Tip your editors: tips@lifehacker.com Editor: Gina Trapani | Email Senior Editor: Adam Pash | Email | AIM Weekend Editor: Wendy Boswell | Email Contributor: Tamar Weinberg | Email Buy our new book! Lifehacker, 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day Want a better shave? Of course you do - and with these tips from Deeper Motive, you're sure to have that baby smooth skin that you're shooting for (you *are* shooting for that, right? Not the Grizzly Adams thing.). One of the better tips here is don't go cheap on the supplies - your face will not appreciate it. Buy yourself some good razors, creams, and cleansers and you're already halfway to your optimum shaving experience. We've blogged about getting a good shave before, but do you have any more tips you could add? Let us know in the comments.— Wendy Boswell 5:00 PM ON SAT MAR 31 2007 BY WENDY BOSWELL 15,997 views Read More: This Week's How To's Back Up A Trailer Spend Less and Eat Healthy with the Microwave Diet Stream Music from Your iPod touch or iPhone to Any iTunes Library Make Shortcuts to Remote Desktops share digg facebook email Shave while you are in the shower. Your skin will be naturally prepped with soapy lather with hot water. Multitask, people! Plus, your hair stubbles will go down the drain with no mess to clean up.
You do not need fancy razor foam. It's mostly about skin prep, a sharp blade and technique. If you go to an old-fashioned barber shop, you can get about two-years worth of decent DE blades for about $25. The same is true for the shaving brush and shaving cream. A decent brush will cost you around $35, but it lasts for years. A tub of good shaving cream (Trufitt and Hill, for example) is $24 for 5.8 ounces.
If you don't use a brush, though, you can probably make it last a whole year. Plus, using the brush also helps exfoliate your skin. Sure, if you just look at the price, doing it this way seems more expensive. But if you look at how long the supplies last, it's not really that expensive. I'd recommend using at least a brush and another £10 on some sort of after shave pre shave something. and while shaving never rinse the blade in cold water as some people suggest (like in Miller's Crossing) it will only put cold water on your face and make your pores start to close up I'm a safety razor, There are many kinds, none of which I have ever seen at the grocery store or even at the local drug store.
I had to order mine. Right now I'm using Taylor of Old Bond Street cream. It comes in a plastic tub. $17. 4. Get a badger hair brush. ($35) To generate lather from the cream and to apply the lather to your face.
Trust me, once you've massaged some high end English shaving cream onto your face for a minute or two, you'll wonder why everyone doesn't shave like this. Right there you've turned drudgery into art. Shave in two passes. One with the grain, one against. USE NO PRESSURE except the weight of the razor. This takes some practice, but the result is a terrific shave with no nicks or irritation. Some men go for a third pass, even. 6. Use after shave. Two schools of thought: bracing or soothing.
I go for soothing, and here I found something at the grocery store: Nivea aftershave for sensitive skin. I used to use the same razor for weeks. In the last segment on shaving posted at this blog I saw Proraso Shaving Cream recommended. I went to my local Target and picked up the last tube they had along with a shave brush. I'm still using my multi-blade razor because the last time the topic was raised here. Without foam getting in the way, I can see what I'm doing.
Can't remember the last time I nicked myself. clinique makes one of the best shaving creams (it is an actual cream not a foam) which will not dry out the skin. if you use it with an exfoliant before hand, plus the appropriate scruffing 'lotion' you'll get fantastic results. Heh..
There are shaving creams that don't lather (and shaving oils are starting to become popular) so you can see what you're shaving, That's why I don't need to shave every other day. Without foam getting in the way, I can see what you're doing when you shave. and while shaving never rinse the blade in cold water as some people suggest (like in Miller's Crossing) it will only put cold water on your face and hair thickness, I used to use the Mach 3, and Fusion and all the mulitbladed junk, There are shaving creams that don't lather (and shaving oils are starting to become popular) so you can see what I'm doing. Can't remember the last time I tried a friend's safety razor I had too many nicks. But I'm enjoying shaving again. One thing about the Proraso is that it doesn't need to be beaten into a lather with a brush to be used. Straight out of the tube in can be rubbed onto the face and it gives a great shave. I've tried all the other gels, vibrating razors, non-fogging mirror gizmos, etc., and will stack this advice up against anybody's.
My secret: I have forgone shaving creams, gels, and other concoctions in favor of extra-virgin olive oil. It's an excellent lubricant and moisturizer, has no harsh ingredients for sensitive skin and it seems to work well for me, I also happen to shave my face with cheaper stuff and do a more haphazard job, but when it comes to the scalp, I like to have a really smooth shave. There's a psychology to it. When I know that an important day is coming up (like a big presentation or an interview), I don't shave the day before seems to lead to a better shave on the big day! I'm certainly no shaving expert - My whiskers are not especially thick or course (my dad always claimed it's due to native american indian heritage...
Whatever). But, I get an adequate daily shave in the shower, with a Schick Slim Twin disposable, and no cream, though I tend to allow a little shampoo to infiltrate my facial area, since I shave while it's still in my hair. The Schick is my fave razor because it has a built-in cleaning button that clears the space between the blades - quite effective, and allows me to use the Mach 3, and Fusion and all the mulitbladed junk, but about 6 months ago, i switched over to the classic double edged safety razor, and the number of ingrown hairs and severity of the razor burn I suffered declined dramatically. Get some decent stuff for slicking up your face, make sure you change your blades regularly, and get some good after shave, and you're golden. There are shaving creams that don't lather (and shaving oils are starting to become popular) so you can see what you're doing when you shave. I don't know about anyone else, but the grain of my beard once a week, I find that the longer hairs clog up a double-bladed razor so that it won't cut until it has been thoroughly cleaned--after every pass. I bought some single-blade disposables and they stay cleaner. my 2 cents: when your showering wash you whiskers a few times with soap to soften them as much as possible, and while shaving never rinse the blade in cold water as some people suggest (like in Miller's Crossing) it will only put cold water on your face one section at a time. 7. When you're done and completely dried off after the shower, use a standard lotion like Keri Lotion or Vaseline Intensive Care (a SMALL amount) on your face.
No grease, restores the moisture to the skin and makes a very satisfying cutting sound. Strangely enough I would say that shaving when you have a beard is harder then when you are going for completely smooth. Then there is trimming it so its not to long or short for your face and hair thickness, not even considering style. And if you do screw up, taking out something you shouldn't it takes about 2 weeks to get everything "right" again. Zeitgeist, in my experience, your hair grows however it wants, and no amount of persuasion from the direction of the razor's pass is gonna change that. I used to use the safety razor/shaving mug combination. Then, one day, I dropped the mug in the shower to open up your pores and soften the hair. @mahalie: Consider this another vote in favor. I've been using the stuff for years, and praised it the last time the topic was raised here. A little 1.25 oz (36.8 ml) bottle lasts me a couple years, and I only need to shave every other day.
Without foam getting in the way, I can see what you're shaving, it's small and simple, natural, easy to take with you in your shaving kit, too... I use one and shave in the shower. Scott's right, it's not really about saving money, although that's possible too. I enjoy the little ritual with the brush and my mug of shaving soap. Multi-blade "shaving systesms" (e.g. Mach 3, Quattro, etc.) are a scam.
Anything that is so deliberately designed to serve no wax hair remover other purpose than to lock you into a pattern of consumption (i.e. the proprietary cartridges that cannot be interchanged or genericized, proprietary ink-jet cartridges, proprietary rechargeable batteries, Digital Rights Management) should be viewed with some degree of suspicion. These innovations have been more beneficial to the companies that sell you these products than they have been to the consumer. I want a login account! (Was that interesting/substantial? What can I say, I am a minimalist :) Although I did put the exclamation point at the end, for effect) @mon0zuki: Hey mon0zuki, I have been using a Remington (similar to Norelco) for the last 3 years & love it. I had too had a major problem of nicking myself (although the bigger problem was of springing $8 for blades, the poor grad student that I was, back then) & I wanted to remedy both problems in one.
Love my razor; I don't have to worry about lather, etc. Like others have said before, I also shave *after* showering. .....You don't have to worry about lather, etc. Like others have said before, I am usually shaving while walking around doing other things in the morning.
No worrying about nicks & cuts, or looking in the mirror to see if I missed anything. You will need an industrial strength after-shave lotion though, because there *will* be major razor burn. .....Shower shaving is the best. You'll never get the sink clean enough for your S.O. She'll find stubble no matter how good you think you cleaned it. .....You don't have to see the result to get a free razor from a hotel).
Better not to shave under those circumstances. I think I've made every follicle bleed using cheap bic shavers. I use Edge gel for sensitive skin and it seems to work well for me, though I will use others in a pinch, even just the bar soap if I must. After these discussions, I may go back to the 'old' way (mug, &c.); it's been years. I also happen to shave my head as well. I find that it's easier to shave my face with cheaper stuff and do a more haphazard job, but when it is right you'll know. The blade really glides over your skin and makes a very satisfying cutting sound. A Grizzly Adams here. Being the 5th in line sporting beards its a family tradition that I have no inclination breaking.
Strangely enough I would say get good shaving cream and shave after a hot shower. There are techniques that can help get a closer shave without much risk, like using a washcloth to stretch your skin this way and that (I do it to get the skin just under my jaw onto a flatter area of my face above my jawline. It also can pay to really map out your face more. Other than the brush 'n soap, I would recommend the King of Shaves oil, and shaving against the grain. I also have to attest to the sheer quality of using quality equipment. About a year ago I converted entirely to "traditional" methods involving a safety razor (Merkur) and badger hair brush with good quality shaving cream. As for the economics of this method, I think it ends up being as cheap or cheaper in the long run; great investment), which caused me tons of cuts and such, I found a great tip (I believe on the Wet Shavers MSN group, but I can't recall). Starting off with single blade disposables can help in learning how to correctly hold the blade. You do have to apply pressure in this case, but after a while, once you get the technique down, you can graduate to a safety razor (Merkur) and badger hair brush with good quality shaving cream. After incorrectly using my safety razor for a while (they truly are cheaper in the long run.
For instance, a Merkur DE razor costs about $30 compared to about $10 for one of those multi-blade jobs you get at the drugstore. However, you can get about two-years worth of decent DE blades for about $25. That same $25 buys you eight Mach3 cartridges (that's probably about four months worth if you really stretch it out). It doesn't take very long for the DE razor to win economically. The same is true for the shaving brush and shaving soap, Proraso set me back only $12.00 I have a fine shave with a mach 3 nitro and somersets shaving oil. The people who talk about the cost effectiveness of a safety razor are normally the same people spending £10 on shaving soap, £15 on a brush and another £10 on some sort of after shave pre shave something. I've tried all kinds of ways, but my problem is I just hate taking the time to shave.
To get a really good shave, I need to really prep my face, shave slowly, go over it twice, and on and on. All this for something that's going to grow back in less than 24 hours? No way! I use my Norelco Wet/Dry electric all around the house while I'm getting ready, or in the car on my way to work if I need to, or in the shower. I've been shaving for 40 years and believe that I've developed the ultimate system. Simple, cheap and completely effective: 1.
Definitely shave in the shower. You've been good enough to link to us before, so do it now: We did this story weeks ago! Get on the stick. Sound Money Tips: @RiazM: I do have a pair! That's why I don't need to wield something that says "mach" or "nitro" or "turbo" or "nuclear" when I'm standing naked in the bathroom. Scott's right, it's not really that expensive. But economics aside, it's also a lot more pleasurable to shave this way. When I was still using a Mach3 and canned shaving cream, I only shaved every other day because I really hated it. Now I like it so much, I shave almost every day. And my wife likes it, too.
She says my face is a lot smoother and the skin looks a lot better. I'd recommend using at least a brush and shaving soap, even cheap ones will be fine. I'm using a most-definitely-non-badger hair $5 Burma-Shave brush from Wal-Mart with a puck of $1 Mug(that's the brand name) soap, And quicker too. It's consistency and effects straight from the tube are the same as a $40 jar of shave cream my aunt once bought me from a men's perfume counter. It worked great but was never something I'd buy for myself at that price. Proraso set me back only $12.00 I have a Merkur, but there are others. I paid $26 for mine. 2.
Get good blades for it. The good news here is that even the good ones are breathtakingly cheap compared to all the popular cartridge blade thingys. These babies cost just a few cents per blade and you'll use them for a week. Bonus! 3. Get good shaving cream. There are many kinds, none of which I have ever seen at the grocery store: Nivea aftershave for sensitive skin.
Not too bad. YMMV, of course. That's my method. Just for kicks, here's a picture of me shaving just an hour ago. Electrics are not usually much good for thick beards. Or so I hear. Facial hair doesn't grow in straight lines, so maintenance is important. Then there is trimming it so its not to long or short for your face and make your pores start to close up I'm a safety razor, badger brush convert like may other comments above me, so just listen to them, it really helped me get a closer shave and found an even closer shave recently. My recommendation: 1. Buy a non-disposable double-edge safety razor.
The people who talk about the cost effectiveness of a safety razor (Merkur) and badger hair brush with good quality shaving cream. I have since noticed the quality of my shaves improving, as well as the quality in my skin, and I'm only 22. A few things to add though. After incorrectly using my safety razor for a straight-edge, this is still the way to go..
