How do I do shaving?
July 8, 2020 3:32 PM Subscribe
I am a man with a hairy face. This is mainly through laziness. What advice can you give me about howto make your hairy face look not terrible and how to make shaving not be an awful terrible chore.
My current shaving strategy is that I leave my face alone for several months until it's just unbearable and then I spend a week trying to find my electric clippers and also the charger for the electric clippers. Then eventually, after leaving them to charge I'll get round to (badly) shaving it all off and then the whole tired cycle repeats.
So I want some idea of what products are good to buy, what things will stop my face hurting after (as sometimes happens). Any advice on figuring out how to maintain a beard that looks good. (I never learnt how to do anything except shave it all off).
My current shaving strategy is that I leave my face alone for several months until it's just unbearable and then I spend a week trying to find my electric clippers and also the charger for the electric clippers. Then eventually, after leaving them to charge I'll get round to (badly) shaving it all off and then the whole tired cycle repeats.
So I want some idea of what products are good to buy, what things will stop my face hurting after (as sometimes happens). Any advice on figuring out how to maintain a beard that looks good. (I never learnt how to do anything except shave it all off).
Do you wish to remain amongst the hairy-faced, or do you wish to become a cleanshaven person?
I was the latter for many years -- like 30 -- and found my best shaving plan to do so immediately after my shower with an old fashioned safety razor and nice blades (Feather or Merkur) coupled with a good brush and high quality soap. This approach worked WAY better than whatever sixteen blade disposable monstrosity Gilette is selling did.
As a bearded person, I just use the Wirecutter's pick for beard trimmers (a Wahl; it was pretty cheap, like maybe $30) abou every week and cut it fairly close, except for my mustache, which I style with wax. This takes way less time.
I am happy to entertain additional back and forth perhaps beyond the scope of AskMefi in MeMail. What you can do with your beard varies a lot with thickness, body, behavior, pattern, etc. My mostly close-cropped + jaunty handlebar is probably the only mode that could work for MY beard, but other people have different options.
posted by uberchet at 4:09 PM on July 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
I was the latter for many years -- like 30 -- and found my best shaving plan to do so immediately after my shower with an old fashioned safety razor and nice blades (Feather or Merkur) coupled with a good brush and high quality soap. This approach worked WAY better than whatever sixteen blade disposable monstrosity Gilette is selling did.
As a bearded person, I just use the Wirecutter's pick for beard trimmers (a Wahl; it was pretty cheap, like maybe $30) abou every week and cut it fairly close, except for my mustache, which I style with wax. This takes way less time.
I am happy to entertain additional back and forth perhaps beyond the scope of AskMefi in MeMail. What you can do with your beard varies a lot with thickness, body, behavior, pattern, etc. My mostly close-cropped + jaunty handlebar is probably the only mode that could work for MY beard, but other people have different options.
posted by uberchet at 4:09 PM on July 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
Your face should not hurt. If your face is hurting, your clippers may be blunt.
Some advice:
1. Spend some money on decent wireless clippers. Good clippers will improve your experience. Here's a list of options. But the Wahls Stainless Steel ones are very good.
2. Clip your beard once a week.
3. Use some beard oil regularly to keep your beard soft and your skin healthy. This will also make your beard easier to cut. There's so many of these, and so many are local, that it's hard to make a recommendation that will work for you. Maybe stroll by a decent local barbershop and buy some from them.
This routine is maybe a 5 minute a week commitment for me. I usually do it on a Sunday night, ostensibly so I look fresh for work on Mondays (but that's less of an issue these days).
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:13 PM on July 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
Some advice:
1. Spend some money on decent wireless clippers. Good clippers will improve your experience. Here's a list of options. But the Wahls Stainless Steel ones are very good.
2. Clip your beard once a week.
3. Use some beard oil regularly to keep your beard soft and your skin healthy. This will also make your beard easier to cut. There's so many of these, and so many are local, that it's hard to make a recommendation that will work for you. Maybe stroll by a decent local barbershop and buy some from them.
This routine is maybe a 5 minute a week commitment for me. I usually do it on a Sunday night, ostensibly so I look fresh for work on Mondays (but that's less of an issue these days).
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:13 PM on July 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
You will want to change things up a bit based on your beard/skin type and the specific products you want to use also depend a bit on your beard needs.
In any case, this is my routine:
I shave every day using a safety razor (I like crystal brand stainless steel blades). I use a badger brush and cup soap.
3/week I shampoo my beard with a beard shampoo or soap. Right now I use a soap bar from Mammoth Beard Co. I otherwise just rinse my beard when I wash unless it gets mucky (it happens, get it clean before it sets.)
After washing a pat dry my beard and massage in a beard balm. I use Bartigan & Stark beard balm.
Next I use a beard brush to help spread the balm throughout the beard, get dry skin out, and make everything tidy. I brush and beard balm even on days I do not shampoo. I may also brush again throughout the day if the beard gets untidy.
Lastly, I use scissors to clip out any flyaways that aren't brushing down, tidy up my neckline and around my mouth, etc.
Right now I am growing my beard out until the end of social distancing measures (in Canada). The beard is to be my visual record of this period of time. Normally I keep a short to mid length beard and would use a beard trimmer about once a week to keep it at my preferred length.
posted by forbiddencabinet at 4:16 PM on July 8, 2020
In any case, this is my routine:
I shave every day using a safety razor (I like crystal brand stainless steel blades). I use a badger brush and cup soap.
3/week I shampoo my beard with a beard shampoo or soap. Right now I use a soap bar from Mammoth Beard Co. I otherwise just rinse my beard when I wash unless it gets mucky (it happens, get it clean before it sets.)
After washing a pat dry my beard and massage in a beard balm. I use Bartigan & Stark beard balm.
Next I use a beard brush to help spread the balm throughout the beard, get dry skin out, and make everything tidy. I brush and beard balm even on days I do not shampoo. I may also brush again throughout the day if the beard gets untidy.
Lastly, I use scissors to clip out any flyaways that aren't brushing down, tidy up my neckline and around my mouth, etc.
Right now I am growing my beard out until the end of social distancing measures (in Canada). The beard is to be my visual record of this period of time. Normally I keep a short to mid length beard and would use a beard trimmer about once a week to keep it at my preferred length.
posted by forbiddencabinet at 4:16 PM on July 8, 2020
Oh, I just want to say that part of the reason you might be experiencing pain/sensitivity when shaving is that you are leaving it so long. The longer your hair is the more uncomfortable and grabby it is going to be when the electric clippers or razor start cutting into it. Your skin is also going to be less used to it. Duller blades will make it even worse.
If you want to have a beard you will need to figure out a style that compliments in your face and then shave/clip regularly to maintain it. If you don't want a beard then shaving daily with a sharp razor will be a lot less painful for you. Also, I find electric shavers are much harder on my skin than a manual one. A nice sharp razor, warm water used to make a soapy foam, and smooth strokes should barely even be felt on your skin. You don't even really apply any pressure.
Final suggestion: consider going to a good barber at least once for a professional shave. They can help style your beard (if you want one) give you product tips for your skin/beard type and give you a lovely, painless shave.
posted by forbiddencabinet at 5:05 PM on July 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
If you want to have a beard you will need to figure out a style that compliments in your face and then shave/clip regularly to maintain it. If you don't want a beard then shaving daily with a sharp razor will be a lot less painful for you. Also, I find electric shavers are much harder on my skin than a manual one. A nice sharp razor, warm water used to make a soapy foam, and smooth strokes should barely even be felt on your skin. You don't even really apply any pressure.
Final suggestion: consider going to a good barber at least once for a professional shave. They can help style your beard (if you want one) give you product tips for your skin/beard type and give you a lovely, painless shave.
posted by forbiddencabinet at 5:05 PM on July 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
At the risk of making this too simple, my husband swears by the Philips OneBlade.
posted by sageleaf at 5:12 PM on July 8, 2020
posted by sageleaf at 5:12 PM on July 8, 2020
I've found (after putting it off for years) that a once-a-month barber #1/skinhead haircut and usually a #½ beard is just about perfect - no other maintenance required. I haven't shaved since 1990.
posted by unearthed at 5:28 PM on July 8, 2020
posted by unearthed at 5:28 PM on July 8, 2020
I shave approximately 1.5 times a week, and because I am a bald fucker it includes shaving my head. I do this all in the shower. First I make a run with a safety razor, which is great for getting off the majority of the hair quickly and easily without getting clogged. I go for quantity over quality. Then I make a final pass with an actual 'shaving razor' (whatever generic 3-blade razor is cheap), making a quality pass.
I feel like shaving more often ends up hurting, and shaving less often requires an initial pass with clippers. YMMV.
posted by so fucking future at 8:12 PM on July 8, 2020
I feel like shaving more often ends up hurting, and shaving less often requires an initial pass with clippers. YMMV.
posted by so fucking future at 8:12 PM on July 8, 2020
My husband wears a rather short, full beard. Here is his theoretical routine for home care:
- He uses a disposable triple-blade razor every few days to keep the edges of the beard clean (for example, he shaves away stray hairs on his cheeks to make a clean line at the top of the beard, and shaves part of his neck for a clean line on the bottom).
- He uses an electric beard trimmer to shorten the beard hairs to his preferred length
- He trims his mustache with scissors.
Although to be honest, most often he just has his barber take care of his beard and mustache when he gets his hair cut and only does the minor shaving at the edges at home.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 10:33 PM on July 8, 2020
- He uses a disposable triple-blade razor every few days to keep the edges of the beard clean (for example, he shaves away stray hairs on his cheeks to make a clean line at the top of the beard, and shaves part of his neck for a clean line on the bottom).
- He uses an electric beard trimmer to shorten the beard hairs to his preferred length
- He trims his mustache with scissors.
Although to be honest, most often he just has his barber take care of his beard and mustache when he gets his hair cut and only does the minor shaving at the edges at home.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 10:33 PM on July 8, 2020
For many years I simply used wireless clipppers to cut my beard down to a stubble whenever it started itching, about once a week.
Then, after the batteries died and I had to buy a new clipper for the third time I decided to just shave. I bought a old fashioned safety razor, a nice brush, soap and after shave and now do that once a week.
I start in the shower with the initial sweep without soap and then after the shower go over it two more times before the mirror with soap.
I do that on the weekend when I have more time under the shower and it doesn't take long at all. It helps to have nice equipment, it gives the thing a bit of mini-spa feeling, smelling nice and handling high quality instruments.
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 12:54 AM on July 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
Then, after the batteries died and I had to buy a new clipper for the third time I decided to just shave. I bought a old fashioned safety razor, a nice brush, soap and after shave and now do that once a week.
I start in the shower with the initial sweep without soap and then after the shower go over it two more times before the mirror with soap.
I do that on the weekend when I have more time under the shower and it doesn't take long at all. It helps to have nice equipment, it gives the thing a bit of mini-spa feeling, smelling nice and handling high quality instruments.
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 12:54 AM on July 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
I'll also recommend a safety razor (for where you want to be clean shaven) and an electric trimmer with many guard length options (for where you want to be managed).
As for product, this Cremo shaving cream is the best I've ever used. Reasonably priced, easily found via Amazon/Target/Walgreens and I've not nicked myself/bled once in the months I've been using it. Key for me is shaving in the shower - hot water on your face for 30 seconds before lathering up to soften the whiskers. Get a fog-free mirror and you'll be good to go.
posted by Twicketface at 6:53 AM on July 9, 2020
As for product, this Cremo shaving cream is the best I've ever used. Reasonably priced, easily found via Amazon/Target/Walgreens and I've not nicked myself/bled once in the months I've been using it. Key for me is shaving in the shower - hot water on your face for 30 seconds before lathering up to soften the whiskers. Get a fog-free mirror and you'll be good to go.
posted by Twicketface at 6:53 AM on July 9, 2020
old fashioned safety razor and nice blades (Feather or Merkur) coupled with a good brush and high quality soap.
This is what I do, after a shower, every other day. If I do it every day my skin isn't super-happy; if I let it go longer it takes twice as long. I have a fairly heavy beard, but the five-o'clock shadow no longer has the stigma it had in my grandpa's day, so this is where I've ended up. I found grooming a beard to be about the same amount of trouble as this routine, YMMV.
posted by aspersioncast at 8:59 AM on July 9, 2020
This is what I do, after a shower, every other day. If I do it every day my skin isn't super-happy; if I let it go longer it takes twice as long. I have a fairly heavy beard, but the five-o'clock shadow no longer has the stigma it had in my grandpa's day, so this is where I've ended up. I found grooming a beard to be about the same amount of trouble as this routine, YMMV.
posted by aspersioncast at 8:59 AM on July 9, 2020
Oh and since I started using the safety razor I've come to really dislike multi-bladed ones - they give me ingrown hairs and generally too close of a shave.
posted by aspersioncast at 9:01 AM on July 9, 2020
posted by aspersioncast at 9:01 AM on July 9, 2020
I use an electric shaver daily. It takes me 30 seconds to a minute. if i have an important event to go to or if I feel like being extra clean I'll spend 2 minutes. the shave is not bad but it's definitely not as smooth and close as a razor but you get to skip the hassles of shaving cream, running water, clean up, and being careful.
posted by simplethings at 9:30 AM on July 9, 2020
posted by simplethings at 9:30 AM on July 9, 2020
I've been really happy with a Wahl Peanut as my beard trimmer. It's corded but that doesn't bother me, and it does a great job. I use the shortest guide and trim generally once a week. I apply some beard trimmer oil every so often and have been using the same trimmer for over seven years now. For shaving, I agree with the comments above that a quality safety razor and good blades make a big difference.
posted by maurice at 11:14 AM on July 9, 2020
posted by maurice at 11:14 AM on July 9, 2020
Many opinions.
Don't get anything rechargeable. Throw yours in the trash. Get something with a cord. Wahl Peanut is probably fine. Or really any normal corded clippers. Oil it sometimes.
Once a month, trim down your beard to ~1/2" or 3/8.
Twice a month, shave your neck. Use the trimmer first with no guard to clean up your neck. Follow with a safety razor. You can get away with doing this once a month, or, since you already have the clippers out, you can trim your beard at the same time.
Once a week, maybe, I clean up the edges of my beard with the safety razor, no shave cream, just enough to be presentable.
posted by booooooze at 5:06 PM on July 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
Don't get anything rechargeable. Throw yours in the trash. Get something with a cord. Wahl Peanut is probably fine. Or really any normal corded clippers. Oil it sometimes.
Once a month, trim down your beard to ~1/2" or 3/8.
Twice a month, shave your neck. Use the trimmer first with no guard to clean up your neck. Follow with a safety razor. You can get away with doing this once a month, or, since you already have the clippers out, you can trim your beard at the same time.
Once a week, maybe, I clean up the edges of my beard with the safety razor, no shave cream, just enough to be presentable.
posted by booooooze at 5:06 PM on July 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
Don't get anything rechargeable.Not for nothing, but the $30 rechargable Wahl I bought in 2015 is going strong, and only requires charging maybe every 60 days. It's great.
If your beard is super heavy maybe you need something else, but holy cow I wouldn't dismiss rechargeable options out of hand so readily. They're pretty great.
(On the other side, when we bought clippers to start cutting my top-of-head hair at home, we went with a corded model, but that's a heavier duty cycle.)
posted by uberchet at 7:40 AM on July 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
I tend to let it go and then clean it up days/weeks later. If I try to shave that tangle I'll be a bloody scraped up mess.
So I use an electric hair clipper (not electric shaver/razor) to clean things up first. I use a plugin model like this Wahl one without a guard. I've adjusted it to be close, but if adjusted correctly, it will not cut skin and isn't irritating.
After that, I may be done (more than 5 o'clock shadow but maybe acceptable).
If I want to look clean shaven, then I use a razor with disposable blades (shaving club razor and blades).
I've used electric razors and haven't been impressed. Both electric razors and regular razors only work for me if used every day or every couple of days. But the hair clipper can handle anything.
The power and reliability of a decent trimmer is key to prepping for shaving for me. It's fast and I also use it on my half bald head.
posted by jclarkin at 7:41 AM on July 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
So I use an electric hair clipper (not electric shaver/razor) to clean things up first. I use a plugin model like this Wahl one without a guard. I've adjusted it to be close, but if adjusted correctly, it will not cut skin and isn't irritating.
After that, I may be done (more than 5 o'clock shadow but maybe acceptable).
If I want to look clean shaven, then I use a razor with disposable blades (shaving club razor and blades).
I've used electric razors and haven't been impressed. Both electric razors and regular razors only work for me if used every day or every couple of days. But the hair clipper can handle anything.
The power and reliability of a decent trimmer is key to prepping for shaving for me. It's fast and I also use it on my half bald head.
posted by jclarkin at 7:41 AM on July 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
If I try to shave that tangle I'll be a bloody scraped up mess.That sounds like your face isn't sufficiently hydrated for shaving. Most men find that shaving either IN or IMMEDIATELY AFTER a shower will dramatically reduce razorburn/scrapes/etc. You need to use a good razor, and a good cream or soap, too, of course.
My experience has been that electric razors can work really really well for some folks and not so well for others. I've never had one that could shave as closely as a blade, but I definitely DID use one for a while when I was traveling a lot. And yeah, you're not gonna whack back a week of growth with an electric. You'll have to cut it down with a blade first.
posted by uberchet at 12:17 PM on July 10, 2020
I only shave once a week, and usually in the shower, with shaving cream and a Dorco Pace razor. I'll get razor burn and irritation when shaving dry (which I sometimes do to get spots I missed, after I'm out of the shower and lotioning up) or when the razor is dull. For me, longer than a week and my face gets itchy.
Also, aftershave can help sooth your skin. Sometimes I use Anthony after shave balm, which has a slight burn that I find appealing at times, or otherwise I use Nivea's after shave balm for sensitive skin.
To clarify, the only thing I'm heartily endorsing are the Dorco razors, which have had a fair bit of support on AskMe. The others were gifts. I've liked Anthony's after shave enough to order it again, but I'll be shopping around next time. It's kind of pricey, and I'm interested in trying other brands.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:52 AM on July 11, 2020
Also, aftershave can help sooth your skin. Sometimes I use Anthony after shave balm, which has a slight burn that I find appealing at times, or otherwise I use Nivea's after shave balm for sensitive skin.
To clarify, the only thing I'm heartily endorsing are the Dorco razors, which have had a fair bit of support on AskMe. The others were gifts. I've liked Anthony's after shave enough to order it again, but I'll be shopping around next time. It's kind of pricey, and I'm interested in trying other brands.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:52 AM on July 11, 2020
Response by poster: A lot of very good advice! Thanks!
I've bought a Wahl Corded/Cordless thing that was quite cheap but looks solid.
It's a nice compromise I think between the two arguments?
The peanut doesn't seem to be natively available in the UK, so loses some of it's appeal. But this thing did the job very nicely indeed. The only thing I can't quite figure out is how to install the longest guard on it. But I probably don't need to use it anyway.
I used the Wahl to trim down from huge beard to a shorter length very successfully. I've had no success in the past with trimming down, but I think that was because the tools I were using were neither one thing nor another. So, making a note here, huge success.
I also got a phillips OneBlade which I've used to define some edges and clean shave outside the lines.
It's agile enough that it seems to do that well, and certainly shapes nicely on my face. My neck is trickier to get shaved neatly and seems to grow back fast. Maybe more experimentation?
It really looks kinda rubbishy. I wouldn't have bought it on sight. But using it is impressive. It works very well.
It has some guards with it, but I think that's wishful thinking. I'll use the clippers for length.
My wife has a safety razor and associated soaps and brushes which I've pinched in the past, but might use if I need to get a very close shave.
I've also tried to apply some moisturiser, but not yet any oil.
That maybe to come, but just keeping it shorter should help that anyway?
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:16 AM on July 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
I've bought a Wahl Corded/Cordless thing that was quite cheap but looks solid.
It's a nice compromise I think between the two arguments?
The peanut doesn't seem to be natively available in the UK, so loses some of it's appeal. But this thing did the job very nicely indeed. The only thing I can't quite figure out is how to install the longest guard on it. But I probably don't need to use it anyway.
I used the Wahl to trim down from huge beard to a shorter length very successfully. I've had no success in the past with trimming down, but I think that was because the tools I were using were neither one thing nor another. So, making a note here, huge success.
I also got a phillips OneBlade which I've used to define some edges and clean shave outside the lines.
It's agile enough that it seems to do that well, and certainly shapes nicely on my face. My neck is trickier to get shaved neatly and seems to grow back fast. Maybe more experimentation?
It really looks kinda rubbishy. I wouldn't have bought it on sight. But using it is impressive. It works very well.
It has some guards with it, but I think that's wishful thinking. I'll use the clippers for length.
My wife has a safety razor and associated soaps and brushes which I've pinched in the past, but might use if I need to get a very close shave.
I've also tried to apply some moisturiser, but not yet any oil.
That maybe to come, but just keeping it shorter should help that anyway?
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:16 AM on July 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
Once a week I pass over my face with generic hair clippers, for that Miami Vice look (I've never actually seen the show, but it made that vague beard stubble socially tolerable for society in general, so okay). (If there's a family funeral, I'll shave clean with a safety razor).
posted by ovvl at 6:39 PM on July 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by ovvl at 6:39 PM on July 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
I use an electric shaver once each week, going all-over to keep the beard parts at a constant ~1/2" length and then without the guard to do my neck and keep mustache out of my mouth. Takes about 5-10 minutes, not a big deal. It took some trial-and-error to figure out the right place to start shaving the neck, and I was happiest after I asked my barber to do it for me once so I knew the best-looking line to follow.
posted by migurski at 3:53 PM on July 8, 2020 [3 favorites]