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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

Please come and talk to me about shaving

16 replies

QuelleLeJeff · 27/04/2011 18:11

God how boring!

Sorry all, but my DS will be 14 next month and has bumfluff a little fine moustache on his top lip. It is barely noticeable (to me) but he mentioned this morning, that he wants to start shaving it off

I am a lone parent and have no men in my life (Dear GOD) and I just don't know whether to let him shave it off (I remember so well having leg hair that would shame a werewolf at his age and not being allowed to shave, and I want to save him from this embarrassment) or to counsel him to wait a little while, and that a lifetime of hacking away at facial hair will begin soon enough.

So, lovely mumsnetters, what say you? I think that 14 is young to be shaving, but I am really feeling torn.

Also, if you think I should get him razors and some shaving gel, how on EARTH do I help him with this? Or do I just let him get on with it and end up shredding his top lip? Or do I have to shave MY OWN top lip in order to demonstrate technique? (I don't want to do this if I can at all avoid it)

He is not in regular contact with his father, and to be honest, that man's advice would be along the lines of DS being a massive effete by not having had to shave by the age of 4 with a piece of flint and frogspit, and I'd really really rather not go there if at all poss.

OP posts:

goinggetstough · 27/04/2011 18:26

My DH was away so my DS and I had a trip to tescos alone. He chose his own razor, one that had replaceable blades and the shaving gel of his choosing. All I told him was that the razor only went one way or it cut you. He has been fine. He was just 15 - DSs vary as some of my DDs 19 year old friends still don't shave daily. So if he has hair on his face and he wants to shave it, I would say let him......

tokenwoman · 27/04/2011 18:29

ok when mine were ready for shaving i went to boots with them and got small battery powered razors for about £10 (Im a 'single' mum with no male advice for them) I told my youngest that I couldnt help him use it and he replied "its alright mum i watch the adverts" and he got on with it shaved iregularly for ages and this year I got an upgrade electric powered one for them both (one each) and i warn you they are expensive items
14 isnt too young if his hairy and dont worry it takes ages for it to grow back buy some nice smelly stuff and some soothing gel
good luck and i understand excatly how you're feeling

BristolJim · 27/04/2011 18:32

His skin will be super sensitive, so don't scrimp on either the shaving gel or the razor. Get one of the ones with four our five blades, they really do make a difference.

Wet the face well, rub in plenty of shaving foam / gel and shave with the grain which on the top lip will be down.

I'd leave aftershave for another time though!

tokenwoman · 27/04/2011 18:32

shavers i mean shavers of course I couldnt cope with the throwaway 5 blades/different ways to cut yourself

Original poster

QuelleLeJeff · 27/04/2011 18:39

Thanks for your replies! Oh I love MN.

I like the idea of an electric shaver - I could get that as part of his birthday present actually. I think I might be a bit dim that it hadn't occurred to me.

I think the 5 blade thing just means it's less strokes? I'm presuming it's the same as leg razors.

Relieved that, thus far, I'm not going to have to shave my own lip. HOORAH!

OP posts:

Maryz · 27/04/2011 20:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SauvignonBlanche · 27/04/2011 20:12

My DS is the same age and DH got him a Phillips battery operated shaver from Sainsburys for a tenner.

herbietea · 27/04/2011 20:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

QuelleLeJeff · 27/04/2011 20:15

So the consensus seems to be that if it bothers him I should let him get rid of it?

Good.

Thanks all.

OP posts:

cornishpasty · 27/04/2011 23:11

Got my ds (13) a small, cheap battery shaver from Argos (£15 i think) a few months ago when he asked to get rid of his fluff!
It does the job fine for the time being as he doesn't need to do it very often.

tokenwoman · 28/04/2011 11:16

quelle I love MN too and its subjects like this when there is no one else to ask that MN comes up trumps

mathanxiety · 29/04/2011 15:23

I don't think facial hair bothers boys -- I think they really want to do the manly act of shaving (they change their tune after a few years and it becomes a chore/ eats into lying in in the mornings). Novelty wears off...

I bought DS a pack of disposable razors and shaving gel for sensitive skin, and let him get on with it.

TheVisitor · 29/04/2011 15:33

My DS1 was such a wuss, I had to do it for him the first couple of times. He was 14 too. When he was 17, he grew a full beard. With his waist length blond hair, he looked like a viking.

Snorbs · 29/04/2011 15:43

Electric razors are ok but they always leave a fine stubble on me. Wet shaving is much better. I use the Gillette Mach 3 Turbo - yes, it's a bloody ridiculous name but it's a good razor. All the Mach 3 blades will fit and they're all good.

There's not a huge amount of difference between shaving gel and shaving foam in my experience; I tend to go for the King of Shaves one just out of habit.

The way to do it is to start by checking which direction the hair grows. On my face, different areas grow in different directions. The bit over my adam's apple goes sideways, for instance. Have a look at how far down your sideburns go, too, as you look very weird if you accidentally shave them off. Ahem

Then put a hot wet flannel on your face and then a light application of foam/gel. You don't need loads. Gently glide the razor in the direction of the hair growth. Don't press hard - it's a finger-tip job, you're not whittling wood. You shouldn't do any particular area more than twice. Don't let the razor slip sideways. Be particularly careful around your lips and your chin (at least, those are the places I'm most likely to nick myself).

Now run your hand over your face, feeling for any patches of stubble that remain. Do those bits against the direction the hair grows as it'll make a closer shave - if you can stretch the skin a bit while doing it, so much the better. Again, no more than once or twice over any particular area otherwise you'll make your skin sore.

Wash off the remaining foam/gel with cool water. A spot of moisturiser can help if your skin's sore and, next time, be more gentle. Rinse any bits of hair out of the razor and then clean up the sink. Nobody wants to find someone else's shaving foam and stubble splattered everywhere.

MoreBeta · 29/04/2011 15:50

I would suggest a really good electric razor at that age. Maybe one that he can use in the shower or with gel. Much easier to do.

Learning to wet shave with a blade takes time and frankly if his 'stubble' is not really thick he will find it difficult. Not to mention painful.

He can choose to wet shave on his own later in life.

Original poster

QuelleLeJeff · 29/04/2011 17:12

Thanks again all, especially to the men who have contributed.

He hasn't mentioned it again, so I'm just waiting for the next conversation. I think I'm going to go with an electric razor as part of his birthday pressie, and will be able to school him well in wet shaving, thanks to Snorbs, as he needs it.

Again, thanks so much!

OP posts:

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