Shaving

[Cozwin]

can anyone recommend a starter kit with like brush and w.e in it for cheapish.

[Rave]

I've had a ninja hard beard since I was 15...and I also have sensitive skin. I used a Philishave for a few years and it worked well enough, I could use it every day and the shave was close enough. In the end it wore out and I couldn't be bothered to get a new one.

For years I've not needed to shave regularly as it wasn't expected of me but now I'm in a supervisory role I think I should make an effort to look smart. I can't shave every day though- my face starts to fall off. So I generally shave every two days that I'm at work.

I wash my face in hot water and then lather up, preferably with gel. Then I use any old cheapo twin-blade razor that doesn't clog up too badly- at the moment it's Tesco Value ones. Then I shave in the mirror until I'm fairly happy with the result. After that I get in the shower and wash my face with soap- then I can feel the rough bits that I've missed, and I tidy them up, shaving against the grain. If I cut myself a bit the hot shower water sorts it out. I get a pretty good shave that way- I really don't look too bad 24 hours afterwards, which is why I can get away with shaving every other day.

[Dareos]

real men use sandpaper

[Salazaar]

real men use sandpaper

Real men sear the hair off with a blow torch.

[Dareos]

and then sand it down!

[G4Z]

there is a worrying ammount of men in hear talking of shaving sacks... not needed lol

These day's I think you will find a lot of blokes shave their sacks.

I do it for the sake of my long suffering g/f tbh, I mean she keeps her stuff all tidy its only fair to return the favour. Imo there is only one way to do it, and that's carefully!

[Funkstar]

and for that all day smoothness, try one of these

[Glyndo]

These day's I think you will find a lot of blokes shave their sacks.

I do it for the sake of my long suffering g/f tbh, I mean she keeps her stuff all tidy its only fair to return the favour. Imo there is only one way to do it, and that's carefully!

Only reason I do it for the wife; she keeps herself smooth so it's a bit unfair of me to not be the same. It also has the added bonus of making things look bigger too!! That's if you trim the rest as well though, a smooth sack won't do it on its own

[Butcher]

Not seen it mentioned yet - cold water when you're done. It closes the pores and generally seems to take the sting off quite nicely.

[Annexus]

nothing wrong with a beard! Don't fight it its nature

[AledJ]

Spot on

Also my main recommendations would be.

1. Use gel not foam, it gets into your beard much much better.
2. If you have time do it in to phases. Apply gel and shave with "the grain", rinse, apply and shave against "the grain". You minimise irritation that way and its a better shave because you can see where you've been and where you've not in both directions so you don't end up with patches you've missed.

Also; don't use shaving oil its crap and use moisturiser... something else I use, just randomly, is "bio oil" seems to be really good to apply right after shaving rather than aftershave.

I used to use normal shaving gel then switched to the king of shaves oil stuff. Sometimes i find after the first shave i will need to have another small shave to get bits that the razor missed. I have used both electric and blade but don't ever seem to get a flawless shave.

[Whiternoise]

I'm fine with an electric for now, but i'll probably switch to proper blades at some point. I tend to shave in the shower, nice and hot, and interestingly i've found some shower gels work better than proper shaving gels (gives the same performance and no irritation so far).

The Ade'n'Rai show strikes again... (hang on, how come he goes first?)

Because Rai'n'Ade sounds like a soft drinK?

[tiggerai]

Because Rai'n'Ade sounds like a soft drinK?

Tehehehe that's ace!

[Cozwin]

wow tried something new today and just wow.

was in bath and decided to shave there... washed face with hot water... quite hot... then shaved as per usual no difference... doing in bath definetly made it move cleaner and easier.

washed with cold water to finish but still felt the itchy and pain coming... so i decided from advice seen on here... i put some nivia moisturizer on and not only is my face smooth but completely pain free

[Ben Rogers]

I shave one a week or before I have to go somewhere but it often hurts a lot because I nearly have a proper beard after a week and only use a disposable razor that lasts one shave then it doesnt shave at all. Usually use hot water and it helps and put hot water on your face before you put shaving foam on your face, helps.

used to have a proper beard but shaved it to a goatie as food was getting stuck in it and it didnt look very pleasant :|

[Tumble]

I wash me fizzog with the hottest water I can stand, rub some shaving oil in, then slap the gel on top. Then shave once down, once up and once sideways.... does the trick and nice n smooth. I use disposable Wilkinson Sword jobbies (the green ones). Would like to try the straight razor at some point though

EDIT: I also keep the razor (does 2-3 shaves for me) in a very weak solution of Dettol and water - the damp, post shave blade is a particularly good site for breeding nasties. Not had "pizza-face" since I started doing that.