Thread: Shaving legs and the special area

The tackle is the last remaining area where a Mach/Fusion/Quattro is a must IMO. Not that I know what any of you are talking about that is.

I've kept the "boys" clean for as long as I can remember and had to give it a try when I got into straight shaving. Let me back-step, when I got proficient with a straight. It's not really that hard, but you will have to stretch the sack quite a bit & in different ways...the skin doesn't want to stay flat. Hanging onto stuff is the hard part as the shave soap is doing it's job...it's slippery. As Bruno mentioned too, the skin is literally different. When you are stretching, each pore is somewhat raised. Use a light touch with the razor in a downward (edge towards the feet) direction, short strokes, & a shorter blade if you have it. You will have to make several passes to run down all the hairs as the skin will fold on you and hide some stubble. Just rinse, inspect, repeat until you are satisfied.

To be honest...I keep some disposeables around for just this reason...but if you do manscape, you have gotta try it...I double dog dare you

I certainly think shaving legs is very doable - just watch the knees and ankles. For the other parts, I think it's just best to splurge on a $3 razor and be safe.

I personally don’t understand the need or desire to shave the “special area” in the first place, let alone doing it with a straight. BUT if one is so inclined, I don’t understand what all the fuss is about. I mean, putting an open blade to your FACE is a pretty bold endeavor, with lasting and visible consequences if something goes seriously wrong. If you can master shaving your face without cutting your lips, chin, ears, nose, etc., then why can’t shaving the personals be just as successful? I’m sure there is a learning curve, but there was a learning curve for your face as well. Visibly is different, I suspect, but the skills involved - and the Practice-Refine-Repeat process of learning the necessary skills – should be exactly the same as shaving the face, right? The way I look at it ……. as long as you go slow and proceed just as you did when you learned to shave your face, all should be fine. Just my two cents.

Originally Posted by bharner
You may need to strop between legs with a regular straight.

Originally Posted by LegalBeagle

I think you may be giving him way too much credit here... Just sayin'

Not if it's a horsehide strop!

I'm just getting started with a straight so it's not getting anywhere near that area. Still, I'm haven't been inclined to even look at another cartridge again.

For the fire-down-below I recommend an old Gillette DE adjustable. Set it on the lower settings, somewhere around 1-3. You still need to take care but it is quite doable and MUCH less risky than a straight. You can find a slew of old Gillettes on ebay for a start or check your local antique stores. I would also suggest a long handle model in addition to the adjustable feature.

For many, it can seem an odd thing to do indeed, but there are potential advantages which I will not detail here (...to the cheers of the crowd...) Let's just say like tobacco and scotch, it can be an acquired taste.

Originally Posted by Jimbo7

Not if it's a horsehide strop!

Hence the expression "Hung like a strop." I always wondered where that came from.

James.

Originally Posted by ndw76

When it comes to manscaping with a straight razor the only safe way I can think of reminds me of an amish beard. That is top lip shaved but hair on the chin left intact.

This made me laugh out loud when I read it. It's still making me laugh.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Hence the expression "Hung like a strop." I always wondered where that came from.

James.

I think from this point forward I'm going to low chuckle at every thread I see about softening up old strops by rubbing them with neatsfoot oil.

From what I have heard old "strops" need no help softening up. OK, OK, I am self-banning myself from this thread.....way too easy to step over the line and get into all sorts of trouble.

James.