Originally Posted by
Razorfeld
Cold water shaving, I'm sure, reduced a lot of irritation. Did it alleviate any of the bumps and ingrown hairs? If not it could be as simple as consciously using a little less pressure when you shave. I like to quote another member (can't remember his name). He said shave the lather, not the beard. That helped me a lot.
The other thing it could be in prep work. At the end of my morning shower, complete with a cold water facial splash, I rub a very small amount of hair conditioner over my beard and leave my face undried. Just before I lather my face I also rub a small amount of Creamo or Kiss My Face into my beard. I feel it increases glide which, in my mind, helps with keeping irritation, etc down. I suffer from a light case of Rosacea, which means I often have a series of small pimple like eruptions occurring sporadically and they are minimized by the pre shave routine. There are also a few shaving creams available for sensitive or acne skin.