Thread: Still Bleeding After WTG Shave

Alright, so using my new fancy-shmancy iPhone 5, I took some (higher-res) photos of my face to get an idea of the grain direction for my whiskers. The problem is, I tried shaving in that direction, and I'm STILL getting irritation. You can see from the photos that, especially around the adam's apple, that the hairs are going towards the cuts. I've been trying to go that direction, and those cuts resulted. I've tried no pressure, a little, and definitely HAVEN'T tried a lot of pressure. Anybody got any idea why I'm STILL getting irritation and cuts, when I'm trying to go WTG, where I was going XTG and ATG before (unknowingly)?
This is the head-on photo, showing (hopefully) the front direction:


This is more to the side, giving you an idea of the major cuts. Those cuts on the right occur EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Regardless of if I've not shaven for 3 weeks, no pressure, I mean they will ALWAYS appear. The ones under the goatee are new though, after trying the WTG shave.


Anybody got any ideas?

So lots of possibilities here. I'll list a few and you can check them off your list.
1.) Dull edge (have you had it professionally honed?)
2.) Razor edge has some kind of little ding in it.
3.) Your holding the razor at too steep an angle
4.) ingrown hair issue
5.) preparation issue (too dry, too wet, too hot)
6.) soap or other products irritating your skin before shaving

Well, a problem I have to deal with is acne / pimples. It has been an issue most of my life until the last few years. However, I still occasionally get a small pimple or two and invariably end up nicking them. The pictures look similar to what happens after one of my "not to good" shaves. As your skin care technique (pre and post shave routine) and shaving technique improves it becomes less of an issue.

Yea.... that shouldn't be. A video of you shaving would probably tell the tale on what's going wrong. It's hard to scrutinize your technique with out seeing it in action.

I think we all have issues with the redness in the very beginning as that seems to fit with any change of shaving technique and products, but it looks to me like your removing the heads off pimples or bumps?

Did you get your razor professionally honed?

Is this happening on the cheeks or just the neck? Does your razor feel rough or smooth as it cuts? Are you stretching the skin with your hand below where you are shaving?

Thanks for starting this thread. I have the same issue but not a high res iphone to show it!

You skin looks fairly irritated to me, not just at the places of the cuts. Brenngun has a good list of possibilities. I suggest trying a cold shave, see if your skin feels better after your shave. Just cold tap water, it does miracles to many people's skins.

CoolDude..DO you have an update for us on how you are doing with the shave teqnique? DId you manage to get rid of the irritation problem? If so, what did you conclude was the issue(s)?

Thanks for the update. I myself am still figuring out what is best for me. Very hot water works best for me with a slick lather. I used to use pre shave oil but lately I have been doing without as I think it was giving me acne.

Doesn't matter where you got your razor if it isn't stropped properly. (Thanks for supporting SRD though)

The Adam's Apple is the anti-crown on our head. If the crown proper (the part where all your hair swirls) was the North Pole, the Adam's Apple would be the South Pole. It's a swirl. Everybody has one. They are all different kinda.

I make north and south passes on the neck. that's it, it covers a bit of WTG/XTG/ATG without any extra thought. Anything more can cause problems and close enough works, i'll shave again real soon.

You need maximum sharpness and minimum pressure and good stretching. Although "chin-up" seems like a good stretch, a lateral tug can be good there too.

Make sure that blade is properly stropped and sharp, try to remove the lather without even feeling pressure.

I have found, 1.5 years into it (touch keeps developing), that I can shave over and around pimples/bumps with a properly sharp straight easier than ever before.

Hang in there and go light, be sharp.