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Regular Shaving
November 10, 2009
Men, Why Do You Shave?
I found this in an article on the site Thels Talk:
"Among the many reasons I found while doing some research men began shaving in Stone Age times were:
To reduce the breeding grounds for lice, fleas and small rodents.
To eliminate the beard as a place for an enemy to hang on during combat.
To make it easier to eat.
Superstition associated a heavily bearded man with old age and death, in addition to the superstitious belief of spirits which entered the body through hairs on the head.
I don't know about you, but I don't think any of those apply anymore.
The comments (over 400 of them) are hilarious (and insightful). One man said "I shave because James Bond shaves." and another says "I don't shave my beard because I don't have to submit to another man's will to survive. My beard represents freedom, self-determination and control over my own destiny."
I shave because I've grown a beard many different times in my life, and now that I'm 40, a shaved face helps me to look younger.
We just received this email from a new reader, and thought that perhaps some of you might be able to help him out with suggestions and links to improve his shaving experience:
"I am a Marine and I am headed back to the Middle East for the rest of my year deployment. I am 25 in Sept. and having been in the Marines for 6 years and my face is not getting any younger. I have to shave everyday sometimes on the weekend I will take a half day off of work or sleep in a little and not shave but it doesn't seem to help. Well, even back home in the states I shave sun-fri and it is killing my neck and face. I started to use art of shaving products and have used the Merkur safety blade for 3 days now. I was using Fusion blades with a shaving cream and after shave balm for sensitive skin for years. The balm cream seemed to be helping my face a lot but still not 100% around the neck.
I am pale skinned, more oily I think than dry, sensitive especially around the neck area. I run or work out pretty much everyday so I sweat a lot also. I have a "shadow" within 8 hours and by 12 hours I have a beard started. Even when I don't shave it seems like my neck still get irritated. I am thinking about dropping the 200+ dollars for the Braun Pulsonic electric razor but not sure if it will help my situation.
The art of shaving people I talked with got my to try to Merkur razor and I just put in an order for more blades to see how it works. I would like to get the irritation down on the neck area and have a close good shave on my face. I enjoy the Merkur safety so far. It is hard to get used to but I think I am doing well.
Please any advice on techniques, products, etc. or tips you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I think I have read everything online that I can find now that I found this site. Shaving everyday for Marines tend to be a problem and I believe that what I will and have learned will help my fellow guys out."
What advice would you give to him? Leave some links to solid information and videos if you have them.
"Proper shaving has become a lost art. Shaving is one of those glorious male traditions that used to be passed down from father to son, but somewhere along the line, when shaving became more about cheap, disposable razors than a nice, precision-made metal tool in your hand, it became a brainless routine to rush through in the morning without even thinking about it."
Shave after your shower - Let the hair soften in the hot water while you shower, or use a towel soaked in hot water on your face for a minute or two before shaving.
Use a shaving oil under your shaving cream - An oil will help your razor to glide smoother across your face instead of dragging and pulling.
Apply shaving cream with a shaving brush - A better application of cream leads to a smoother, safer shave.
Use a safety razor or straight razor - A single blade will not tend to cut the hair follicle under the surface of the skin, which leads to ingrown hair and razor bumps.
Exfoliate your skin - Cleaning your face of all old skin cells makes for a healthy complexion, as well as helping to prevent razor bumps and ingrown hair.
Shave with the grain of growth, not against it. Ingrown hairs abound when shaving against the grain if you're susceptible to them.
"Some things boys can pick up from the world around them: how to tumble, how to eat an ice cream cone, how to climb a tree. Then there are things that sons just need to learn from their fathers. The father and son relationship is like an apprenticeship for manhood, on-the-job training for growing up. And the best place to learn how to be a man is sometimes at the other end of the kitchen table."
Shaving Myth: Beard Grows Thicker with Frequent Shaving
One persistent myth about shaving is the idea that your beard will grow thicker the more often you shave it. This myth has probably led to more money being plopped down by teenage boys for razors and shaving cream than any advertising campaign run by grooming products companies, but unfortunately for the boys, it's not true.
"It only appears that hair is thicker after cutting because the proximal shaft [the part of the hair closest to the skin] is thicker in diameter." - Robin Ashinoff, M.D., director of Dermatologic, Mohs and Laser Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center
"Once it has been shaven, the hair will regrow with a blunt tip, which creates a more stubbly and rough feeling. Shaving changes the hair shaft, which grows outside the skin, but doesn't change the hair follicle, which determines the hair's length, girth and color" - Paradi Mirmirani, M.D., dermatologist at the Permanente Medical Group in Vallejo, CA
But will American teens believe it if it hasn't been tested by Myth Busters?
Facial hair just grows. You don't have to think about it, feed it, or nurture it, you simply have to deal with it as it grows. You can shave it all, or you can just shave part of it, leaving a goatee, a moustache, a soul patch, or even some Neil Young style lambchops.
But you have to make that decision every single morning.
"To be a man is to decide about facial hair. Even to just shave and not think about it is a form of decision. To the ancient Greeks, a beard was inseparable from manhood. The Romans shaved, probably to say they weren't like those uncouth Greeks. Through the centuries facial hair came and went like hemlines and tides. Most of the presidents between Lincoln and Taft had beards." - Mail Tribune
If you choose to shave it all everyday, you've got to decide on the method: electric razor, disposable razor, safety razor, or straight razor. And which cream or gel are you going to use? What about after the shave - are you using an aftershave or lotion, or just a rinse?
If you're only going to shave part of it, how much are you going to leave? If you have a trimmed beard, how far up the neck do you shave? How long will you let your beard, moustache, or goatee grow? And how will you keep it even? I'm sure every man has had one of those "Ooops" moments, where you slip and take off more on one side than the other...
Starting from a clean shave and growing out some facial hair takes some thought as well. What's my wife going to think? How will the guys at work respond? How long do I let it grow before giving up and just shaving the whole face again?
The cool thing about it is that you're in control. You can change your looks within a week, and if you don't like it, you can change back again, no problem. And as you get older, you may lose your hair, but you'll probably not lose your whiskers, which means you get to keep your style for a long time...
What's the toughest decision about facial hair for you?
"You've been shaving for years. Now do it right. A long time ago, you learned to shave from your dad, the same man who is still using a twin-blade disposable. Time to rethink what you thought you knew."
Review of John Allan's Slickwater Pre-Shave Solution
What does the name "Slickwater" make you think of? Quicksand? An oil spill? Or perhaps some Clinton era scandal? Whatever you associate with Slickwater, it's all slippery and lubricated goodness when applied to shaving. There's nothing wrong with adding an extra layer of protection against that razor sharp steel doing battle with your whiskers. And John Allan has come through with another fine product which does just that.
John Allan's Slickwater pre-shave solution is a new pre-shave oil which goes underneath your regular shaving cream. I have been using Slickwater with Cremo Cream and REN High Glide Cooling Shaving Cream and it works well with both. Cremo cream doesn't really need a pre-shave oil, but I got a few more shaves with my razor when I was using it. REN High Glide definitely benefits from a layer of Slickwater, since it's a dry shave to begin with.
For me the major improvement that Slickwater brings to the pre-shave oil is in the area of application. Pre-shave oils are very viscous, and are often difficult to transfer from your hands to your face. The packaging will say use two or three drops, but you're never sure if any of that ended up on your face. Slickwater is a snap to apply and the slight shine on your face will let you know where it is. That's a big plus in my book.
Now, I'd like to take a moment out of this review to deconstruct the full name of this product and show you the true genius of Mr. Allan's marketing department. You see, this product is not called John Allan's Slickwater Pre-Shave Oil. It's called John Allan's Slickwater Pre-Shave Solution. Why is that important? Because if there's one thing that's rubbed off from me schmoozing my MBA friends, you don't sell products; you sell solutions.
I like Slickwater and I think you will too. It's a got a pleasant herbal smell, goes on easily, and adds an extra layer of protection to your shave. If you've got extra sensitive skin or just feel you could benefit from another layer of smoothness, give Slickwater a try.
If you shave with a cartridge razor, consider switching to the Preserve Razor Triple as a nod to the 'green' movement. Recycline makes the handles from 100% recycled plastics, including at least 65% recycled Stonyfield Farm yogurt cups, and provides a postage-paid label to mail in your worn-out or broken handle to be recycled. The recycled handles get a second life as plastic lumber for park benches, decks, etc.
"An innovation in shaving, the Preserve® Triple Razor provides an eco-friendly shaving option that doesn't sacrifice performance. With our titanium-coated blades and lubrication strip for comfort, Preserve's Triple Razor delivers a clean, close shave for both men and women. Available in four vivid colors, the ergonomic handle exhibits contours and gripping regions that enhance performance and control."
"Gripping regions that enhance performance..." Hmmm... I can't vouch for that, but I did shave with the Preserve Triple last week, and for a cartridge razor, I thought it was good. It was comfortable and the triple blade gave me a close shave, and knowing that I could send it back to be recycled again was a plus for me.
I used Cremo Shave Cream to shave with it, and I was impressed by the richness of the cream enough to want to keep using it. It's super concentrated, so I was able to shave my whole face (3 days of stubble) with just a dab the size of a quarter. It also has a great manly scent - I highly recommend it.
From Soul Patch to Chin Strip, a Little Goes a Long Way
Have you noticed the resurgence in tiny beards? There are soul patches and chin strips and goatees everywhere. What's the appeal?
Olympic skater Apolo Anton Ohno had an article written about his choice of facial hair on ESPN.com, and the author had this to say about the soul patch:
"The soul patch is the "I meant to do that" of facial hair. Unlike a Grizzly Adams/Ted Kaczynski full-on beard, the soul patch doesn't require a lot of scratching or checking for ticks. And unlike geometrically correct goatees, it doesn't say, "I'm on Satan's team." Instead, a soul patch says things like, "I'm cool" or "I'm a little rebellious" or "I'm sensitive" or "I'm a little hung up on myself" or "I can grow hair right there on that spot right below my lip, and some of my friends can't."
I have to confess that I wore either a goatee or a full beard for many years, but never considered a 'flavor saver' until last year. I started letting a little stubble collect under my lip until it became noticeable, and now my soul patch has morphed into a full-on chin strip. It really does say "I'm cool" (or maybe it just says "I'm hung up on myself") when I look in the mirror.
Whatever it says, having a little bit of facial hair growing in the midst of a clean shaved face definitely adds a touch of variety. It's not just for the hipsters anymore...
What about you? Got a soul patch, goatee, or chin strip? Why do you wear one?
My New Years resolution - get a better shave without breaking the bank. It's recession time, people. And while it may have taken a couple extra months for the federal government to admit it, the average joe has known to watch his wallet for a long time now. That's why I'm psyched to have found Cremo Cream, a shaving cream which ranks among the best, and costs among the least. At $8 for a 6oz tube, Cremo Cream is by far the best shave for the shekel, the best bang for the buck.
If you remember back in December when we first got Cremo Cream in, creator Mike Boone had set out to make a different type of shaving cream, one that wasn't mostly air. He was on to something. Cremo Cream shaves like the high end brands we've come to know and love. I'd put this shaving cream up to the likes of The Art of Shaving, Gentlemen's Refinery, or Billy Jealousy. Super close shave with nary a nick or cut to mention.
Cremo Cream is a white cream with smooths on easily and doesn't gunk up your razor. The tube suggest you use an "almond-sized" amount, but I typically weighed in at the pecan or walnut level. Regardless, this isn't one of those "use generously" shaving creams. One tube is supposed to last 60 days, and I think that'll come close to being true.
The only place Cremo Cream falls short when compared to the high-end brands is scent. There's absolutely nothing malodorous about Cremo Cream. It's just verges slightly on the artificial lemon. If you want to pay three and four times as much for a natural manly aroma, be my guest. You won't regret it, but you won't be getting that much of a better shave.
Cremo Cream is a winner. At $8 a tube, it's cheap. Get some.
Back in the day a razor had one blade. Simple. Understandable. Then someone got the brilliant idea to put two blades on every razor cartridge. Genius. We can charge more money. And thus the razor arms race was born. Now we've got four and five bladed behemoths, with micro-vibrating powered handles, and edging blades for sideburns and those hard to reach places. What else could you possibly jam on to a razor? (Wait, I just remembered The Art of Shaving special edition Gillette Fusion Power razor with built in flashlight!)
OK, so back to the question at hand - what else could you possibly jam on to a razor?
Schick's answer - a trimmer. If you haven't already seen the Schick Quattro Titanium Trimmer, which came out last year, say hello to the latest in shaving improvements. This razor has a four-bladed cartridge for a super-close shave, an edging blade for keeping your hairlines straight, a powered handle for a smooth comfortable shaving, and now trimmer for taming your bushy sideburns. (The trimmer is at the bottom of the handle; see picture on right.)
And as ridiculous as it sounds, I really like it. I haven't been a huge fan of Schick razors before, but this one won me over. The Quattro has a big, beefy, rubberized handle which allows you to get a nice grip. It's certainly heavier than razors of 10 years ago, but for me that's a plus. It feels sturdy.
The trimmer is great. I typically get my hair cut every five weeks, and by the end of that fourth week my sideburns are looking a little unkempt. I'd gotten pretty adept at using a comb and an electric razor to thin things out, by it was always a precarious operation. The Quattro's trimmer makes this task easy. There are three settings depending on how close you want to trim. (Schick's site claims there are four. What's the fourth? No trimmer attachment on? Oh marketing department...) My advice - don't take the plastic trimmer head off. You'll lose it.
One thing to note - the Schick Quattro Titanium Trimmer is loud. Of the three powered razors out there - Quattro, Fusion, and Mach3 - it is by far the loudest. Not a huge deal in my book, but worth mentioning.
So there you have it. A Schick razor that was finally good enough for me. I think you'll like it too, and I think you'll really appreciate the trimmer. How much you want to bet Gillette adds a trimmer to their Fusion this year?
Men, Why Do You Shave?
I found this in an article on the site 
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