Shaving options

[Lucca]

I have very sensitive skin, combined with pretty bad acne, which makes it difficult to shave very closely or evenly. I've tried several different methods, including a couple different brands of disposable razors, electric rotary razors, and electric foil razors, and haven't found a solution that I quite like. Disposable razors give me bad razor burn no matter how much I try to avoid it, and electric razors don't cut super close and it's hard to get into some of the crevices, like under my chin and my upper lip. The best I've gotten so far is a pretty good electric foil razor, plus washing my face with some "razor defense" cream and then covering it with shaving oil. That does a pretty good job, but I still can't get my upper lip cut very well, and it gives me a couple bleeding, popped zits most of the time.

I'm going on Accutane, so hopefully acne won't be in issue in the long term, but I still want to look for a better shaving solution before I can get it all lasered off. Does anyone have experience with using a straight razor, plus shaving soap? I know it takes longer to do and takes some practice, but I thought it might be able to do a better job in those hard to reach areas. Would it be better to get one with disposable blades, or one that you sharpen?

[Andrea Jane]

Are you undergoing electrolysis?
A lengthy process but in the end much better than shaving. Also dep creams.

[Lucca]

I'm going to go on laser, but I have to wait until I'm done with my course of Accutane, and then be off it for a couple months. So, that's around 7-9 months from now, unfortunately.

I haven't tried depilatory creams made for facial hair, is there one you'd suggest?

[Sideways]

Are we taking straight razor or safety razor? Straight razor is Sweeny Todd, safety razor had the replaceable blades.

I've used a safety razor. It's is slightly closer than a disposable razor but riskier. More chance of knicks and cuts until you're skilled with it. It's an antiquated name really, since it's "safe" compared to cutthroat straight razor. I don't think it would an improvement over disposable for your situation.

[Dena]

Are we taking straight razor or safety razor? Straight razor is Sweeny Todd, safety razor had the replaceable blades.

I've used a safety razor. It's is slightly closer than a disposable razor but riskier. More chance of knicks and cuts until you're skilled with it. It's an antiquated name really, since it's "safe" compared to cutthroat straight razor. I don't think it would an improvement over disposable for your situation.

And the third option, a Shavette. Best or worst of both worlds depending on your viewpoint.

[Cindy]

I would be very cautious of depilatory creams if you have sensitive skin. They are quite caustic. Have you tried threading?

[Lucca]

Safety razors still have a vaguely disposable razor shape, right? I've seen razors billed as straight razors that are long and thin, but have disposable blades and no housing over the sharp edge.

For depillatory creams, I'll probably try one fornulated for facial hair at some point, but yeah, I don't know if it'll go well with my skin. I definitely would try just a dab at first instead of my whole face to make sure it doesn't irritate my skin.

I have not tried threading, I've only heard about it for eyebrows and didn't think it would work so well for thick facial hair?

[DotSlashNatalie]

I have very sensitive skin, combined with pretty bad acne, which makes it difficult to shave very closely or evenly. I've tried several different methods, including a couple different brands of disposable razors, electric rotary razors, and electric foil razors, and haven't found a solution that I quite like. Disposable razors give me bad razor burn no matter how much I try to avoid it, and electric razors don't cut super close and it's hard to get into some of the crevices, like under my chin and my upper lip. The best I've gotten so far is a pretty good electric foil razor, plus washing my face with some "razor defense" cream and then covering it with shaving oil. That does a pretty good job, but I still can't get my upper lip cut very well, and it gives me a couple bleeding, popped zits most of the time.

I'm going on Accutane, so hopefully acne won't be in issue in the long term, but I still want to look for a better shaving solution before I can get it all lasered off. Does anyone have experience with using a straight razor, plus shaving soap? I know it takes longer to do and takes some practice, but I thought it might be able to do a better job in those hard to reach areas. Would it be better to get one with disposable blades, or one that you sharpen?

I think I kind of have the same problem. A lot of times when using a straight razor I always nick something on my lip. I've been using "Olay Shower Lotion Ultra Moisture Shea Butter" and shaving while I'm in the shower with success. A straight razor can get closer but a little painful but the electric razor is much better.

Shaving chest and legs are a different matter. I did buy "Veet Gel Hair Remover Cream" and tried it on my one leg and while it smelled it did work and it didn't leave any of the burn marks that people have posted. I didn't do a total cover with the Veet - just little patches and did the rest with a straight razor.

Have you tried waxing? I don't know if it's better/worse than using a razor but the last time I tried it it left my leg smoother (and it seemed cleaner as it pulls all the dirt/dead skin as well) than shaving alone. But owwww it hurt 

[Lucca]

I have not tried waxing anywhere, though I'm mostly concerned about my face and I'm pretty sure beard hair is too thick for waxing?

I bought a safety razor plus shave soap, but I can't seem to get it to work. I've tried all sorts of angles both with and against the grain, it barely does anything. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

On the plus side, I discovered a product called "Shave Secret" at Wal-mart, which I haven't seen at any other store for some reason. (Though it is on Amazon.) Unlike most other shaving oils, you massage it into your skin, let it set, and then wash most of it off. It works really well! I used to have to use this gross Van Der Hagen shave oil that was really oily and smelled weird and that you have to leave on while you're shaving and gummed up my electric razor, but this Shave Secret stuff is a lot less messy and works better. Definitely worth a try!

[Eryn T]

Hey, Lucca, hun! Glad you're finding at least some success for you!

Waxing at home for me was ineffective, I think I have sensitive skin, too, and tried the remover creams, but what I found is that they didn't really start to remove hair until after the 10min mark(and they say 3-7min, never past 10min) I had that suff on each section for around 15min each, I think I got a few chemical burns but I don't see anything now, so It's hard to know.

As for threading, it worked really well for me, here is before/after from when I did it:





But the day after my face broke out in pimples literally everywhere, it was a super bad reaction.

As for shaving against/with the grain, it does make sense to go against it, to me. But what I've found is that hair can grow in all sorts of different directions and when I shave sections of my body like my lower legs, I go up first, then side-to-side(from the front middle to left, front middle to right; then reverse) and then down, too. And that works best for me. Just doing up misses a ton of hair usually, for me.

[Lucca]

Oh yeah, I tried Magic Shave depillatory cream on my face and it didn't do anything except make my face itchy for the next hour. I could try leaving it on longer, but I think I'd have a bad reaction.

[DotSlashNatalie]

Oh yeah, I tried Magic Shave depillatory cream on my face and it didn't do anything except make my face itchy for the next hour. I could try leaving it on longer, but I think I'd have a bad reaction.

That is the one thing I've read and heard - don't leave those creams on longer than the max. The max always seems to be 10 minutes. I feel like if it doesn't remove any hair after 5 - it won't do anything after 10 and just cause burns.

Hey, Lucca, hun! Glad you're finding at least some success for you!

Waxing at home for me was ineffective, I think I have sensitive skin, too, and tried the remover creams, but what I found is that they didn't really start to remove hair until after the 10min mark(and they say 3-7min, never past 10min) I had that suff on each section for around 15min each, I think I got a few chemical burns but I don't see anything now, so It's hard to know.

As for threading, it worked really well for me, here is before/after from when I did it:

Waxing is pretty hard to do it right. I did a small sample that used melted wax and you use this like popsicle stick and really couldn't figure out the right angle to apply it. But watching videos other people melted the wax, used the stick applied a large area, and peeled it off like it was nothing. It was painful so I'm sticking with a combination of straight and electric razors. Dollar shave club is really nice.

Is threading basically plucking the hair? I've never heard of that before today.

[Eryn T]

Is threading basically plucking the hair? I've never heard of that before today.

I had seem people do it on Youtube, and I did it 'professionally' but I went searching and found a decent tutorial for it.

What threading DOES, in my opinion, is like a more-effective way of tweezing lots of hairs at once.

[Harley Quinn]

Hot shave with hot towel, badger brush, shave soap, and either a DE Safety razor or a straight razor.  if you're going to try with a straight razor, I'd go for a solid blade rather than those replaceable blade "straight razors" because you're basically using a DE safety razor at that point.  And definitely practice with a straight razor before you put it to your face, if you cut yourself up with a disposible razor, you'll cut yourself very badly with a straight razor.  You have to take your time with that one...  The safety razor will get you a very close shave with a little prep work/hot towel.