Boy Thread: put a hat on ur butt

[Izawwlgood]

Enjoyable or not, using a badger hair brush is a closer shave. More so if you use warm lather, which you're supposed to.

But that's still moot; shaving sucks.

[JBJ]

So, on the topic, does anyone/everyone use shaving cream? I've never bothered, warm water + razor always works fine for me and I've never noticed razorburn or whatever it is that shaving cream is supposed to avoid.

I use shaving cream. I can't stand gels, though.

I was always under the impression that shaving cream was supposed to stand the hair up to make it easier to cut. If I've got 1 day's growth of stubble or less, I can get by with just water & razor with no problems. Any longer than that though, and shaving without cream is quite painful for me. It feels like the razor is grabbing and pulling each individual hair.

[SurgicalSteel]

I use a badger brush and soap puck. It does give a much nicer shave than anything I've tried that comes out of an aerosol can. I also started using a straight razor about six months ago. If you don't currently use one and are bored with shaving I'd suggest trying to learn it, it'll make shaving new and adventurous again, at least for a while. And, at least for me, when the excitement of trying something new wore off it was still better than using an electric razor or Gillette 5-million blades thing. It's relaxing and almost meditative for me, probably because you have to pay more attention. For me it's a nice relaxing, destressing routine, that goes something like this:

• Lather face with pre-shave to stand hairs
• Put some very hot water in the sink, drop brush in there to soak. If I'm going to use a bowl to lather instead of my hand or my face, sometimes I'll drop the bowl in there too so it'll be warm when the brush is ready.
• Let face and brush soak for about ten minutes.
• After ten minutes lather up the soap and brush onto my face. If the brush has retained the heat and the bowl wasn't cold enough to chill the soap, the application of warm soap to the face is a fantastic feeling.
• Shave. I usually do two passes, three if it's been a while.
• After I wipe off the remaining shaving soap I turn on the cold water (very cold) and wet my shaving towel with it. I rinse my face with the very cold water, not just the parts shaved, but the forehead and eyes too. This is also a fantastic feeling.
• Pat dry my face. Apply a little bit of Nivea facial milk because my skin is sensitive and becomes red if I don't or if I use alcohol based after shaves.
• Apply a small bit of alcohol based after shave (for the smell) to behind my ears and the pulse points on my neck.

IMO opinion this is a great and relaxing way to come down after work. Obviously if I'm in a hurry I'll just use a modern razor and spray shaving cream, but at this point that almost feels like cheating.

[pseudoidiot]

Yeah, shaving gels/creams are meant to hold the hair up for a closer shave and my experience agrees with it. I normally use shaving cream (and a badger hair shaving brush, mmmm), and I can definitely notice a difference in the closeness compared to when I'm forced to only use hot water for one reason or another (or, hell, cold water a few times when I was enlisted).

Speaking of shaving, a friend of mine was on vacation recently and was at the Mall of America where there's a store "The Art of Shaving". Well, not just a store, because you can pay for a professional to shave you with various bells & whistles that can be added, I believe. His verdict: it was amazing.

But, more importantly the guy gave him a lot of good information on shaving. He showed him where his facial hair changes direction, "Always make your first pass with the grain of your hair, so make sure to change direction here. On a second pass, go perpendicular to the grain. Don't go against the grain, except maybe on a third pass if you want an even closer shave."

It started an interesting discussion, because, at least for the 4 of us talking about it, none of us had any real instruction on how to shave. Not much beyond "here's a razor, here's some shaving cream and hot water. Now shave."

I'm curious if that's the case for most guys.

[JudeMorrigan]

It started an interesting discussion, because, at least for the 4 of us talking about it, none of us had any real instruction on how to shave. Not much beyond "here's a razor, here's some shaving cream and hot water. Now shave."

I'm curious if that's the case for most guys.

That's exactly how it was for me. I've always figured my unfortunate propensity for ingrown hairs (almost as unsightly as they are painful) was in no small part due to my needing to learn2shave.

[Chuff]

My "lesson" was the same, although I've watched my Dad shave enough times that I shave in the same order and direction as him. Thing is, I don't think he knows the details any better than I do.

[SurgicalSteel]

I used to shave a pass with the grain, followed by a pass against the grain. That, combined with the use of alcohol based after shaves, made my face incredibly irritated and prone to pimples and redness after shaving. Then I read this interview with a woman in NYC who is like the best shaver in the world or something and she recommended with the grain for the first pass and across the grain for the next. Since I've started doing that (and switched to non-alcohol after shaves, also on her recommendation) I've still gotten an incredibly close shave, but none of the irritation.

[broken_escalator]

I will have to try doing the second pass across, since I am in a similar situation with irritation.

[SecondTalon]

Also, it's no more dangerous than rubbing a sharpened blade around on your neck, which most people do without much hesitation. You just have to pay attention to what you're doing until you figure it out. It's.. not a big deal. At all.

I suppose you're suggesting stretching the scrotum because other wise the skin would be very difficult to run a blade across. And with your neck you have some margin of error. A minor slice on skin as elastic as the scrotum is going to open up. A lot.

Well, obviously? I mean, you don't shave your neck by looking straight down - you look up a little to stretch the skin. Why would your testicles be any different? Yeah, you have to readjust your grip to make sure the right sections are being shaved, but at this point I can shave my junk about as fast or faster than I can shave my neck and face, simply because I'm used to it and I'm not trying to shave a pattern into it, unlike my beard.

[SurgicalSteel]

Found the interview, it's actually more of a Q&A:
http://www.menshealth.com/style/shave/A ... Expert.php

[felltir]

While we're on the subject, what does the boythread think of my new facehair?

[Izawwlgood]

You look like a budding Amish.

[broken_escalator]

I thought it looked decent, but now all I can think of is the Amish, even though its not long enough for the Amish beards.

[Ulc]

Found the interview, it's actually more of a Q&A:
http://www.menshealth.com/style/shave/A ... Expert.php

Holy fucking..

How hard can a shave possible be? I mean, it takes about 30 seconds when I haven't let it grow to exam length, and I have a ingrown hair maybe twice per year!

Pretty good I'd say Felltir, though I'd be more worried how it looked from the side than the front.

[felltir]

Pretty good I'd say Felltir, though I'd be more worried how it looked from the side than the front.

Side pictures ahoy!

You look like a budding Amish.

I think the clothes I wear will dispel that impression. I hope. :/

[roband]

Across the grain? Hmmm, I'll have to try that out.

[pseudoidiot]

simply because I'm used to it and I'm not trying to shave a pattern into it.

You should.

[broken_escalator]

Testicle beards are in this year.

[Ortus]

Testicle beards are in this year.

Testicle beards are in every year.

[pseudoidiot]

Mutton chops!

[The Scyphozoa]

Felltir's first picture looks like he used that one PhotoShop thing on it... remove noise or remove particles or whatever.

[Midnight]

Ok so from what I gather every guy on this forum either shaves off their hair or grows it out... does nobody just have a regular hair cut anymore?

I have a regular hair cut. It WAS quite grown out, and I THOUGHT about shaving it off, but now it's about two inches long.

[SecondTalon]

Mutton chops!

Pubic Mutton Chops....


...........

That... could... that could work.

[Ortus]

Ok so from what I gather every guy on this forum either shaves off their hair or grows it out... does nobody just have a regular hair cut anymore?

I have a regular hair cut. It WAS quite grown out, and I THOUGHT about shaving it off, but now it's about two inches long.

I didn't read what you quoted, at first; I thought you were talking about your pubic hair. I then imagined a place where you could go and get a haircut for your pubes, and it was... an interesting thought.

[pseudoidiot]

Mutton chops!

Pubic Mutton Chops....


...........

That... could... that could work.

pics or gtfo

[broken_escalator]

Mutton chops!

Pubic Mutton Chops....


...........

That... could... that could work.

Jokes about busting your chops would be amazing.

[Magnanimous]

You look like a budding Amish Wolverine.

[felltir]

You look like a budding Amish Wolverine.

That, I can get behind.

Literally.

[The Scyphozoa]

Eh, I guess it's literal, but it comes along with a figurative implication. Unless you really do mean simply standing behind him.

[suffer-cait]

pretty sure he does. and possibly not just standing..

[Chosen++]

While we're on the subject, what does the boythread think of my new facehair?

Your signature awkwardly fits with your message.

[Plasma Man]

I strongly approve of Felltir's facial hair.

[felltir]

I strongly approve of Felltir's facial hair.

<3

[Whelan]

Ok so from what I gather every guy on this forum either shaves off their hair or grows it out... does nobody just have a regular hair cut anymore?

I have a regular hair cut. It WAS quite grown out, and I THOUGHT about shaving it off, but now it's about two inches long.

I got really annoyed with longer hair, so now I cut it down to a #4.
And on the topic of shaving, I just sort of guessed, having not even someone to teach me.

[grythyttan]

Hmm, on monday I'm getting more money. So I think I'll go out and get some decent shaving equipment. (brush and shaving cream or somesuch) And I'll try that suggestion to shave across the grain on the second pass, it sounds like a good idea.

I decided to learn how to shave really early, completey ignoring the fact that I didn't have any hair on my chin to shave off. But I had seen exactly how my dad did it so how hard could it be? So the next time my four year old self had a bath I made my move to become more like my dad.

Apply soap from the soap puck using the brush. Lots of soap. There, my face is all covered in the stuff. Now, grab the razor and just wipe off the lather with it right? Oh god it stings so much and there's blood everywhere!

I suppose I screamed, and my parents came into the bathroom to see me sitting there with a razor in my fist and blood all over my face.

I didn't shave again until about 15 years later when my dad told me that the wispy "moustache" I had looked ridiculous.

[The Scyphozoa]

Along the lines of podbaydoor's posts about topics that this board could find controversial... I just criticized Valve in the TF2 thread. And as soon as I hit the Submit button, I knew what she was talking about.

[Chuff]

Just stopping by to say thanks for the along-across-against shaving tip. I managed to actually get a clean shave where I've never done so before. Woot.

[pseudoidiot]

Success!

Also, it turns out I'm going to St. Louis this weekend to visit family and there's an Art of Shaving that I'm planning on going to. Very much looking forward to the shave as well as whatever tips I can get.

[Ryom]

Enjoyable or not, using a badger hair brush is a closer shave. More so if you use warm lather, which you're supposed to.

I'd like to weigh in on this topic. I recently started using a straight razor and shaving brush/soap. The brush and soap system is so very much better than shave gels and foams because it leaves your hands dry and the soap lasts forever and is ridiculously cheap as well as effective. The shave with the straight razor requires more finesse but delivers a much closer and smoother shave. Do it after a hot shower and you won't have any problems.

If you are curious, these items will get you started for under $30. At the very least, it is FAR more economical than cartridges over the long haul, even cheap ones. You can invest in a badger brush and a non-replaceable blade razor later if you find that it suits you (or stick with replaceable blades if stropping and honing sound like a chore).


= $20

= $10

[Kewangji]

(You're supposed to add that something sorta-related to that is priceless.)

That does look nice, though.