Introduction to Method Shaving, Part 3: The Shave

[leowjy]

Thumbs up for the guardian kitty!

[OurBestMusicChannel]

Without an against the grain pass I don't remove anything

[losangelesrep]

I just bought the Merkur HD 34C and Crystal Blades (made in Israel). I would recommend the Tweezerman Badger Brush for a budget buy. I just had my first wet shave and it was wonderful--closest shave ever!

[maxjrosenthal]

Mark - I just started method shaving and I'm really impressed at the staying power of your mix. Mine seems to break up almost immediately on my face, but yours is much thicker that I'm used to seeing with Charles' products. Do you still use the brush and, if so, do you think this is factor?

[Flimofly]

I discovered your great videos a year ago and have completely changed my shaving habits since then. However, I can still feel small stubbles after shaving so I guess I am doing something wrong. Is it possible that just taking a hot shower is not enough? Also, I always have to wait for three days before I can take another shave -- my skin would be completely wrecked if I would do it sooner, I guess.

[ageofpoo]

LOL YOUR CAT IS SUPERVISING AGAIN!!!!

[tekjonston]

Dear Sir,

I appreciate your fine videos. One day I hope to graduate to your advanced shaving series. Then I will be able to call myself a man and maybe get a girlfriend.

[pbf89]

Thank you so much for this video. I just recently switched over to wetshaving and was having a bit of a time with it. This series was really helpful in teaching what it means and takes to have a good shave.

Major kudos!

[SexyTownBrown]

You sir, are the coolest person ever.

[EricKilpatrick]

Mantic thanks for the help, after all my years of shaving my neck is finally looking o.k.!!

[DarkMuj]

Great videos sir, you are both a gentleman and a scholar.

[jerryx2000]

Whats better with or without an Open Comb?

[HerbalAbuse]

I would also like to see what you think of the Gilette Fusion compared to the W Sword Quattro Titanium. I just bought a Quattro because the blades are cheaper than Gilettes (which are outrageous) but haven't tried it yet, been using Tesco own brand (not value) twin blade fixed head razors recently, they seem pretty good, not as comfortable as Gilette but a similar close with the grain shave.

Thanks for the tips, esp about over stretching, I did wonder why I got ingrowing hairs against grain

[mantic59]

HerbalAbuse- thats a good idea for another video, thanks.

[HerbalAbuse]

Well my thoughts on the W Sword Quattro are: Not good at all, I thought compared to Gilette Fusion the build quality is very cheap especially where the blade clips on (wobbles a lot) and the only blade I had went blunt extremely quickly, not to mention it doesnt give a close shave at all in my opinion, even compared to generic supermarket single blade disposables, and it isn't that comfortable. Fusion wins by far better build quality, closer shave, more comfortable, longer lasting blades

[HerbalAbuse]

The only thing I liked about the Quattro Titanium was the built in trimmer, which I only find useful for trimming sideburns if my hair gets a bit long, but its a good quality trimmer which is adjustable and was one of the main reasons I bought the razor.

As for cheaper blades, in my opinion Id much rather pay the extra for the Fusion blades (standard not power) they are much better- I have tried the Fusion Power before but prefered standard plus they are cheaper- if Im on budget then disposables

[aaronracine]

@HerbalAbuse shick hydro best razor ever

[vgdhdfhfghh]

Hi am your biggest fan and i wish that you make a video about gillette fusion vs wilkinson sword quattro titanium precision vs mac3 and a safety razor please i hope u will do for me and your fans

[mantic59]

I will try!

[USMCMarine]

looks like a lot of work.

over a lifetime, my inability to grow a beard or thick moustache probably saves me like weeks of time and productivity. i shave like once every four weeks and dont even use any kind of lubricant, cuz my hairs are so thin and fuzz.

those times when i wish i could grow a beard, i remember this. :D

[vgdhdfhfghh]

how do u shave with no hare on your face and u don,t get any cuts

[psychopomp88]

does anyone know how to reduce stubble? I know of the 5 o'clock shadow phenomenom, but I seriously seem to get a 1 o'clock shadow. It's weird that it grows so fast consiering I cannot grow enough hair to do anything. I'm wondering if I could put something on the areas to slow the hair growth

[rensy101]

that's a lot of work in the morning

[vhreio]

A very informative and intelligent video series; I wish all Youtube videos were this cohesive.

I love the whole ritual ablutions of shaving, it's a simple pleasure in life that is often forgotten in our current world.

[TheUploader1]

Ur cat is AWESOME!

[gumaverick]

look the cat man. huahauhaahhaaa

[hambroman]

the diagram looks like colin farrel

[fredv1]

i cut myself

[hovhaness]

I always close out the shave with super cold water to close the pores, & avoid any infection if there may be any cuts.

I condition with pure aloe that I cut from one of my huge aloe plants, & what a nice soothing feeling.

I shave every 2nd night, so I have the time to do the ritual lol.

[Zeptorr]

LOL I do exactly the same

[SillySnake72]

Was that a cat behind you??

[mordsgaudimachen]

all 3 videos offer some good insight, but I'm curious, if you're going to go through all this for a good shave, why not just use a strait razor?

[beingbanana]

im in your closet watching you shave

[Sephirius]

holy crap the cat

[hardrockerdave94]

On a single blade razor, does it not worry you when you shave the neck seeing as you could potentialy lose a lot of blood?

[jhsmith2]

In theory, I could see how a single blade by the neck is alarming. But no, this has never been a concern in practice. If you use a standard safety razor, I can't imagine how you could ever cut deep enough to reach a vein or artery to cause a serious loss of blood. Of course, you'll always encounter small nicks or minor cuts.

[revolutions88]

im gonna try this now

[jhsmith2]

This method passes too often and increases the chances for nicks and irritations. Here's what I do with soap, brush, and Japanese feather blades. First pass against the grain. This is a nice shave and you could leave it there. But for that baby face feel, pass against the grain again. Done.

[jhsmith2]

I have tried this with a shaving brush, traditional lather, and the Japanese feather blades. On basically all the downward strokes I get little beard reduction. It's just one more chance to get nicks or skin irritation. Here's what really works for me: First pass against the grain. This is a very good shave in itself. You could easily stop there. Then, a whole second pass for that baby face feel. And maybe a touch up pass on those stubborn parts. You'll still feel like a new shave by night.

[mudchair16]

Is it common for hair to grow sideways on the neck? Mine does and Im always confused as to how I should shave it. Do you think these techniques would be ok?

[bonescrub]

bravo on all 3 videos

[Serpico109]

There is actually an art to shaving? it usually takes me 2 minutes.

[sjeng24]

hey dud you need to be a reporter at cnn...

[Morg00007]

I shave in all directions 'ive heard ppl say u shud only shave with the grain....but if that were the case id never get rid of any hair below my chin

[norxcontacts]

Dude, there's a cat hiding out in your closet!

[bobthebuilder11]

The problem with this method is that you are passing the razor over your skin far too many times. Irrespective of lather this will irritate the skin more than if you passed only once. If you shave well there is no need to repeatedly go over the same spots. By shaving in different directions you may get a closer shave but it is not necessary and will encourage ingrown hairs as opposed to shaving with the grain. You should rinse with cold water (not warm or hot water) after shaving as well.

[slapstickity76]

See, I'm having an issue with this right now. If I shave WITH the grain it's almost like I didn't shave at all. All it does is "comb" over the hair. I still have [visible] stubble all over my face. Mind you, this is with using a gillette fusion razor.

[bobthebuilder11]

Use only a single or double-bladed razor. Apply very little pressure. Make sure you use warm water in a rich creamy lather. Try to make the blade flat on skin. Pull lightly and relatively fast on the handle, do not drag, do not apply pressure, if your face is warm, wet, creamy, the SHARP razor will glide if u hold at correct angle with no irritation and max. hair removal. Fewer strokes means next day your whiskers are softer than 5+ strokes. The secret is NO PRESSURE, and SHAVE PREPARATION.

[goldwatch2008]

bobthebuilder11, that's not the case. With a shaving brush, traditional shaving lather, and a traditional double edge razor, ingrown hairs do not occur.

[bobthebuilder11]

I agree that ingrown hairs do not occur using a double-edged razor, which is why I said. "use a single or double-bladed razor." Thus, I am not against double-bladed razors. My point about ingrown hairs is that when you pass too many times over the same area (irrespective of number of blades) and/or apply too much pressure then you will provoke ingrown hairs, you will increase the chance of causing razor burn; hence this video technique of multiple passes (3+ passes) is questionable.

[claest007]

I just had my first shave with a safety razor. Aside from the minor razor burns and a few nicks, it worked out great. The seller told me that once I get used to it, you can do it as fast as with multiple blades, closer and without any razor burn or nick!

[nbelt1919]

how often should you replace the razor blade?

[mantic59]

nbelt1919- There's no hard-and-fast answer: it depends on the brand of blade and your beard. Basically, replace when you don't get good shaves anymore. A very general rule-of-thumb is about a week.

[claest007]

At the start I guess you could change blades every 4 shaves. This usually means every 4 days. Once you get used to it, you can move on to 6-7 days per blade. But in the beginning, you want to use only "extra" sharp blades.

[koppen89]

Is that a kitty in the background? =)

[mantic59]

koppen89- Yes, that's Harley.

[mcromance1]

i like how his cat is just laying in the closest behind him casually lol.

[Karlmarks]

Wow, what a terribly customized method. I have a very tough beard that angles north at the bottom of my neck. If I did a first pass using the method shown here I would be going against the grain, and it would destroy my face. Make sure you check the grain of your hair before using this method.

[newyorkfish]

I have been shaving with a MACH3 for about a decade.

Now I am (slowly) learning how to shave with a safety razor (every few days).

When I shave in the shower, I just use a regular bar of soap, lather up with my fingers, massaging the lather in.

I then rinse off with hot water, then shave without any lather - I get a good shave without a single cut.

But now I have to learn how to use a brush and I have been cutting myself - very tricky to shave when you can't see your beard.

[Kyledude136]

If I shaved that many times, my face would be on fire, especially if I rinsed with hot water. It pains me to watch you, but you don't seem to be irritated at all. Maybe I just have super-sensitive skin.

[claest007]

I found out that having a "burning face" after shaving with a safety razor (or a razor in general) is usually caused by applying too much pressure to the blade. The weight of the razor should be enough, it's better to do another pass with GENTLE strokes than to press down a bit.

[padseenoodle]

mantic, I just realized (having missed part one) that I was mixing up this series with your series on traditional wetshaving.

[austintexas69]

what is the best way to get a really close shave under the nose (stache area) does shaving upwards work best. and is it with a DE ?

[mantic59]

austintexas69- Under the nose can be tough. I use downward strokes, relather, then go "sideways" towards the nose from each direction. If you try upwards do it only after you've done the other passes first, and then very carefully: some folks just can't do an upward stroke without getting nicked.

[padseenoodle]

When you say "with soap from the cube"...what cube are you talking about? I missed that part.

Great videos, mantic. You should be on Merkur and Truefitt and Hill's payroll. :)

[mantic59]

padseenoodle- "The Cube" refers to the shave cube. See my "Introduction to Method Shaving Part 1" video.

[superradrudeboy]

Hey Mantic, I've been watching all your videos over the past two weeks. I finally ordered a a vintage Gillette slim and did my first shave just a few minutes ago. I got pretty close but with a bit more practice i'm sure i'd be great. Thanks for all the info.

[gatormatt1234]

I've been meaning to give this a try, but I really don't see how this shave can be any closer than the shave I get going against the grain with a Mach3. I have a thick beard and it grows back by mid afternoon. With the Mach3 against the grain, it is literally at the skin, so I don't see how this could get any closer. If I'm not having any irritation shaving against the grain with a Mach3, is it even worth doing this, since the shave can't possibly get any closer?

[mantic59]

gatormatt1234- In my experience a properly executed Method shave can get about 10% closer than even a M3 against the grain. Whether that's "worth it" is a judgement you'll have to make.

[gatormatt1234]

Eh, worth a shot since there's a handle for this at my parents' house so I'll only have to drop some money on blades and some nice cream, which I can use anyway. Thanks for the info.

[soundworksvectra]

How long would you say on average commercial multi blade should last?? baring in mind i dont really get thick facial hair yet :|

[mantic59]

soundworksvectra- That's a very difficult question to answer because there are many variables. A very rough rule of thumb is about a week of daily shaving, but really you just have to experiment a little to see what's best for you.

[Toxiferin]

hey, thanks for the tips, they were very useful for me. Btw I have a question: do you receive anything for the advertising you make for the shaving products? if yes, congratulations, if not, you should consider making some profit out of your videos.

[mantic59]

Toxiferin- No, I don't receive anything (and most all of my videos have a disclaimer in front that I'm not endorsing anything). I've considered selling the videos but there's not much demand for them (especially when you can get them for free on YouTube).

[Tokagawa89]

Yeah, after watching this video it made me want to try some of that stuff that dude was doing but after actually tring it, I think i masacard my skin cus that dude made it look easy! LOL!

[ericgustafson2004]

What kind of hand are yuo using? I'm guessing that the bar o soap wont dry out your skin, like my Irish Mist, will.

[ICXCNIKA84]

There's more to just shaving than removing stubble. It is a ritual that I look forward to every morning. With the proper tools, time, and technique, it can be an invigorating experience. It is very "Zen-like," as mantic once noted.

[pzk89]

It does strike me that this is a LOT of effort for a shave which doesn't appear any better than the one you get with a manual Gillette Mach 3. I would certainly consider some of the natural aftershave and face products you've suggested, but beyond that I'm not entirely convinced that it is worth the effort.

[noah1502]

do you ever shave with one pass from top of cheeck to bottom of neck? doing just 6 passes total would be good par ?

[beatlesfannn]

The kitty in the background is funny:)

[mikko75]

> I can't believe I watch a couple of these.

Me neither. But I still did. :)

[CBMaster2]

How to shave : Put shaving cream. Remove the shaving cream with a razor. End.

[garouHH]

How to cook: Drive to any burger joint, order, eat. End.

[killaefro06]

You are the man thanks.

[narutovasquez]

thank you Dad

[Odyssey00]

thanks a lot, i have irritation probs lol that should solve it

that cat in the closet is so funny

[1a1a2a3a]

Shaving 4-5 times??? Just shave once

[ikky85]

i agree, this guy is a maniac

[ModernComposer]

Great shaving advice I keep my shaving routine simple. 1952 Gillette,pure badger brush, nancy boy signature shave cream. keep a good slag on my mug and shave.

[amayagab]

I use a shaving brush and a shavette, not many people use this method anymore but its the best shave. No one needs a 53657516535216532 razorblades in one stroke, it's stupid.

[gwest99]

I LIKE THE CAT IN THE BACKGROUND!!! :-D

[TAYLORT5]

I can't believe I watch a couple of these.

[wunjin]

I'm sorry, but this whole method shaving video seems really hokey to me, no offense, the video was well done. Grain is irrelevant? I'm not buying that one.

[denkins]

i heard that going against the grain causes irritation and ingrowns :S

Anyway comment on this??

[mantic59]

Denkins-- It certainly can but with proper preparation, good products, and practiced technique a lot of people can shave in any direction without irritation.

[br1producciones]

Congrats on your shaving techniques series! I found all the tips very helpfull.

Try someday to do a special edition for us who have a goatee or other kind of beard and moustache design and want to mantain it in a good shape through the regular shaves. Or it could be just tips on how to "draw" a simetrical beard, moustache and sideburn design.

Oh! and the cat's special appearances rock!

[jvilla82688]

thanks mantic =D

[jvilla82688]

I do have to ask what kind of razor that is, like is a mercur or an old gillette, also where can I find one, your videos have inspired me to take up single bladed shaving, im just wondering where you got yours so i can finally put my Fusion away and get into more traditional shaving methods. Whats your favorite gear(cream,brush,razor, and aftershave)? try to respond asap, and thank you, keep up the good work

[mantic59]

jvilla-- That particular razor is a Merkur Heavy Duty (sometimes call the HD or the Heavy Classic). Take a look at my "Introduction to Traditional Wetshaving" playlist, it will give you suggestions for shaving creams, soaps, razors, and other resources.

[lovehandleslarry]

The cat is trying to get background props.

[Chucktallica101]

Brilliant!

[floodea]

This method seems to take a while as opposed to the normal brush/cream process (the lathering process, as displayed in the previous video, looks very time consuming). Would this just be something you'd do at the weekend or can you do it quickly once you get the hang of it? Great video series by the way and thanks for the acquisition disorder!

[mantic59]

floodea-- I've found that with the right tools (mainly a decent shaving brush) and a little practice you do a Method shave in about the same time as a traditional shave). YMMV