I don't know why I'm bothering with this, every time I pass on this advice, I get told I'm full of crap..

I had a similar issue, so I went and talked to someone who knows shaving - a good, old-school barber. Apart from the advice about good prep, which has mostly been given, he also had this to say.. Steer clear of multi-blade razors.. More blades equals more friction and more irritation. I went back to an old school single blade safety razor and the problem disappeared.. I've found I can also use a twin blade disposable..

Quote from: kelly_aus on December 29, 2014, 05:43:25 PM
I don't know why I'm bothering with this, every time I pass on this advice, I get told I'm full of crap..

I had a similar issue, so I went and talked to someone who knows shaving - a good, old-school barber. Apart from the advice about good prep, which has mostly been given, he also had this to say.. Steer clear of multi-blade razors.. More blades equals more friction and more irritation. I went back to an old school single blade safety razor and the problem disappeared.. I've found I can also use a twin blade disposable..

I tried the single blade stuff years ago and they were hell to use. I've used multi blade ones ever since then and I've had no issues. I make sure to scrub down my face with hot water before I begin shaving.

What works for some may not work for others.

YMMV and all that.

Quote from: kelly_aus on December 29, 2014, 05:43:25 PM
I don't know why I'm bothering with this, every time I pass on this advice, I get told I'm full of crap..

I had a similar issue, so I went and talked to someone who knows shaving - a good, old-school barber. Apart from the advice about good prep, which has mostly been given, he also had this to say.. Steer clear of multi-blade razors.. More blades equals more friction and more irritation. I went back to an old school single blade safety razor and the problem disappeared.. I've found I can also use a twin blade disposable..

^^ this x100. The five blade, vibrating, moisturising stuff is utter crap. You pay stupid amounts of money for a few cartridges when you can buy 24 single use blades for a few quid. Save your money and spend it on a good hydrating shaving gel.

Quote from: Laura Squirrel on December 29, 2014, 06:06:04 PM
I tried the single blade stuff years ago and they were hell to use. I've used multi blade ones ever since then and I've had no issues. I make sure to scrub down my face with hot water before I begin shaving.

What works for some may not work for others.

YMMV and all that.

There's a variance in quality between the blades, Laura. You can still save a lot getting a decent quality single or double blade.

Quote from: Wynternight on December 29, 2014, 06:08:45 PM
There's a variance in quality between the blades, Laura. You can still save a lot getting a decent quality single or double blade.

It also requires good technique - something the multi-blade razors don't teach you..

Quote from: Wynternight on December 29, 2014, 06:08:45 PM
There's a variance in quality between the blades, Laura. You can still save a lot getting a decent quality single or double blade.

Nah, I'm good. The blades tend to last quite a while since I had the orchi years ago. The electro that I had helped as well. (But I still need to have to more completed.)

Quote from: kelly_aus on December 29, 2014, 06:11:30 PM
It also requires good technique - something the multi-blade razors don't teach you..

Oh, but you can learn if you use them long enough. I've been using them since 1998.

Hey, I'll stick with my >$1 a week shaving costs.. Was less when I used a straight edge and stone/strop combo..

But I'll bet I can remove as much hair in a single stroke with my single blade than I can with a multi-blade.. Just with way less friction and irritation.

Kelly is absolutely right!

Shaving with the old school razor (wet shaving) will help reduce shadow too cause you get an even closer shave vs standard razors.

I shave maybe once or twice a week with a cheap razor but only if I'm in a hurry to go somewhere, otherwise I pluck

Started plucking with the tweezers from my Swiss Army knife quite a few years ago

No stubble and what little regrowth is slow and has mostly reverted back to peach fuzz

Yes, it is rather painful but somehow seems to help ease my angst

Quote from: V M on December 29, 2014, 07:19:10 PM
I shave maybe once or twice a week with a cheap razor but only if I'm in a hurry to go somewhere, otherwise I pluck

Started plucking with the tweezers from my Swiss Army knife quite a few years ago

No stubble and what little regrowth is slow and has mostly reverted back to peach fuzz

Yes, it is rather painful but somehow seems to help ease my angst

Do you get electro, V M? Plucking is bad if you do.

That explains why I've been doing better with the cheap 2 blade Gillette razors instead of the razor with 4 or 5 blades.  So +1 for what Kelly said.

The ever-increasing number of blades is definitely a marketing scheme.  The CEO of Schick once said talking about the competition, "I don't care if we have to make a razor with 12 blades and 3 damn aloe strips...we are going to beat them!"

Quote from: Wynternight on December 29, 2014, 07:57:06 PM
Do you get electro, V M? Plucking is bad if you do.

Can't afford electro and don't like shaving, I fear that I will probably always be a plucker





*There's a rather odd subliminal joke not in there somewhere*    HeeHee

Quote from: V M on December 29, 2014, 08:25:02 PM
Can't afford electro and don't like shaving, I fear that I will probably always be a plucker





*There's a rather odd subliminal joke not in there somewhere*    HeeHee

Plucking carry on!

Wish I knew ... hypnosis?

Quote from: Wynternight on December 29, 2014, 08:41:33 PM


Plucking carry on!

Other than the pain, the only downfall of plucking is once in awhile I'll get a really gnarly ingrown hair

Had one coil up 2" long on my chin one time and that was miserable

Was really glad when it popped and I could pluck that plucker out 

Quote from: V M on December 29, 2014, 09:01:11 PM
Other than the pain, the only downfall of plucking is once in awhile I'll get a really gnarly ingrown hair

Had one coil up 2" long on my chin one time and that was miserable

Was really glad when it popped and I could pluck that plucker out 

That sounds really plucking painful.

ah shaving : (
i too have a very hard time
its that pesky blue tone on my upper lip that really annoys me i tried everything orange lipstick salmon lipstick even pink if i use that it makes my face look like the color of the lipstick and i just look weird....
so one day i took it upon myself to not do the lipstick trick and just shave normally and apply makeup
i went out and asked my brother in the car if he saw ANY facial hair at all and he said no.....
so maybe we are just extremely hard on ourselves?

Interesting info coming through... personally I use a 4 blade "g" and get a real close shave... but only lasts a day at the most... Interested in the Plucking, I tried and it pluck*** hurt.... brought tears to my eyes, enough to fill a  bucket... and they grow back, but after about a week . It was just the agony, and a magnifying mirror... but I guess the discomfort is similar to electro anyways? But cheaper and time consuming...
Luckily my "shadow" is more silvery, which will be a b****r for Laser, but will do it, at least it will get ride of the dark ones, so don't want to keep shaving!!!!!

Ooh reason I shave in the shower (from earlier), apart from smoother, I also do not have to stand watching me shave... hate that too!

L Katy 

Quote from: Alysinspace on December 29, 2014, 11:21:35 PM
ah shaving : (
i too have a very hard time
its that pesky blue tone on my upper lip that really annoys me i tried everything orange lipstick salmon lipstick even pink if i use that it makes my face look like the color of the lipstick and i just look weird....
so one day i took it upon myself to not do the lipstick trick and just shave normally and apply makeup
i went out and asked my brother in the car if he saw ANY facial hair at all and he said no.....
so maybe we are just extremely hard on ourselves?

No some of us do have a really bad beard shadow. For me it didn't matter how closely I shaved I would still have that odd blue shadow left. Thanks to laser my beard shadow is mostly gone. Before laser even with hrt my beard shadow was pretty heavy and it took tons of makeup just to cover it up. I do not miss those days.

Some great posts here, I plan on trying a few of these things. ANYTHING to try and minimise the dreaded blue shadow that I just can't shake. I know that laser will ultimately be my saviour here, because I don't believe any degree of shaving will give me the clear face that I long for, but I'm willing to try other solutions to stop myself from going batty in the meantime.

Thank you all! *hug*