Nèêd hêlp from the guys

[Apple]

So, my son is 15 and starting to get facial hair

What would work best here, razor, shaver, ?? Does he need both? His dad is out of the picture and I guess I never really paid attention to what he used (he was usually clean shaven). I know the ex-bf used a trimmer, but he was a pretty hairy guy and always had facial hair (not a full beard, not a goatee, but the stuff in between).

Thoughts?

[Phoenix84]

Some of it's a matter of preference.

Depends if your kid can shave with a razor and not cut himself, it will probably take a bit of time. If that's a worry then I'd get an electric razor, but those don't get quite as close as a shave.

Personally I use a gillete fusion proglide with matching shaving cream. It works fine and I don't cut myself, and I get a close shave. But any razor/shaving cream combo should work fine. Though I would note that more expensive razors tend to cut you less. More razors on the blade is better in my opinion, so I would go with the ones with 4-5 razors on them. you get a closer and more comfortable shave.

Though the razors are cheap, where you really spend the money is razor blades. They're close to $20 for a pack of 4 . Speaking of which remind him to change out the razors every once and a while so he won't cut himself.

You might give him a tutorial on shaving. It's not rocket science. Just run the cream over your face and slowly and carefully run the razor over it. Just make sure you get all of it. When I first started shaving I missed spots.

[Peace Of Mind]

Not a guy either but DH has a really thick beard. If he shaves with a razor he gets ingrown hairs and breaks out. So he'll razor shave now and then but prefers a twin blade electric shaver. If you want a brand name I can ask him real quick before he falls asleep. He just went to bed.

[Phoenix84]

POM has a point, every guy is different. Some guys have sensative skin or get ingrown hair or have other special shaving needs. I never has any problems wtih that though.

I never cared for a beard.

[Peace Of Mind]

I don't either, Phoenix. And his is rough! He tried one years ago and he looks much better without one.

Apple - He uses the Panasonic wet/dry dual blade electric shaver and he bought it at Best Buy for around $100.00. He's tried Braun but they discontinued the one he liked and the others dulled too fast and chewed up his face. My DH is very fragile.

[Phoenix84]

My face gets itchy with one.

only reason I'd grow a beard is so I can run my fingers through it while I am thinking or staring at someone/something, like in the movies. That was be totally badass

[Peace Of Mind]

LMAO!!! You can just grow a mustache and fondle that so the itching would be minimal. And you'd look like a deep thinker at the same time. ;D

[ZaireinHD]

well ummm....my skin is different soooo ...
as said eariler it really is up to your son.
purchase both Mack 5 turbo razor and an electric shaver.

it depends how his skin will take to either of them and how fast hair grows

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

My husband uses shaving soap. It's round and peach colored and comes in a green box. He also uses a Gillette Mach 3

[MN-Investor]

I wonder if there are videos on YouTube which would show your son the basics of how to shave. That might be worthwhile checking out too.

[NastyWoman]

Both sons got electric shavers from me to start out -- because of the cutting risk. However, as they grew older and their fuzz turned into heavy beards, they moved on to shavers.

[Deleted]

My husband and 16 year old son uses Mach 3 razors and Aveno or Neutrogena shaving cream for sensitive skin.

[Bluerobin]

Start him with a package of Bic Razors and a can of good shaving cream. Let him decide if he likes it. If not, you can get something else. I didn't have a dad in the picture, and was able to figure it out.

[Deleted]

get him a razor. A few swipes of the blade and he will be good to go.

[damnotagain]

After Shaving make sure he puts some 70% isopropyl alcohol in his hands and put it on his face. Clean , might take some getting used to.

[nalto]

Good input from the dudes. My only suggestion? Have him shave first on a Saturday. That way if he nicks the heck out of himself, he won't have to go to school with his face all ripped up.

[Deleted]

You can get all fancy and high tech, but this is all he really needs.

[Jake 48]

apple, I use both blades and an electric, moisture is the key to a good shave, I suggest he shaves when he gets out of the shower, here is a link to a you-tube video ( could not get the video to post)

[Tennesseer]

Get him both. Disposable razors and shaving cream are inexpensive. Electric shavers cost more but they last longer. Plus no nicks.

[Apple]

Ok, another question (thanks for all the advice so far! I had thought of looking for a video, we'll check out the one Jake posted).

I know how long razors tend to last for legs (I'm assuming they'd last a little longer for him--less surface area to cover and not much to shave yet), but how long does a shaver last? Do you just buy a new shaver or a new head when it goes dull?

I'll probably get him both, that way he can decide what he likes best. Right now it's real light in color and sparse, so he doesn't need to worry too much about getting it perfect--he has a little time to practice.

[Deleted]

I use a Gillette Mach 3. It lasts me between 1 to 2 months with 5 to 6 days a week of use. It has replacement blades so you just buy the blades and not the entire razor.

[Sum Dum Gai]

1-2 months shaving 5 days a week??? You masochist. Those blades must be about as sharp as butter knives after a couple weeks. At that point you might as well shave by scraping your face with a rock.

[Phoenix84]

I shave every 2-3 days, and a razor might last me a couple of weeks.

[Bluerobin]

Here is a novel idea: Why not ask your DS if he would like to try blades or an electric?

[973beachbum]

Dec 17, 2012 15:42:27 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

1-2 months shaving 5 days a week??? You masochist. Those blades must be about as sharp as butter knives after a couple weeks. At that point you might as well shave by scraping your face with a rock.

I was thinking of just using duct tape and ripping them out would be more like it.

DH shaves part of his face every day. He has a full beard but has to shave the cheeks above the beard and his neck. He changes them every week at least if not every 5 days.

[justme]

If you get coupons in the paper, a lot of the time the drugstores have guy razors for a steal when you buy a new one. It's why all the razors I have are made for guys. ;D I have several of the Pro Fusion and other new razors I got for a few bucks - sometimes as low as $1. I have so many frickin razor handles because it's cheaper to buy a whole new one than refills.

[Deleted]

By Clark Howard


If you ever heard I stretch a buck just a little past the point of ridiculous, well, it could be true!

Years ago, a listener called up after I had talked about the razor wars with Gillette or Schick rolling out their latest model with 14 blades or whatever it was at the time. I was making fun of their marketing ploys and high prices by talking about my cheap disposable razors.

So a man calls me up who was an engineer and said that he had the real money-saving secret when it came to razors. He told me that by drying my disposable razor after each use, that would make it last for months or even years. Blades degrade from moisture, as the man explained, not so much from the actual friction or wear of shaving stubble.

So I tried blotting my disposable razor dry on a towel after each use. That's not the way he suggested I dry it, but I opted for a lazy man's approach and it has worked for me. (Others recommend using alcohol or a little drying machine you can buy at the drug store.) I found that with drying the blade on my towel, I could go 6, 8 or even 10 months on a single disposable razor.

Then just last year, I was doing an affiliate radio station visit in Greensboro, N.C. and a morning show guy gave me "a lifetime supply" of 10 disposable blades because he thought my whole deal with using a razor for so long was funny.

I started using the first of the radio guy's free razors, and now I have finally crossed the 12-month mark with it! In truth, the blade started declining about 6 weeks ago, and one day I actually did nick myself, but I wanted so badly to reach that 1 year milestone!

I know this might all sound crazy to you. But if you're used to using a zillion dollar Gillette or Schick and you can stretch it for weeks or even months, we're talking about real dough you're saving. This is just 1 example of a way to make a difference in your wallet. That money feels better in my wallet than in Gillette's or Schick's. How about you?

[ihearyou2]

Dec 17, 2012 16:12:40 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

By Clark Howard


If you ever heard I stretch a buck just a little past the point of ridiculous, well, it could be true!

Years ago, a listener called up after I had talked about the razor wars with Gillette or Schick rolling out their latest model with 14 blades or whatever it was at the time. I was making fun of their marketing ploys and high prices by talking about my cheap disposable razors.

So a man calls me up who was an engineer and said that he had the real money-saving secret when it came to razors. He told me that by drying my disposable razor after each use, that would make it last for months or even years. Blades degrade from moisture, as the man explained, not so much from the actual friction or wear of shaving stubble.

So I tried blotting my disposable razor dry on a towel after each use. That's not the way he suggested I dry it, but I opted for a lazy man's approach and it has worked for me. (Others recommend using alcohol or a little drying machine you can buy at the drug store.) I found that with drying the blade on my towel, I could go 6, 8 or even 10 months on a single disposable razor.

Then just last year, I was doing an affiliate radio station visit in Greensboro, N.C. and a morning show guy gave me "a lifetime supply" of 10 disposable blades because he thought my whole deal with using a razor for so long was funny.

I started using the first of the radio guy's free razors, and now I have finally crossed the 12-month mark with it! In truth, the blade started declining about 6 weeks ago, and one day I actually did nick myself, but I wanted so badly to reach that 1 year milestone!

I know this might all sound crazy to you. But if you're used to using a zillion dollar Gillette or Schick and you can stretch it for weeks or even months, we're talking about real dough you're saving. This is just 1 example of a way to make a difference in your wallet. That money feels better in my wallet than in Gillette's or Schick's. How about you?

A night out for Clark is hot dogs at Costco.

[Deleted]

Dec 17, 2012 16:20:17 GMT -5 ihearyou2 said:

Dec 17, 2012 16:12:40 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

By Clark Howard


If you ever heard I stretch a buck just a little past the point of ridiculous, well, it could be true!

Years ago, a listener called up after I had talked about the razor wars with Gillette or Schick rolling out their latest model with 14 blades or whatever it was at the time. I was making fun of their marketing ploys and high prices by talking about my cheap disposable razors.

So a man calls me up who was an engineer and said that he had the real money-saving secret when it came to razors. He told me that by drying my disposable razor after each use, that would make it last for months or even years. Blades degrade from moisture, as the man explained, not so much from the actual friction or wear of shaving stubble.

So I tried blotting my disposable razor dry on a towel after each use. That's not the way he suggested I dry it, but I opted for a lazy man's approach and it has worked for me. (Others recommend using alcohol or a little drying machine you can buy at the drug store.) I found that with drying the blade on my towel, I could go 6, 8 or even 10 months on a single disposable razor.

Then just last year, I was doing an affiliate radio station visit in Greensboro, N.C. and a morning show guy gave me "a lifetime supply" of 10 disposable blades because he thought my whole deal with using a razor for so long was funny.

I started using the first of the radio guy's free razors, and now I have finally crossed the 12-month mark with it! In truth, the blade started declining about 6 weeks ago, and one day I actually did nick myself, but I wanted so badly to reach that 1 year milestone!

I know this might all sound crazy to you. But if you're used to using a zillion dollar Gillette or Schick and you can stretch it for weeks or even months, we're talking about real dough you're saving. This is just 1 example of a way to make a difference in your wallet. That money feels better in my wallet than in Gillette's or Schick's. How about you?

A night out for Clark is hot dogs at Costco.

All Beef hot dogs. Oye.

[shanendoah]

Just a note on the "every guy is different" angle- if you son has any skin or scalp problems, that might make a difference.
My DH has pretty severe psoriasis on his scalp and it extends to his face under his beard. His skin is healthiest when he has a full beard. Shaving really aggravates the psoriasis and his face looks like's got a rash or open sores. Even jobs he's had where you were supposed to be clean shaven ended up letting him keep a 5o'clock shadow level beard.
When he did shave, he would start with an electric and then finish with a blade. He was very much a proponent of the gel shaving creams and at least 3 blades on the razor (4 is better). But he also has very thick, curly hair, which can be hard to manage- even as a beard.