Shaving Tips For Guys..

[Guest Linus Thomas]

Ok. So I figured it might be a good idea to have some grooming (shaving) tips for the guys. And I'm curious as to what options y'all will choose to keep those beards or faces in check.

I'm leaning towards a straight-edge or old-fashion double-edge. My aunt's fiancee got me a synthetic brush (since I'm vegan) and shaving soap to lather with (it's so great! nice and warm on the face). I already have vegan cologne.

What about the rest of you? Clean shaven? beard? goatee? Variation?

What about hints and gotchas?

[Guest Evan_J]

Although right now I'm having one of those "I wonder exactly what will happen if I don't shave" segments..... An old fashioned double edged. I figure if it "worked" for my grandfather the odds are good it will "work" for me. I bought a straight edge though later but only for the sake of having it; I have a vintage thing.

[Guest bronx]

Well as for me I would prefer to be clean shaven it's a lot less hastle trying to keep a beard looking fresh and trimed, however if I do that I look a lot younger than I am. I started growing a beard by my first year on T and it's getting thicker as the months go by. (I grow a full beard now) So what I do is I give myself options- sometimes I let it all grow in which takes about 2 weeks and then I line it up going around my face, sometimes I shave off everything but my mustach, or lately I've been sporting a gotee. I find it a little easier to keep up with.

I get razor bumps, not alot but some so I use a shaving gel made by Aveeno it helps alot with preventing bumps and it makes my skin baby soft. I use the mach3 razor and I find that it works the best for me. It doesn't feel like my hairs are being pulled when I shave.

[Guest Sergei]

I really want to experiment, so I'm really looking forward to my beard getting to the stage that can do that. I know it sounds crazy, but I really want to try a handle bar moustach or someother more old fashioned looks. Not long now, and I reakon I'll be into my experimental phase!

[Guest Drew]

well, i'm pretty much broke right now so i just use cheap drug store razors ...not so great, i wouldn't recommend it...at all.

all through high school i did some weird things with my facial hair (full beard, playoff beard, porn 'stache etc) but i had to shave it all off for grad and now i work at a job where we're supposed to keep the facial hair to a minimum if we must have it, so i just stay clean shaven (which sometimes leads to the very un-professional hungover look if i don't have time to shave).

[Guest Crossroads]

Well, I'm not shaving yet, but I love gadgets. I'll probably get the most high tech-y, cool-looking things I can. Hopefully cool-looking is equivalent to works good.

We'll probably be spending a lot of money........

(I've been going into stores like, "Can I get it?" And Angie just has to say "Not yet...not yet.")

[Guest StrandedOutThere]

I have just enough beard growth to be scratchy in places, but not enough to really see. I'm thinking I am just going to quit shaving any of it to see what emerges. It's hard to get a hair count when I have to shave my 'stache for school. Since I'm not teaching this semester, I don't have to worry about scaring the kiddies. I'm out to all the other grad students, so it's scruffy time!!

Seriously though... I really have no clue about the "rules" of shaving, just some general guidelines. You know...shave down, not up... stuff like that.

[Guest Evan_J]

Seriously though... I really have no clue about the "rules" of shaving, just some general guidelines. You know...shave down, not up... stuff like that.

I'll tell you what I know.

• Always use something thats meant for shaving to shave; gel, foam, shaving soap-somethin'
  
• Always use hot water or a hot cloth on your face if you can before hand -it helps soften the hairs and gives a better shave.
  
• Always shave with the grain. Some folks do a first-pass agianst, and then with wth the grain (some guys who say they can' get a close enough shave), but from what I can tell thats an invitation to razor bumps, instead try a better or sharper razor and add the warm-hot cloth or water.
  

For anything more you'll have to ask someone else

[Guest Stuv]

-Softening the hairs with hot water or a hot cloth is excellent advice - the more hair your razor catches on, the more likely it is to catch on something else, like your face! The easiest way I've found to do this is simply to shave in the shower; don't worry about clogging your drain, you can use nair to clean it out.

-Go in stages. Using a fresh, sharp razor on a full beard, or even a few day's stubble is just throwing your money away. I use hair trimmers at the closest setting, then a razor, going with the grain and then against, if I'm really trying to get close.

-Baby-smooth isn't always the best. Shaving daily can take its toll on sensitive skin, so don't be afraid to leave a little roughness to avoid what can be seriously nasty-looking (and -feeling) razor burn. But when doing this, try to get smooth in at least one direction, and evenly. Little patches that can't really be seen can sneak up on you and make for an unusual surprise for your SO.

Oh and hello, I'm Zabrak's bf

[Guest Crossroads]

Still haven't convinced Angie to get that super expensive razor.

Thanks for the advice, and welcome, Stuv!

[Guest Evan_J]

.....hello, I'm Zabrak's bf

Well hello Stuv !! Welcome.

[Guest April63]

I've been using a Gillette Fusion. 5+1 blades. The blades are a tad expensive, but the only other razor I've used was a 2 blade disposable. This one is way better.

Um let's see... Shave up or down? The hair on your face grows down, so shaving with the grain would be shaving down. This generally works fine for most of your face, but the hairs on your neck sometime are a problem. So you can shave up on those neck hairs to keep them smooth. Razor bumps? Yes, but no. Yes at first, but your skin should get used to shaving over time, and they should go away.

I've never done the softening hairs thing, so I can't really comment on it. Except that it isn't required perhaps. Shave with hot water or cold water? I haven't noticed any difference, except for a hotter or colder razor (yes, I love stating the obvious).

You'll want shaving cream. If you're only doing some touch ups on the sides (after shaving, and not the chin!) some water is generally good enough. The chin is a little tricky since it's all round and all, so use the cream, or you'll probably cut it.

Styling wise, I don't see full beards that often. Sometimes a mustache works, but it seems like most guys are clean shaven. I've always been clean shaven, so yeah. Girls do tend to like a little stubble, so you don't have to shave every day if you want that look. But otherwise, shave it!

Hmm, well that's about all I can think of from my great encyclopedia of manhood things, lol. Can't think of a good name. Maybe it's called being born male, I don't know. Just here to help you guys out, not make you jealous

April

[Guest YaManShane]

Im not growing too much hair right now. The only thing thats on my face right now is what was there pre-T. Since Im trying to grow some hair now, Im not shaving at all. But when I was shaving at one point, which was only under my neck, I used right guard shaving cream and a plastic razor, the ones that come in the pack. I dont know of any other types of razors. What are some others? Since I got some bumps under my neck my doc told me to buy a better non-disposable razor, and wash my face with dial gold soap directly after I shaved. I havent tried it yet becuase i havent been shaving under my neck i want it to grow fully like Bronx's lol

[Guest Magan]

If you like the stubbly appearance, I recommend using the beard trimmer found on most electric shavers. Once you get used to it you can maintain that 2 to 3 day growth look in under a minute. That is what I used to do. It is nice and fast , very handy if you tend to sleep in late like I do.

Just practice some before you try going to fast! Those beard trimmers can cut.

[Guest Martin]

I used to shave. Sometimes I used official products, sometimes I used olive oil (it works great, by the way, and isn't as irritating to the skin). I haven't shave in a long, long time though. I got tired of it and tired of being called the wrong pronouns. I did have a friend trim my beard though because she said it was irritating her that the hairs weren't all the same length. My look isn't the most professional, but hey, I'm a college student. It works.

[Guest Stuv]

Thanks for the warm welcome, you two The advice here all seems pretty sensible, as for softening, well, I'm really a fuzzy guy and the beard can get sort of tough, so little things like that can add up and make the experience more pleasant. That and personally my skin's never toughened up properly so I have to be extra careful.

@Shane: Aside from shaving cream, there are gels, and of course the old-fashioned soap+brush situation like Linus shared. Like Bronx, I use gilettes (mach3, mach3 turbo, mach3000beardkillerZX) and have since I started. bf prefers the gruff though so I let it grow whenever he tells me to.

[Guest SamTheMan]

I'm like a week into my transition and just shaved for the first time. All I have is ladies shave gel and ladies razors but it got off my large amounts of peach fuzz and then I slapped on some moisturizer. So far so good. And no nicks either. I was expecting at least one little cut, lol.

[Guest shadowhawk]

I just want some stubble and maybe a little patch under my lip. I wanna look like this yummy muffin http://www.shortfilmfestival.tv/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/f9db5_2012prev560w-HobbitKiliLooKbig1.jpg

[Guest ShortyT]

Old topic, but I'll play.

I love me my Gilette Fusion ProGlide Power. dang that's a fancy name for a razor. XD I usually shave in the shower, I find it more practical. I only shave about three times a week, I like the look and feel of some stubble. I also always go with the grain, as I don't want that perfectly close shave.

[Guest leo]

I have that one shortyT! I shave once a week currently, I'm pre T but after a week my mrs says she can feel stubble so I shave. I just use warm water first, shaving gel and go with the grain. Cut above my lip some times, but considering I'm pre T not bad I have to shave once a week. I start T in 12 days! So excited!

[Guest ranse]

Even pre-T, I have enough scratchy stubble on my chin that I have to shave it daily. I use a Gillette Fusion and Neutrogena shave cream. I sometimes follow up with Burt's Bees shave balm or Pinaud Clubman aftershave.

I finally got the prescription for T and am curious to see whether I can grow a beard. If I can grow one, I may scour the antique stores for a vintage safety razor since the blades are much cheaper and the shave is closer according to my Dad. Plus, I like the ritual of the shave soap and all of that. (Sure, as a girl, I couldn't be bothered with grooming rituals, but in boy mode? V is for vanity.)

[Guest Lupi]

I haven't shaved yet, but I've been thinking about it recently. I might hold off until I tell my Dad incase he wants to teach me, but idk if I can wait that long since idk if I'll ever end up telling him. I want to, but who knows how he'd re-act! And Mum's 'support' hasn't exactly been a nudge in that direction...

[KieranD]

I rarely shave (once every other month?) and don't have much growing in that's visible from a reasonable distance. So, not really much going on there.

I used to use shaving soap and a boar's hair brush but the bristles kept falling out.

Now I just use regular foam and a mach 3. I exfoliate before I shave...tend to do it in the shower and save it as the last thing I do so my pores are nice and open. I go with the grain (in the direction my hair grows) and tend to do my upper lip first because it's tough to get at and is really soft. then cheeks/jawline, then chin, then underside of my chin/neck. My chin and neck have the thicker hairs, by saving them for last they have more time to soak. If I rub my face an feel unsatisfied, I'll lather up and go another round.