Tips and tricks for shaving: what can you suggest?

Forums › Health and fitness › Tips and tricks for shaving: what can you suggest?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

1907 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 305

#679509 30-Aug-2012 23:04

Electric for me. I use a Philips electric shaver and find it to be OK.

I don't get the closest cut, but I also use trimmer for side-burns, so anything the philips misses, I catch with the trimmer.

1eStar

1604 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 375

#680231 1-Sep-2012 22:01

I've been shaving for over 20 years and still feel like I'm learning. At this stage I blade shave about three times a week and electric philishave the rest of the week. My skin can't handle the blade every day, don't worry I've tried too many times to do better. I currently use the latest 5 blade gillette safety with primal earth gel and for best results must be in a hot shower: with the grain, across the grain then finally against the grain, and mine grows in many directions including up down and sideways. If I use a mirror I tend to cut myself, best to go by Braille. If I had to describe my whisker in art terms, I'd say a stiff bristle on a soft palette.

Linuxluver

5833 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1639

Trusted

Subscriber

#680295 2-Sep-2012 09:59

qwerty7: I am 22 but yet to master shaving to a point where I am satisfied.
Razor blades are blimmin expensive annoying things to buy and as much as you try and stretch them out they only really last up to 3-4 shaves. Which sucks if you shave every 1 or 2 days.
I must have sensitive skin or something under my chin because it is not uncommon to find bleeding cuts under my chin after shaving no matter how much care i take. Shaving after hot shower with warm water, shaving foam 'for sensitive skin', with the grain then against doesn't seem to make a difference still get cuts.
I have tried single blade disposables (crap), mach3 (non turbocharged) and Schick quattro titanium.
I have been thinking about single bladed safety razors. I do not know anything about them, how does the blade cost compare? where is a good place to buy them from (blades and / or razor)?
I have heard some people shave with oil maybe i should try that. Shave cream for sensitive skin seemed to make no difference at all and i feel like I am just buying hyped up over-marketed products. The packaging which tries looks like some high tech piece of equipment produced by nasa is an indicator.
Looking for tips, tricks and experiences.

When blades hit $20 for a 5 pack that doesn't last 2 weeks, I worked out I would be spending $400 / year on blades.

No. Not happening.

I bought a Philips electric shaver 4 years ago. That was the last money I spent on shaving. The trick with electric shavers is to read the instructions and gently pull the shaving heads across your face. This way they cut the hair and less likely to cut your face. As the hairs are shortened, the shave gets closer...and you just stay relaxed and don't push the heads into your skin. This is what causes abrasion and the 'rash". Like anything....technique is important and the shaver I bought made it clear what the best technique was....and - I'll be damned - they were right. I suspect many bad experiences with electric shavers are due to not reading the manual or bad technique arrived at by other means. A daily shave will take about 3 minutes. If you only shave every 2-3 days....then expect it to take longer.

I also bought some hair clippers for $29 at Farmers at the same time. A 2 comb on the top and a 1 on the sides. That was the last money I spent on haircuts.

So far, I reckon I've saved about $1600 in blades ($20 / fortnight for 4 years) and $600 in haircuts ($17 every 6 weeks for 4 years).

The Gillette / Schick global cartel ripping us off for blades on handheld razors needs to have their rort ended. Do not give them your money. Those blades (made in China) can't cost more than 10 cents each...and no way should we be paying $4 each for wee bits of plastic with cheap, fast-rusting waste-metal blades that can't give you 5 shaves.

I avoid disposables. The BIC ones are designed to dig trenches in your face and leave you scarred for life. Don't go there.

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been on Geekzone over 16 years..... Time flies....

mjb

996 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 67

Trusted

#680328 2-Sep-2012 10:55

LookingUp: networkn: I don't disagree about the "closer" shave with a couple of days of growth, but my skin certainly notices a couple of days off, and is significantly more sensitive for the next few days afterwards.

Same old "Everybody's different" applies here - I agree with networkn, and find that a 2 day cycle works best. Everyday really really aggravates my skin and I'm a bundle of rashes.

Linuxluver: That was the last money I spent on haircuts.

Heh.. when I go for a haircut, I go for the scalp massage during the shampooing, not the actual cutting!

contentsofsignaturemaysettleduringshipping

qwerty7

434 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 12
Inactive user

#680916 3-Sep-2012 15:48

Do people find electric shavers don't work as well if hairs are longer. Since starting this thread 'not looking forward to shaving was in my mind'. So I went a few days without, only to have a terrible shave.
After seeing the shaving oil comment I wondered if olive oil was a whole lot different, a quick Google had me convinced to try it, terrible idea. My brand new quattro blade felt blunter than my old one. I stopped half way through and finished with the electric (braun) was not really working for me either. I swear my hairs are pretty coarse (this was after hot shower + wetting face with hot water). I could never go full time electric but it is good to have around. Anyway in the end i thought it would be quicker and easier to use the side-burn trimmer on the back, which it was. So I did that and then finished with the blade again.

Anyway next on the list to try is king of shaves gel + feather safety razor. May try 'proper' shaving oil sometime too.

openmedia

3449 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 878

Trusted

#680941 3-Sep-2012 16:23

I'm using schick quattro disposable razors. Generally I get a 3 pack for about $10 on offer.

I shave daily except at weekends where I might have a day off, and always use a good gel and very hot water just after I've had a shower.

Typically I get 6-10 weeks per blade. It can vary a bit from blade to blade.

Cheaper triple blade razors are lucky to last 2 weeks so the extra cost is soon covered. I probably spend far more on shave gel etc than blades.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

1eStar

1604 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 375

#681071 3-Sep-2012 22:57

Re Electric shavers, rotary is quicker and more effective on long stubble, linear supposedly gives a closer shave but struggles with length. I have both, but get a quick close-enough shave especially after a shower with the rotary philishave so use that by default.

mattwnz

20515 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4797

#681078 3-Sep-2012 23:32

1eStar: Re Electric shavers, rotary is quicker and more effective on long stubble, linear supposedly gives a closer shave but struggles with length. I have both, but get a quick close-enough shave especially after a shower with the rotary philishave so use that by default.

The braun premium ones have a sort of trimming thing in the middle that gets the longer hairs. I find the philips rotary one hopeless for longer hairs, and this is a $400 philips one too. So I would rate philips 5, and braun a 8 or 9 . The downside of the braun is that is is loud and vibrates quite a bit, while the philips is very quiet. I think the braun has a far stringer motor in it. I think the philips are slightly underpowered.

mudguard

2327 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1250

#681399 4-Sep-2012 18:04

I've read the the last three pages, but does anyone get a rash from the electrics?
I've got a ten year old triple headed thing from Phillips, I tried for a month to use it, but was always left like my neck was on fire.
So for the last ten years, blades, which I'm fine with.
But wondered if there was a difference between the rotary and foil type? I realise you can't really try before you buy, but am sick of buying blades and foam.

Cymro

283 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 8

#681408 4-Sep-2012 18:44

I picked one of these up in the UK about 2 months ago

http://www.razorpit.com/

It actually works pretty well, I've been using the same Fusion turbo head for 2 months and it's still as sharp as it was the first time, although the moisturising strip has all gone.

Had some Lush shaving lotion randomly given to me last Christmas, it was very good at moisturising at the same time as doing the job of shave foam/gel.

1eStar

1604 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 375

#681511 4-Sep-2012 21:38

Worn electric shavers are as bad as worn safety blades for skin irritation. I tend to get two to three years out of a foil shaver (Braun) or rotary heads for Philips. Always replace the cutter and foil at same time. You can attempt to sharpen them, some recommend running in Brasso or toothpaste. But I never saw any improvement from home sharpening. The Shaver shop in Pitt st Auckland has parts for razors, I've got various bits from them over the years.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

Obraik

2167 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1347

#681561 4-Sep-2012 23:32

I have a Phillips electric and I don't have any concerns with the closeness of it. You can't just start on an electric shaver and expect the same results as a blade though. It takes 3-4 weeks for your skin/hair to adjust/configure to the electric way. During that time the hair will probably be left longer than you're used to.

I much prefer electric over blades as it takes away a lot of the time spent prepping to shave and you can do it at anytime as you don't need cream/water. Caters well to my laziness when it comes to shaving!

Looking to buy a Tesla? Use my referral link and we both get credits

networkn

Networkn
32868 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15460

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#681714 5-Sep-2012 12:11

3deals has 3 x 4 Packs of Mach3 blades for $34 which makes them $2.85 each, not bad value.

Linuxluver

5833 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1639

Trusted

Subscriber

#681947 5-Sep-2012 18:09

mudguard: I've read the the last three pages, but does anyone get a rash from the electrics?
I've got a ten year old triple headed thing from Phillips, I tried for a month to use it, but was always left like my neck was on fire.
So for the last ten years, blades, which I'm fine with.
But wondered if there was a difference between the rotary and foil type? I realise you can't really try before you buy, but am sick of buying blades and foam.

I found rashes are most often the result of pressing the shaving head too hard against your skin. It really should be a very light touch at first, getting the hairs and not your skin, and then gradually let it rest more completely against your skin. I sort of go by both the sound made and the amount of vibration generated by hitting stubble versus skin.

Maybe that's too subtle for some....but it seems to work for me. I don't get rashes.

Clean blades help. Blades infested with bacteria may cause minor inflamation. I flush my blades with very hot tap water after each and every use.

I'm really just parroting the user manual on these matters. I found it works well.....though it can be difficult to resist digging into your face with the edge of the shaving surface as one might do with a blade razor. But once you stop doing that, it works really well (for me). More than close enough.

Also...shave every day. It's so much faster and easier.

Put your red/cyan 3D glasses on and see my clean-shaven electric razored face in my avatar in all it's electrified glory. :-)

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been on Geekzone over 16 years..... Time flies....

qwerty7

434 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 12
Inactive user

#685173 12-Sep-2012 20:26

After trying with olive oil again I cannot really tell the difference to the sensitive shave gel I was using before. Before, most shaves seemed to give me a bit of bleeding under the chin, now I get none or very very little. After trying olive oil again I can say the only reason it sucked the first time i tried it was because my beard was nearly 1cm long.

Anyway I am thinking of buying this ..

http://www.mancave.co.nz/products/shaving/razors/safety-razors/muhle-r89-safety-razor

Any suggestions / opinions?

this is my first safety razor + I think i have sensitive skin plus reasonably coarse / stiff beard hair. My beard is certainly not soft, shaving after it has grown somewhat..sucks! I was looking at the cheaper plastic handle feather one but from hours of browsing comments and reviews people say it is more a travel razor and not a full-time razor. I am one to do things once and properly and anyway if this whole safety razor idea turns to custard and i run back to my Schick I can always put my new safety razor on trade-me.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5