shaving is just the worst thing ever

Hair Removal Methods Shaving/Trimming
#1

I have to shave with the grain (sensor excel)… so I do not get the closest shave.

I have to shave my moustache and chin area with a andis trimmer because if I shave with my sensor excel or braun syncro around my chin area, I get like 1000 little white heads that piss me off. only in that area though !!! or I sometimes get these painful ingrown or zits around my lips that hurt like a bitch and look like a colesore.

help please… I need a good shave routine with a sensor excel !!! what is some good products that are not too $$$ ?

cleanser = cetephil ?

scrub = nivea ?

tend skin ?

shave gel ?

#2

Ditch the Sensor Excel, and get an M3 Power. It will cause much less irritation and give you a closer shave.

For shave gel get some Aveeno Positively Smooth. Edge Pro gel for tough beards is also very good.

I like to mix the Aveeno with <a href=“www.moorequique.com” target="_blank">Moore Unique Hydroglide Shaving Solution</a> . It is the best combination I have found so far.

Tend Skin is excellent! Used after shaving it should help reduce the white bumps/zits. And try to avoid touching your chin with your hands. That’s a great way to introduce bacteria into the area.

You must have really sensitive skin if the Syncro causes irritation. You might try their more upscale model, the Activator.

If you have a severe ingrown hair problem you might consider getting some laser treatments. That should help quite a bit. It will remove a lot of the hair and make the remaining ones finer, lessening the chance of ingrowns.

RJC2001

#3

Hi! I can really relate to your problem! I have super sensitive dry skin and really have to wait at least three days before taking the razor to my face again. I bleed a lot and get some of the white and red bumps that you mentioned. Well, here’s my strategy: I use a very gentle hypoallergic facial cleanser that doesn’t contain soap such as (Cetaphil or Physiogel) and a gentle exfoliant (such as an enzymatic one) once a week–make sure that it’s for sensitive skin.

If possible, always get a sample before you spend a lot of money on products that only irritate your skin. Tend Skin might be a little too harsh for your face. Avoid all after-shave or balsams that contain alcohol or fragrances. I need a “rich” soothing cream to stop the bleeding and soothe the irritation after shaving. In my experience, women’s sensitive facial creams that are fragrance free work much better than any after-shave lotions or men’s balsams which cause my face to really burn. You should also check the PFB forum on Hairtell which specifically deals with ingrowns and razor bumps. Some members wrote of a facial cream available at www.vanishmybumps.com which supposedly treats PFB and is designed for sensitive skin. It could be worth trying! If you’re really fed up with the whole shaving routine, you might want to consider electrolysis or laser but both take time and money.

#4

HI RJC!

You mentioned earlier that you had laser on your face and that it thinned out your beard a lot. How often can you now go between shaving without the appearance of stubble? How many sessions did it take and did you experience any side-effects such as scabbing or scarring? Did you have to avoid sunlight for a long time after getting laser treatment?

Laser seems like it might be a great way to reduce shaving but it is expensive and the side-effects kinda scare me. Thx for any information!

#5

HI RJC!

You mentioned earlier that you had laser on your face and that it thinned out your beard a lot. How often can you now go between shaving without the appearance of stubble?

About 1 day. My beard was really nasty! It took me 30 minutes to shave. Now I’m down to five minutes.

How many sessions did it take and did you experience any side-effects such as scabbing or scarring? Did you have to avoid sunlight for a long time after getting laser treatment?

Six treatments so far. No scabbing or scarring, thanks to the Nd:YAG lasers and a great practitioner. No I did not have to avoid the sun for a long time, that is another great thing about the Nd:YAG. I waited about 2 weeks before I went out in the sun. You can go out in the sun earlier if you use an SPF30 and apply it generously (don’t miss any spots).

Laser seems like it might be a great way to reduce shaving but it is expensive and the side-effects kinda scare me. Thx for any information!

It is a great way to reduce shaving. If you have a heavy beard, there is no such thing as the perfect shaver, blade or electric. Even a good blade like the Mach 3 will have issues. A heavy beard will wear out the blade quickly and that gets expensive. Plus with a heavy beard you get frustrated and press down too hard with the blade and cut yourself once in awhile. And electrics have a hard time with a heavy beard. Even one or two laser treatments will make a huge difference. I had the biggest improvement after 3 treatments. I have some stubborn stubble around my chin and hopefully we will blast the hell out of it in a month or two. I’m waiting to see how much I shed from my last Quadra Q4 treatment. I need to wait a week or two to reach conclusions about how much shedding there was. I have a little shedding now.

RJC2001

#6

RJC, thanks for the great info! When you mention “shedding” is it just like skin peeling off after a sunburn? Can you continue shaving while shedding or is it better not to go close to the area? How painful was the treatment and how sensitive is your face afterwards?

I’ve been looking for creams/lotions which supposedly reduce stubble and hair growth but haven’t been very successful here. I also wonder whether these products are just another marekting scam like KALO.

Cheers!

#7

By shedding, I mean that the entire hair, down to the bulb, slides out of the follicle, usually during shaving. I am still waiting for the hair to shed after my last Quadra Q4. I’ve shed a few hairs but not the majority like before. Sometimes it takes longer.

Aftger the Q4 treatment my face was a little bit red an sore the next day. That did not happen with the YAG lasers.

RJC2001

#8

Hi,
I am also in a similar situation, I hate shaving everyday and Its getting me down and making me depressed that people think of me as a hairy person…So you are very happy with you’re laser treatment? how much do you pay? and how permanent is it?
Thanks very much…

#9

I must say/ask that if you all are having this many problems with shaving your face, then you all must be in a world of hurt.

My skin has always been fairly tough. In fact, at one time, I could shave my face without cream within 24 hours of my last shave.

But I tend to let my beard grow 3-4 days before shaving. I used to use a Mach 3, but I’ve graduated to the new 5-bladed Fusion and it’s a great razor. Barely feel the cut. They’re damned expensive though. About $3 more for 4 blades than the Mach 3’s.

#10

Yes I got bought one of those for xmas by my mum, very nice I agree but I spend about £10 (or $200, ha, joke) on razors every 14 days…i get good ones though…fusion is lovely but just too expensive too justify…thanks for the reply…

#11

Shoot, I got a FREE 5-blade fusion in the mail and I use it several times so it lasts awhile. But, they have me hooked so I will pay to replace it. Nice shave, smooth feel. I am surprised at how much better than 3 blades it is. How many blades can they add?!?

#12

tex, can you update us on your laser results on the laser forum? thanks!

#13

I must have the weirdest beard, skin and hair known to man. Everyone says how great these 3 blade Mach 3 and Mach 3 power, Fusions. I’ve tried them all. They are suck. I can shave my beard a MAX of 3 times a week with a razor. If I use a Mach 3, if I would shave on Monday, and shave on Wednesday I bleed like hell and get horrible razor burn. I’ve found the senser excel to be by far the best blade in terms of irritation. I get much less using two blade than 3. It’s not quite as close, but my hair grows so fast and is so thick it doesn’t really matter.

Lately, I’ve switched to the electric 140 dollar Braun Razors. Now, I only shave about twice a week, but with these things I can actually shave probably 5 times a week. It’s not close, but at least I don’t have puss face with a ton of irritation.

#14

Chuck, it is simple. More blades shave closer; that is, they claim to pull on each hair and get it cut so that it is “below” the skin surface. Thus, those hairs will more likely become ingrown and will cause acne, puss, bleeding upon next shave, etc. If this is a problem, do NOT use multi-blade razors. For many people, extra blades make a smoother shave, not a less irritating shave. Some of us are fortunate to have skin that handles it better, but I also prefer to shave 3 times a week or fewer.