When I shave, the razor glides roughly on my skin.

Hello, I am a 20 year old. I have the following problem with shaving - When I shave (with the grain), the razor doesn't glide smoothly on my skin, but drags instead (like my skin is dry). I am using the Nivea Originals shaving gel and cheap 1-time use razors (today I used a brand new razor from those, and the problem occured). Can you tell me from where the problem might come from? Should I replace the shaving gel with a shaving foam (maybe Nivea Sensitive, since there are only Nivea products near my place) , or the problem comes from the cheap razors? I would really appreciate if you could help me. Thank you very much.

 

Dude, you have come to the right place. Shave gel!?!? You need a brush and quality cream or soap. We can work on the razor later...

 

I agree. You are doing several things that could make you feel that way. Ditch the canned stuff & switch to soap & a brush. (If you don't know how to use them, there is plenty of YouTube video on the subject.) The cheap razors are also part of the problem. Consider switching to a double-edge safety razor (often referred to as simply a DE).

It would also help to know about your pre-shave prep. For instance, do you shave before or after you shower? Do you use any kind of pre-shave balm or oil?

 

I used to have the same problem. After switching to quality creams and soaps as stated above, the problem went away. The canned goo tends to be sticky, and those lubricating strips on disposable razors also seem to stick to my face. My DE's or SE's glide smooth as can be!

 

You can get a set up that will start you on the way of traditional wet shaving for 30$ and enjoy shaves as never before. There will be some issues in the start probably but once you get it down in a week or two you'll never go back to disposables and canned goo

 

Usually, I shave during shower and don't have the problem I mentioned above. However, the last few days I shave before shower and that's when the problem started. I don't use any pre-shave substances. I only apply warm water to my face before shaving. Can you please recommend me a brand of cream and razors? Aren't the Nivea Men ones good? What if I switch to Nivea Men foam instead of gel? Which one is better?

 

Hi Venom, and welcome to TSD!

When you shower before you shave you moisten and warm the stubble. That makes them softer and easier to shave. Look at it this way: a beard hair is harder to shave than a copper wire of the same thickness when it is dry. It looks a bit as if it is armored and is covered in roof tiles. (when you look really close, that is... ). When you wet your beard with warm water the tiles sort of open up, thus making it easier for the blade to cut between the 'tiles' and mow the hair off. Therefore most of us shower before they shave. Or, they take a washing mitten or other cloth, fill the sink with hot water and use the moist, hot mitten to warm up their beard (that is what I do). Takes a minute or so. Or they wash their beard using regular soap.

Then the lathering with soap or shave cream and a shaving brush further softens the beard, lets the hairs stand on end and prepares the skin. Good lather is slick, thus letting the razor glide over your skin while cutting the hairs.

I don't know where on the globe you are, but over here (The Netherlands) Palmolive shaving cream and De vergulde Hand (DVH, The Guilded Hand) are dead cheap and easy to find. They're both great shaving creams.

As for razors: I first started with a Wilkinson Sword Classic. Found it in a shop in Crystal Palace (near London, England). Very mild DE (double edge) razor. But on Ebay or vintage shops you might as well find good, affordable razors as well. For instance Gillette New and Gillette Frare Tips are known as forgiving razors. And then there's the rest of the Internet of course. Google for shaving brush. Then you will find a lot of webshops which sell the good stuff.

Take a peek at the video's of mantic59 on Youtube. Lots and lots of info!

Happy Shavings!

 

I took the Nivea Sensitive foam with me on a trip and found it MUCH better than any other Gel I'd used in the past. You may also want to look at finding some kind of preshave - most drugstores now will have some kind of preshave oil or even shave oil which can go underneath the foam to help with giving some slickness to the foam.

If you don't want to switch to using a Brush/Cream combo, etc, I'd suggest you leave the foam on for a few minutes as well (It doesn't degrade as quickly due to all the chemicals compared to other soaps/creams you see all over the forum) and it will help soften the stubble more as well.

 

http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/how-to-make-your-own-pre-shave-oil.31132/

Pre-shave oil is something you can make cheaply, if you are so inclined.

 

Can I achieve the smooth shaving without using a pre-shave oil, but only the Nivea foam/gel and a razor? Thank you.

 

Only your face will be able to tell you that. Everyone is different unfortunately.

 

You may have answered your own question when you said the problems started when you started shaving before your shower instead of during. Me, I don't get a comfortable shave unless I shave right after a good hot shower.

 

Thank you for all the responses until now! I have 2 more questions. I get a cleaner shave when shaving against the grain, but doesn't this cause the razor to get dull faster? And the other one, can I apply the Nivea Sensitive shaving foam from the can directly on my face, because I usually first put it on my hand and then on my face (which doesn't work very well in the end)? What is the most appropriate way of putting shaving foam on your face (except using brush)? Thank you.

 

Shaving against the grain MIGHT make it dull faster, but I severely doubt enough of a difference that you'd notice. As for the foam application you can basically do it any way you like, directly onto the face or from your hand. The best part about shaving is that there's no right or wrong, the correct answer is whatever works for you

 

Saved me the typing.

 

Heres my suggestion to get you started quick and easy
1)Shave after your shower
2)Use Corn Huskers Lotion as a preshave(CVS)it's inexpensive
3)Get a Van der Hagen or store branded shave kit(brush,bowl,and puck of VDH Delux soap) from CVS or another store
4)Buy either a vintage(Gillette,Shick) or new 3 piece razor(Edwin Jagger, Muhle,Merkur or even a Chinese clone to name a few(only thing you'll need to purchase either online, in an antique store or borrow one from an older relative or friend
5)Get some Nivea sensitive aftershave balm(CVS)
6) Watch mantic59 and/or GeoFatboy shaving videos
7) Take your time and use gentle preasure to start and practice, practice, practice

I do these things and use these products and get "ABSOLUTELY" fantasic smooth, nick,irritation and razor burn free shaves "EVERYDAY" of my life... Of course YMMV....

 

Hello again! I decided to do the following. I bought a Gillette Fusion razor from my local store, + Gillette Fusion shaving gel. I believe they will do justice to my above mentioned problem. I have never used Gillette before and although the razor seemed a bit expensive, I believe it will do fine. I have some questions however. Since I am moving to UK after a month, I am curious to know, which will be cheaper and more economical: To buy a 4-pack of blades for the Fusion razor (as far as I know I can use the razor permanently, only changing the blades now and then), or to buy a 5-pack of Gillette Blue 2 razors (these two options refer to a monthly period, since I shave every 3 days and I believe 4-5 razors would be enough for about 10 shaves)? The blades for the Fusion razor are not that expensive (only the razor itself, but that's logical since you keep it) and the Blue 2 disposable razors are even cheaper. Which option do you think would be better for my shave and more economical-wise? Also, should I had bought a Mach 3 razor, or I didn't go wrong with the Fusion razor? Thank you.

 

The most economical shaving tool I have found is a ryobi electric string trimmer. They sell them at home depot in the lawn care section incredibly and are only $69.97 it doesnt use much electricity at all and a spool of plactic chord seems to last forever. And dont worry about beard hair it will mow through anything
http://m.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-7-5-Amp-Electric-String-Trimmer-RY41131/203080248/

 

Thank you for your reply. However, I asked a suggestion specifically between two options that I mentioned.

 

A lot of us may have a hard time answering you. This is not for lack of inclination but for lack of the knowledge you seek. Many of us do not use these products. There is a forum on this site for cartridge users. Posing your question there may get you a more helpful answer.