How To Shave/hide Facial Hair

[Guest Jo-I-Dunno]

I'm 18 and I'm not very good at shaving. Every time I do it, my face burns and bleeds and there's still some light stubble visible. I've found the only way to avoid this is wait a few days between shaves when the hair is longer and easier to cut.

I've done everything I can think of. In the shower, right after shower, completely seperate from a shower. With shaving cream, with soap, with just water, with a dry face. It's awful. Nothing works.

What should I do about this? I'm not about to cover my face in makeup to hide my facial hair.

[Guest Eth]

I hope this gets some good answers. I too have the same problem a lot.

愛 Eth

[Guest viv]

Hi Joe,

I found using slightly hot water **not too hot**to really soften the hair

for a moment or two does the trick . There is a heavy duty foundation on

the market for covering 5 o clock shadow, someone here will know the name

to look for. Dont worry ,there is a "fix" , the advice you need will come . viv

[Guest Katrina_Carter]

It is next to impossible to hide the skin tone difference between where you shave and where you don't. The reason being that the hair is still there below where a razor can get it. In order to get rid of it you need electrolysis or laser hair removal. I have heard of a few orange color foundations that work fairly well also.

That being said, first thing you should do is check the pinned topics for shaving tips. The short version is use as cold of water as you can stand. Shave after your shower, not before. Shave gel works best, I personally like the Edge shave gel with moisturizers or the one for sensitive skin. I also prefer a 4 blade razor for closeness, some people use 5, the disposable single blades I never liked. Go with the natural grain on your face, going against the grain tends to irritate the skin though it produces a closer shave. When you finish apply moisturizer. Everyone has their favorite, I prefer Olay Body Quench, because I can use it all over. I have heard not to use petroleum based moisturizers because they take the natural moisture out of your skin after extended use, but aside from burt's bees I have not found any other decent non-petroleum based ones.

The irritation will go away with time, and the bleeding will stop as you get used to shaving. As a personal thing my hair grows so slow I only need to shave every 36 to 48 hours, it takes over 24 to even begin to be able to feel it with your hands on my face, but I still shave daily unless I am lazy and stay home all day on a day off. Your hair growth may be faster or slower so you may need to shave more often or less, but I still recommend doing it daily just to keep up with it and if you're anything like me to feel better about yourself.

[Guest foxy]

I've had the same problems, but i found going with the direction the hair is growing when its really short helps, it takes off just enough to not be visible, but if you rub against the flow you can still feel it, so.. might not want too kiss any one or the cat will be out of the bag

[Guest i is Sam :-)]

no matter how close a shave i have, I still look like I have a 5 o'clock shadow, and I haven't been able to find a way to hide it yet. but I have very dense, very thick, black facial hair. the best tip is to use a really, really good razor. I have a fusion but I still prefer my mach 3, be gentle the first time with a new blacde tho, because they're so sharp it'll cut you to pieces.

[Guest viv]

Sam,

I know a trans woman who had exactly the same face hair as you ,

very thick and black. Laser made short work of the beard as its at its best

on black fuzz, the result , baby face, honestly. viv

[Guest NatashaJade]

Don't press too hard, either. If you find you're cutting and getting irritated a lot, use a gel, use a fresh razor and take your time. You aren't going to shave the shadow away. Just get it smooth and then find a good foundation to cover it (and use lotion after wards to moisturize! If you're getting a lot of irritation, use something aloe based or medicated).

Good luck!

Gin

[Guest AiAmAngel]

WOOOOOAAAAAH! SHAVE?! NOOOOO!

wax or pluck, shaving will just cut it off from the skin out for maybe a few hours. Waxing & tweezing take the hair OUT and cause damage to the follicle which eventually slows hair regrowth, hurt less if at all after a while, and makes the hairs that grow back thin enough to be easily covered with concealer.

[Guest Miss Aeryn]

Covering beard shadow?

Great question. In the case of shaving and covering beard shadow, well what works for me? Let me introduce you to 2 of my workhorses.

Styptic pencil - essential. Found at most pharmacies. Did I say essential? A god send for needing to close slight nicks and cuts from shaving before applying facial make-up. Since to achieve a very close shave you need to shave once with the grain and once against it, and a couple of nicks is par. Although now I usually don't need it anymore, still critical piece of kit.

Cheap as pink/red lipstick. What these babies do, at least for me, is save me the expense of spendingsome stupid amount of money on theatrical makep which usually is the classical answer in how to hide beard shadow. Even with my income the expense is not justified, when for $4 or so I can use lippy.

The theatrical makeup has the slang 'Indian Makeup' in the entertainment/fashion industries because it is a deep orange. Politicians, actors, whoever is on camera; they need to hide their beard shadow as well. They call the effect Blue Beard, due to the pigmentation effect. What the 'Injun Makeup' does is cover the blue, so that when the primer and foundation goes on it is going over orangey/red/pink instead of blue/black.

And that is where the lipstick comes in. Jump in the shower, or stick your head over a basin full of hot water with a towel over you for 3-4 minutes, to help open up your pores (and soften the hair), shave twice (with and against grain) as well per the posts above, apply styptic pencil if needed, moisturize, wait 5 or 10 min depending on your room temperature for your skin to absorb it, then grab the lippy.

Dab on the lipstick like you've got light measles onto the beard area you need to cover. With a makeup wedge/foam or even a couple of fingers work it into your skin (and into the grain) until you look rather silly, then grab some tissues and blot the whole area dry. (Me, I only have to do my upper lip, but what I've learnt should work for the whole beard area too.)

Then conclealer if needed under eyes, primer over whole face, foundation, etc. etc. You'll need to apply at least 2 maybe three layers of light-ish foundation over the lippy - the key here is trial and error. Practice. Find out what works for you. 2 layers then powder? 1 layer, then powder, then 2nd, then powder? Or maybe you need 3? Or just one? Practicising is good regardless. Make-up like any other creative art is an unconquerable mountain. You're always learning.

I would highly recommend just doing one half as your face as well. One side you regular/normal approach (the one maybe that is driving you mad lol) and one using the lipstick method. And it took me at least six or seven goes to perfect it.

This technique may not work for everyone. For me it works marveously. My beard hair is copper red, but still has blue pigmentation. Laser does not work for me, as the laser light goes straight through reddish pigmentation. Besides, I personally don't like laser anyway due to the cooking effects on your skin layers, so I'm current 1/4 the way through electrolysis. And it's more permanent to boot.

$4 cheap orange/red/pink lipstick vs $35/40 Max Factor PanSticks?

x Aeryn

[Guest SusanKG]

Probably good advice in the above posts. As for me, I shave right after a shower or good face wash with soap and water. Wet face 2 or 3 times and apply shave cream liberally, allow to soak 2 or 3 minutes, use fresh blade, apply light to moderate pressure shaving downward until all face areas have been covered, rinsing blade after each pass. Rinse face and during rinse check all areas for missed spots. Re-apply shave cream, allow to soak, shave entire face again, lightly to moderately in different direction then first time (upward or across if first shave was downward). Rinse and again check for missed whiskers, touch up if need be.

Most scrapping and cuts come from worn blades or too much pressure or across bumps. Bleeding can be stopped with a stypic (I believe) pencil, a white chalky stick that stops all but major blade attacks. I find them at Walmart, either near shaving supplies or in cosmetics, you may need to ask. Don't shave without one handy! When finished shaving and first aid, apply a moisterizing face lotion - I use Dove, comes in a little bottle, but does not take much, and smells soooo much better than any traditional after-shave. I didn't want to smell like an Aqua-Velva man even when I was trying to be one.

And, it's just like getting to Carnegy Hall, Practice - Practice - Practice.

SusanKG

[Guest Anna_Banana]

I don't seem to have your issue shaving my face, but I have that exact issue shaving my legs. However, this is how I cover beard shadow:

First, if you don't like Wal-Mart, start liking it. Unless of course you have lots of money to purchase from MAC or a similar company. Next, you'll need a few items.

Concealer: I've personally been using a stick concealer. It's cheap (about $1.50) and easy to apply. Rub it on the dark areas of your skin. Then smooth it slightly (but not enough that the shadow shows through). This will cover the shadow so that other make-up can do their jobs.

Foundation: You decided what type of foundation suits you. I started with liquid foundation and that's what I've been using ever since. Make sure to find one that is very close to your skin tone or you will look very odd. Apply it all over your face and over the concealer. If done right, the concealer and your shadow won't show through.

Pressed Powder: You are going to need pressed powder to prevent the shininess that the foundation has now caused. Get a thick, wide brush and apply the powder all over the areas you applied foundation. Make sure that the pressed powder also matches your skin tone or you will look really strange.

I'm sure others will say these aren't the best tips, but its what has been working for me. A great post was made in my "How to Look More Fem" topic, specifically on make-up. Check it out in the teen forum.

.Anna

[Guest sarah f]

Viv is correct in that laser hair removal is the only way to truly hide the stubble. I am in the process right now to remove all facial hair. If you are worried about the pain they have a cream to rub on your face about 2 hours before the procedure and it numbs the area. It is a little pricey but consider how much you spend a year in shaving materials. Hope this helps.

Love,

Sarah F

[Guest Nigh]

WOOOOOAAAAAH! SHAVE?! NOOOOO!

wax or pluck, shaving will just cut it off from the skin out for maybe a few hours. Waxing & tweezing take the hair OUT and cause damage to the follicle which eventually slows hair regrowth, hurt less if at all after a while, and makes the hairs that grow back thin enough to be easily covered with concealer.

I agree with this; if you don't have the money for laser or electrolysis the only option should be tweezing/waxing. Get rid of the bulk that way, then razor whatever little amount remains every morning.

[Guest Jo-I-Dunno]

Thanks for all the tips everyone.

I started shaving with the grain of the hair, not against it. It doesn't feel very smooth to the touch, but it looks the same and doesn't burn! I read somewhere that it sometimes helps to shave twice, first with the grain, second against it. I'll try that tomorrow morning and let you all know how it goes.

I really hate makeup but I guess I'll have to experiment some more. I'm looking into permanent removal but I hear that takes a year or so, and I really doubt I have the money. Who knows? I'm talking with some people at Howard Brown in Chicago and maybe they'll get me the hookup with some sliding-scale help or something.