Wet or Dry?
 

It's the big one! - an emotional subject bound to divide the male population of the Cellar - will friendships be demolished? Will you gasp at the revelations this subject produces. Is UG a closet dry man? So many questions to be answered.

And all because I have acquired a new electric razor - nice job - top of the range Philishave - gives a nice, clean, dry shave - but what does this revelation do for my standing amongst so many testosterone-enriched, lather-faced Cellar buddies?

Now I've been a dry shaver all my life - this has caused some severe 'tutt-tutts' from many comrades - and even more abrasive comments than that in its time (what is a woosser btw?). But put me near a bladed razor, and, apart from the fact that the lather goes everywhere. I am simply just incapable of completing a wet shave without spilling generous quantities of the red stuff.

So my secret's out of the closet. But who else is brave enough to bare his stubble - and what's with all that lather compulsion anyway? And where do the ladies stand on this sensitive (and I'm not just talking about the skin on my face) subject?

Bah, real men don't shave.

Sorry about that - I overlooked the 'pull out with bare hands' option...

and the beardy option

When I first started to shave, I used shaving cream and razors. After a few years of that, I got an electric and haven't gone back. Once you know what you are doing with an electric, you get just as close a shave as with a blade, and it's far far cheaper. Faster too. Only down side is that there is a mild burning feeling on your skin right after, but that's why you just splash a little water on your face.

i used to use electric. it does not get as close as a blade. now i use a mach 3 turbo and i usually shave in the shower....no shaving cream.

if i forget, i use a little of this:
http://www.shavesecret.com/images/bl...trial_size.jpg

quick, neat and it has a pleasant odor. lasts forever too.

I voted Mr. Clodfobble's preference--electric, and for the record I prefer it too. It's faster and doesn't make a mess all over the sink.

Each 3rd Christmas or so I'll receive an electric as a gift which will, inevitably, end up in the trash a week later. Every brand I've tried takes too much time because it misses so much with each pass and the repeated motions only end up irritating my face. For me, a blade has always done a better job, although the expense is a bit maddening. I've always been tempting to try a safety razor, but everything about those devices suggests there's little "safe" about them.

Never trust a man with a beard. Anyone that wakes to look himself in the mirror and hold a blade to his own throat first thing each morning demands more respect than anyone unshaven.

I use an electric for convenience' sake only. Wet shaves are the closest I've ever had but are not practical for me.

I'm being slowly forced to admit that electrolysis might be the best option for me as I HATE to shave and hate having a stubbly chinny chin chin also.

We'll see

Brian

Mach3, while skin is hot and steamy in the shower.

I also use a Mach3, and have found that the blade will last at least 6 months, if I don't mind a little discomfort.

Beest is bearded, but tidies it up a little with one of those three-blade jobbies and shaving gel after the shower.

I just switched back to the mach 3 (used the quattro for a while and then the one with 5 (really 6) blades. I liked the 5 blade when it first came out (the single blade on the edge is an awesome feature), but then it seemed like the blades were dull right out of the package - too expensive and too much razor burn.

The vibration is stupid though, imo. Needs to be much stronger or don't bother.

perv

Oh, I didn't even think about my own shaving preferences--are there really women out there who use electric shavers? That's just weird. I use a Gillete Tracer, and only have to replace the blade every six months or so.

I use a twin blade disposables with no lube strip. Don't care what brand, just hate the strip. Used to use swivel-head ones, but haven't been able to find them over here. Dry shave :)

Mrs. Dallas does.

Gel shave cream in the shower with a 3 blade Mach ,

Interesting revelations so far.

This shave and shower situation seems quite prevalent - but what about the environment lads? - think of the increase in your carbon footprint staying in the shower all that extra time!

Gillette's advertising seems to have paid off remarkably well, as well (and how many of you are picturing yourselves looking all six pack and chisel-featured while you're sliding those 3 little blades across the visage?).

AS for the ladies, Well, Ihope we're talking about shaving those areas ladies like to shave - Ms CF has one of those strange-shaped little green razors to take care of the legs (not sure if she uses that or something else for the armpits - I tend to take cover when she starts swishing that little thing around with gusto!

No facial hair rippers yet, but a couple of hirsute dwellers have made their mark, I see. And you're generally all being quite polite about your differences, as well - what a tolerant bunch of blade-wielders we all are...

[MONTY]And Now For Something Completely Different[/PYTHON]
 

Being adept at doing surgical preps, I have in the past used a straight razor from the minor surgery kit in my trauma bag for shaving in the field.

Nowadays, in the outer pouch of a gas mask carrier, I keep a heavy duty gyroscope [single head, rotary blade] shaver that requires just pulling a cord to dry shave under most conditions that a gas mask would be used (the mask isn't effective if facial hair breaks its seal against the skin).

At home, I'm still using an old Atra Plus with shaving gel in the shower.

Blimey NB, I hadn't banked on a clockwork razor! - seems I should have created another Poll option - 'None of the above' - hope you don't get the same effect on your face, as my lawn mower creates on the grass when it hits a tough patch and slows down...

:lol:

i shave my head and my face at the same time, once a week with clippers. if i have to shave for a meeting or something before the week is up i usually dry shave with the razor in my car (mach 3). the first few times it burned like hell but now im used to it.

I sure as hell don't -- I hate shaving and I detest Gillette's marketing campaign just as much as I despise every one of their wacky new products that attempts to make the chore of removing facial hair require $10 blades that vibrate, ooze, rotate, or glide on springs. Shaving with a blade does not require an AAA battery.

...but you have to give them credit. They did get their marketing right with a gimmick in WWII that they extended some years back. Remember that Gillette distributed razors to every US soldier in the 1940s? Today, it goes beyond that as every male in the US finds two things in their mailbox when they turn 18 years old: a "happy birthday" card from Uncle Sam (a Selective Service registration card) and another from Gillette with a free razor and two blades. Genius.

So that's options 2 and 4, plus using an electric trimmer once a week so 1 also. :p

Dad started wearing a beard when working for Players and winninga competition to look like the Navy Cut Man.
http://www.moviecard.com/zgeneral/box-pla-nav10.jpg

Hey Beest - always good to hear from you!
We're waiting your appearance in the Dwellars NSFW thread you know....

SG -- you're a tireless recruiter.

Ah he's Monster's hubbie - I know I can get away with it :)

Can anyone remind me what shaving is like?, my chin ain't seen the light of day since around 1979/1980 :D

It's that quality time of day when you can enjoy the solitudinous perfection of your own company, when the silky slide of blade across face is the perfect background to your innermost thoughts and contemplations...

That is until you experience the pandemonium of a previously unseen and now lacerated pimple which refuses to cease bleeding for what seems an interminable half-hour!

we can work on option 3 if you like :p

BTW, hadn't realized how much your dad looked like that guy. Your uncle Percy more so, though -and it's not just the sailor's uniform.

That sounds quite difficult - I'm picturing right hand shaving the face while left hand works on the head. I bet you're a wow at that rub-your-tum-and-pat-your-head-at-the-same-time game - well, at least, I hope you are....

Anyone else ever use a straight razor? I had the interesting experience, yesterday, of getting a haircut and having one used on my sideburns and neck. I didn't expect it, but once I realized what was being dragged across my face, I quickly stopped talking and remained as motionless as possible. Wow, do those things look dangerous!

When I was a kid, they used a straight razor around the ears and around the back, every time. Over the years they seem to have gotten away from that but the young lady that cut my hair last week, used a straight razor around the back of my neck.
Gave me flashbacks... 50 year flashbacks..... made me feel 12 again.











I gave her a $10 tip on a $15 haircut.

We get the straight razors (or cutthroats as they are more appropriately named here) at most barbers/gents hairdressers. They have the reputation of making the hair return more slowly where they are used, so sideburns, behind the ears and back of the neck are the usual areas to get treatment. I've only ever ventured once as far as a cutthroat shave - there was a reason - the obvious one!

When I saw the thread title I thought "Ribs!" Then I realized this wasn't the food thread.

This is at least partially walmart's fault. As a supplier to them gillette needs to either lower there price on an existing product or bring out a new value add to an existing product every year. Guess which lets them make more money. It's the same reason for the ridiculous profusion of toothbrushes now available.

I have a love/hate relationship with shaving. I try to do it as rarely as possible, but always enjoy the experience. I use a mugcake for the lather, and I get the water as hot as possible. I've been known to add boiling water to the sink if it's not hot enough out of the tap.

I currently use the Mach3 Turbo. It's not too bad. I think the "science" behind the vibration is that it causes the blade to saw through the hair. I'm not sure I buy it. I'd like to get a nice single-blade safety razor. However, I haven't drawn any significant blood in years and I suspect my first few times using one would start my day a bit more crimson than I like.

Wet or Dry
 

Still use a twin blade razor with an old fashioned barbers brush and shaving soap in the shower. Electric razors are annoying and irritating.
Nothing like a good hot shave.

You shouldn't. Notice how you don't see those commercials describing the mechanism, anymore?

But "sawing through" and "lifting up and away" are different mechanisms?

I had heard that straight blade razor barbers have learned how to slightly move the blade sideways to gain the best effect

They are, a bit. Up and away is like pulling thread tight so that you can cut it easier.

Me? I'm more a fan of not shaving except when it's important.

You need to add another option to the poll: fatlah :eek:

I use old school Trac IIs when I'm after the last word in "nice and clean." If it's a bit more of a hurry I'm in, the Remington electric gives me a buzzjob, but that just isn't as close, no matter what.

I've used a straight razor a few times -- trickier to get the edge angle right than with a handled razor. It's a far slower shave than with doubled blades, which I am not convinced shave any closer or "below the grade" but which does complete the job faster, so the multiblade head is really a plus.

In boot camp, even with the Trac II I never could pass the ultimate test of a close clean shave: the edge of a military ID card scraped along the jawline, listening for the scratchy sound of the merest stubble. My beard was too hefty.

I look very vaguely like that Players guy -- after he retires from the service. The mustache gets about that big if a little leaner drawn, and now the beard is going steadily more gray.