Thread: Worst shave ever!!!

I've been using a bluebeards revenge shavette style razor all week and after a couple of dodgy shaves at the start I dared to think I was getting the hang of it.
But I just had a god awful shave. I noticed it was starting to pull a little so I put a fresh blade it and continued shaving.
First path and all went well, slight nick on the chin but it's always awkward there.
Second pass cross the grain and there were a several more little nicks but nothing terminal.
I then cleaned up and noticed my face was quite inflamed. So I used an aftershave balm.
I have reapplied it twice more since and my face is still on fire!
What could I have done wrong?
Any tips on calming done inflamed skin?
What are those white matches for cuts about?

It sounds like over confidence rash. Or a rash of overconfidence. To much pressure is usually the culprit. Slow down and use a lighter touch next time. The after shave is like gas on a fire. Once is enough. Alum block or styptic pencil is good for stopping the blood flow and helps with the healing. Cool water on the face will help with the fire. then leave it alone. Maybe later put some lotion on it. What ever you did this shave,,,,,don't do it again. :<0) Think about the differences like , prep, pressure, angle, you want to cut hair not scrape it off your face.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

It sounds like over confidence rash. Or a rash of overconfidence. To much pressure is usually the culprit. Slow down and use a lighter touch next time. The after shave is like gas on a fire. Once is enough. Alum block or styptic pencil is good for stopping the blood flow and helps with the healing. Cool water on the face will help with the fire. then leave it alone. Maybe later put some lotion on it. What ever you did this shave,,,,,don't do it again. :<0) Think about the differences like , prep, pressure, angle, you want to cut hair not scrape it off your face.

Think you're right and I got a little cocky.
I'll go a lot lighter next time. I think I might have reduced the angle a bit much this time, still experimenting with it.
I may invest in an alum block as I doubt this won't be the last time I bleed.
Thanks for the advice

You may want to give your face a rest for a couple of days before you shave again. Let it heal up good.

Think that's wise lol

you want to cut hair not scrape it off your face.[/QUOTE]

+1

There's a lot of possibilities here. First follow 10Pups advice on dealing with the "face on fire" syndrome. As for why. Could be poor prep or bad blade but I find the 2 biggest contributors to a bad shave are poor angle and or pressure. Next time start with a new blade, spend time and energy on a good face prep (whisker hydration, good lather & potentially add a pre-shave cream). When it's time to shave use little to no pressure. Keep your blade angle close to your face. If this doesn't remove hair increase your angle slightly but do not increase pressure. Your looking for that magical angle with little pressure that removes hair but leaves your skin on your face. Last thing. Make sure your stretching while you shave and I don't mean your hamstrings.

Originally Posted by Brenngun

There's a lot of possibilities here. First follow 10Pups advice on dealing with the "face on fire" syndrome. As for why. Could be poor prep or bad blade but I find the 2 biggest contributors to a bad shave are poor angle and or pressure. Next time start with a new blade, spend time and energy on a good face prep (whisker hydration, good lather & potentially add a pre-shave cream). When it's time to shave use little to no pressure. Keep your blade angle close to your face. If this doesn't remove hair increase your angle slightly but do not increase pressure. Your looking for that magical angle with little pressure that removes hair but leaves your skin on your face. Last thing. Make sure your stretching while you shave and I don't mean your hamstrings.

I have to confess I don't have a brush or proper shaving cream. I'm just using my generic aerosol cream. Would that make much of a difference.
Never heard of pre-shave cream, is it like pre-shave oil? I'm willing to give anything a try if it prevents this

Bigirishkev,

The first thing to do is to acquire a good brush, either badger or boar, and a puck of good soap or cream. Proper preparation is essential. The brush will exfoliate the skin, soften the beard and lift the hairs by massaging the lather onto your skin. This lather will also help to cushion your skin — after all, you have sharp steel scraping your face — and help the razor glide. Use a pre-shave, if you can. Try Castle Forbes, Edwin Jagger, Proraso, and others, but avoid pre-shave oils.

After that, as the other gentlemen have noted, watch your angle and pressure. As a rule, I keep the angle on my razors low, around 20 degrees, if not lower, with the wedge razors the lowest. Keep your strokes short, closer to buffing on the chin and the mustache areas. With the shavette, also limit your strokes over the same spot to avoid razor burn. With the traditional straight razor you can use several strokes on the same area. With the shavette or the double edge is asking for trouble.

Finally, remember the straight razor or the shavette are sassy and demand respect.

Originally Posted by Bigirishkev

I have to confess I don't have a brush or proper shaving cream. I'm just using my generic aerosol cream. Would that make much of a difference.

Night and Day!

Originally Posted by Bigirishkev

Never heard of pre-shave cream, is it like pre-shave oil? I'm willing to give anything a try if it prevents this

You'll get differing opinions about cream versus oil. I prefer a cream product as Obie said above any of these would be a good choice.