shave

January 7, 2007 5:58 AM

why do i keep missing hairs when shaving?

tried different electric shavers and i keep missing hairs.even wet shaving sometimes seems to miss them.

at the barbers i often get told i have thick hair if thats relevant.

posted by randomizer to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (13 answers total)

my experience is that if you are shaving in poor light you will miss hairs. If you have bright light on your face and one of those magnifying mirrors you shouldn't have a problem.
posted by razzman at 6:37 AM on January 7, 2007

Use short overlapping strokes.
posted by jouke at 6:44 AM on January 7, 2007

You may have to make two passes - one with the grain and another at an angle to the grain. It helps if you know the layout of your face (which way the grain grows - which can vary from region to region... sounds almost topographical doesn't it?) If I want a really close shave on parts of my neck (around my throat and under the jaw line) I have to take two passes at it.

Of course you could go against the grain and get them for sure... but than can cause a host of other problems.
posted by wfrgms at 6:49 AM on January 7, 2007

I've been shaving against the grain for years to get a closer, longer lasting shave. The trick, I've found, is to follow up with a product like Tend Skin that (at least for me) eliminates razor burn and ingrown hairs. Lately I've been using Proactiv and am having the same results.

I miss a lot too,though. Going over it twice usually does the trick.
posted by Thrillhouse at 6:55 AM on January 7, 2007

i shave against the grain.

its the hairs around the neck which i miss btw.
posted by randomizer at 7:23 AM on January 7, 2007

Electric shavers a screen between the skin and the blade. Although there have been some good advances in the technology, that screen still mats the hair down.
Use a good blade if you want to get it all on one pass

This is also why most electric shavers advice you to shave in a circular motion, since you'll approach hairs from more directions in an attempt to coax them through the screen.
posted by Ookseer at 7:38 AM on January 7, 2007

You might also try using one of those magnifying mirrors to get up close and personal.
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 8:15 AM on January 7, 2007

Try hopping in the shower and shaving by touch. Just use your fingers to glide over your skin. When you encounter hair, shave it. Repeat as necessary.
posted by meh at 8:52 AM on January 7, 2007

After I'm done shaving I take a little shaving cream and go over my whole face feeling for spots that I missed. Also another trick is to use your tongue to push out natural divots in your cheek that your razor doesn't catch.
posted by any major dude at 10:58 AM on January 7, 2007

I have a spot on my neck that grows upward(!). Unless I change shaving directions, that spot always gets missed. Perhaps you have something similar?
posted by Popular Ethics at 2:47 PM on January 7, 2007

Try Williams Lectric shave. It's a pre-shave lotion which lubricates the skin and makes your whiskers stand out.
posted by MCTDavid at 4:36 PM on January 7, 2007

Not a snark, honestly, but try changing your blade more frequently.
posted by Lynsey at 10:00 PM on January 7, 2007

i change every shave
posted by randomizer at 1:44 PM on January 8, 2007