# Shaving is hard **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 19, 2011, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564 "2011-07-19T11:48:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/21 "2011-07-19T15:51:31Z")
I’ve been shaving my head for the past few weeks (long story). All of the above advice is good. Personally, I have settled on the Mach 3 Turbo. My regime: [ul] [li]Wash head and face.[/li][li]Apply hot, wet towels (from the microwave).[/li][li]Remove towels, apply shaving cream[/li][li]Reapply HOT towels over shaving cream, wait three minutes.[/li][li]Remove towels and cream[/li][li]Reapply shaving cream[/li][li]Shave. Rinse blade frequently in hot water[/li][li]Constantly feel shaved areas, reapplying cream and reshaving as needed[/li][li]Ice cold water rinse[/li][li]Thayers brand Witch Hazel[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/22 "2011-07-19T16:22:55Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > If you shave in the shower, you can use the spray from the shower head to clean stubble & soap out of the razor also. I shave in the shower as well. (One advantage is that it’s easy to get rid of stray bits of shaving cream on my face.) The problem I have is finding a decent shower mirror. I’ve been using supposedly fog-free plastic shower mirrors but eventually they build up a layer of something that obscures the reflection and then I have to replace the mirror. If I ever build a house, I’m installing a glass mirror in the shower with electric heat tape on the back to keep it from fogging. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/23 "2011-07-19T16:29:53Z")
I just give the mirror a quick swipe with a soapy hand. That prevents the mirror from fogging up. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/24 "2011-07-19T16:37:40Z")
Wow, **kayaker** , that’s a lot of work! I do only 4 of those steps, then a hot water rinse. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/25 "2011-07-19T16:58:52Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Wow, **kayaker** , that’s a lot of work! I do only 4 of those steps, then a hot water rinse. _But_ I enjoy it and my head is smoother than a babies ass.😃 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/26 "2011-07-19T17:02:38Z")
Oh, I don’t doubt it. But what’s the point of applying shaving cream then removing it? And how long does it take you? It takes me about 15 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/27 "2011-07-19T17:27:37Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Oh, I don’t doubt it. But what’s the point of applying shaving cream then removing it? And how long does it take you? It takes me about 15 minutes. Someone suggested the “two coats” of cream. When you wipe it off, you do not really get rid of it all, and you are reapplying more on top of a thin layer of slippery stuff. I don’t time it, but I’m guessing 20 minutes total. Quicker now that I bought a small used microwave for my bathroom.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/28 "2011-07-19T18:08:25Z")
I shave in the shower, using the Schick 2-blade razor with the doohickey between the blades. I shave most of my face by touch, and then clean up my sideburns after the shower. And I don’t shave against the grain. Across the grain is fine, but against the grain lies the path to perdition. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/29 "2011-07-19T18:29:45Z")
Or you could go to a straight razor. I did that for a while because I wanted to learn how to use one, but it’s a bit of a pain in the ass. Also I don’t use shaving cream or gel, I use the old school shaving mug and soap. It doesn’t give you a thick film of foam, just a nice lubricating coat for your whiskers. Plus, I like applying the soap with the brush. Feels awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/30 "2011-07-19T18:32:47Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > 1. Use a single-blade razor. Multiple-blade razors are more likely to trap gunk. > > 2. Use a less-gunky pre-shave product that’s easier to wash out, like shaving soap, instead of gel or foam. > > 3. Between strokes, rinse your blade and then clean out more of the gunk with a small towel (“shaving towel”) Good advice. I use a [shaving brush](http://www.amazon.com/Burma-Shave-Burma-Shaving-Brush/dp/B001272JCM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311099973&sr=8-1) instead of foam/gel you can tinker with the amount of water to get a looser foam that won’t be as sticky. I also bought a double edged razor, like Larry Mudd linked to, on eBay, for about $10. Vintage, but in perfectly usable shape. You can open the razor to rinse, which makes it very easy. One other thing you can do is get an old or cheap toothbrush to loosen the gunk when you rinse. I do that for the final rinse before putting it away, just to be sure it’s as clean as I can get it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/31 "2011-07-19T18:38:46Z")
> [@Shark\_Sandwich](#): > > Or you could go to a straight razor. Or, the ultimate in luxury, a hot towel straight razor shave by a barber. [Sixteen dollars (call it twenty with the tip) at Lefty’s Barbershop](http://leftysbarbershop.com/services.html).😃 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/32 "2011-07-19T18:44:16Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Or, the ultimate in luxury, a hot towel straight razor shave by a barber. I got that done a couple of times. It really was luxurious, and I hardly felt like I was about to get whacked. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/33 "2011-07-19T18:54:53Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > This is why I love the Mach 3 / Mach 5. The blades are open on back. Running water will dislodge nearly everything, and a few whacks will help anything worse. This bears repeating. A few years ago, I playfully let my girlfriend shave my face with my Mach 3. She took one swipe and then ran it under the faucet, face up, while rubbing with the blades with her thumb. I asked her what she was doing, and she said she was cleaning it out. I told her she was just pushing the gunk deeper into the razor. I showed her how the back is open, and all you need to do is run the back of the razor under the water. The water pushes the gunk back out the way it came (i.e. the front of the razor). I think a lot of gentlemen might not realize their razors have this feature. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/34 "2011-07-19T19:53:26Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > This bears repeating. […] I showed her how the back is open, and all you need to do is run the back of the razor under the water. The water pushes the gunk back out the way it came. This has been a standard feature of safety razors since about 1901. In addition to providing a better shave, blades will run you about 60¢ each if you want the primo ones, and if you have an easy beard you can get by with 20¢ blades. Cartridge razors are for suckers – $4.00 a blade, and they don’t last as long\* or\* work as well? If I’m going to budget that much on shaving, someone else better be doing the actual work. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/35 "2011-07-19T20:12:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I shave in the shower as well. (One advantage is that it’s easy to get rid of stray bits of shaving cream on my face.) The problem I have is finding a decent shower mirror. I’ve been using supposedly fog-free plastic shower mirrors but eventually they build up a layer of something that obscures the reflection and then I have to replace the mirror. It’s probably deposits from the water. Try washing the mirror with vinegar next time it gets bad, and see if it comes off. ---
**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/36 "2011-07-19T21:11:34Z")
I shave in the shower for all the reasons listed, but also because shaving in a sink creates an unholy mess of water and shaving cream and stubble. You have to balance your upper body just so to not have everything dripping down your chest. Rinsing takes forever in the sink. Never had the OP’s problem as my beard is pretty soft, but I did have a friend who claimed he could only use a razor once because his beard was so coarse it would dull the blade(s) after only one shave. He bought tons of the cheapest disposables he could find. ---
**Author:** ![curious11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac91a4/32.png) [@curious11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curious11)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/37 "2011-07-19T21:14:40Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I run into the same problem. Try Schick razors. They’re a good razor overall and they have a little button that pushes the hair out from between the blades. Yeah, I use Schick Disposables, way cheaper than the 3-4-5 blade cartridges and that little button is awesome. I used to have to whack the handle on the edge of the sink and now I don’t. There was also a staff report with some great tips from lip to chin. > **[Shaving seminar: (a) With the grain or against it? (b) Hot water or cold?](https://www.straightdope.com/21343245/shaving-seminar-a-with-the-grain-or-against-it-b-hot-water-or-cold)** > > A STAFF REPORT FROM THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD and good luck! ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/38 "2011-07-20T01:14:09Z")
> [@Dahnlor](#): > > “Some People” here. > > I disagree on the longevity of blades. As long as it’s kept dry between uses, it will last far beyond 5 shaves. I’m on just the 2nd or 3rd disposable 2-blade razor this year. I suspect you’re probably just used to having dull blades most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![JFLuvly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac91a4/32.png) [@JFLuvly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JFLuvly)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/39 "2011-07-20T01:31:06Z")
If you put some shampoo on your fingers and rub it on the mirror then rinse it off the mirror won’t fog up for about a week. This is an old hockey trick for keeping the visors on helmets from fogging up while playing. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564/40 "2011-07-20T05:00:59Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I suspect you’re probably just used to having dull blades most of the time. If they work, why does it matter? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-is-hard/589564.md?page=3)