Official: All Things Shaving Thread - Not URGENT

[bruschetta]

I've noticed that there's been a good deal of discussion on facial and body hair on the forums as of late. A few Dappered readers appear to be quite careless in their facial grooming habits, but apparently shave (or wax and pluck?) every hair from their body. Others follow the opposite extreme: they shave their face to a sheen, but leave a rug of hair on the body. The most common theme is a permanent 5 o'clock shadow on the face.


Let's compare our shaving habits:


1. What is your facial hair shaving and grooming routine?


2. What is your body hair shaving and grooming routine?

[trash]

Currently shave about twice a week, so I almost always have some facial hair going. I'm still working through a double-edge razor blade variety pack, but have a 100-pack of Astra blades waiting for when they run out. I really liked Feathers as well, but they're quite a bit more expensive. Hot towel for a minute or so, foam up some Proraso shave soap with a badger brush, then do a couple with-the-grain passes, one sideways, and occasionally a fourth to clean things up. All in all pretty time consuming, but worth it - little to no irritation, smoother skin, more fun

[bruschetta]

1. I use a Gilette Fusion Proglide (mentioned by Joe on the main dappered.com site) to shave my face. To my constant annoyance, my facial hair resembles copper wire in both density and texture. I go through a cartridge every two weeks.


I've purchased electric razors from Philips Norelco, Panasonic, Braun, and Remington. Each one lasted roughly 3-4 months before burning out. The Norelco razor lasted the longest at perhaps 6 months before the motor shorted and it began turning on and flinging itself around in jerking motors at random intervals. I tossed it. The Braun lasted almost as long, but the motor grew weaker to the point where the foil could no longer cut my hair due to a lack of friction.


2. Norelco body groomer. I trim. The no-body-hair-on-a-man style is thankfully a purely American fad.

[shad0w4life]

1. Depends on night time commiments etc. Not too worried about being clean shaven all the time. Hate having a full beard though, leads to red bumps. Prep is shower, make a lather, (wet face, shave) X 3, apply aftershave cream and fight the burning on neck. Using a double edge, I think I have decent technique but always get red bumps right on my neck in the middle for some reason, tried different creams/soaps & blades. Haven't touched a feather blade yet but I think I will soon, Derby, Merkur and Astra all have had same result roughly.


2. Whenever I think I might possibly be getting some or my nipple hair looks out of control(enjoy that visual!), I use a Philps BodyGroom(no way in heck am I using a DE razor downstairs). Use the length trimmer on dry hair, and then the close shave in shower with gel/soap, might use a cartrige razor to touch up.

[bremersm]

This is a timely post as I just bought new razors. I have always been a proponent of the refillable razors. I was using Gillette exclusively up until this weekend. I was at the store shopping and saw that they had Schick Quattro Titanium on sale for $7. This was for the handle and 4 razors. I must say I am impressed. It is not as good as the Fusion ProGlide, but it is a better shave for the money.


For my body hair I wax my eye brows and give my under carriage a crew cut. I really need to pick up a new body groomer for down there.

[shad0w4life]

Shick hydro 5 > Fusion from my experience. I had the titanium 4 forever which was a great blade for how long it lasted.


Wouldn't your under carriage be more where the sun don't shine and not big jim and the two twins?

[jicarv]

1. Shave face daily in the shower using a fog free mirror from Target and the following products in order:

Jack Black Daily Facial Cleanser

Nancy Boy Signature Shave Cream

Gillette Fusion ProGlide Power Razor

Brave Soldier Code Blue

Jack Black Double-Duty Face Moisturizer


2. Shave chest/back/privates and trim legs/arms when needed (maybe monthly) using the following:

Philips/Norelco Bodygroom PRO

[tomservo]

1. I buzz my face every other day to keep a permanent stuble. Clean shaven is not a good look on me.


2. I trim the undercarriage and keep the chest in control. Shave pits and back.

[trash]

@tomservo what do you use for perma-stubble? Seems like most trimmers I've seen can't cut that close but maybe I just don't know how to use it right?

[ChrisW]

This should be renamed the TMI thread

[LesserBlackDog]

I shave about 3-4 times per week with a Merkur safety razor and Burt's Bees men's shave lotion. If I had darker hair I would probably have to shave daily, but my hair is so blond that a bit of stubble is only noticeable from up close. I've tried ordinary razors, electric razors, and safety razors, and I find the safety razor to be the most convenient by far (though it takes a bit more skill and attention than your garden-variety Gilette). I've done a bit of experimenting with warmup routines and have found they make little difference in terms of the closeness of the shave, razor burn, ingrown hairs, etc. These days I wet my face with lukewarm water, apply shave cream, and go.


As far as body hair goes, I do a quick trim every 3-4 weeks to prevent Neanderthal syndrome.

[bruschetta]

Thank you Dappered-ites for sharing your experiences.


shad0w4life, I also get those red bumps right in the middle of my neck. What a pain.


ChrisW, I created this thread to serve as a monument to your personal discomfort. I bask in the warm glow of your mortification. Ah. Ahhhh.

[shad0w4life]

Brusch; I'm going to try using COLD water post shower before shaving, I read that somewhere and apparently it works well, and I recall a video where the guy said lukewarm water, not hot water works better on your face for some reason.

[tomservo]

@Trash


Looks for something marketed as a "stubble trimmer" instead of a beard trimmer. I don't have this exact model but something like it. http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Norelco-Stubble-Moustach-Trimmer/dp/B003U8ESI4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1342735836&sr=8-4&keywords=stubble+trimmers+for+men


It has the guard for various lengths but it also has a stubble setting (basically, take the guard off) that will take you down to .5 mm.

[Redford]

Razor: Edwin Jagger DE89BL

Blade: Wilkinson Sword ($1.76 for 10 at Walmart)

Pre-shave oil: Secret Shave ($3.xx at Walmart)

Shave cream: C.O. Bigelow Shave Cream with Eucalyptus oil (Same as Proraso, I think I'd prefer it without the Eucalyptus oil)

Post shave: RazorRock alum, witch hazel, Nivea for Men Energy Double Action Balm


If I really don't want any little nicks or cuts then I use my Panasonic Arc IV electric razor. It shaves really close but I just like the process of DE shaving.


Body: Philips Norelco Body Groom