Sly Bald Guys Forum
Head Shaving, Grooming & Care => Head Shaving => Topic started by: Electric Rider on April 23, 2012, 05:25:29 PM
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I am 44. I have been shaving my face for over 25 years without using shaving cream or anything else.. not even water. A while back when I started shaving my head, I also used no cream or water as this was natural for me.
I read a lot of posts on this forum about shaving creams. I began to wonder if I were a freak so I googled the issue. I came across this post about shaving cream being a racket. http://www.lewrockwell.com/tucker/tucker65.html
Now, I won't go as far as to claim it's a racket although there may be some truth to it for some poorly made brands. I came across other threads discussing this very article and most of the people feel this guy is as nutty as a fruit cake. There was even a shaving FAQ sited that gave "scientific' reasons why you NEED to use shaving cream. I found the logic largely bunk and one sided in the FAQ because it did not take into account how the skin continually heals itself, grows new skin daily and the fact that hair shaves just fine even in a non weakened state. ( They claimed cream and or water is needed to weaken the hair for easier cutting.)
Ever try to cut down a green tree or break a green branch? Not so easy is it? Ever try to cut down the same tree or break the branch after it had dried? It's a lot easier to cut down or break. I feel this is the same way with hair.
I know I get a great shave everyday. No cutting my face up, no razor burns, no red bumps, no irritation.. just steel on skin. This is the same for my face and my head. I have good skin, with no skin problems due to shaving this way.
So I ask you - Anyone else out there who does not use shaving cream?
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hey e-rider:
wow... that is amazing that U can shave your face & dome without any oil, cream, soap, or gel. 4 me... i'm gonna need something like a cream, soap, or gel. U should do a youtube video of your routine.
WARHAWK O0
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Thanks for the reply.
See.. that's just the thing. To me this feels normal because I don't have any problems doing it, I'm used to it. I'm trying to figure out if this is because my skin (or anyone's skin) can adjust to the change or if I'm unique in this.
It could be that other people do have problems dry shaving because they (and their skin) are not used to it yet. Perhaps if people stuck with it.. say for a month.. they would find their skin would adjust to it also.
I suppose lots of people are not willing to try this for fear of damaging their skin. But I'd really like to know why I have such good results and others don't - my theory is that people just don't stick to it long enough and unless you really have super sensitive skin, they would not really need shaving cream either. Hopefully some more dry shavers will chime in to help discuss this.
Oh and making a video is a great idea. I can do that. I was holding off on making a pic for this forum until my head tanned, but I can do that and the video soon.
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Hey,
Very jealous! I wish it was that easy for me :p
Ever since I've been shaving my face I have always had razor burn regardless of any product used.
I guess it's down to the individual.
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This is interesting. your scalp must be preety tough :D
Mine is also hanging in there really ok, so I can give it a shot.
I won't though :) I'm OK with my routine.
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I had it done to me by a barber never again , Iwould suggest if yourscalp has moisturiser on it and iyou have a sharp blade it may be possible if the growth is miniscule . Not something Ai woul look to do though
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I did it once and boy was that a mistake! Ran out of shaving cream and had to do the 5 min. SSS (sh*t, shower, and shave) while playing wargames during training down in MS. Was I a hot mess for that week!
I tip my hat to you for being able to do that... 8)
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Only when I'm using my Panasonic ES-8243K.
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Maybe with my clippers....I may dryshave in a small area if I miss a spot but to do it all the way is asking for more razor bumps than I care to count...
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buddha brings up a good point. People dry shave all the time for electric razors and for electric razors that's normal. What's the difference then? I think as well as the skin getting used to it, there is a different shaving dynamic due to the different types of electric blades vs a normal razor. The electrics don't apply the same pressure to the skin where the blade touches the skin. I think when I started dry shaving I had to go really easy until my skin got used to it. I'm also super careful but can do this at normal shaving speed. I really believe it's all about what we are conditioned to believe.
As for the article I linked to, I have no knowledge if shaving cream can cause a softening of the skin like the author suggests. I wonder if there is anything to this.
Thanks for the replies folks.
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I would add and suggest if you have time shaving your head in the shower with warm water , very nice , superb result , but expensive on hot water
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I'm with BaldChav on this one, the only time I'll do it without foam is under running water, but it's true, the bill is huge after a while.
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Ya know.. I never tried shaving in the shower. I'll give it a shot.
For the dry shave I do the same thing your supposed to do with a sharp knife and a tomato. I don't put downward pressure on the blade, just let the weight of the razor do the shaving. I just use enough pressure to maintain skin contact. I find this helps a lot. For my last close passes I always go against the grain with the skin pulled very tight. There comes a point where I know if I keep shaving the same area it will start to burn. I have to stop before this happens and just accept the razor won't get anymore.
I think I obsess. Perhaps I'd be batter of waxing. LOL
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No, and I don't recommend it. If you don't have any shave cream or gel, any soap will do.
Why would you even consider dry shaving at all?
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Why would you even consider dry shaving at all?
Exactly.
Want to give the stubble and skin all the help it can get for a smooth trouble free shave.
Started using a pre-shave oil in the last week. What a difference that makes. :)
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Wouldn't even think of doing it. Ever.
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Sounds like something out of truth or dare.
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To me, just doesn't make sense, a good lather made on a brush with Headslick over Shave Secret--fantastic feel, great smooth & long lasting too. Shaving shouldn't be difficult, painful or bloody--but that's just me, maybe!
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I want to add that I'm not against using something like shaving cream - just not used to using it.. didn't think I needed to use anything.. I may have just proven myself wrong..
I did get a GREAT shave today. I don't use shaving cream as a rule but decided to give in and use "something". I looked up home alternatives to shaving cream since I did not have any on hand. Of the things I read about I decided to try both hair conditioner and glycerin. I happen to have a big bottle of glycerin bought from Essential Wholesale a soap making supply company. It's used in my other hobby electronic cigarettes.
I tested a 1/4 size area of my head with conditioner and another with glycerin. The conditioner side made a closer shave but the glycerin side was smoother as far as the razor gliding across my head. So, I mixed equal parts together and BAM. I got a really close smooth shave with no nicks cuts, burns or scratches. Best shave my head has had. I didn't save any time but the shave was awesome
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Never!I have very sensitive skin so I always use shaving cream,Mach3 razors from https://www.gillette.co.in/en-in/products/razor-blades/mach3-razors and aftershave splash! My skin is soft and I don’t have any redness on my face and neck after shave!My brother also uses Gillette cosmetics and he is satisfied just like me.
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I am a barber. I graduated from barber school a little over a year ago. This is my opinion:
Yes, it is possible to shave dry; but why do it? You can shave without soap, you can shave using just oil, or you can shave dry - but why do it if you understand how your hair and skin are built?
Water and lubricant are the two aids to shaving. Water softens the hairs. Water actually causes the "scales" of the hairs to open up and expose the softer tissues inside the hair to the razor.
Hot water actually causes the pores to spread open and push the hairs upward so that they can be cut off at, (or in a sense below) the skin line.
The purpose of any shaving soap, cream or gel is to hold the water near the hairs. Any type of soap will do. In the old days the barber would make up a mug full of foam from some simple bar soap, (that contained animal and vegetable fats) and he would rub, rub, rub it into your beard to get the hairs moist and open.
The barber would use hot towels before and after applying the wet soap in order to get the pores to spread open and push those hairs upward so that he could whack them off with his razor. Afterward he would use a cold towel or a cooling liquid like alcohol to cause the pores to contract and pull the cut ends back down into the skin so that your skin would feel velvety smooth.
The other effect of the oils in the soap was to give the razor its own "ice rink" to glide across. That is why today many of us shave using a pre-shave oil like shave secret.
Sure, you can shave dry. I have even been shaved using a fine powder for the razor to glide on. But if you just shave dry:
-you cannot get as close of a shave;
-you cannot get as comfortable a shave; and
- you ruin your razor blade. (how long do you thing a tile saw blade would last if you didn't lubricate it with water?)
You don't need anything expensive. And yes, a lot of shaving products are a big rip off. Anything that holds moisture to the hair and or lubricates your skin for the blade will do. You can use any old kind of soap. You can use even olive oil as a pre-shave oil. My colonel is a lifelong BBC'er and he shaves using Noxema skin cream as his only shaving aid.
You can buy shave secret oil at Walmart for only $3. You can buy good old fashioned shaving soap in a tube for only a buck or two (AND the non aerosol shaving soaps don't contain the alcohol or other chemicals that are bad for your skin that the aerosol propellants have!) But what you spend on soap or oil you will save on razor blades because they will last you much longer than if you shave dry.
In the end, whatever works for you is good!
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@ Semi- Sly , excellent information on shaving and it’s history. O0
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I dont use shaving cream, i actually use olive oil on my head as lubrication. I find its actually much more pleasant for someone with senstive skin, plus its got the advantage of working as both a both a preshave oil and the main lubricant.
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I have tried Shave Secret shaving oil . Found it harder to clean the razor than when using cream or soap. But I use it after shaving for a moisturizer and I like the scent.
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For after shaving my favorites from the "old school" of barber products are:
1. Running a wet Alum block over the scalp
2. Massage with a good old favorite product like Sandahl's "Lucky Tiger Disappearing Cream" or regular Noxema cream
My New favorite "new school" after shaving product is Woody's "Shave Relief Balm". It feels great and has a great scent. Woody also makes some great beard grooming products.