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Teenagers

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

Original poster

First shave

15 replies

Luvvies · 17/01/2010 20:07

Can someone advise me? My 14yo DS is getting a shadow. I have bought a small phillips electric razor - as non scary looking as I can find, as that's what other parents have suggested.

But whenever I mention starting to shave he goes silent.

Just now I mentioned it again as he as an important event coming up in a couple of weeks (involves TV, can't say more) and I thought he should take a proper look and see what he thinks he looks like. Stupid H said in front of him "he can't, he will be red raw the first time he shaves". Not what my nervous DS needed.

So the question is - will he be "red raw" and if so how can I prevent this.

I don't need the debate about whether he should shave before this event - I'm OK about him choosing to wait a bit, just want to know how it will be when he does.

OP posts:
mumblechum · 17/01/2010 20:12

I bought ds a razor and tin of squirty stuff months ago & kept suggesting that he had a shave but he kept refusing, till a couple of weeks ago he suddenly decided he was going to do it. Much hilarity followed as I tried to teach him (dh away so no help there).

He managed really well, actually, he took his time and now looks lovely and clean (his bumfluff made him look really scruffy imo).

He didn't get any sort of rash or anything, but used sensitive cream which of course your ds won't be using if he has an electric razor.

I wouldn't nag if I were you, just let him do it in his own sweet time.

It's not the end of the world if he does his event with a bit of bumfluff on his top lip.

mumblechum · 17/01/2010 20:12

BTW ds now shaves every day, not that there's anything there but the novelty hasn't worn off yet!

Original poster
Luvvies · 17/01/2010 20:27

Thanks Mumblechum. I will have to think about wet shave perhaps?

I was thinking that if he uses the electric one, then he can practice on my arm first!

I'm not nagging, just recognise that my DH avoids tackling this sort of thing. And in particular with this, he has a short beard himself - I've never known him cleanshaven, and he has always maintained that whenever he shaved when younger, he was always "red raw". So no role model there then.

Any other advice out there?

OP posts:
GettingThingsSorted · 17/01/2010 21:59

Would just leave him to it tbh after making sure that there's some shaving stuff available for him. Both of my DSs just "played about a bit with a razor" once they got a bit of fluff and have got on fine. Have never tried to help them as they seem fine. Neither of them have much hair so has not been a major thing to sort.

borderslass · 17/01/2010 22:11

my son got a bit of fluff about a year ago he's shaved once but not again it's not grown much so I wouldn't worry to much.

TheArsenicCupCake · 18/01/2010 13:43

I would like to announce that ds1 had his first shave on friday night < proud mummy lol>.

we had the same thing, me mentioning it as the grey shadow got ..well.. more shadowy

then he just announced onfriday to eave him alone as he was going to have a shave.

( of course ds2 and dd thought this was the most amaizing funny thing in the world and barged in the bathroom with their dsis trying to take pics of the first shave and ds1 emmiting low grunts at them )

ayway.. I got him a king of shaves razor, shaving oiland soothing balm for after. It was a hit ad he even thanked me

I have to admit to hovering outside the bathroom yelling.. remember don't move the razor sideways, and shave downwards!

inthesticks · 18/01/2010 15:43

DS1(14) developed a fluffy top lip about a year ago. At first used DH's electric shaver, then I bought him a very basic rechargeable shaver. He shaves about every 2 or 3 weeks now and has noticeable stubble.
No redness or other ill effects.

When I took him in the car recently with a group of friends I was surprised that they all seemed to wet shave, even though you wouldn't think any one of them needed to shave at all. I'm hoping he doesn't decided he wants to try that as he's so clumsy there would be blood. Plus he has spots. Ouch.

notagrannyyet · 18/01/2010 16:05

I've seen 4 sons past the first shave stage. They have all started with wet shaving. I bought them their own shaving cream and razor as soon as DH complained they were stealing his. So really they decided when they needed to shave. Mine never used an electric razor until they needed to shave more often. My youngest is 13 and he's desparate for his voice to break.

bruffin · 18/01/2010 16:23

DS 14 had his first shave at new year. He has dark hair and had a noticeble moustache from the age of 12. We left it up to him and he asked just before christmas for a shaver. We bought him one of the battery operated gillet fusion power wet shaver and left him to do it when he was ready.

Snorbs · 18/01/2010 16:54

(Declaration of interest - I'm a man)

You can make your skin red and sore with an electric razor if you're not careful, particularly the first few times as you tend to overdo it. Modern electric razors are a lot less likely to do this than older ones, though.

I think wet shaving has a certain "manly-man" attraction for teenage boys. I know it did with me. And, yes, there will be slips and mistakes, a bit of blood here and there, but look at it as a rite of passage

Original poster
Luvvies · 18/01/2010 19:26

Thanks everyone, this is sooooooo helpful.

I think the majority are on the side of the wet shave, so I will invest in the kit and do as you advise, and leave him to it.

I think I will still suggest to have a "pretend" go first on an inconspicuous patch of skin, to try to avoid mistakes.

OP posts:
Snorbs · 18/01/2010 19:45

For what it's worth, here's my tips for a good shave:

  1. Hot wet flannel on face

  2. A bit of shaving foam/gel (you don't need loads)

  3. Shave downwards - ie, in same direction as hair growth. No more than a couple of strokes of the razor on any one spot and wash the razor frequently. Try to stretch the skin a bit as that helps the hairs stand out. It only needs a light touch, so don't press it hard into the skin. Be particularly careful around your lips as it's easy to nick them, and don't let the razor slip sideways.

  4. Feel the shaved area for any remaining stubble, and shave those areas again (once!) but this time going against the direction of hair growth. Don't forget that facial hair may not be growing in the direction you think it should.

  5. A bit of soap and cool water to wash off, followed by after-shave balm if required.

  6. Clean any and all bits of hair and shaving foam out of the sink!

Original poster
Luvvies · 19/01/2010 10:24

Cheers Snorbs. Perhaps you should start a "handy hints on becoming a man" thread!

OP posts:
TheArsenicCupCake · 19/01/2010 12:13

great post snorbs .. could have used that On friday night when ds1 decided to shave when DH was out! (instead of yelling through the bathroom door shave downwards and I think you need to pull shavey faces!)

Having had his first shave.. he came home from school yesterday announcing he hates his top lip feeling like insect legs ( not sure how often he strokes insect legs mind you )

So off he toddled into the bathroom and came out announcing his face felt much better..

This really is a novelty right of passage lol. ahh well I'm sure by the end of the week it will have worn off .. I'll be waiting for the first " I growing a beard, as I can't be bothered to shave"

If it helps ayone on here DS1 loves the NG co ( natural Grooming co) shave oil and their post shave soothing balm. He says it makes it easier to see what your doing.

bruffin · 19/01/2010 16:01

I couldn't believe how young DS looked after his first shave, he looked like a boy again!

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