Shaving: removing the shadow?

I’m a 28 year old Italian guy. I have to shave my face everyday and sometimes twice a day if I am going out at nights and want to have a smooth face. I use an electric for convenience and I have the latest Braun Pulsonic. I’ve fiddled with razors before but I get annoyed very easily when compared to the quickness of an electric. The problem I have is that I constantly have a shadow going on. When I use the electric, I get a really close shave but you can definitely tell I have dense facial hair going on. And if I use a blade and go with the grain, I never get a close shave. I always have to go with the grain and then against it. And then comes the redness, ingrown hairs and cuts. Is there any way to get a really close shave that even the shadow goes away for a few hours too? I pretty much assume I need the best razor blade on the market but am I restricted to razor shaving for the ultimate in looks and feel?

Grow a beard. It beats shaving any day. You’re a man. Men are meant to have beards.Easy answer.

Do you keep a light pressure on your face with the electric. It almost has to just whisper over the skin for the best shave. Also changing the mode of doing it like normally you may use an low elbow position, try it with the arm raised and pushing downwards, Also using the razor ‘sideways’ ie moving it ‘widthwise’ along your face may take out a few more whiskers.

I hate shaving and do it every other day. I like the Mach 3 vibrating razor. I find shaving in the shower gives a lot closer shave.

I don’t have a particularly heavy beard, but if I’m heading out for the evening and care, I too have to run a razor across my face. Just the downside of not being a girl.

Does your day gig require shaving? No? Then don’t do it regularly.

If yes, then you’re fucked- it sounds like you have that whole Mediterranean 5 o’clock shadow at noon thing going- just accept it and don't shave too close, just do it twice a day if you care to be that clean.

Keep an electric razor in your car or office and use it whenever you feel stubble.

Or do what I did back in the days I needed to keep my chin STRAC- keep a BIC disposable in our pocket and start dryshaving throughout the day, with the grain, always shallow, easy on the throat as that’s where you’re most likely to get ingrowns form any method in my experience.

An E-7 taught me that trick.

You’ll get used to it pretty quick and as long as you don’t try and make it a close shave, you shouldn’t have any problems. If it really pulls, just dunk the razor in a cup of water and tap it off.

I take my Braun with me to work if I know I am going out afterwards. I just want to get rid of the dark 5 o’clock shadow going on all the time. But I guess that comes with the genes.

I wish I had an answer for you, but sadly, I do not. I do, however, feel your pain, as I too have a heavy beard. A few years ago I worked for a well known financial firm and I had to shave everyday and I HATED it and so did my face. If I skipped just one day of shaving I would have a dark stubble shadow and someone at the office would say something to me about it. I honestly don’t think I could ever have a job again that required me to shave everyday.

As a matter of fact, if I could have any size penis I wanted or be a naturally hairless guy (you know, the guy who has some very light leg hair, practically none on forearms and torso and looks like he never has to shave) I would choose the latter. I wish body hair didn’t bother me, but it does. I think what makes it worse is that I am tall and thin and I think body looks more appropriate on shorter muscular men. I would have a lot more free time if I didn’t feel the need to trim/groom just about my entire body!

Sorry for the rant.

Turns out that light pressure was much worse. I get a much closer and cleaner shave when I hold my skin tight and press hard with the electric razor.

I’m another member of the dark, hairy, have-to-shave-twice-a-day club. I don’t particularly mind, but then I usually go bearded for the winter.

I wish there were some secrets to share, but if you’ve got x # of hair follicles per square inch, and they’re dark and coarse, you’re going to have a shadow before the day is over no matter how closely you shave in the morning.

That’s strange as all the electric razors I’ve had (about 8 different models), all recommended a light touch.

Still, everyone to his own.

CLF-

You ever try the repeated ‘dry shave’ method?

Personally I don’t mind having a shadow like a Turk, but for those of you who are budding young Metros, try the advice on Corey Greenberg’s shaving blog:

My son is a big fan of the Merkur safety razor and the English shaving creams. And he says the Norelco body shaver thing is “good enough” for dealing with body hair issues.

In my opinion it is crazy how a man is expected to keep a perfectly clean shave for certain jobs etc. I mean, when did it become unacceptable for a man to look like a man? men grow facial hair, thats just what happens. Of course there is a thin line between looking natural and looking like a bum, but other than that I think all men should be proud. (plus, I dont know about generations before me, but as a younger guy I’ve found that more chicks go nuts for a little scruff.)

If I may attempt an armchair sociological speculation, I suspect that the “clean-shaven” look has a lot to do with corporate culture, which does not want men with testosterone. It wants sheep….fodder for the machine.

I do a lot of strength training, sort of mixing Olympic lifting with Powerlifting, so I am rather muscular and big. I am also pretty much in attack mode towards upper-management most of the time (but not towards my collegial proleterians). It’s fun to watch the so-called Alpha males (who are usually scrawny) of corporate culture get nervous when I’m around.

Enth-
What line is your ‘legal person’* in?

I was on a trading floor of a major institutional financial broker, and at 6’ 220#+ [lifter soft] I wasn’t particularly big on the floor, despite some other Alpha markings- but then that’s a line of business with a disproportionate number of alphas- even among the women on the floor.

But otherwise I concur- most employers don’t want two alphas in the room- only room for one per office space

I think it’s a worthy line of inquiry- would you start a thread on it?
I’d love to join in.

*Corporation