Thread: Sensitivity issues

Hello Gents,
I am having a problem with skin irritation the day after shaving. It might be my blade (I unfortunately purchased a poor quality brand), but I am suspicious of my technique as well. I can do a WTG pass with minimal problems. When I move on to XTG, I start to get resistance and some small weepers. ATG is very uncomfortable. I know that it is recommended for beginners to not do ATG for a while, but if I don't get BBS, the rough areas are very sensitive for a day or two after (so much that it makes anything clothing or a coat with a collar very difficult to wear). I am currently using Anthony preshave oil, Van Der Hagen soap with a snurdle of AOS Lemon cream, and Jack Black aftershave balm over top of Shaveworks Cool Fix. The blade is a Gold Dollar, with lots of stropping applied before and inbetween. Any advice would be appreciated. I do have a Carbo Magnetic approved by another member on it's way.

You need even a lower angle for anything other than WTG so be sure to keep the spine closer to your skin. If this remains a problem, just repeat the WTG until your technique improves and/or you get a better razor.

Try Nivea AS Balm for Sensitive Skin, really helps soothe the irritation. You will certainly get better results with a different razor. Gold Dollars are notorious for problems. Utopian is correct about blade angle. What helped me in the beginning was a statement by a member who's name I forgot (and want to thank him for the tip) to shave the lather, not the beard. That means as light a pressure as you can get on the razor and still be mowing the stubble.

One other thing to consider is a possible reaction to some ingredients in the soaps/creams you are using. While ingredients like menthol, eucalyptus and Shea butter are popular they are the cause for irritation for many shavers.

Another area to consider is water temp for your shaves. I had bad luck with hot/warm lather and prep. Switched to cold water shaving and 90% of my irritations disappeared. Now, any temp from tepid, skin temp or cooler has kept the irritation level almost nil. Don't know your age, but one other thing to consider if it keeps up is to see a dermatologist and see if you are developing Rosacea (it is not adult acne as folklore would have it. And it wasn't alcoholism that gave WC Fields his puffy red nose as most people thought - it was an advanced case of Rosacea. I have a mild case well under control. Should it come to that PM me and I'll give you hints on folk medicine control to go with what the dermatologist prescribes).

I would suggest not using the Gold Dollar razor if you are using the factory edge as supplied. I do not believe any amount of stropping could put it right. It likely needs to honed to be sure it has a good edge. That and your technique combined could be the problem. Once you eliminate the blade as a source by having it honed to shave ready then you know it is your shaving technique if you still have the same issues. The razor you are waiting on might go a long way to improve things too as it should have a better edge than a Gold Dollar factory edge.

In the meantime do as Utopian suggests and go slow, watch your pressure on the blade, blade angle and do WTG passes. If it goes better WTG with your new razor then try XTG. If the XTG is comfortable then maybe try the ATG pass.

Bob

Wow, those are some really good suggestions! I did have the razor honed at a local shop that specializes in barber clippers for haircuts and agriculture use. It cost less than five bucks, so I wasn't too concerned with the quality of the honing, just that it would be better than what it came with. I have been able to see a noticeable visual change to the cutting edge as it degrades. I have started using a pair of heavy canvas pants with my leather strop (kinda difficult since the 1X4 I have is about 3.5 feet long). Also, I think I may have gotten some acronyms mixed up. I used ATG for Across the Grain, and XTG for Against the Grain. The Against the Grain is the most painful (as is to be expected with a bad edge).
This is some really great stuff to try out. I never even considered a cold water shave. Does it matter if you do it after a shower?

If a shop does not specialize in straight razor honing chances are they could even make an edge worse than before. There have been more than a few cases of people taking razors to shops that do knives etc sort of thing and had the edge buggered up. For sure don't use the Gold Dollar and give your face a break.

Bob

I usually do a cold water facial rinse just before I get out of the shower.My preference. You can just as easily do a cold water face wash just before you lather. Two things I do to ease my shave is after the shower cold water rinse I run a small drop of hair conditioner over my beard and leave my face wet after the shower. Just before lathering I re wet my face and rub a little Cremo, Kiss My Face or a dollop of Aveno in a can for sensitive skin as a pre shave. For me, I feel it gives me smoother glide for the razor.

Welcome to SRP tseppish:: these two YouTube videos really helped my S.R. Shaving technique. Search for the Lynn Abrams introduction to S.R. Shaving video. Also search for the three pass shave. It's the video by DRMATT357

The first step is to acquire a S.R. With a real shave ready edge. I would recommend looking for used razors on the SRP members sale link or new razors from Straight Razor Design. This will assure your next razor will arrive with a real edge for shaving.

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Another area to consider is water temp for your shaves. I had bad luck with hot/warm lather and prep. Switched to cold water shaving and 90% of my irritations disappeared. Now, any temp from tepid, skin temp or cooler has kept the irritation level almost nil.

I am going to give cold water a try. Do you prep with cold water as well?
The only area I get irritation is on my neck, but a big part of that is my technique.

I actually got a Gold Dollar off eBay, from a gentleman who hones them, and resells them (pretty cheap). He promised me that he would rehone it if I was unhappy with it. It is one of the sharpest razors I have (although it is not the starter gold dollar).

Originally Posted by Brandonii54

I am going to give cold water a try. Do you prep with cold water as well?
The only area I get irritation is on my neck, but a big part of that is my technique.

I actually got a Gold Dollar off eBay, from a gentleman who hones them, and resells them (pretty cheap). He promised me that he would rehone it if I was unhappy with it. It is one of the sharpest razors I have (although it is not the starter gold dollar).

Last thing in the shower is a cool face rinse. Had brush soaking in cold tap water during shower. After shave as cold water as I can stand face rinse. Closes the pores and cuts off any little weepers.

I'm always somewhat unhappy when I see Gold Dollars being used. From what I can tell by all that I've read about them, yes, a decent edge can be had but they degrade quickly. A time tested vintage, once re-honed from bevel up and properly stropped before each shave can go up to a year or two only needing occasional re freshening on an 8k or a 12k.