Shaving someone else's face - tips?

Printable View

10-19-2009, 10:53 AM
mosley59

Shaving someone else's face - tips?

My friend has decided that tomorrow is the day he is going to get rid of his mop of hair and his scruffy beard he's been growing for a while. Knowing I use a straight, he's asked me if I'd shave his beard off. Having never shaved someone else, I was wondering if anyone else had any tips for me regarding shaving another person - I know a lot of people shave their wife/girlfriend's legs, I've read those threads, but am after more face-specific tips. I'm confident shaving myself with a straight now, and have my angles and pressure down fine for me, so am going to try to do the whole face. Obviously, if the shave's not going well I'll stop and go for his Mach 12.4 to complete it, rather than ploughing ahead.

So far, I've decided on the best soap (Tabac soap or TOBS SC, depending on which scent he prefers) and aftershave (GFT Limes skin food) for the shave, as well as the razors I'll use (Lynn-honed Dovo, Kraut & Donal "Regina", and hoglahoo-honed Harris Bros 559 wedge). The reason I'm using multiple razors is so I can switch to another one if the shave doesn't go as well as I'd like with a certain razor. All of them have had a quick polish on my touch-up hone tonight, and are in extremely good condition. I've also got a brand new styptic in case I do nick him (fingers crossed).

So far, these are the tips I'll be keeping in mind:
- Make sure I'm using a very light touch and low pressure, and ensure that my angles are correct
- Make sure I'm still skin stretching
- Make sure I've looked at the hair direction so my WTG/XTG/ATG passes are actually WTG/XTG/ATG
- Beard prep - I'll be telling him how to prep his beard properly, and if it starts to pull I'll make him tell me so I don't hurt him.
- Touch, pressure, angles again - these are obviously the biggest ones to remember.

Here's the scenario as I see it: he'll have a long hot shower pre-shave, and use shampoo and hair conditioner on the beard to clean and soften it. During the shower, I'll be stropping all three razors and making sure they're all sharp enough. After he's dressed, I'll put a hot towel on his face to keep that beard soft while I whip up the lather. I'll then lather him up and while my razor is still at its sharpest I'll shave his moustache area. I'll then do a WTG pass on the cheeks and sideburns. After that pass, wipe the lather off him, hot towel, re-strop the razor, then re-lather. WTG on his neck and chin, and XTG on the cheeks. Wipe off lather, hot towel, re-strop, re-lather. ATG cheeks, neck, chin. Final wipe-off. Hot towel, cold towel. Styptic for any stubborn weepers that he may have, then AS.

Please gents, any tips for me that may help me deliver a smoother and better shave would be much appreciated. And thanks for actually reading this massive spiel, I think I may have gotten a little carried away while writing it and put in every little detail of my plan.
10-19-2009, 11:10 AM
Stubear

Make sure that you stretch the skin before you make the passes. This will help stop the razor getting caught on any stubble and possibly cutting his face!

To really soften the beard after the shower, slather on a load of skin food then put on a hot towel. Leave that for five minutes or so, then remove. Then lather up and stick another hot towel over the lather. After five or so minutes remove that, then re-lather. Only then start shaving. Trumpers barbers did that to me when I had a shave with them and it worked really well!

When you're doing the top lip, lift the nose up (the pigs nostrils look, always a favourite!) to stretch the skin there and dont be afraid to push his nose from side to side to get it out the way.

Ask him to turn his head from side to side to get the best neck angles and, as I said before, make sure you stretch the skin! This will also help lift the hairs up and get a really close shave.

If his beard is a ZZ Top number, it will probably help to cut it shorter with some scissors or clippers before hand, to a 1/4 - 1/2 length.

Get someone to take some pics while you're doing it as well, and let us know how you got on..!

Good luck!
10-19-2009, 11:50 AM
AlanII

I must admit that I'd avoid the ATG pass. God luck and keep us posted. I think you're a brave man (he is too:)).
10-19-2009, 12:14 PM
natepaint

Before you do anything, ask him if his insurance is up to date.:rofl2:

I am nowhere near able to shave another person, good luck.

nate
10-19-2009, 12:33 PM
ursus

+1 on all above comments. Here's few more.

I've seen and heard that a blown balloon can be used to practice the actual shaving. Lather it up and practice until you get it right. Blowing it up is a no-no.

There's instructional barber video here http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...tml#post424186

Mach 3.14 will choke on the longer hairs. Open comb DE might be better.

You could also dress as barber for experience :D.

Hope everything goes ok.
10-19-2009, 01:05 PM
DPflaumer

Quote:

Originally Posted by ursus

You could also dress as barber for experience :D.

+1 on that for sure.
10-19-2009, 01:06 PM
DPflaumer

On a more serious note, if you decide to go with a DE, be sure to trim the hair short first. I tried shaving a week of growth with a DE one time and it felt like I was trying to rip the hair out.

Straights are much better.
10-19-2009, 01:07 PM
Slartibartfast

Barber straight razor demonstration / tutorial shave
10-19-2009, 02:27 PM
mosley59

Wow slarti, that video's going to be incredibly helpful. Thankyou so much! I'm going to get him to use the clippers on his beard as well as his head when he cuts his hair, just to get it nice and short for the straight.

Ursus - I'd like to use a DE, but unfortunately don't own one yet, a situation I plan to rectify very soon. I've heard of the balloon thing before, but didn't think it was possible with a straight. If you say you've seen it done with a straight though, I'll definitely try that out before the shave to get my hand in.
10-19-2009, 02:50 PM
ursus

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosley59

Wow slarti, that video's going to be incredibly helpful. Thankyou so much! I'm going to get him to use the clippers on his beard as well as his head when he cuts his hair, just to get it nice and short for the straight.

Ursus - I'd like to use a DE, but unfortunately don't own one yet, a situation I plan to rectify very soon. I've heard of the balloon thing before, but didn't think it was possible with a straight. If you say you've seen it done with a straight though, I'll definitely try that out before the shave to get my hand in.

I saw a program on tv where two guys went to a barber and they used balloons to practice on with straights.
Actually, it is here. As bonus, you hear a bit finnish :)

Also, a member (another newbie) posted this a while ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmcXKZGFy4Q
10-19-2009, 02:58 PM
singlewedge

+1 on everything said above.

Here is one I did not see.

RELAX!!! You're shaving your buddy. If you nick him, you'll both go for beers and laugh about it.

Just shave.
10-19-2009, 03:02 PM
northpaw

Not a ton of experience, but I did successfully shave my brother and my dad.

1. As others have mentioned, get to short stubble first via scissors or clippers. While doing this, ask the guy if he has typical problem areas.

2. Prep well, then prep some more. Some variation of face-lathering and massaging the lather should do, but make sure the victim has had lather on his stubble for a good 3-5 minutes either way.

3. Don't even attempt to go ATG anywhere unless the WTG and XTG both go extremely well. Even then, avoid ATG on the moustache area.

4. Exude confidence. Don't sweat the inevitable ultra-tiny nicks, since most will stop weeping by the end of the shave.

Other than that, all I can add is that it will likely be easier - but take longer - than you expect.

Have fun!
10-19-2009, 03:31 PM
Ramusico

Good luck man. I'm interested to see how it goes. I want to do that for a friend when I get good enough.

It would also be a good time to get some information out of him. If you too are good friends I'm sure he did something in the past you can remind him about while you are getting that neck area! lol

have fun,
Gabe
10-19-2009, 10:46 PM
thebigspendur

Your a brave man and your friend is even braver. When we shave ourselves we use feel more than anything else and you don't have that when you shave another. That's why old time barbers went to school for this. Also to add to the problem unless you have a barbers chair your going to be doing it in a very unnatural and difficult position to boot.

But good luck. Let us know how it turns out.
10-20-2009, 02:07 AM
paco

As a barber back in the 70's, I have a few shaves on others under the belt,
" this is not literal ".
I found if you are a little hesitant, try to place the razor on a slight toe down angle and as you stretch let the stretch pull the hair thru the blade.
This is just on the first WTG pass. Also as mentioned before if you can trim the beard first with a clipper or shears. :gl::rock::beer1:
10-20-2009, 03:50 AM
Blade Wielder

I've shaved a couple of people. One said it was the best shave he ever had.

I'd suggest using cream, not soap. It'll look amateurish if you're constantly pausing to re-lather. Also, when you begin, you'll probably find yourself repositioning your hands and your body quite a bit, since the approach is totally different than shaving your own face (aside from the principles mentioned, of course).

Also, if you happen to nick the subject and he asks if you whether or not he's been cut, tell him no, and to stop being a baby. Then make all efforts to hide the blood that's in the lather.
10-20-2009, 04:38 AM
LarryAndro

Quote:

Originally Posted by DPflaumer

On a more serious note, if you decide to go with a DE, be sure to trim the hair short first. I tried shaving a week of growth with a DE one time and it felt like I was trying to rip the hair out.

As an aside, this comment and others above about trimming the beard as short as possible first using clippers or scissors illustrates the point made by some on SRP that we should think of straight shaving as beard reduction instead of shaving. And, it also illustrates why a sharp razor is sometimes described as pulling by newbies.
10-21-2009, 09:09 AM
mosley59

Unfortunately my friend has decided to keep his beard for now, after shaving his head his scalp is feeling the chill, so he's decided to keep his beard to keep his face warm, until his hair grows back to a length he can keep his head warm with, at which point the beard is gone.
Many thanks for all the tips though. Perhaps a mod could put these in the wiki? (the page in there for shaving someone else is completely empty at the moment)
10-21-2009, 09:13 AM
Stubear

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosley59

Unfortunately my friend has decided to keep his beard for now, after shaving his head his scalp is feeling the chill, so he's decided to keep his beard to keep his face warm, until his hair grows back to a length he can keep his head warm with, at which point the beard is gone.
Many thanks for all the tips though. Perhaps a mod could put these in the wiki? (the page in there for shaving someone else is completely empty at the moment)

Haha! Did he wuss out...? :w:rofl2::D

But the wiki idea is a good one..!
10-21-2009, 10:33 AM
Kingfish

I did not see this mentioned. I only shaved one other person than myself and it was tolerable for both of us, but I am no barber for sure. I will emphasize one thing only POSITION!!!!! his head needs to be high enough where you are not bending in an odd position. Most chairs don't bring the "patron" to the desired height. A backed stool might be a better option. I am sure you will be not speeding through you first barbering job and it will be easier on your back to get his head up high enough.
Mike
10-22-2009, 10:05 PM
aragornelessar86

Fascinating videos, thank very much for sharing them. I'm glad I found this thread, as I do Civil War re-enacting and have been thinking about offering SR shaves to both the other re-enactors and to the spectators when we're demonstrating camp life.