Being the single mother of a soon to be 15 year old son we are having some grooming issues that I'm clueless about.

When to start shaving?
Razor or electric shaver?
deodorant, antiperspirant or deodorant/antiperspirant??
one brand better than another???

Help this clueless mother pleaseeeeeeeeee <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

AlluringGreenEyes,

If he looks scruffy or fuzzy, then maybe it is time for him to start shaving. Rotary razors (Norelco) work best on smooth, non-rough beards. I would go that route at his age. I'm not a foil shaver fan. Straight edge razors can work as well (especially when the beard thickens), but then there is shaving cream and a bigger mess for you to clean up - LOL or him.

Deodorant should have probably started earlier than 15, but let him pick something out (Right Guard Sport is manly <shrug>, but any brand and smell he is comfortable with is fine). If rashes or severe irritation occur, be sure to have him switch brands or type (sprays, gels, sticks).

He started using deodorant about 2 years ago but it seems like he should start using something stronger verses what's cool to use....

the yucky boys locker room smell!!

I find electric razors pretty ineffective. I use the Gillette Mach 3 razors. The downside is that they are fairly expensive. A good electric razor will set you back quite a bit too though.

I prefer the spray on deodorants like Axe to the roll-on ones like right guard. Like ManofGod suggested, I find the roll on ones irritating sometimes.

Alluring,

Axe seems to be the deoderant of young men now a days. My son is almost 19 and he has been using it for 2 or 3 years now and likes electric for trimming, but he prefers to use a disposable for a clean shave.

If he needs something stronger than deodorant, have him switch to an anti-perspirant. Sprays seem to last longer than sticks & gels as well. This could help surpress the body odor for longer periods of time.

He uses that AXE and quite honestly I can't stand the smell of it and I don't think it does what it's suppose to but be stinky...LOL

I was thinking about getting him an electric trimmer for Christmas just to start him out with???

I'm an athletic and physically active guy. I'd recommend Speed Stick deorderant. They aren't overpowering, but seem to work well and my wife approves of them. Anti-perspirants will leave whire residue on your clothes if you sweat at all.

Also a shower every day is a must. A male simply can't go without showering each day.

I'm actually a foil shaver fan. I would recommend any of the Braun's. I don't have an overly thick beard.

As far as the AXE smell, I am an assistant high school football coach and AXE or similar products is what all the teenage boys are using. I also have a 15 yo son who uses it and a 13 yo daughter who likes the smell.

AXE makes an anti-perspirant/deodorant as well. The body spray is closer to cologne than deodorant. My experience is that sticks work better than sprays or roll-on, so he needs to find something that works for him.

Hope this helps.

G.

Thanks guys alot!!! You have really opened my eyes to this subject. Thankfully he does shower at minimum once a day but usually twice as he works out before school so he takes one before homeroom and then again before he goes to bed. I haven't noticed the horrible smell so much now that football season is over but let me tell you...when he jumped in the car after practice or a game...WOW did he smell!!! He's been using the AXE spray but we'll check into the stick!

Thanks again!
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Clear Gel anti-perspirants.

Or do like I do and wear a white t-shirt under my shirts. You can get v-neck t-shirts for him that will not show. That way, any residue stains the t-shirt and not the "outer" shirt.

BTW, I use Speed Stick or Right Guard in their clear gel A/P.

T

The new gilette mach3 with the battery thingie that makes it vibrate? Works great. One thing I find is that a razor blade cartridge lasts a lot longer, which is nice.

I think it's called the M3.

I think the shave is much better from a razor than the electric, I have both, and the Mrs. definitely prefers the blade. Takes a few weeks for the skin to toughen up a bit tho, so there's always a little razor rash to start. It goes away pretty quick.

Daily shower. Teenage boys stink.

Deodorant without anti-perspirant can be harder to spot on the shelf, but I prefer it. Anti-perspirant leaves a white film under your arms, it can mess up your clothes, and the aluminum may not be good for you. Still possibly necessary if he sweats a lot. Let him use something he likes, but feel free to advise against cheap-smelling scents.

I've tried electric shavers and do not like them. What if you're traveling and you forget it? What if the power goes out? Regular razors are cheaper, more portable, and easy to get wherever you are. I think using a straight razor is best left to barbers. I asked my barber once, do you ever actually use that thing on your own face, and he said not in a million years.

If he uses a normal razor, he should remember to change blades often, and always rinse it out well when he's done. It might make him bloody the first few times, but that's just the face getting used to it. If he starts shaving regularly, the rash and bloody spots will pass. He should not shave against the grain. It gives a closer shave but is harsh. He should shave when his face has been wet for a while if possible. Shaving after a swim is so easy it will blow your mind, but shaving after a shower is fine. Shaving a few seconds after splashing water on your face is harder. Gel shaving cream is pretty nice. I use a brush and shaving soap, but when you're done you have to rinse the brush well and knock as much water out as possible, or it will get nasty. A cheap brush will start falling apart quickly and leave bristles on your face, which is annoying. Little Band-Aids are best if there's cuts and blood, because you can take them off after a little while. Putting little pieces of toilet paper on the bloody spots on your face is foolhardy. They dry up, you pull them off, and then you're bleeding again. If you have a million little spots where blood is coming out (which can happen at first), a washcloth soaked in warm water held to the face until the bleeding stops works well.

GC

uhm, cold water wouldn't be better? basic first aid to an injury is ice to reduce bloodflow to the area to allow coagulation. . . warm of course feels better, but what's the goal?

[color:"blue"]its amazing the range of advice people give on what they prefer, and in the end, the 15 yo will have to figure out what he likes for himself anyway. . . which the goal of parenting should include: supporting how to learn to experiment or try each out, and then self evaluate honestly for his own decision. [/color]

so get him an electric razor, a can of shaving cream and mach two handle and blade package. . .and ask him to use each for two weeks. . . and see what he likes the best. . . its his face, and he needs to learn how to make these decisions for himself. . and the best way is to try out each for awhile. . .

same with deodorant. . . stick or gel, anti - persp or not. . same with showering. . . [color:"red"] uhm. . . wait, make showering daily your only expectation. . LOL![/color]

FINALLY, the fragrance or the stink in men's makeup: in the end, its only BIG BUSINESS convincing you that smelling better or looking better will get you something more or better than by being yourself. . . . in the relationship area, sometimes that helps, but not always . . . but only for a short time. . . until the fragrance or the stink wears off of course. . . so what's his goal?

wiftty

My daughter is 15. She says she and her friends like the smell of Axe.

Consider the use of effective hygiene products to be more important than the smell. (My personal preference is for unscented.) I usually buy the least expensive effective ones. Leaves more money for other things about which I care more.

Most guys shirts, etc., have sleeves so you don't see product residue - which does usually wash out.

Uh, sure, cold water is good too. No big whoop. Both work fine. Cold water on your face is a pleasure in summertime, innit?

Advice on men's grooming? Figured I'd just kinda free-associate about what I do. I would hope that "your mileage may vary" would be taken for given.

GC

I understand, and yet, is parenting all about repeating what the parents' do? or is it about encouraging a 3/4 adult to learn to decide on his own? to encourage individualism, self exploration and learning that he gets to decide for himself, but that he should try out before deciding?

isn't parenting a near adult trying to teach him to decide and stand up for him/herself? to realize that he has a say and if he finds a core value, to stick to his belief?

isn't teaching self determination and possibly resistance to mass marketing a way to enlighten a near adult on the ways of the real world? one that he is about to enter on his own, and needs to practice good decision skills before he goes out on his own?

free association is fine, but isn't giving a balanced picture with the option/encouragement to try each a better parental message? isn't encouraging the behavior to stand up for his own decision, even in the face of social and marketing pressure, a great individual behavior to encourage? (many of us here would have benefited from that when we saw red flags in our engagements and dating activities)

wiftty

Okay I just bought him Mach 3 Turbo with 16 cartridges that should last him a good bit...hopefully. And I guess we (my wallet and he) are sticking with the AXE.

I'm also going to get him an electric trimmer for Christmas. Which I'm thinking he'll use for now until he needs a closer shave.

Thanks everyone for your input. I feel like I've learned alot!

Hugs!

Yeah, what WIFTTY said.

I remember a radio show where a mom asked Dr. James Dobson about her young daughter, who wanted to start shaving her legs. Mom thought it was too early, and besides, there was "nothing" to shave anyway. Dr. Dobson answered that the time for her to start shaving was whenever she wanted to start shaving. If she felt the need, and was taking an interest in personal hygiene, why squelch it over a matter of timing?

I think the same thing applies to a son starting shaving, deciding what deodorant to wear, etc. Let him choose, and just be thankful that he's taking an interest in his own hygiene.

I remember when I started shaving. I had a fairly noticable growth of soft black hair on my face. One day, a wise-guy at school made fun of me calling me gorilla boy. I went home and asked my dad about shaving. He took out his electric and shave me. After that about once a week I got out his electric razon and shaved. That was in 8th grade. Somewhere in HS I got my own electric shave. I never could use a razor as I had/have a very manly, viral, tough beard and soft, sensual skin. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />