I’m about 18. I NEEd to shave at least every other day, but I hate it. It leaves my throat really raw, not cut, but just irritated.
I can’t grow a useful beard with the hair growming where it does.
What Can I do to make it hurt less?
I use a mach 3 razor with a shaving gel. I am too poor to get a decent electric…
Does aftershave help?
HAEELLp
“Mmmmm, Sacrilicious…” – Homer Simpson
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Try changing the gel - you may be sensitive to something in the one your using. I use soap and a brush. Also, make sure you’re using a blade that’s not worn out. And I’ll recommend trying a heavy handled razor, as opposed to the light plastic ones most common at drug and grocery stores.
I’ve tried a few different gels… nothing helps.
The handle is fairly heavy, it’s not a crappy plastic one, although what difference does it really make?
“Mmmmm, Sacrilicious…” – Homer Simpson
If you need a graphic solution, http:\ alk.to\Piglet
Keep in mind that you’re not only slicing off hairs when you shave, you’re scraping a wicked sharp scrap of metal across the relatively delicate skin on your face and neck. Maybe you just have extreme sensitivity to the scraping itself and not the lubricant, in which case you probably ought to save up for an electric.
Disputin, The Debauched One
1 a archaic : to make disloyal
b : to seduce from chastity
2 a : to lead away from virtue or excellence
b : to corrupt by intemperance or sensuality
Then what electric would y’all reccomend?
Is there a way I can take it for a test drive?
I don’t want to buy one and not like it…
If you’re not doing so already, take a hot shower BEFORE shaving; the steam works wonders softening up the beard thus making shaving easier. Believe me, I used to shave before showering and when I switched the difference was amazing.
“My hovercraft is full of eels.”
Well, my information on the science of shaving is a bit underused, since I have a full beard, but from back in my razor days:
The purpose of the shaving cream is to lubricate the skin (a few seconds of hot water is all that’s needed to soften the beard). I had a problem with sensitive skin plus a heavy beard. My solution was to use an old fashioned shaving mug. The soap in the mug is hot and it also has less air in it than shaving creams. It worked great for me.
“What we have here is failure to communicate.” – Strother Martin, anticipating the Internet.
Yup, these guys are right. Always shave AFTER your shower. Softens things up.
I myself started using a mug and brush and shaving soap about two months ago, after years of using canned shaving gels…the extra 30 seconds it takes to work up some lather and spread it into your beard is well worth it! My shaves have been much closer and more comfortable. And when the babes check out your medicine cabinet on mornings after, they will SWOON. Prolly ask you to do their legs.
You can soothe your chops with a little after-shave afterwards, too. I recommend good old-fashioned Witch Hazel. It does the trick, and you don’t smell like a French cathouse.
And stay away from electric razors. Electric razors are fer ferndocks.
Uke
Just echoing what these lot have said, I never, ever shave unless i’ve showered first. I’ve not found the variety of gels, foams or soaps to make much difference in terms of comfort. It is worth experimenting with the technique though, when I have to shave against the grain on my neck, I do it really slowly, otherwise it gets all red and sore.
Electric razors? Never, horrible things, won’t touch hairs of moderate leave your face feeling numb. Yack.
Try shaving while in the shower.
I agree with Crystalguy, shave in the shower. It takes some practice, though, but if you do cut yourself, well, it’s not such a mess.
Or you might try softening up the beard with some baby oil. Or mineral oil, which is the same as baby oil, but without the fragrance.
Electrics, however, can leave your skin even more irritated than a blade, and they’re a pain in the ass to clean. (I have a Remington)
Personally, I prefer the blade. I use the ‘sideburn trimmer’ on the electric to trim the long hairs in my van dyke.
“I drive way too fast to worry about my cholesterol.”
Yeah, I caught that, too, but I was going to leave him alone on that. I mean, 17 is almost 18.
One thing I used to do, back before I grew my beard (I had a job with a dress code that required that I be cleanshaven) was to use witch hazel as aftershave. It’s cheap, too. You should be able to get it at any decent drug store. It really helped reduce the amout of irritation quite a bit. Now, though, I use shave soap and a brush when I shave my neck (which I end up doing about two or three times a week).
You may also wish to try a different razor. The Mach 3 is advertised as shaving closer than others, but it sounds like it’s shaving too close. Try an Atra, which has two blades, and seems to shave a little less closely than a Sensor.
For electrics, I used a Norelco for a while. I found that it didn’t actualy work all that well unless I used it every single day. This means no getting lazy on your weekends or other days off.
A committee is a lifeform with six or more legs and no brain.
nicky & beatle:
I’m not exactly 1 because i have live slightly more than 18 years. I would say that one is only 18 on the day of one’s 18th burthday… or even, on the exact instant of one’s birth.
Besides it sounded right to say it that way.
“Mmmmm, 64 slices of American Cheeeeese” – Homer Simpson
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Sheesh.
D:
“I drive way too fast to worry about my cholesterol.”
another suggestion - make sure you’re applying only a small amount of pressure to the blade when you shave. Ideally, it should just glide over the skin.
also remember to shave with the grain. If you need a closer shave, do that first, then follow with a pass against the grain.
But where were the Spiders?
I have the same problem. So I grew a beard. However, I did shave for a while and this is my advice.
Shave in the shower. You’ll need one of those mirrors that attach between the shower head and the pipe, and run hot water behind the mirror to keep it from fogging. The only place I’ve ever seen it is at the Sharper Image; the only useful product carried by yuppieville. http://www.sharperimage.com/ProductDisplay.jsp?name=SE370
Shave with the grain. Generally this is top to bottom, but there’s a spot on my neck where the grain goes diagonally towards my throat. You won’t get as close a shave, but your skin won’t get torn up.
Give it some time. Your skin will toughen up over time.
Re: Electric Shavers-
I use one of them new fangled Noreclo Advantage electric razors (the one with the goo). It does a pretty good job of shaving… just make sure you shower before hand… it really does help (or put a nice warm–> hot towel on your face (not too hot of a towel though!)) A good site that has information on how to shave is http://www.learn2.com .
I also had a lot of razor burn when using the Mach 3… it may be shaving too close for your comfort… maybe you should downgrade to the other Gillette brand razors…
Just my 2 cents
andrew
If blades tear you up then an electric is probably your best bet. I’ve never heard much good about the tri-head Norelco things. I use a wet/dry Panasonic. It was only $50 and it works great. Although I never use it wet (the water & shaving cream just bog it down) the only way to clean an electric is with soap & water, so I highly recommend wet/dry ones.
I for one welcome our new insect overlords… - K. Brockman
Things not to use: