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Ive only had 5 goes with my straight and the last 2 times have been just using my straight for a full face shave. Quite impressed myself. :)
Unfortunately I can only shave about once a week as I get severe irritation so my shaves have been at least a week apart.
I am enjoying using my razor though and it does make me sweat while I'm using it as the fear/respect is certainly still there.
My advice to new users is to respect the blade and take your time. It seems to have worked for me.
All I can say, having made essentially your same discovery (although I use a SR 4-5 times/week) is keep your concentration! As I stated in an "oops" thread, a few seconds lack of focus can show you how sharp your razor is :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Noidle
OP
I think you are right on about having respect for, not fear of, the blade and taking your time. Have you any idea of what is causing your skin to be so irritated that you can only shave once a week because of it?
Bob
I gave myself a little nick on my 2nd attempt with my straight but nothing major, I just calmly put it down and finished my shave with the nasty Mach3.Quote:
Originally Posted by Haroldg48
Since then I've bought a styptic pen but not had need to take it out of the packaging yet.
I thought it was the poor razor and was hoping the straight would help.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobH
My face, especially my throat feels sore and I tend to break out in spots around the crease in my neck which make it very hard to shave without making a big mess.
Even brushing soap on my throat after a couple of days is sore, so I gave up on it for now.
sounds like too much pressure and i think you could benefit from trying cold water shaving.
are you trying to go atg and xtg as well?
This is just how my face has been since I started shaving, about 16 years ago.
I just kinda learnt to live with it.
I will try a cold shave next time but its getting to winter now so it won't be ideal! Lol.
Consider a cold-water shave in the evening. I don't like the cold water in my face in the morning now that it's getting colder, but I wouldn't mind in the evening. As for the irritation, apart from the good advice above, I suggest running the razor over each spot literally once. It may leave stubbly patches of skin, but may help reduce the irritation, which I think is more important. When you develop your technique, this approach should also be enough to still get the BBS result that so many people (including me) covet.
Your razor needs to be sharp and smooth, how long has it been since it was honed well? Yea, the throat and neck are problem spots for sure. If your razor is sharp you need a very, very light touch with the right angle on the blade and some skin stretching. If I try hard enough with enough pressure while lathering I can give myself a good case of skin irritation with a brush. Maybe lighten up on the pressure there too. It takes a lot of time to get everything right and I am guessing by your join date you haven't been at this too long so possibly with time things will work out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noidle
Bob
Almost forgot, I like cold water shaves and do it year round.
Might the irritation also be a reaction to the soap, pre/post lotion? Combined perhaps with too rough a shave that predisposes the skin to irritation?Quote:
Originally Posted by Noidle
Just to clarify/reiterate. The irritation far supersedes me using a straight razor. It's been like this right from the start using various safety razors, soaps, gels, foams, and what not.
i see your frustration noidle but i really believe if you master a straight razor you will be able to achieve an irritation free shave.
A lot of people get irritation with cartridge razors because they use too much pressure. When switching to straights or DE razors, once proper technique is learned, with very little pressure, the irritation that they have lived with forever....goes away. Hope you stick with it until your technique improves.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noidle
Thanks for all the help guys. This is something I believe I will be sticking with, if only for the money it will (eventually) save me in cartridges for razors with silly names.
That's a common mistake. Wait until the razor acquisition disorder (RAD) kicks in ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Noidle
If you look at my other recent thread, I don't think I'm going to have a big problem there now. ;)
It will probably cost me in honing but I may decide to distribute some and get my honing money back. :)
Ah, yes, you've got enough material to play with! Perhaps I can offer you a bit of HAD instead?
Does it persist in the face of no shaving at all?Quote:
Originally Posted by Noidle
Kind of, yes. If I rub my throat now it's a little sore and it's a couple of days since my last shave.Quote:
Originally Posted by Headcrowny
And have you ever had a barber shave? A good barber shave can give you an impression of what you can expect once you have developed your technique. I stress "good barber shave", because mine was a bit disappointing and no better than my own shaves.
No, not something I have ever fancied. I don't even like being touched by people i know so that would be well out of my comfort zone.Quote:
Originally Posted by Laurens
I would consider it if I knew them well enough but can't see that ever happening.
Well, if it's independent of shaving I wonder if it's a skin condition. I had pretty bad psoriasis on both legs for years and years and years. Finally decided it might actually be due to what I'm eating and cut out a bunch of stuff. Cleared up completely. 100% gone. And the skin doctors had previously said "Nothing to be done except steroidal goop." Just a thought.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noidle
It could well be that you have been using too much pressure from the start and carried that over to the usually heavier straight razor. I am kind of doubting it is a skin condition if it started when you started shaving unless you are allergic to the soap. It is not something you should just have to live with, there must be a solution.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noidle
Bob
I think you are correct in it not being a skin condition, also think it's not an allergy either as it has persisted through many different types of products being used on my skin.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobH
Maybe I need a different skin care routine?
I don't particularly have one at the moment at all.
I too have neck issues with irritation. I can do whatever to my face with no issue but neck will go nuts at anything. I have changed soap creams gels oils etc many times and found some ingredients like aloe and tea tree oil in sensitive formulas to cause irritation. Cold water shaving also helped immensely.Sr shaving has helped also and currently have less irritation than ever before. I too have only ever shaved one a week and just turned 34 so try different soaps etc but look for those with only base ingredients as they will like cause less irritation. Good luck.
No, I do not think that. I do think you might need to reassess your shave and lathering techniques. I do understand that peoples skin sensitivity varies too but that sort of sensitivity level seems extraordinary to me. I just see no reason that a shave should wreck havoc on your face to the point that you have to wait a week to go through a repeat performance the following week.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noidle
There is some very good info here Beginner's guide to straight razor shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki if you have not seen it already.
Bob