Today my oldest son (16 next month) came downstairs with a large line of "dirt" on his upper lip. As of today, he is a man in the hairy sense of the word (it sure wasnt there yesterday). So off I went to Walgreens to buy him his first razor, etc (and yes I cried like a baby as I flashed back to his birth, to his first day of school). Some very helpful gents helped me choose what he needed.
razor-check pre shave "manly" face wash-check shaving foam-check after shave soothing lotion-check
Unfortunately that's were the help stopped, wish I could have taken them home with me to teach him HOW to shave. Shave my legs I can do, shave my bikini area im a pro (smooth as a babies ass). Thankfully that is were my Italian genes end and I have never had to shave my face So before I screw up and have my not so little boy shaving off his nose or lip can you guys give some helpful simple tips on how he should do this. Does he go from the corner of his lip up in a side type move? Should he start from the middle of the upper lip and go down? Did i say help yet??????????
For most guys, especially the young and sensitive, it is best to shave from the nose down. In fact to shave the whole face using top to bottom strokes. Shaving "upward" or "sideways" often causes ingrown hairs and irritation. HOWEVER, it should be noted that some guys have hair that actually grows in an upward or sideways direction on certain parts of the face, so start out shaving in the direction that the hair wants to grow. The rest of the desired shaving techniques are pretty much the same as you are accustomed to. Good Luck! and don't freak if he cuts himself - it is a skill to be learned. Cheers - Gregory
Thanks, i thought so too but the sales guy told me no..can you recomend one?? I am starting to get the feeling his journey into manhood is gonna be an expensive one
Braun's a good brand as far as electric razors go. I used one when I was younger. They have cheap models, as well as more expensive ones. Get him a cheap one for starters. It's not like he's going to need it everyday! Hope this helps...
1. wash face and leave it wet. 2. do something else for 3 minutes, like brush teeth. 3. apply shave cream or soap or foam. 4. fusion works best, but is expensive. can use the same blade for a week. 5. shave with the grain. 6. if unsatisfied, reapply cream, soap, or foam and shave against the grain. this gives some people ingrown hairs, but not others.
You are WAY overthinking this one. But this is a bit like when he learned to ride a bicycle; there WILL be some skinned knees and there is nothing you can do but stand by with some kleenex and a styptic pencil! The razors today are so much better than they were 'back in the day' so it really should not be much of a blood letting either. Personal Technique ONLY: I use an old fashioned shaving mug with a cake of shaving soap and a brush. Yes they DO still make them - you can even get the brushes made from Mink and yes they DO have 'other uses'!! I digress!!! The point is that you work up a nice HOT lather with the mug and brush and work it onto your face which softens the stubble and cleans the face very well just before you shave. And it just plain feels damn good compared to the soap from a can! MVR
Thanks for the help..I am or was rather looking more for the direction he should shave in and what area to start from but a helpful PM gave me what I needed...I remember the first time I ever shaved my legs..my step monster inflicted the epilady on me, hurt like a mo-fo and I never wanted to shave again...kind of like the first time I had sex hurt like hell but obviously Ive done it again (and learned to love it)...its a big moment for him, he feels like a man, not sure he even wants to shave it, he keeps checking himself out in the mirror. He even keeps saying "when i was a kid" to his little brother..kind of cute but sad, I miss my little boy already.
If they are still made, I think the typical razor has five blades now or something. I hate them.
For the mustache, start just under the nose and shave down towards the upper lip. Start in the center and then work one side, then the other.
The cheeks and side burns can be shaved by starting high and working low, then relather and shave the opposite direction.
The neck can be shaved from botton to top, and the jaw is usually shaved from the ear to the chin.
The area under the lower lip is the most sensitive. Shave from the lip down to the chin. You may want to then shave from the chin to the lip because the stubble there can hurt when smootching. If so, do so very carefully after relathering.
Good old fashion Colgate shave cream in a can is cheap and works very well.
Use an astringent such as Sea Breeze as an after shave to kill and bacteria.
Electric razors and not as effective as a blade, and they also tend to grind dirt and oil into the skin. I only use them if I'm in a hurry.
Remember, your not losing a son, you're gaining a man.
Thank you, that was exactly what I was looking for. Right now its just the upper lip, but deff needs to be taken care of. To him it's the coolest thing since x-box 360 but it just doesnt look right, like he just ate chocolate or something.
"gaining a man" thinking that comes with a whole new set of problems...and lots of gray hair...thanks again for your help...xox
Mom, leave the poor boy/man ALONE! He's SIXTEEN. He's old enough to DRIVE. He's old enough to get MARRIED even. If my 12yr. old granddaughter could figure out how to shave her legs, I'm sure your SIXTEEN year old son can shave his babyface.
no but i did explain and show him how with the aide of a cucumber, not the kind of thing you want them figuring out for themselves. Kind of one of those things you want them to get right the first time and everytime. Shaving might not have the same consequences if he screws up at first but when he asks for my help with something I try to give it, regardless of what it is. When he asks a question i answer it, might be easier to say "figure it out yourself" but thats not my parenting style.
I shave after my morning shower because the hot water and steam soften my beard. Then I follow with a hot wash cloth held on my beard area for at least 30 seconds, after which I immediately apply and massage in the shaving creme. I happen to like "brushless," which comes in a tube like a toothpaste tube, and has somewhat the consistency of toothpaste. Others use shaving foam or shaving gel. It doesn't matter what you use, so long as it's applied to a wet face immediately after the hot washcloth soak.
Whatever is used, it should be gently massaged into the face.
Then, I hold the razor under HOT water for 5-10 seconds and then begin to shave. I start at my left sideburn and shave down to my chin line, and then proceed across my face from top of beardline to chin line to my mouth. The razor should be rinsed under running HOT water whenever it accumulates shaving cream to the point where you can't see what you're doing. Then, I start at my right sideburn and shave down to my chinline, and proceed across my face from top of beardline to chinline until I get to my mouth.
Then, I shave my upper lip from top to bottom and left to right. Then, I re-shave my upper lip from bottom to top against the grain.
Then, I start to shave my neck from bottom to top, starting at the bottom of my neck and up to the chinline, going from right to left, until my neck is clean shaven. That leaves only the lower lip, and I shave it from chinline up to lip, left to right.
After that, I run my hand over my face to make sure I haven't missed anyplace. If I have, I rewet the razor, apply more shaving cream/foam/gel if needed, and catch any of the places I might have missed.
Then, I clean by razor under running HOT water until all the shaving cream/foam/gel is rinsed away, along with all whisker fragments. Then, I dry the razor with my bathtowel and hang it somewhere to air dry further. Keeping the razor clean and dry after each shave will greatly prolong the life of the razor.
I use Gillette disposable twin-bladed razors with a swivel head. They are inexpensive and last as long or longer than any other blade-type razor. A razor is finished when it no longer removes whiskers cleanly and starts to "pull" the skin or nicks the skin.
Opinions vary on whether "after-shave" does any good. I don't use it, but many do.
it is much easier to shave moderately tight or pulled skin, especially around the chin & corners of the mouth. Flexing the face, mouth, etc to keep the surface under the razor flat vice bumpy.
Pretty hard to describe in words. But not as important on the teenager face as it is on the 35+ face
And those face stretches help us keep our wrinkles away
I would have never thought to look on youtube...between everyones helpful replies I had an idea but watching this was what gave him the confidence..I had him start by shaving a small part of his leg to get a feel for the rrazor and after watching this video the kid was off like a pro...thank you...xox
His hairs should be soft, so it shouldn't be tough.
They say you should shave with the grain, not against it. However, with today's razors, I don't think it makes that much of a difference. Whatever angle works best for him. I find it easier to shave down from the top (side burns), and up from the bottom (neck). With today's multi-blade razors, it is hard to cut yourself if you take your time.
I shave after my shower. The shower softens up the hair. Rinse the blade after every two or three strokes.
I have friends with very tough hair and they have to replace their blade every week. Whereas one blade will last me for months.
I purchased a Gilette 3 yesterday...i do give him his space but wont lie his asking me for help is far and few between these days so when he does ask me i thrive on it...promise not to go on his first date with him though but if he mentions a bearded person in funny glasses following them my lips are sealed...xox
for the past 35 years, I'm afraid I can't be much help. Now, if he comes down the stairs and says, "Hey Mom, I want to start shaving my balls", perhaps I can lend some assistance.
Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all your tips, PMs and helpful advice..I know it prob didnt seem like a big deal but to him it was..sometimes being both mom & dad to two boys isnt easy, so I appreciate everyones help...I remember when I got my first bra, thought I was hot shit..didnt want to leave the house wearing anything over it..it was like my badge of honor saying "I am woman hear me roar"...kids are amazing little things..they remind you of your own childhood milestones and bring back memories of amazing times long forgotten...this summer we start visiting colleges and after my emotional reaction to shaving thinking ill self medicate for that (kidding of course)...have a great weekend everyone..in a few short hours I am off to the mountains with my two rugrats to do "manly" things....xox
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