DS 14 needs to start shaving - help!

[Namechangetry]

DS has no contact with his father so it's down to me to raise the subject and sort supplies. I'm thinking I'll ask him if he'd like a razor for starters, but what kind is best for a first shave? Is electric safer than a wet razor?

My only experience is starting to shave legs and that's easy to hide if you don't do a good job, not like your face. I'm keen to do the best for him as there's no dad to show him this stuff so advice welcome please!

My eldest is 15 tbh he just uses cheap and cheerful disposable razors from Aldi and shaving gel. It’s pretty much like shaving legs. Warm water to soften up hair, slap on gel/ foam. Then shave off following hair growth. You want to shave down your face like you shave down your legs.

Personally I’d get disposable razors to start, then maybe get a good razor after. Plus shaving foam/oil. You could ask him if he’d like to try an electric razor, Braun are normally good.

A colleague treated her son to a proper lesson at a barbers - she spoke to them in advance though and didn’t just rock up.

I had exactly this when DS was 14 and also lack of Dad anywhere! He’s 16 now and has switch to wet shaving (Harry’s are v good) but this was his first one and he got on v well with it.

https://amzn.eu/d/033lCIj3

I found a YouTube video on how to do it and sent it to him. He prefers the actual razor now as it’s a closer shave (apparently 🤔) but at 14 I think this or something like it is a great option

Just don’t do what my brother did the first time - to remove the hair from the razor he ran his finger along the blade 🪒😨

I got mine a starter kit from Harry's razers. It's quite nice and you can get the replacement blades on subscription when he starts shaving regularly.
Try Harry's | Harry's https://share.google/KHCrPlu8loh0hlxJC

Philips oneblade are excellent! No cuts, easy to use, also doesn’t inflame or irritate acne/ spots.

You shave DOWN your legs?!!!! Surely you shave against the hair growth. Dh and ds certainly shave against, as do I….

Electric might be easier btw.

Shave down your legs? Surely not?

Definitely shave up your legs and face , I can hear the scraping noise now from watching my dad shave .

Ours both had electric razors to get going with. You can’t go wrong with them. Ds2 now wet shaves sometimes.

I just got my ds some razors - some mid range disposable Gilette ones (not too cheap and crappy and not too fancy either). You can watch a YouTube vid and crack on. My DH was working away at the time.

My lads started out with the Phillips cordless travel razor as it was really only needed for the upper lip for quite a while.

UP. You mean up your legs? I don't know about faces but with legs you shave UP them.

I bought my ds a Fusion5 razor, and some Bulldog shaving gel, then let him experiment when he wasn't in a hurry.

There are videos on Youtube if he doesn't know where to start.

DS1 refused to use a razor blade as it said it "wasn't safe" so stuck with an electric razor for ages, then moved onto wet shaving when he was more confident - Gilette 5 blades first now he has a metal holder and proper razor blades with Italian shaving cream. DS2 is on his second electric razor, he's not ready for the move yet.

Ah MN is the best sometimes, thank you all

I feel better about it already, plus YouTube video is a great idea he's bloody glued to YouTube!

I got DS the Philips OneBlade when he was around that age. He still uses it (he's 18 now) the replacement blades aren't exactly cheap but seem to last ages.

Ive got 4 sons who range from "virtually no facial hair" to "guarenteed 5 o'clock shadow" and they all prefer electric razors

There is a youtube channel called “dad how do I?” I bet it has a shaving one.

One big thing is hygiene, razors need to be cleaned and stored dry between use, his skin also needs ti be cleaned first and moisturised after, otherwise he’ll be in spot and sore skin city. In awkward places so near your nostrils, adams apple and anglular bits like the chin its just a learning curve to get the hair and not cut yourself.

I have a 14 year old that needs to shave his top lip too - I bought him the Philips One Blade after seeing it recommended on Mumsnet several times and can confirm it’s a good one for a first time user.

Don’t go for cheap disposables, teen skin can be sensitive. Why not ask if he wants electric or manual? The Philips one blade does a first shave version with a blade designed for teen skin

Mine had electric shavers to start as it was kinder on the sparse growth. They progressed themselves to wet shaving. DH didn’t teach them as he uses an electric shaver.

I just got ds an electric one tbh. He was really pleased not to have to razor his face to start.

Have I been shaving my legs wrong all my life then?!