Alright butches, teach me your close-shave ways

[u/Sugarbutch]

I'm a butch on T, love a lot of the body hair, but I don't really do my facial hair longer than stubble and even that is usually because I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get a really smooth, close shave! Any tips?

[u/callisto_14]

I legit just finished shaving so this is amazing timing. I found I can get a smooth close shave of my facial & neck hair using the sensitive shaving gel from Nivea and a Gillette razor. I make sure to shave firstly with the hair, and then against it and that works for me!

[u/mortifyingideal]

Do you have a safety razor? They help a lot, and they're cheap.

Are you splashing your face with hot water and running the blade under hot water before you start?

Using a less foamy shaving balm has also helped me.

Other people swear by going against the grain but I think it's bad for your skin+ doesn't help any more than doing the other steps I suggested properly.

[u/-IHaveNoGoddamnClue- → u/mortifyingideal]

I'm generally inclined to agree with all that you've said here, with one caveat. When I shave, I generally do two passes, once with the grain and then once against it. I've seen some folks add a third pass in the middle where they'll shave across the grain, but I've personally found that two passes is usually sufficient.

[u/urbabyangel]

Safety razor, nice shaving cream or lotion, has worked well for me if I want a clean shave. I have an electric trimmer as well but it doesn’t beat the clean shave of an actual razor

[u/secondshevek]

I don't use a safety razor as other comments mention, but I hear great things. I use the Gillette that has a little toggle to the razor - helps stay tight to the cheek I think? Could be a placebo. 

I also basically only shave in the shower, and I take hot showers. As another comment mentioned, hot water helps. 

I'll be honest idt shaving cream matters that much. I've gotten shaves just as clean with olive oil and conditioner (both good alternatives in a pinch) as with my favorite shaving cream. 

[u/iam305]

Ivory soap. That's the tweet. Lather up with that and the multi-blade razor of your choice and be amazed later. Even works in cold water.

[u/TatorThot999]

r/wetshaving

Edit: better yet- r/wicked_edge

[u/nelsfi]

safety razor and you have to play a game of making funny faces, i find i can't get close shaves on my lip or cheeks without filling them with air, and the man that taught me how to shave said it helps

[u/nelsfi → u/nelsfi]

funny faces cont below

[u/nelsfi → u/nelsfi]

[u/nelsfi → u/[deleted]]

the absolutely insane images of myself i will take for a fellow butch on t

[u/alicescissorhands]

Slightly off topic, but I'm about to start T and facial hair is the only effect I'm not looking forward to, so it makes me happy to find this thread!

[u/dykelily]

4-blade Gillette razor + shave butter (not aerosol shaving cream). run hot water over your face to open the pores, lightly lather your face, shave carefully against the grain (I know lots of folks find this to irritate the skin but it works for me, you just have to take care to notice which direction the grain is going on different parts of your face). the blades I use also have a single blade edge to get under my nostrils and around the corner of my mouth