how do you deal with teenage boy face fluff?

[vivariumvivariumsvivaria]

DS is 13, his tache is now rivalling mine. Makes his face look dirty!

What did you get to manage it? A buzzing, whirring razor thing seems sensible - he can't cut himself with that.

As you can tell, I know nothing of buzzing whirring razor things. Recommendations?

by a buzzing whirling thing, do you mean this? all the best x

www.robertdyas.co.uk/braun-series-3-300-electric-shaver?istCompanyId=bf3344d9-83f5-4abd-b69a-da131f7567d1&istItemId=wttlqrrmwp&istBid=tzxx&source=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxMyTz_HC3QIVshXTCh1JeQN0EAkYASABEgLg2fD_BwE

Why are there not more posts on this thread?

I absolutely need to know this stuff too (DS is 8). But my single mum days are totally sketched out for stuff like this. Like when I posted is it a thing to teach/show him to pull back his foreskin a little when he pees.
Etc. Odd, but makes a huge difference to a boys life.

Come on MN.

That's the thing, Sleep!

I couldn't' tell it's actual name! They come in ranges of 15 quid -HOW MUCH?

What does he need? Like, any actual recommendations?

Dung - it appears that they mostly need reminding to shower, privacy and a plentiful supply of hankies, and a bin...

@dungandbother - Is the foreskin thing a..thing? Oh God. Single Mum here too and had no idea... what is it?! PM me if necessary.

vivariumvivariumsvivaria

an electric razor won't be much good if the hair is over 5mm or so, even a rotary head will pull out the hairs.

That was when teaching him to pee standing up. Hard to get a two year old to understand that a nice straight stream means less cleaning for me!

Dunno if it's a thing but someone told me to and he does and he has a nice straight stream!

Shaving: best to learn how to do it properly from the start, electric razors are not really the way to go for young, sensitive skin I'm afraid, as a pp has said, they pull, give more scope for ingrowing hairs etc and the problems can snowball from there.

Suggest you treat him to a pack of good quality disposable razors (not orange bics) and some shaving gel rather than foam (you can then see where you are shaving) or even use hair conditioner rubbed well in. There are plenty of online articles to help him but the things that have always helped me from a young age:

• ensure razor is clean before you start (not necessarily unused...)

• shave in the evening if possible after a shower or at least washing your face in hot water to soften everything up before applying a sparing amount of gel/ conditioner. Your face is apparently more sensitive in the morning until you acquire the sort of early forties haggard, leathery visage I'm currently sporting.

• rinse the razor after each stroke under COLD water as you shave, hot water can buckle the thin blades and increase irritation modern razors clear out best by directing water into the back.

• take shorter strokes than you think with the direction of hair growth.

• when you've done the first go around rinse off your face with COLD water, have a look at how you've done, repeat the above steps until you're happy with the end result, you'll soon be doing it in one go. Often you can feel bits you've missed better than seeing.

• final rinse with cold (colder the better) then PAT dry with a clean towel, apply old fashioned bits of bog roll to cuts.

• forget about aftershave etc cold water is enough. If you want to smell nice you don't need to slap it on your face. Moisturise after cold water has done the trick in cooking any burning.

• look after your razors and even the disposable ones last a lot longer than you think*

*unless mum/ sister nicks for leg shaving, beware of this.

HTH

The foreskin thing is quite important.

Thanks, Dadstuff - that is incredibly helpful.

Will print that out and blu tac it up for him! First time we'll do it together, he can have a practice on my impressive leg hair before being let loose on his precious face.

Foreskin - got that sorted. Retract, swirl with plain water, fiddle with as much as you like - just do it in your bedroom because none of us want to see that, thank you.

Have you thought of writing a "Guide to Teenage Boy stuff for people who were not boys? "

@DadStuff thank you!
How about getting teen boys to shower?
You need your own mn section! Dadstuff tips

DS1 is 16 and has this shaver www.amazon.co.uk/Braun-ProSkin-Electric-Rechargeable-Cordless/dp/B01G3K7WFG/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?psc=1&s=drugstore&keywords=electric+shaver&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1537260547&sr=1-2-spons which seems to do the job. DH has shown him how to have a 'proper' shave but he hates it so sticks with the shaver for the most part.

Showering (or lack of it)? I recall from my brothers and sisters as teenagers that this is not necessarily gender specific so will decline to answer that one.

I just let mine grow until eventually it reached actual facial hair

and I've known more girls who didn't shower than boys

Having tried many disposable razors, we find the Lidl own brand cien ones the best. They are blue and in a grey/black packet. The blades seem at a much better angle than most disposables so they cut better and with less irritation. Bics are rubbish.

My DS has the same, he's 13 and quite dark. His tash is quite visable but not thick strong hair just light and fluffy. The other day I noticed it has disappeared. He's been cutting it off with my small nail scissors. Im happy with that as I dont want him using a razer yet - he's too young

This is brilliant. Just what I need to tackle the sprouting on my son's face. He has never taken too kindly to the whole washing thing so this might be a step too far just now for him.

There really ought to be some help for us single mothers of teenage boys....

My DS is 15 and has lots of fluff. We bought him a proper foil electric razor but actually find that my husband’s Philips OneBlade is much much better at dealing with the fluff. He’s currently shaving 2 or 3 times a month.

When a teenager, I shaved ( unnecessarily, I might add) using dad's all metal fit the blades in razor. Plenty of cuts, the pain of which exacerbated greatly by the slap it all over application of aftershave. They heard my squeals downstairs!

Oooooh, nooooo, Onesmall

That's what I am worried about, don't want him having a go himself.

"you need to learn, why don't you have a go on my leg hair first"
"you'd let me use a RAZOR on YOU?"
"yes, I'm so very hairy of leg, it makes sense"
"you are a very strange, but, very kind mum"

Ah, the old Gillette unsafety razors! A big step on the passage to manhood, involving excruciating pain, blood, and admiration from your peers.

Erm, the foreskin thing... is it just to make him pee straighter/tidier (lol) or is it for hygiene or any other reason?

@DadStuff ahh! Well that’s good to know. Sorry if I caused offence.

None taken...

Another vote for the one blade www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01FFSI7XI/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?keywords=one+blade+razor&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1537350262&sr=8-2
Its really good in case he doesn't get on with proper shaving

@dizzydaisies
Well he's little so we don't wash under there with soap but do have a rinse with clean water.

Def helps pee neater. I was adamant never to wipe the toilet before I could use it so I just taught him tidy pee skills from the get go. And the pulling back a bit thing was told to me when talking to guys (not random ones!) so I just taught him to do it.

I've never had to clean after him in 8 years (well 6 technically since he learnt) except when he was ill once and missed the entire toilet completely.