straight razor) but did nick a couple times.

Mileage varies. I did use a mach3 for a while (even tried one of those ridiculous vibrating ones), and I've tried electric shavers too, but I finally settled on this as a good mix of cost-effectiveness and efficiency. Like I said, most of the time I stick to a single pass with the grain and that's okay for daily presentability. If I take time and do 2-3 passes (with, across, and against the grain) carefully, I can get a very very good shave out of the deal, though it does take a bit longer (and if you rush things you can get razor burn, but I found less trouble with the safety razor than the cartridge type).

One definite benefit: if I went 2-3 days without shaving, the cartridge razors would clog up pretty fast, and the safety razor doesn't (if I go a week or so without shaving, even the safety razor doesn't stand a chance and it's time to bust out the straight).

[bez]

Barbershop shave and haircut once a month at the last friday of each month.
No rash,no mess,no cuts,decent price,good barbershop banter.

[Kish]

If you're a black man who struggles with razor bumps...this razor will change your life...



The Andis T-outliner.

[Kickb]

I use a razor similar to that ^

Gives me the five o' clock shadow look.

[Timoteo]

I started using brushes and shaving soap in the mid-90's, and have been hooked ever since. I invested in a couple of nice shaving sets, and the razors take Mach-3 or Gillette Sensor cartridges. I actually just bought one of those safety razors that are pictured above (an Edwin Jagger model, and I also got a moustache razor by Merkur, which is much like a safety razor except smaller and more narrow for shaping sideburns, etc.), and when I've gone through my remaining cartridges I'll start using that. The cost of cartridges is ridiculous. I'll still use them for my travel kits (the safety razor blades won't pass airport security, and I like to travel with only carry-on). I've been looking at straight razors, and my want to graduate to one of those at some point, but it's a real investment (you need decide if I want a carbon steel or stainless, you have to get a strop and the paste to apply to it, etc.).


I only shave a couple of times a week, because otherwise it irritates my skin. I shave right after a hot shower, when my face is still wet. I do the works - I apply shave oil or baby oil first, then shaving soap on top of that. I shave down with the grain first, but I only shave up against the grain under the chin. Shaving against the grain on my cheeks, which are more tender, leads to irritation for me. I shave ACROSS the grain on my face and along my jawline and chin. To prevent ingrown beard hairs/razor bumps, I use Tend Skin liquid. Nothing else has ever worked for me. It's STRONG. It burns like hell, but it keeps my skin smooth and bump-free. I avoid traditional, scented after-shaves with alcohol. I've been using Lucky Tiger After Shave/Face Tonic, and maybe some kind of moisturizer/lotion.

I have an electric, a Norelco Arcitec that I use to touch up, but I don't really shave with it.

[Parlay44]

Not trying to troll or anything ...but do you guys have any special technique for shaving your balls?

I don't see myself going down there with a straight razor anytime soon. LOL

[Stitch]

Honestly, Parlay... okay, this just ventured into TMI territory. I'm a hairy bastard. When I want a smooth shaft... wax, truly. Hurts like a motherfucker, but lasts a long time, feels great under someone's lips and tongue, and no itchy stubble. And yeah, it's appreciated. Balls I don't do too often, but they're doable and also rewarding.

But I'm pretty hesitant to recommend it wholeheartedly. You have to have a pretty good pain threshold.

[Chad Daring]

(10-11-2011 07:32 PM)Parlay44 Wrote:  

Not trying to troll or anything ...but do you guys have any special technique for shaving your balls?

I don't see myself going down there with a straight razor anytime soon. LOL

I use my Gillette but take a bareheaded and do it in the tub that way everything is as... unfurled? as possible.

Don't start unless you're gonna keep at it.

[el mechanico]

I use this for shaft/balls. I found that because I always decide to do this when I have a mixture of weed and cocktails this does the least damage
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