MrKinsey has a very heavy beard. He destroys a disposable razor in one shave, and the regular blades don’t last much longer. He usually uses the Gillette Trac 2 brand.
I was wondering…would an electric shaver (like Norelco) be better for him to try? He has never used one, but seemed sorta interested in one as a Christmas present. I would hate to buy one and have him hate it, since I doubt something like that could be returned.
What do the male dopers use? Do you have an electric shaver? Love it? Hate it? Do you still use shaving cream with it? How does it compare to regular blades?
Love my electric razor. There is a definite break-in period for the face to adapt to the new shaving system. Irritation, redness, soreness for the first three weeks or so. It is well worth putting up with this: some moisturizer helps. The directions in the new Norelcos explain this in detail. If you don’t use the shaver every day it prolongs the break-in period. I shave dry: my Dad uses Lectra shave: I find that clogs the razor too fast. Pay the money for the $80–$110 Norelco. Brauns/Remingtons don’t work on mens faces, though Mrs. magnate swears by her braun to touch up her legs. On Saturday nights I will shave with a Mach111 for that baby bottom smoothness, but for the workweek the Norelco is the tool for the job.
Skip the electric. Get him a shower-mirror and good beard busting foam.
As an Italian guy (go ahead with the stereotypes) with a real beard and a penchant for destroying blades, I can tell you nothing made my mornings easier than shaving in a nice hot shower.
If you have success with an electric, you don’t have high expectations.
I was told once that electric shavers break down one of the epidermal layers and eventually give the face a " mushy " sort of look. I don’t know how accurate that is but my dad has always used one and his face would sort of support that theory…
I found the best thing you can do is lay a hot wet towel on your face for a few minutes before shaving, or shave right after a shower. Otherwise I cut myself something fierce.
I have a very heavy beard growth, too. I like to be clean-shaven, but the hair explodes out of my face like the little people in the Play-Do Barber Shop (Remember that? That was awesome.)
I tried electric razors and I think they suck ass. I never got a close enough shave, and I find they really irritate my skin.
Mr. Kinsey should experiment with different shaving creams, and make sure you LEAVE THEM ON AWHILE! Shaving cream that’s been on your face for five seconds is about as effective as cream of wheat. Ensure the face is wet and moistened - right after a shower is definitely the best time - and then use the cream, leaving it on for at least 2, 3 minutes, then shave.
Also, I use two different blades; “Mach 3” blades for most of my face (expensive, but they last a little longer) and smaller disposable blades to get the top lip. And I still have to shave twice a day.
Well Norelco offers the money-back after 21 days for both the Advantage (with the lotion), or the Quadra Action. You have to mail it to Norelco directly, and they send you a check. Just save the receipt.
I bought the Advantage and I love it, don’t expect super smoothness though, especially on the neck. It’ll look nice, and the cheeks will be soft, but under the chin will feel a little stubbly (like end of day after a blade shave).
I also saw a new Remington commercial that offered the same money-back guarantee as the norelco. You can’t go wrong with the guarantee. So it’s probably worth a try. I imagine they honor the returns, especially since they say you can return it if you don’t like it.
Chalk me up as another shower-shaver. For me, it’s the only way to go. My skin is soft and I don’t carve it up like I would if I shaved after I got out of the shower. Less razor burn, too.
Yep, that’s MrKinsey, too. Italian with that heavy growth…but losing it on top of his head!
I have often tried to tell him to shave in the shower. Seems like the steam would work better than anything. He just likes shaving in front of the sink mirror for some reason. I do know he slops a little shaving cream on and shaves right away…I have told him that he needs to let it “set” a little, but he is [Italian stereotype]very hard-headed and set in his ways.[/Italian stereotype]
Thanks for all the replies. I think it would be rather gross to return a used razor, but if Norleco says I can, then fine. Maybe I will try it.
Yet another shower-shaver. If he refuses that, try a good razor (not a disposable) and a hot-foam brush; you can get them pretty much anywhere. I’m currently using a Mach3, and find I don’t have to double shave with the triple blade.
Double shaving, BTW, which I only do on special occasions, is when you shave once going with the grain (down), and then a second time going against (up). Leaves even the roughest face feeling as smooth as a stripper’s…I mean a baby’s bottom
Yep, shaving in the shower is the only way to go. After a while, you don’t even need a mirror - you can do it by touch.
The Mach 3 is a great razor. It never nicks, and you can get a good two weeks out of every blade (longer, if your wife doesn’t hijack it for her legs :))
I used to shave with a disposable razor. I’ve been using a Braun for 10 years now.
I will never go back to disposables, they are time consuming, messy, can’t stop in the middle to talk, I get little nicks each time even with new blades.
The electric doesn’t shave as close, but I don’t really care anymore. It’s more convenient. This is my 4th Braun. I have the new synchro that’s being advertised, it comes with a base unit that you can plug in and it self cleans. Seems to work well.
I tried Norelco once, but like the manual says, it takes a while for your beard or skin to get used to it and my skin didn’t like it, so I returned it. Norelco uses rotary blades and for some reason it just didn’t work for me.
My beard grows relatively fast and thick, but due to either laziness or a girlfriend who likes to rub stubble on my cheeks and chin, I shave approximately every five to seven days. However, by virtue of waiting this long, it does make shaving a bit more of an ordeal than it was when I shaved daily. (Also, I’ve got a scar on the underside of my chin from falling off a bike when I was younger, and that gets nicked every time I shave. I hate it.)
What works for me (and YMMV, as indicated by the wide range of advice already given) is to shave immediately after getting out of the shower, and while in the shower, letting the hot water hit my face and neck for a few minutes. I use Gilette’s Mach 3 as well (for no particular reason, I guess. Is it really different from the Sensor, or the Sensor Excel, or the future Mach 4 or 5 or 6? Eh. Much like computers, guys need the latest in shaving technology, I guess.)
I tried an electric, but it wasn’t close enough for my tastes. Though I do prefer stubble, when I shave, I want my skin to be as smooth as a baby’s bottom.
(I still can’t tell why that should be a compliment. Isn’t it saying that the person is either infantile or asinine?)
I would also like to join the chorus against electric razors. To me, they don’t shave well, and cause a lot of skin irration, even if you use a pre-shave.
I like Colgate Irish Spring scent shaving cream, and an old-fashioned Gillette razor (just had to get a new one, the last one I had was 54 years old, the razor, not the blade!). This is the kind of razor that uses the double-sided razor blades. Does a very close shave, with minimum nicks and cuts. I don’t wait for anything in the morning either, slap on the foam, shave, hit the road.
I hold no grudges against electric users, but they are to time consuming for me. Apparently the best results are obtained from an electric if you use it in your car while commuting to workJ
If you’re going to use a blade though, get a good one. Disposables don’t last, don’t work as well, and tend to nick more than a good quality razor. I can’t recall the name, but have seen a product for making your razor last longer. It is an oily liquid, you poor enough in a cup to cover the head of your razor. According to the product literature, most blade dulling is caused by microscopic corrosion on the cutting edge that starts forming after the first use. Maybe that could be useful if the electric doesn’t work out.
Well, after a lot of searching and testing and research, I finally settled on a straight razor a number of months ago. I got fed up with the high price of disposables, the cleaning and blade replacement of the electrics, and found that a straight razor gives a superiour shave, will last for many many years, and the only cost involved is a sort of high initial investment for a razor, strop, and honing stone. Compared to electrics, and disposables, you save a bundle in the long run.
There’s something to be said for using a straight razor nowadays… It takes you back to a time when the world was a bit quieter, and a man had time to spend a few minutes in the morning shaving.
The only thing worse than shaving is being unshaven
My norml routine is that I don’t shave on the weekend, use a straight razor on Monday morning (double shave) and then an electric for the rest of the week.
I like the idea of shaving in the shower and have tried it. But I’m nearly as blind as a bat and can’t seem to get the hang of either shaving without glasses or with then and fogging up! If there is a trick to it, I’d appreciate learning it!
