shaving problems

I swear we've had this thread before, but here goes.

1. don't exfoliate beforehand. If you must exfoliate (why bother, for that matter, but whatev), do so in the evening, and no more than once per week.
2. keep sharp blades in your razor.
3. if shaving against the grain irritates you, then don't do it: shave cross-grain.

Welcome to SF,

I'm no expert but my 2 cent's worth:

Blades:
How often do you change your blades / cartridge? You might need to change more often thank you think. Dull baldes = irritation

Preparation:
I'd imagine exfoliating and then dragging 5 razor blades across your face would irritate anyone's skin. As Thomas recommends: ditch the exfoliating, or maybe do it once a week (in the evening).
Have you tired a different gel / cream? Maybe the brand you are using is also irritating you? Maybe try one for sensitive skin?
Make sure your face is nice and wet before you apply lather and really rub it into your stubble

The Shave:
Don't press too hard, you'll be surprised how a light "stroke" can be just as effective.
Shave WITH the grain first.

If you want to get more tips and chat with people who are really passionate about shaving have a look at www.badgerandblade.com Its a great site & forum and you'll probably end up ditching the Gillet/Cartridge/goo in a can and shaving with cream/brush and a "proper" (DE) razor...

Good luck!

+1, but anyway...

The most important things are lubricating the skin and using a sharp blade. There is no need to exfoliate the part of your face that you shave and if anything I'm betting that it is counterproductive.

Finally, there are several threads in this forum about using a DE (Double Edge) Safety Razor (the kind your Gramps used). This will provide a much smoother, closer, irritation-free shave than all of the gimmicky cartridge razors available today. And it is much less expensive. Just a thought.

An electric shaver will not shave closer than a razor. It's better for people who DON'T want a close shave. Like people who are susceptible to ingrown hairs, bumps, etc...

Isn't dragging a razor blade (or 5) across your face exfoliation enough?

Also don't waste your money on shave oils, olive oil is way cheaper and works better.

+1 on the DE safety razor. I did that for years then switched to a straight razor, but that's another topic altogether. The key is wet shaving. Rubbing that gel or whatever onto your face with your fingers does virtually nothing to the hair on your face. A good wet shave using a brush and proper shaving soap gets each little hair well-coated and lubricated and will give you a very close shave without going across or against the grain, which is bad for your skin anyway. Buy a cheap DE safety razor to start (but get good blades for it, not the cheap ones). Practice a bit to get the technique down. The trick is in the skin preparation, work that soap on with the brush and don't be afraid to re-lather during the shave. Shave immediately after you shower and do not exfoliate before shaving. Do moisturize your face after you shave, rinse and dry (pat dry, don't rub). I don't even wash that part of my face in the shower before I shave. It will get plenty clean when you properly wet shave, so don't worry about that. A DE safety razor with a good blade and proper preparation will give you the closest shave you have ever had with no damage to your skin.

Once you master this, you can move up to the straight razor shave, which in my experience has been a major turn-on for a lot of women when they hear about this. Until I started straight shaving, I never had a woman ask me if she could watch me shave. If you get good enough at it, you can offer to straight-shave your lady friends' legs for her...just be careful!

Shaving is no one's favorite pastime - scraping a metal blade across your face is almost unnatural. The STUF^TM Classic Shave Kit makes it easy. First, draw out the toxins and impurities that wreak havoc on your skin with the Daily Cleanser. Then soothe and moisturize the skin during and after shaving while minimizing the post-shave nasties, with the rich, silky Shave Gel and the cooling After Shave Balm. To finish up, apply Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 15 with essential anti-oxidants and vitamins to protect the skin from harmful UV rays and aging. Easy!

 

 

Also, if the Gilette 5 blade razor isn't working for you after trying anything spcified above, you should consider getting a different blade. I hear Edward Jagger DE89L gives a good shave. And the advantage is that you can choose from a range of different blades, suitable for different skintypes.

I've struggled with the same issue for years...bought a $300 Norelco electric shaver and a bottle of LetricShave and my shaving experience now is transcendental. I also take the razor along with me to work and use it in the afternoon. The hair never has a chance. If you get lazy and let it grow out on vacation though...the gods will weap for your mercy.