Shavers for black men?

[Kwesi]

I'm going to have to start shaving soon (actually, I should have by now lol) and I'd like to pick up an electric shaver or clippers but seeing as black men have a tough, curly time in the hair department I thought I'd look for some advice. I just tried some Nivea electric shaver that my dad picked up for me and it was terrible. I could get rid of my beard faster with a pair of scissors. He also has this powder -- Gold something-or-other, that you plaster on to your face, let sit and then wipe off and the hair is gone. That would be perfect if not for the fact that I broke out last time I use it. So right now I'm looking for a good shaver or clipper and shaving cream or powder that's not to coarse on the skin. Any suggestions?

[lowendfriend]

Hard to go wrong with a Norelco triple head shaver. The key is to let the shaver do the cutting and not move around too fast....think lawnmower

[Dr. Cheese]

If your hair is very kinky like mine, you might just want to use barber's clippers for your beard. It won't cut as close as a razor, but you woin't have as many hair bumps either. I also grow a beard from time to time, and often have a five o'clock shadow to give my skin a break.

[wabbit]

A lawnmower would give you a nice close shave indeed.

[::::BASSIST::::]

Hey, I'm a white guy, but what I find is to just use a good quality gillete (etc) razor EVERYday. If you shave everyday a regular razor should do the job, even without shaving cream. The only time I use shaving cream is if I havent shaved for about 3 or 4 days and have some serious growth.

Electric razors are a waste of money IMO. I have tried a couple expensive ones. IME a regular razor, if used everyday, will be faster, less painful and you wont have to spend a ton of cash on an electric razor.

My .02

[FL Knifemaker]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

If your hair is very kinky like mine, you might just want to use barber's clippers for your beard. It won't cut as close as a razor, but you woin't have as many hair bumps either. I also grow a beard from time to time, and often have a five o'clock shadow to give my skin a break.

I'm not black but I have the same problems and do the exact same thing I bought a really good hair clipper from the beauty supply dealer that works like a charm. Cheap clippers SUCK !!! If I go for an actual shave, I use a straight razor.

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by lowendfriend

Hard to go wrong with a Norelco triple head shaver. The key is to let the shaver do the cutting and not move around too fast....think lawnmower

Actually, The shaver I mentioned in the OP was a Norelco triple head, lol. I made a mistake and called it Nivea, not sure why.

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

Hey, I'm a white guy, but what I find is to just use a good quality gillete (etc) razor EVERYday. If you shave everyday a regular razor should do the job, even without shaving cream. The only time I use shaving cream is if I havent shaved for about 3 or 4 days and have some serious growth.

Electric razors are a waste of money IMO. I have tried a couple expensive ones. IME a regular razor, if used everyday, will be faster, less painful and you wont have to spend a ton of cash on an electric razor.

My .02

I just used a Gillette fusion (5 blades + 1 for precision) razor that lying around (new, still in packaging) and the Gillette hydra gel and it worked like a charm. The skin around my chin hasn't been so smooth since before I started growing a beard . Of course, I can't say yet whether it'll cause bumps but if it doesn't I think I've found a keeper.

[BurningSkies]

As a white guy who shaves a lot (my head and face every day), I can say that electric razors are a plaything of the devil. You should stay away from them.

I've been using a fusion since it came out and it's been very solid. I tend to alternate some different shave cream/gels so that my skin stays in shape pretty well. A single blade will last for 3 weeks on my face. After that time, I use that blade on my head and a new one on my face. Been doing it for 16 or so years and it's been easy going.

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

I just used a Gillette fusion (5 blades + 1 for precision) razor that lying around (new, still in packaging) and the Gillette hydra gel and it worked like a charm. The skin around my chin hasn't been so smooth since before I started growing a beard . Of course, I can't say yet whether it'll cause bumps but if it doesn't I think I've found a keeper.

Those are pretty interesting razors. I like the hydragel, I did an internship at Gillette in personal care formulations around the time of the fusion release and was given a pretty large supply of the shave gels and such. We got a lot of samples passing through the lab when they did the release. Anyways I liked that stuff, but I found that using hair conditioner actually was a cheaper and more effective means of shave lubrication for me at least. I tend to just shave in the shower and save the extra time in front of the mirror (can get dicey if you have an asymmetrical face ), so I guess that's why I started using that, but it works.

Back on topic, if you have any issues with the regular hydragel, you'll probably have an issue with almost any shave gel. The hydrogels have more emollients and lubricants than most other gels (hence the cost) but also share many of the same base ingredients as other gels and foams, which are likely to be the cause of any skin reaction you may have.

[LiquidMidnight]

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

.

Electric razors are a waste of money IMO. I have tried a couple expensive ones. IME a regular razor, if used everyday, will be faster, less painful and you wont have to spend a ton of cash on an electric razor.

My .02

+1

I have yet to come across an electric razor that shaved as well as a straight razor. With that said, I'd love to find one, because I hate the straight razor shaving ritual in the morning.

As a white guy, I've been very happy with with the Gillete Mach 3. I haven't tried the Fusion, but I've heard good things about it. I also discovered Old Spice's disposables, which I thought were excellent.

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by coreyfyfe

Those are pretty interesting razors. I like the hydragel, I did an internship at Gillette in personal care formulations around the time of the fusion release and was given a pretty large supply of the shave gels and such. We got a lot of samples passing through the lab when they did the release. Anyways I liked that stuff, but I found that using hair conditioner actually was a cheaper and more effective means of shave lubrication for me at least. I tend to just shave in the shower and save the extra time in front of the mirror (can get dicey if you have an asymmetrical face ), so I guess that's why I started using that, but it works.

Back on topic, if you have any issues with the regular hydragel, you'll probably have an issue with almost any shave gel. The hydrogels have more emollients and lubricants than most other gels (hence the cost) but also share many of the same base ingredients as other gels and foams, which are likely to be the cause of any skin reaction you may have.

Well, here's hoping that Gillette is the one for me . Luckily, I won't be spending much on shaving stuff because the hair on my face grows crazy slow, thank God! I'm thinking that I'll only have to shave once every 2 weeks or so.

A little off-topic here but an internship at Gillette sounds pretty cool. Probably wouldn't work for my major (Mathematics/Financial Economics) but just curious, how'd you come across it?

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

A little off-topic here but an internship at Gillette sounds pretty cool. Probably wouldn't work for my major (Mathematics/Financial Economics) but just curious, how'd you come across it?

I went to Northeastern University for my undergrad degree (actually my masters too) and that was my first co-op (6 month internship) of the three I did. I was actually a bio major and was banking on a position with a small biotech but was turned down for someone with more experience after waiting about 3-4 weeks so then I had to scramble at the last minute to find an open position and this was the better of my 3 choices. Worked out well though, they paid the best of any co-op I did (mostly because it was a ChemE position) and I got to work part time for the second 6 months while I was in class. Gillette actually used to hire a ton of co-ops in every department, so the economics thing could have worked out, but I was there during the P&G buyout, so they ramped things down over the course of the year and a lot of people either left or were transferred to P&G facilities in other cities. I think most of the R&D and most of the support staff (business development, HR, accounting, etc) have moved out of Boston, but IIRC the design group and razor manufacturing are still there.

[capnsandwich]

The key to shaving is to stay on top of it. You can use any shaver, razor, brand you want but you have to stay on top of it. I've been using a Mach 3 for quite some time but I shave at least every other day, with no shaving cream. Get your face nice and wet in the shower, get a rag and douse it with HOT water. Then take that rag and scrub your face with it or just sit it on your face for about 15-20 seconds. That way your hair follicles will loosen up and will allow your hair to be cut easier. I've been dry shaving like this for years and so far, so good. Heat is your friend when shaving.

Oh, BTW I'm a honkey.

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by capnsandwich

Get your face nice and wet in the shower, get a rag and douse it with HOT water. T

Also important. Hot blades and hot skin. Things move much smoother.

[Joey3313]

Man, this thread is just racist.

[jonathan_matos5]

Originally Posted by Joey3313

Man, this thread is just racist.

only because white people are allowed to have beards now.

[capnsandwich]

Originally Posted by jonathan_matos5

only because white people are allowed to have beards now.

HOORAY BEARDS!!!

[Dr. Cheese]

Kwesi, as you said, you will know if you have problems a few days after you shave. For those who don't know, whe you shave, you actually cut hir a little below the actual skin line. If the hair is kinky, it can curl up before getting above the skin, creating a nasty pimple or bump that can be pretty painful. Removing the hairs can lead to scarring or keloids.

That is why I use clippers because it greatly reduces the number of hairs that are under the skin, thereby reducing the number of hair bumps.

[rr5025]

I use;







I have pretty sensitive skin and this does the trick for me. Just make sure you do it after a hot shower and rinse the blade in hot water as you go. When you're done rinse your face with cold water and pat dry with a towel.

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by lowendfriend

Hard to go wrong with a Norelco triple head shaver. The key is to let the shaver do the cutting and not move around too fast....think lawnmower

Black men have three heads?