Newbie questions, in shower and rolls of skin

• Newbie questions, in shower and rolls of skin by happybuddha on 05 Sep, 2014 14:43
• I'm 55 and as you may be able to envision from my userID, I have a large meatball of a head, including a few rolls of skin in back (think English bulldog). I have been shaving my face in the shower since college with disposable razors (Mach 3, Quattro, etc.) and 18 years ago I started shaving my head due to male pattern baldness, also in the shower with said razors.
  
  I am fed up with the whole disposable blade racket, and I'm considering going the DE route.  I tried searching before posting, but I don't see any threads dealing specifically with my questions.
  
  First, is it possible to use a DE in the shower?  I really like shaving in the shower and stepping out clean, and would like to continue to do so, if possible.  I typically trim my chin beard and upper lip at the sink, with assistance of a mirror, then shave everything else in the shower by feel, using..shock..horror..bath soap.
  
  Second, can someone who also has rolls on the back of their head give me your experience using a DE on these.  Disposable doesn't really do a good job, no matter now I try to spread the skin and shave in the valleys, I can normally feel stubble. Also, I would be a bit concerned about nicking those rolls, at least in the early days if I transition to DE, so any input would be appreciated. 
• #1 by Sir Harry on 05 Sep, 2014 15:21
• Welcome, Happy Buddha!
  
  Wow, 18 years! That's pretty impressive....We do have a thread on DE razors, look under the "Safety Razor" section of the forum. Also, check out some of the posts on the "Safety Razor Shave of the Day (SOTD) thread.
  
  If you go the DE route, I would shave my head at the sink at first until getting accustomed to shaving the head with a DE. I'm sure it could be done in the shower, and some learn faster than others, but this is to prevent the possibility of cutting yourself on one of those skin rolls
  (There's a thread on that subject too, titled "Ridges or no Ridges....and how do you shave inside of them?). I don't have any, but maybe one of the members who have them can comment. Good luck, enjoy the forum and post a picture when/if you can!
• #2 by happybuddha on 05 Sep, 2014 16:45
• Thanks Sir Harry, I'll take a look where you suggest.  I've uploaded a pic (unshaven) as my avatar, but I need to try to resize or something, as only 3/4 of me is showing.
• #3 by Sir Harry on 05 Sep, 2014 17:19
• I think the maximum size for avatars is 128 KB. Many of the avatars have the right side chopped off so when you take a selfie, you may have to center the phone/camera over the right side of your face or tilt the phone/camera sideways
• #4 by happybuddha on 05 Sep, 2014 18:03
• Thanks Sir Harry, I did downsize, but will take another picture taking offset into account.
• #5 by Mike E. P. on 05 Sep, 2014 20:11
• Quote from: happybuddha on 05 Sep, 2014 18:03

  Thanks Sir Harry, I did downsize, but will take another picture taking offset into account.
  

  
  I think if you make the max width for your avatar 160 px that should work.
• #6 by warhawk on 05 Sep, 2014 20:33
• Welcome to the sly fraternity.  Glad that you joined us.  If you haven't already, post up in the INTRODUCTION Section of the forum so we can give you a proper welcome.  As far as DE shaves, I DE and SE shave my face in the sink and head shave in the shower.  However, since you will be a newbie SirHappy gave you some good advice by head shaving in front of sink just to get the feel of it.
  
  WARHAWK
• #7 by Goatee on 09 Sep, 2014 05:44
• What i noticed is that shaving with a DE takes me longer than with a Mach 3. I need to be more careful with the DE. I am a bit nervous using a DE too. Practice makes perfect!
  
  Welcome aboard anyway my friend.
• #8 by happybuddha on 09 Sep, 2014 14:52
• Thanks Goatee, shaved for the first time yesterday with a DE, and I hadn't shaved in a couple of weeks (didn't want to buy any more disposables and it took me a while with SlyBaldGuys help, to analyze my moves).  It did take a while, but the back of my head wasn't nearly the problem I thought it would be.  I anticipate my next shave to be a lot easier, as there will only be a couple of days growth to shave.