83 replies to this topic

[CoolGuy68]

I'm back with an update, it's been 3 weeks since my last laser procedure on my neck area, and I've had a good 50% or more hair loss. It took a good week this time around for my neck to "heal". At least now, I can shave this area quickly and comfortably I'd like to add that there is no OTC or prescribed topical medication/product that is going to help this condition. My skin really flipped out on me this summer, for some reason...and I just turned 40!!! My latest derm recommended I try using Dove Unscented Soap, I thought he was on crack! Reluctantly, I tried it, and it's been THE best I've used ever! Trust me, I've tried EVERYTHING, and it only costs about a $1 a bar! I've been washing my face once at night, and once in the morning, and shaving before I wash up in the AM. I'd like to add that those junk soaps, topicals, antibiotics, and vitamins are NOT going to help you, throw them in the garbage, and do not put false hope in this crap, and "think" that it's going to help you...I've been there!

[Blossom:D]

im starting to grow whiskers now! on my cheeks and more than enough to shave and i cant plluck them out anymore but i have whisker hairs growing around my pimples. I dont want to leave them they look ugly but i dont want to scrape my pimples! what do i do?
Also instead of using a razor what about trying to use a machine buzzer. I have one at home. Will that work well/?

[Tyga]

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Edited by Heir, 17 October 2009 - 04:13 PM.

[celluliteradio]

Anybody got any tips for keeping the skin under facial hair moisturized? I like to keep a very short beard on my face and shave the neck area. Especially now that it's winter, the skin gets dried out and flaky. I've tried just putting moisturizer on it, but it sort of gets gunked up in the hair, and it would take like 1/4 of the bottle to get the whole bottom half of my face done.

[BasketballSL]

I used to use the Fusion power with 4 or 5 blades on it, and I would always get irritation and razor bumps. Ingrown hair was a problem in my chin area after shaving. And I followed all the recommended tips to avoid them too.

So I switched razors like Dan said, I used the Gillete Sensor Excel and i get zero razor bumps now. It's a LOT better with fewer blades to cause irritation.

[medic]

I am thinking of using an electric shaver.

Why don't more guys use it?

[ToanWLOHA]

I use an electric - a shick quattro precisely. I will never go back to the old school manuals lol.

[AcNO]

I'll start off with my own tips to the perfect shave, avoiding irritation.

Some people experience problems with shaving such as rash, bumps and ingrown hairs, these can be greatly reduced with the right shaving techniques.

Preparation before the shave

Fill the sink with hot but not boiling water and dip your face in the water for about a minute, you can take breaks but try to ensure your face is submerged in the water for about a minute total. The hot water will soften the beard and make it easier for the blade to cut the hairs.

I use a regular shaving gel, I'd never use cleanser but some find it ok.

Gillette shaving gel is fine in my experience, I find that using cleanser doesn't offer enough protection for me, shaving gel allows the blade to glide over your face with minimal irritation. Dan Kerns recommendation of blade the Gillette sensor excel is an excellent blade, it causes the least irritation in my experience though some prefer a single blade while others prefer 3, I think it depends on the density of your stubble. Use a good amount of gel and massage it in to your beard for about 30 seconds.

Always shave with the grain of your beard

This is possibly the most important point so far, it's essential that you shave with the grain on both your face and neck NEVER SHAVE AGAINST THE GRAIN. Be extra gentle and only apply a very small amount of pressure to the blade, imagine you're shaving a balloon. Also NEVER pull your skin, this forces the hair further out and once the blade cuts through it, the hair will slip beneath surface level which can cause the hair to ingrow.

Take only one stroke on each part of your face, this will help minimise irritation and stripping your skin of essential moisture. Rinse the blade after every stroke.

Avoiding active spots

As you'll know shaving over an active spot can make it much worse, it's a good idea to shave around the spot and gently remove the hairs around it.

Post shave instructions

After shaving it's time to do the regimen as usual, however I find it's good practice to use either AHA or Sudocrem in addition to prevent any irritation the next day. AHA gentle exfoliates the pores and helps prevent ingrown hairs. Sudocrem works brilliantly at preventing infection and irritation, it's my number one choice after shaving.

If I wet shave then I do so at night, this allows me to use EXTRA moisturiser and sudocrem and I don't experience any irritation the following day.


How often should I shave?

I find shaving every 2-3 days is optimal for me, shaving every day is just too much and leaving it any longer than 3 days causes me too itch which irritates my skin. Experiment and find your own skins optimal shaving routine.

What if shaving still causes irritation?

If you've tried all of the above and can't manage to shave without causing irritation it might be a good idea for you to try a beard trimmer, this is without a doubt the least irritating way to shave in my experience and everybody who I've recommended it to has also reported zero irritation. I use a philishave 6 in 1 beard trimmer and it leaves no irritation at all. Note: Shaving with a beard trimmer will leave behind a slight stubble but that's ideal for me.

I'd love to hear your tips for a perfect shave without irritation.

good stuff my man ,, but what do u think of shaving cream instead of using AHA ?

[dhabu]

Honestly in my experience the most significant factors in the shaving routine are the, blade, the razor itself, the angle of the shave and the technique (how many passes etc,..).

The problem with cartridge and electric shavers is, you can only control one variable, that being the razor itself (because you have no choice of different blade with the cartridge system). When you can manipulate the other variables properly, you can have a much more comfortable shave, which can be as close or as far as you want, with as much or as little irritation as you can tolerate.

With a safety razor, there are hundreds of different blades to choose from and they are of much higher quality, less expense and superior sharpness than the gillette refills.

In terms of plain ol' cartridge razors, the blades themselves are usually poor quality and they only have one make, so you don't have much choice. The Sensor Excel was the best one for me because it has only two blades and is a fairly simple device. Even still when compared to a safety razor, the excel is too hasty and rough, I find it to be unpleasant and too close, too quick. More blades will irritate, and trying to take all your hair off in one go will also irritate!

Technique is also an important factor. For me, for a long while when i was using the Excel i only did one pass with the grain. This was because if i did any more i would cut myself and my skin would look horrible. Only problem with this is, i would hardly go very close.

If closeness is desired, It is definitely in your best interests to draw out the shaving routine and do multiple passes, one with the grain, one/two across in different directions and only then against the grain (if your face can tolerate it).


I dont mean to discount pre-shave preparation, of course it helps but if your carving out your face with sandpaper its hardly going to make much difference.

I therefore HIGHLY RECOMMEND taking up wet-shaving and using a safety razor/double-edge razor. The difference between these and cartridge shavers or electric razors, is like the difference between a manual and an automatic gear system on a car.

For more information (where i discovered all this):

see:

start here first>

http://www.youtube.com/user/mantic59

(he pretty much summarises all that you need to know in video format) (focus on technique and blades, than worry about lather, IMO)

www.badgerandblade.com (a good shaving forum)

www.shavemyface.com (another good shaving forum)

http://leisureguy.wo...ing-experience/

(this is a book i bought written by one of the guys from badgerandblade.com, it mostly contains information derived from the forums and various other places)



personal shaving experience:

I like most shaved with cartridges for most of my life till about 6 months ago, when i discovered- out of concern for the environment rather than anything else (throwing away endless amounts of used cartridges), the safety razor and the cut-throat. I consistently had problems with cartridge shaving. I never enjoyed the process, always found it painful (would cut myself without failure) and i found that my face needed days to recover (from acne, white heads, scars) from the 20mins worth of butchering i had administered to it afterwards.

I was one of probably many young men, who never really learnt how to shave. My style was purely improvisational, since nobody ever taught me any of the time-tested techniques that barbers use in their shops.

Now i rarely shave against the grain (only when i want to go really close). I hardly ever cut myself. My face is beaming with clarity and color and i can shave as often or little as i want (though i do find shaving with some routine to be beneficial for skin- think exfoliant).

I implore you, do yourself a favour and watch the youtube videos at least!!!

I CAN HARDLY STRESS THIS ENOUGH, SHAVING MATTERS!!!! ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WANT TO CONTROL YOUR ACNE!!!

PS. They should have a dedicated shaving section on these boards. There are whole websites dedicated to shaving, dealing with each and all the many facets.

hope this helps!!

[CoolGuy68]

Wet shaving has NEVER worked well for me, no matter what I tried as far as products, razor, before/after showering, temperature of water, etc., etc. My only option has been to use a Norelco Rotary, and with some trial & error, have been close to perfecting a decent regimen.

[michaelscott]

Hey everyone,

I've got a question in regards to aftershave.

From what i've been informed, directly after shaving you should rinse your face with cool/cold water to help close the pores (especially people with sensative/acne prone skin.)

Now the big question that i have is whether or not i should use an actual aftershave? It appears that the two big purposes of an aftershave are to disinfect(i know that's not the proper word, but to carefully manage your skin which has just been shaved and could possibly be damaged) and to moisturize and soothe your skin...

So my question is, could i just use a facial moisturizer as aftershave? Or would it be more beneficial to use an actual aftershave?

Keep in mind that my biggest concern is the prevention of acne from shaving. So would it be recommended to just use a non-comedogenic moisturizer for very cne prone skin, or an actual aftershave?

Any help would be greatly appreciated as i'm very new to this.

[Sean !]

I just use an electrical foil shaver.

Same result as a bladed razor without the fucking about and irritation.

.......just a thought.


ugh i hate blades.

[F*** Acne]

Hey people, my acne started with me shaving against the grain in year 7.... From there it has spread not realizing it was the shaving causing the pimples, after 2 years a friend of mine saw me shaving and told me i should shave with the grain instead of shaving against it. My question though is if there is anyways to stop irritation and new breakouts from shaving against the grain ?

[CoolGuy68]

Hey people, my acne started with me shaving against the grain in year 7.... From there it has spread not realizing it was the shaving causing the pimples, after 2 years a friend of mine saw me shaving and told me i should shave with the grain instead of shaving against it. My question though is if there is anyways to stop irritation and new breakouts from shaving against the grain ?

Are you wet shaving or using an electric?

[spacetravler]

Anyone tried using only Jojoba oil as a shaving cream/oil? I have tried this twice and I am started to get hooked. Not even a single itch or irritation after my shave.

I only shave after a shower or a bath. When I am done showering or bathing I then apply a very generously amount of Jojoba oil and start to shave with a single edge razor. After I am done I lean my head into the shower and rinse, and thats it! I don't even need to moisturize.

The problem is to apply the Jojoba oil, I fill up it on the tip of my fingers and try to smear it around but it usually drips through and such. I think you know what I mean, if it only were a bit more 'creamy'. Will not work good if you got a big beard though, only regular shaving.

[bharp105]

those of you who use a beard trimmer, how do you clean it?

[spacetravler]

I use Gillette Series Shave Gel Pure & Sensitive instead of the jojoba oil now, it gave me an even better and closer shave. I recommend it!

[ben100604]

My shaving routine for the last few years has been this:

Hold a flannel which has been dipped in hot water to my face for 30 seconds or so.
Then I apply shaving cream with a shaving brush.
Then shave in the direction of the stubble. I only shave each area with one stroke of the razor.
Apply shaving cream with shaving brush again.
Then shave across the grain of the stubble - not against. Again, I only shave each area with one stroke of the razor. I miss my throat out this time as it's very sensitive there.
Then I wash all the mess off my face with warm water and apply some aftershave balm. I leave it on for as long as possible before washing it off.

I only use a standard razor. I used to use Gillette M3, but I found the only difference between that and a standard razor was that it glided a lot better. It made no difference to my stubble.

[Stratosfear]

man this is gona be so helpful, shoulda read this a long time ago would saved alot of breakouts from happnin

[Spikey]

Gillette shaving gel

Nivea aftershave for sensitive skin

1-2 times a week (only 18)

with grain (usually)

These are the only products that I use on my face/neck. No acne treatments.



I tried shaving against the grain on my neck, and it didn't seem to irritate it at all. Not a single ingrown hair. Weird.