Finally, The 'Perfect' Shave for sensitive types

vibe666 · 17-06-2003 11:32AM #1

Right, here's the story.

I've always had very sensitive skin around the neck area and shaving is a real bitch, to put it mildly.

But over the years I've tried pretty much everything and this is what works for me (finally!).

Have a shower, making sure to use some sort of moisturising shower gel/cream (Dove, Johnsons or the like) and leave it to soak in for as long as you can, while you do your 'other' stuff.

When you're done, straight after you've dried yourself off, get some moisturising cream on the parts of your face you are going to shave, and then leave it for 5mins while you do more 'other' stuff.

Then apply your shaving lotion/gel/cream and shave with cold water (hot will make any rash even worse) and then pat dry with a newly cleaned towel (preferably not one that someone just dried their arse with!).

After that, pick a nice moisturising balm and give your face a good coating of it, applying again when you get home from work or whenever it starts to feel dry again, and you get the chance.

Here's what works for me:

Shower: Dove Shower Cream - The normalo Dove thing, you get in Boots, or other chemists.

Pre-Shave: Aqueous Cream - A very good (better than E45) moisturising cream, recommended by a lot of medical professionals. Get it in Boots, Grafton St. 3/4 of the way down on the left hand side (bottom of the shelf) in a round tub, like the old E45 ones.

Razors: No contest, Gillette Mach 3 Turbo, best on the market at the moment.

Shave Gel: King Of Shaves Kinexium - Boots again, or other large chemists, possibly supermarkets. Blue bottle, with green lid. Contains silicon so it gives a very smooth shave.

Post Shave: King Of Shaves Post Shave Cream, or Nivea for Men Sensitive Aftershave Balm. SOmetimes the Aqueous Cream as well.

Thats it.

DOes anyone else have anything else to add?

Maybe the best Electric Shavers?

Big Chief · 17-06-2003 11:57AM

Originally posted by vibe666

DOes anyone else have anything else to add?

95% of the mornings im on a strict time limit if i want to make it to work on time, thus i have came up with a theory that i only wanna be in the bathroom getting washed/teeth brushed/shaved in a maximum of 10 mins.

Putting on 45 creams in the morning is not my idea of how i would like to wake up to, then again im not a morning person and im usually always cranky when i get up (maybe on an exception a friday where im usually ok)

i think having to do all that would just drive me over the edge.

vibe666 · 17-06-2003 11:58AM

depends on if you have sensitive skin or not I guess, and how bothered you are about not getting too much f a rash. :rolleyes:

Typedef · 17-06-2003 12:01PM

Sometimes I have to put a ton of Sudocream on my neck... since, shaving everyday... makes it quite irritated.... though only since I started using this Gillette shaving cream..

I bought some shaving soap from L'Occutaine (if you please) ... and hopefully that'll end poverty, war... and be better for my skin... all at the same time.

LegacyUser · 17-06-2003 12:15PM

im usually not too bad, but always leave a little red mark above my upper lip - which is annoying

Praetorian · 17-06-2003 12:18PM

I don't shave often

but when I do I use the Remington MicroScreen 3 TCT RS8986. I think it's €125 in boots (I got mine in the UK for about £100). Just slap on some moisturiser afterwards.

D-Generate · 17-06-2003 12:49PM

My god that is a hell of long time spent prepareing to shave. My skin is all manly, i can do a dry shave wit no irritation, bow down before me!!

vibe666 · 17-06-2003 12:52PM

bet you use a big bowie knife lick mick dundee too!

seriously though, it does very much depend on your skin type. I just wanted to let those people who have to suffer with razor burn know that there is a way round it. even if it does take 20 minutes:rolleyes:

mooman_00 · 17-06-2003 02:47PM

Originally posted by vibe666
while you do your 'other' stuff.

First of all your referring to **** here right??

Anyway i gave up trying to find the perfect way to shave as i could never find it and ended up with a rash for days. Go buy an electric shaver it'll only cost you about 8 packets of Gillette Mach 3 turbo Blades and you dont have to worry about Rashes, Shaving cream/gel or buying blades ever again. I got the philips sth sth, its grey and orange, waterproof and stays going for 70 mins before recharging.

patch · 17-06-2003 02:56PM

I concur....use plenty of moisturiser too. I get the tesco one without too much crap in it. Cheap, does the job.

DriftingRain · 17-06-2003 09:30PM

I use the girlie stuff and it works great on my legs and *cough* every where else! I use rezors with the flexi stuff and the extra blade with aloe. It's wonderful...

daveg · 18-06-2003 11:39AM

I too have been plauged by sensative skin over the years. I have developed my own shaving routine. I always shave in the shower. I use Gillette blades and I find once they blunt a bit (say after shave 10) they work best. Before that they do tend to cut my neck. I'm damned if I can remember the shaving gel I use but it is for sensative skin and is of the gel variety.

vibe666 · 18-06-2003 11:43AM

I wasn't talking about **** mooman, but whatever floats your boat mate.

anyway, does anyone else have experience of the newer electric models? I tried one about 10 years ago, and got mauled by it, and never used one since.

Are the newer ones better compared to a wet shave?

I know some of the philips ones you can use in the shower anyway.

Any recommendations for someone with sensitive skin?

I was reading about laser hair removal treatment, and was wondering if it would work on facial hairs. that would save a lot of work in the mornings! would cost 2 or 3k (from what I understand) but would be well worth it to never have to shave again!

I was just wondering if I'd end up looking like a ladyboy! I've got a a goatee anyway, so I could keep that, and justr get the rest done, then I'd only have to trim the beard every week.

Am I mad?

mooman_00 · 18-06-2003 12:34PM

I went for the electric way as my next option would have been lazer hair removal.....

its a brand new philips something or other and i will admit the first shave was terrible. Missed loads of smallhairs and had a bad rash for days......but now i find it great, shaving takes about five minutes, little or no rash(takes about 6 weeks to get used to electric razor only had it 2-3 weeks).

All in all i find it great. The only problem i have is it takes ages to get a 'clean' shave as you have to go over each area a few times before you'll get results.

The only thing to watch out for is gimics when you go to buy your shaver.......who shaves in the shower?? thats where you do 'other' stuff

My one is 'waterproof' but only for cleaning, as in you can't immerse it in water but it'll take a good splashing. This post is getting way too long so im ending it here.

Emboss · 18-06-2003 12:38PM

Nivea shaving balm, use it after shaving, after a week of using it all my shaving problems vanished i actually enjoy shaving now no rashes no irritations, (i don't work for them honest) you don't get alot in the bottle and it's not cheap but well worth it,

ToxicPaddy · 18-06-2003 02:35PM

Originally posted by DriftingRain
...... and *cough* every where else!

under your arms????????:p

johnnynolegs · 18-06-2003 02:39PM

Originally posted by DriftingRain
and *cough* every where else!

u mean ur eyebrows drifting??

Cake Fiend · 18-06-2003 10:13PM

I used to get a vicious rash with blades (the occasional time I shaved), but I got a ****ty Remington electric from Argos and now I fly through it with minimal irritation.

Crash · 18-06-2003 10:53PM

I still get a terrible rash sometimes, though that may be a result of me being lazy and going for a quick dry shave

anytime i do wetshave my face is in worse bits than with a dry shave though.

LegacyUser · 18-06-2003 11:16PM

Try Total Shaving Solution, you can't beat it.No nicks or rash.I used to take ages shaving in the morning when I used foam until I tried TSS.Blade doesn't get clogged with foam so it makes shaving a lot quicker.Not exactly sure what oils go into it but they have the effect of softening bristles and also moistening your skin.

Mossy Monk · 18-06-2003 11:41PM

shaving in the shower is the only way. no need for shaving gel which i hate

ColinM · 19-06-2003 02:18PM

Listen mate, try not to take offence when I say this but:
Stop being such a total pansy! Lay off the evening primrose oil and stay out of Boots FFS! Boots is a shop for women - I would have thought that would have been blindingly obvious! Real men shuffle about outside Boots' front window smoking cigarettes impatiently, while their girlfriends spend fricking ages inside buying unnecessary "tea-tree" this and "peach-nut" that.
Just lather some soap, stick it on your jowels and remove with a shard of broken glass.
[Now you know I'm saying all this with tongue-in-cheek, but at the same time, seriously - quit being such a wuss!]

mooman_00 · 19-06-2003 02:54PM

Originally posted by ColinM
Listen mate, try not to take offence when I say this but:
Stop being such a total pansy! Lay off the evening primrose oil and stay out of Boots FFS! Boots is a shop for women - I would have thought that would have been blindingly obvious! Real men shuffle about outside Boots' front window smoking cigarettes impatiently, while their girlfriends spend fricking ages inside buying unnecessary "tea-tree" this and "peach-nut" that.
Just lather some soap, stick it on your jowels and remove with a shard of broken glass.
[Now you know I'm saying all this with tongue-in-cheek, but at the same time, seriously - quit being such a wuss!]

sigh i wish i could be as butch as you......................

vibe666 · 19-06-2003 03:01PM

:eek: I feel so inadequite

do you wipe your arse with broken bottles too?

Caesar_Bojangle · 20-06-2003 01:39AM

do you wipe your arse with broken bottles too?

I thought it was just me.

Close shave my arse, mach 3 turbo leaves me with stubble despite what the ads say.

DriftingRain · 20-06-2003 05:19AM

under your arms????????

Um....YES!!

u mean ur eyebrows drifting??

Um...NO!!

I don't shave the hair on my head, my eye brows, or my arms.

Gordon · 20-06-2003 05:58AM

I presume that Total Shave Solution is basically a shaving oil? I use oil and enjoy it although I too can dry shave if needed so my suggestions lead to little weight. I would put it out as a suggestion but, vibe, you seem to have a pretty good setup going on, though if it was me I'd tear my hair out (pun) and get it electrolysisysed! heh, well maybe not.

So do all electric razors miss certain patches like moomans? I have one (a quite old one) and it also misses bits so I gave up and used blades.

Wolf · 21-06-2003 04:34AM

I use soap and a cut throat. If I use anything else I get really bad skin go figure

RopeDrink · 21-06-2003 07:15AM

Don't shave too often... usually end up with a ridiculous goatee of much fluffness, but hey, I like something to pull at when Im frustrated (The pain reminds me of what the **** Im doing)...

When I do shave, the skin is fine, albeit a little itchy at times... I often use Nivea Aftershave Balm... Makes your face feel cool, soft and it also adds +5 to Nice Smell Skills....

KdjaCL · 21-06-2003 11:56AM

Oi i patented that use womens cream for shaving idea

but i have moved on with this little combo.

1 Kettle
1 Small towel
1 Mach 3 turbo
1 Bottle of Dove or Vanilla shower cream wife buys (will get anem later) or that PH 5.5 stuff.

Boil Kettle and place towel in sink and pour boiling water over it apply to face whislt hot (you will know by the pain if its hot enough) then use any of the above as shaving foam (also Nivea shaving foam is good).
As the Heat opens the pores on your fave it makes it easier to shave and gives a perfect shave.
When finished shaving pour boilgin water over towel and apply to face dry off and Waa laa perfect shave with no pain, cuts, or that horrible burning sensation.

Been doing that for a while now and its great.

kdjac

vibe666 · 23-06-2003 12:02PM

Originally posted by Wolf
I use soap and a cut throat. If I use anything else I get really bad skin go figure

you name isn't Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee is it?

Seriously though, I had considered that a cutthroat might actually give a more gentle shave due to the extra, extra sharpness of it, but I've always been too afraid to try.

BTW, I got a shave with my haircut (24e extra tho) and although he murdered me in there (very painful after) I got no rash at all.

He used the hot towels thing, nivea (the old sort in the little blue tub) to massage my face for 10 minutes, and a special shaving foam, applied very liberally (again fro about 10 minutes) with a shaving brush, before shaving me with a modified cut throat razor which instead of just having a normal blade it had a groove so he could slide in a razor blade (assuming it was for hygeine purposes). It looked like a cut throat, but it was basically a safety razor with all the safety removed!

Once he's washed and dried me off he sprayed me with some sort of aftershave, possibly sulfuric acid by the way it felt, and then massaged my face again, and used more hot towels before he was done.

Whole thing must have been 40 minutes so it wasn't that bad value considering everything he did.

I was petrified that I'd have a really bad rash all over my face the next morning because the whole thing was stinging for a good 8 hours, but I put some E45 cream on my face twice that day, and again before I went to bed, and I came out of it with less of a rash than if I'd shaved myself.

I get the feeling that if I had that done 4 or 5 times, I'd have strong enough neck skin to stop me getting a rash at all.

The big question is, am I that brave?

Finally, The 'Perfect' Shave for sensitive types

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